J,

There are also roller mounts for kayaks made by thule/ yakima, so if you get one edge on a roller you can just push it up. As far as lifting the top, you might try getting a pole extention for painting in an 8' length and using it with your stool; if you can get the roof up partway to figure out what length of brace you need and then set the adjustable pole to length, lift the roof a bit and set the pole, then you can get up a bit more for the final push/lock. I've done this to help raise sheets of wood for overhead storage in my garage (alone) so it might work. The poles come in lightweight fiberglass too and are pretty cheap, and also can be used for a clothes/ gear hanger or gear stop on the platform (I recommend a rubber end for the threaded side of the pole to protect the van).

Mark in Denver

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of George Mercer Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 6:43 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Raising poptop with kayak on roof

Joy, A rack mounted to the poptop could take the poptop off by lifting the kayak or canoe along with the poptop while your are driving at highway speeds.

One can use double Yakima towers on top of each other with a long bolt to keep them together mounted to the rain gutters. The other option (the one I opted for) is to use the highest towers from Thule. They mount on the rain gutter and clear the poptop.

To allow the poptop to open, place one rack in front of the poptop. The back or rear rack would have to be placed at the very back/end of the rain gutters. The Thule will not allow the poptop to open but I've thought of cutting 3 inches off the widest part of the towers foot on the trailing side to allow the tower to be placed back another 3" and that should allow the poptop to clear the rear rack.

Today, I take off the canoe and rear rack to pop the top.

I don't know how much clearance there is with the Yakima solution.

Good luck, George '88 Westy, Thule rack and 16' Wenonah Adirondack Canoe

In a message dated 3/19/04 12:36:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, appin@DISTRIBUTEL.NET writes:

> Subj: Re: Raising poptop with kayak on roof > Date: 3/19/04 12:36:36 PM Pacific Standard Time > From: appin@DISTRIBUTEL.NET > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Sent from the Internet > > > > go to http://home.earthlink.net/~matsuwesty/ he has an excellent > kayak rack on his westy > > patrick 85 westy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Joy Hecht" <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 10:20 AM > Subject: Raising poptop with kayak on roof > > > >Well, I've finally gotten my roof racks installed, figured out how to

> >get > my > >kayak onto them, strapped it on, and found there's absolutely no way > >I can raise the poptop when the kayak is up there. The kayak won't > >fall off, that's stable, but it's too heavy. > > > >Does anyone have any suggestions? > > > >Here's the details: They kayak is 19 feet long and weighs 48 pounds.

> >I have it strapped on about as far back as it can reasonably go, so > >as to > have > >the weight at the bottom of the poptop. It overhangs the back of the

> >van but not the front. I am 5'3" tall and have very good upper body > >strength for a woman (years of rowing crew, swimming, kayaking, and > >lifting > weights). > >With nothing on the roof it's a bit of a stretch for me to get the > >poptop fully up and pull it down, but not a problem. > > > >I can lift poptop and boat about a foot and a half. I tried lifting > >it > that > >far and propping it up on a piece of wood, then getting directly > >beneath > the > >bar and seeing if I could push it straight up, but I can't, it's way > >too heavy. > > > >Suggestions, please!!!! I really don't want to have to unload the > >boat whenever I want to pop the top, that would be a major bore. > >Besides, storing the kayak on top of the roof is much safer than on > >the ground, and having to reload it every time I lock the van and > >take off on my bike > would > >be even more of a nuisance. And what's the point of having a poptop > >if I just don't bother popping it? > > > >Tomorrow I'm taking the van up to a friend's to finish battery > installation. > >He's very big and strong. I'm going to see if he can do it. If he > >can't either, that will be useful info. > > > >Help!!!! Please!!!! I have a vague recollection of hearing someone > mention > >hydraulics to help lift poptops - was that my imagination? > > > > > > > > > >Joy >