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Date:         Wed, 31 Jul 2002 14:14:02 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Westy Poptop Installation on a Sunroof Vanagon???
Comments: To: Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Robert, I think you can install the top and use it for what you intend. Does the $100 include a useable canvas? I'd be pretty happy with that deal. Be sure to get the aluminum strips that attach the lower edge of the canvas to the roof.

My first poptop conversion was to my 87 Syncro about 8 years ago when I also put the Westy kitchen in. My wife and I camp a lot and the poptop allows room to stand while dressing or cooking. Also the upper inside rear area gives us a place to put things out of the way while camped with the top up.

I have made a wooden sleeping platform that bridges half of the opening from front to back. We take this and a rolled up foam camping pad when we have a third person. Several kids and teenagers have slept on it and it works great.

I have since done other poptops including one with the full bed. It was much more work as a metal support had to be made and fitted across the much larger roof hole.

If you feel along the ceiling through the headliner you can locate the hidden metal support arches. There is one just ahead of the sliding door opening and one just behind it. The front one remains undisturbed but the rear one must come out to properly fit the Westy upper bed.

Some people mount the wood platforms for the Westy upper bed without removing the arch. There is not enough room for the foam pads if you do this so the foam pads must be keep down below when the top is down. The pads are about 4" thick when stacked.

Here is a link to some photos of the outside of my Westyized Syncro:

http://members.tripod.com/vwphotos/drillpics.html

Mark

Robert Steven Fish wrote: > ...... > > I do need a response... badly. > > I would like to be certain that I am not doing something totally stupid by > buying this used Westy poptop for my passenger 1987 GL. > > The main reason I am getting it, is to have a cool place for my 6 year old > boy to hang out and sleep while my wife and I snooze below. > > If there is really no good way to have a bed up there.... then I might as > well save my 100 bucks, buy a new tire or something, and get used to > overcrowding (and not getting any sleep due to my little guys flipping and > flopping around during the night). > > I want to make this upper bed thing work.... and am hoping that some list > members have also done this, and have the cool, creative, and functional > solutions to my problem. > > Ideas... > > Can the passenger roof be somehow flattened. I know that my boy really > loves to climb up there now and walk around on top of my car. If I just had > him jump up and down (and I could join him up there too) then we could > flatten the roof out enough to fit the bed in there... right? > > Can a bed/matress be carried inside the bus, and then after the top is up, > slid into place up top, and used? > > Could the entire roof be cut out, from the normal entry opening back to the > rear, perhaps only a meter wide or so, and replaced with a flat piece of > steel welded in there??? This would allow for a custom matress to at least > be somewhat permanently positioned up there. While welding, I could also > put a platform on rollers, such that it rolls forward, and closes the crawl > up opening too... for added space. > > The main support that is up there... is that also curved like the vans > roof... or is that flat?? > > Thanks to all who have "real Westies" for replying regarding how things > really look... and for all of you who have made various types of "pseudo > Westies" for creative solutions and input! > > I have 2 days to get my info from you all before I go pick up my new roof. > Thanks in advance! > > RSF > > PS. I just did a test to my email address and it seemed to work fine... so > please try reply to all, and post to list, as well as to me when replying. > > IMPORTANT!!! In order to reply to me, you must have the word "FISH" > somewhere in the subject line of the email. Otherwise it goes directly in > the trash. > > <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ > > Robert S. Fish > Salzburg, Austria > 1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender > 1987 Golf Cabriolet > 1991 Golf


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