Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 13:43:43 -0500
Reply-To: Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists
In-Reply-To: <1ed6d210702070815m6519ede5l2b64185550b15254@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
When I was traveling with my kayak, my approach to the "controlled crash"
was to put a pillow or my sleeping bag (in stuff sack) on top of the folded
bed. Then the top would crash onto that and slowly sink. And I could then
just pull out the pillow or sleeping bag and it would close nicely.
The only occasional hard part was if it got all the way down and the fabric
was caught. But then I could just push it up an inch to get the fabric out.
Worked pretty well. But I couldn't lift it by myself.
Joy
:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
:::Of Doug Alcock
:::Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 11:16 AM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists (Fryeday content)
:::
:::Hi Kim,
:::Please send pics if you have any --- and details on the shocks themselves
:::(how long for example). A couple of other questions ---- How much weight
:::are
:::you putting on the Westy top? Is it on a roof rack?
:::The luggage rack plate you describe sounds very similar to the
:::"artificial
:::rain gutters" that I attach my roof rack to. I carry a canoe regularly,
:::with
:::paddles and gear in it it's probably 80-90 pounds and I sympathise
:::completely when you say that putting the top down is the problem --- I've
:::learned to do a sort of controlled crash :-) to lower the top when the
:::canoe
:::is on top. Raising the top is easy -- I jump up on the luggage rack in
:::front
:::and use the tied on canoe as a handy lever.
:::This sounds like the Westy mod I've been waiting for --- please share
:::your
:::pics and wisdom.
:::
:::Cheers,
:::Doug
:::
:::On 2/3/07, Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@mac.com> wrote:
:::>
:::> # 1) Westfalia's already have springs to help lift the top. They are
:::> back there in the hinge.
:::>
:::> #2) I did add gas springs to help lift the top...but only because I
:::> have got a humongous extra luggage carrier on top (110 pound luggage
:::> carrier, NOT including what is in it.)
:::>
:::> You could do something similar to what I did, and use weaker gas
:::> springs.
:::>
:::> My gas springs are attached at one end to the pivot bracket, and at
:::> the other end to a luggage rack plate that a previous owner had added
:::> to the poptop.
:::>
:::> Note. You do NOT want to just bolt the gas springs to the poptop. You
:::> need to spread the load out. Fiberglass can crumble under load.
:::>
:::> Again, in my case the luggage rack plate is attached with 2 bolts and
:::> has an inner plate. I replaced one of the original bolts with the
:::> bolt for the gas spring. This allows for the whole carrier rack plate
:::> to support the additional lifting force applied.
:::>
:::> I used 250 pound rated gas springs (one on each side). A different
:::> arrangement might be more efficient, but mine has the advantage of
:::> being just about invisible.
:::>
:::>
:::> On Feb 2, 2007, at 11:37 PM, BA wrote:
:::>
:::> > (Unless we learn
:::> > something more about it ... doesn't someone on this list have a
:::> > hydraulic-assist-lift poptop???)
:::>
:::
:::
:::
:::--
:::http://www.dougalcock.com
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