Date:         Wed, 7 Feb 2007 10:41:54 -0800
Reply-To:     Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Poptop Raise Assists (Fryeday content)
Comments: To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Kim,

Thanks for uploading all the pics! Very helpful to all of us who would
like to find a better way to raise the poptop when loaded (the racks,
not me). However, it seems like the struts are mounted back too far and
would be more effective if moved forward with the top/bottom angle
reversed. I would guess the extra leverage would make it possible to
use 150 lb struts instead of 250's.

Then again, 12v linear actuators would be the cats meow if we could
fine the right one and the perfect place to mount them. After bringing
the top down with 5" of heavy snow on top, I am ready for a solution. I
got slammed to the floor and was sore for days! Now that I have a kayak
and sometimes a bike, maybe a basket with spare tire, it will be
impossible to lift the top by myself without some sort of assist (or
hassle with unloading everything).

With over 900 of us on this list, we should be able to figure this out.
I am willing to put some time into this. Anyone else?

Keith O


On Feb 7, 2007, at 10:08 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Wed, 7 Feb 2007 11:42:03 -0500
> From:    Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
> Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists (Fryeday content)
>
> <http://homepage.mac.com/kimbrennan/PoptopAssist/index.html>
>
> I got the gas springs from McMaster-Carr <http://www.mcmaster.com>
> I'm pretty sure that they were a shade under 40 inches long
> (something like 39.57") but that size isn't listed anymore. Search on
> "gas spring" then go to the next catalog page (1138) for the metric
> gas springs. I used M8 threads in the 250 pound force. Of course, now
> I'm eying those M10 threaded ones with even more force....Hmmm...