Portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus

1. A portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus comprising:

a horizontal support arm having a first end opposite a second end, the first end adapted to extend into a vehicle receiver hitch mounted on a vehicle, the second end protruding from such vehicle receiver hitch, the second end comprising an upstanding swivel member;

an upstanding support member having an upper portion opposite a bottom portion, the upper portion telescopically received in the bottom portion, the upper portion and bottom portion each having respective sidewalls which define a plurality of linearly aligned apertures adapted for receipt of a support locking pin adapted for adjustment of a height of the upstanding support member at an option of a user, the bottom portion having a bottommost end defining a cylindrical hollow cavity within which the upstanding swivel member is operatively seated, the upper portion having an upper end having a load bearing end surface formed on a load bearing angle that departs from a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the upstanding support member, the upper end comprising a pair of guide tabs fixed to the respective sidewalls of the upper end, the pair of guide tabs oriented perpendicular to the load bearing end surface, the upper end having a pivot pin connection;

a lift boom having a proximal end opposite a distal end, the proximal end having a load bearing end surface formed on a load bearing angle that departs from a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lift boom, the proximal end pivotally coupled to and extending away from the pivot pin connection of the upper end of the upstanding support member, the lift boom pivotable from a lifting position to a folded transport position,

wherein in the lifting position the proximal end of the lift boom fits between the pair of guide tabs adapted to resist a lateral movement of the lift boom, the load bearing end surface of the lift boom bears on the load bearing end surface of the upstanding support member, and the lift boom extends upward at an angle that departs from a vertical plane that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the upstanding support member,

wherein in the folded transport position the lift boom hangs from the pivot pin connection and is oriented in parallel to the upstanding support member;

a winch removably attached to the upstanding support member, said winch comprising a hoist line extending vertically from said winch through a first pulley operatively connected to the upper portion of the upstanding support member, said hoist line extending from the first pulley through a second pulley, wherein the second pulley is operatively connected to the distal end of the lift boom, said hoist line connected to an elongated spreader tube at a distal end of the hoist line, said elongated spreader tube having a first end opposite a second end, the first end and the second end each defining a plurality of linearly aligned spreader apertures each adapted for connection to a respective strap, at the option of the user, the elongated spreader tube adapted to attach to and lift a removable vehicle hardtop off of the vehicle when said winch is rotated to wind said hoist line thereon.

2. The portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first strap, a second strap, a third strap and a fourth strap, the first strap and second strap each having a respective connection end operatively connected to one respective spreader aperture of the plurality of linearly aligned spreader apertures of the first end of the elongated spreader tube, the first strap and second strap each having a respective hook end adapted to connect to the removable vehicle hardtop, the third strap and fourth strap each having a respective connection end operatively connected to one respective spreader aperture of the plurality of linearly aligned spreader apertures of the second end of the elongated spreader tube, the third strap and fourth strap each having a respective hook end adapted to connect to the removable vehicle hardtop.

3. The portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus of claim 2 , the respective hooks of the second strap and the fourth strap each comprise a substantially flat hook portion configured to penetrate a gap between a rear window and support frame structure of the removable vehicle hardtop.

4. The portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the lift boom is telescopically received in the proximal end of the lift boom, the distal end and the proximal end each having respective sidewalls which define a plurality of linearly aligned boom apertures adapted for receipt of a boom locking pin configured for adjustment of an extension length of the lift boom at an option of a user.

5. The portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a support locking pin and a boom locking pin, wherein the support locking pin is removably disposed in one support adjustment aperture of the plurality of linearly aligned support adjustment apertures, wherein the boom locking pin is removably disposed in one boom aperture of a plurality of linearly aligned boom apertures.

6. The portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the winch comprises an electric winch, the electric winch having a power cord adapted to removably connect to a 12 volt outlet of the vehicle.