One Person Topper Car-Topping

Forum, 
Has anyone developed a failsafe technique for single-handedly putting a Topper on the roof? 

Must be possible, surely?

Any thoughts/advice/experience - please share!

Andrew

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4ply Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 11 Location: Rutland Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Post Options Post Reply Quote 4ply Report Post Quote Reply Topic: One Person Topper Car-Topping Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 1:10pm
	Forum, Has anyone developed a failsafe technique for single-handedly putting a Topper on the roof? Must be possible, surely? Any thoughts/advice/experience - please share! Andrew
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batman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 14 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote batman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 1:32pm
	Good question & a couple of options; 1) A 'easy-load' roof rack kit- such as http://www.karitek.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-split.tpl&category_id=149&product_id=1676&vmcchk=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=5 2) Stand the Topper up on its transom behind your car. You then stand between Topper and car, facing the car. Pick Topper up behind your back using side toestraps, lean forward- with some effort this puts the bow of the Topper on your rear roof rack. Then push forward until in position. I've use this method a couple of times when loading boats on my own- but only for 'beach boat' Toppers- not sure I'd want to do it with a 'pride & joy' or 'racing' Topper.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 1:38pm
	If you bung a blanket over the back of the car and then do the transom method, it saves buggering up both car and boat. Works well.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

RichTea Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Post Options Post Reply Quote RichTea Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 1:48pm
	I take it you are refering to home and not when at an event? Is it possible to string it in the rafters of the garage, drive car in, lower it onto car and drive out again? If I was doing @Batmans second suggestion, then use two tyres either side of the rudder pintels and lots of pipe cladding on the roof bars.

robin34024 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 03 Jan 12 Location: Lincoln Online Status: Offline Posts: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote robin34024 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 2:27pm
	when i was just a little kid, and unable to help, my dad would have the boat right way up on the trolley, rear to rear with the car, then put carpet on the floor, and on the back of the car, then lift the front of the boat up until it was near vertical, and rest it gently on the car. then he simply got hold of the transom and slid the Boat onto the racks, by lifting the transom right into the air, using the car as a pivot point. it looked difficult not to let it drop onto the car hard, but he never damaged either the boat or the car doing it.

4ply Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 11 Location: Rutland Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Post Options Post Reply Quote 4ply Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 2:43pm
	OK. Thanks for this so far. For some reason I'd only though of approaching this from the side. What a numbskull! Sounds doable. And yes - only at home but I may also look to see about a mod to my '300 road base to take the topper. Thanks again!
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kevg Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Posting king Joined: 13 Dec 05 Location: Wrexham Online Status: Offline Posts: 120	Post Options Post Reply Quote kevg Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 5:48pm
	Re Modifying a road base, I had a steel Topper trolley that fitted perfectly width wise on to a West Mercia 250 road base. I had additional bar welded on to secure the bow end.

chrisg Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Mar 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 893	Post Options Post Reply Quote chrisg Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 6:21pm
	When I was little enough to be of absolutely no help when my dad was car topping his laser, he added a couple of bits of padded wood to the roof rack. They were secured on top of the bars that run across the car, not that go along if you have an estate. On the drivers side they were only as long as the roof rack, but on the passenger side they stuck out a bit, but not past the width of the car. There was then another bit of wood that ran front to back to join them. To load the boat Dad used to reverse the boat on its trolley rear on to the passenger side of the car. He would then do as others suggested at the rear of the car and lift the bow up past the vertical. As it was near the side of the car when it tipped towards it, the longer roof rack bars would support the boat and stop it resting on and possibly damaging the car bodywork. It was then a relatively simple lift to pick the rear of the boat up and slide it so it was sitting across the car. Then he just span it round the right way and tied it on. The extended roof bars on the passenger side also provided space to tie the spars to. The trolley used to get lifted up onto the upturned hull but it was only one of those crappy plastic ones made from plastic plumbing pipe so was relatively light but guess you could do the same for a gunwhale hung one. You could even strap the trailer to the boat before lifting i guess and the trolley would go on with the boat in one go. Used the same method for my beloved topper but we forgot to tie the painter on one day and it went under the wheel of the car and ripped the front of the boat off so make sure you tie everything down! Edited by chrisg - 31 Jan 13 at 6:23pm

gordon1277 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 Mar 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 665	Post Options Post Reply Quote gordon1277 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 13 at 11:02am
	Just make sure you put the boat on upside down. no risks of scratches to the bit that matters.
	Gordon Lossc

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 13 at 11:57am
	I'm a fan of tying the trolley to the roofrack and then putting the boat the right way up on that. It does very much depend on the trolley design for how well it works, though.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686