For me when I lift the top I lift from the top, meaning I hook straps on the inside, one in each corner of the back hatch and and one in each corner of the window/door corner again on the inside. I run the straps out and over the top to a center hook and lift all four corners from one winch hook. This way I am not lifting from where the top bolts to the rear fenders. It releaves the pressure from the sides and picks it straight up, if the straps are adjusted right.
I know on my top when I put a new liner in it I found that the support ribs for the roof were just glued to the top sheet metal and that glue had let go. I welded it but I was also going to paint the top. I am sure it was glued for sound deadening but I insulated the top so I was not worried about it.
My ribs had also sagged I suppose from loading up the factory roof rack, one of those po problems lol
ron