Abstract: A hydraulic lifting system for use in raising and lowering a movable top, sized and located to cover an opening in a primary roof structure, includes a support structure attached to opposing longitudinal sides of the roof opening, a plurality of lifting linkages that are slidably attached to the support structure such that at least one pair of linkage is attached to opposing support structures, each lifting linkage is also pivotally attached to the movable top. In addition, a plurality of hydraulic push/pull devices are mounted on the support structure one each interposed between each pair of lifting linkage, so that each lifting linkage may be attached to the adjacent hydraulic push/pull device by a shaft projecting therefrom. Actuation of the hydraulic push/pull device urges the shafts to move in a push/pull relationship with the lifting linkages raising and lowering the top.