Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004 01:33:43 -0500
Reply-To: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: GRRRR! (was RE: Raising poptop with kayak on roof)
In-Reply-To: <DNEFLHPPMKKCMAEKKDCCEEELCPAA.jhecht@alum.mit.edu>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Joy
skip the step stool and stand on the tire. use the gutter on the top of
the van to pull yourself up. as for exact replies to your question for a
small fee i'm sure some one could consult for you on this matter. for
free you get what you get on the vanagon list, which i think is quite good
compared to other lists i'm on.
here is my free specific advice. 1) work out more so that you can lift a
extra 48 lbs. push ups are an inexpensive way to to this. i do some every
morning :). 2) take the boat off and lift the top. 3) pay some
individual to design you a pneumatic lifting arrangement like lifts the
rear hatch. as a side note there have been people on this list that had
to sell their vans because due to medical reasons they could no longer
lift their poptops, be glad your not one of them :).
jonathan
On Sat, 20 Mar 2004, Joy Hecht wrote:
> It's still Friday somewhere, isn't it?
>
> So I can mouth off about non-responses to my email???
>
> I posted regarding racks already installed, with boat already neatly on
> racks, and my question was about strategies for lifting the poptop with the
> boat on.
>
> PLEASE don't recommend a completely different rack system and totally pay no
> attention to my question!!!
>
> I'll mention no names, because I'm really not annoyed AT any of the many
> people who sent such replies! Just annoyed in general. Especially as I
> finally finished the cover for my kayak to protect it from UV light, and
> discovered that even with my extra-tall stepstool I can't reach to attach
> the straps on it.
>
> I'm sorry, folks, but vanagons are TOO TALL for those of us of appropriate
> height - i.e. those who can just about almost stand inside without the top
> popped.
>
> And please don't get mad at me for flaming because I'm not flaming. Just
> venting a little frustration here! Maybe I should have taken to the road in
> my Prius after all!!! No problems loading the kayak there, just pick it up
> and put it down on the roof.
>
> Okay, I'm done mouthing off. If anyone does actually have advice on how to
> raise the poptop with 48 pounds of kayak and around 10 pounds of racks on
> top, please do let me know!
>
>
>
> Joy
>
> p.s. For those who are interested in rack systems - mine are basic Yakima,
> with the wide body pieces to attach racks that are designed for a gutter.
> One pair hully rollers, one pair saddles. Attached to the poptop.
> Following the recommendations of Vanagon-driving Greenland sea kayak
> extraordinaire Harvey Golden, who has driven thousands of miles with several
> skin-on-frame kayaks on the same racks as I have. And who regularly pops
> the top with them still attached (but told me it was hard).
>
>
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Joy Hecht
> and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
> and Henrietta, sad-eyed orangutan who waltzes with Matilda and me
> and Bicycle and Kayak, who ride on Matilda
> and my 2002 green Prius, waiting for our return from the vanadventures
> For musings about life and the vanadventures:
> http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
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