Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 16:37:11 -0500
Reply-To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists
In-Reply-To: <47CDBC8D.9070600@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
250 pounds struts might not lift 250 pounds on top of your westfalia.
It depends on the angle of work among other things. The info on
McMaster can help a lot. You can use struts that have a lot less
lifting power....if you mount them differently than I. Mine was almost
a worse case scenario (which is why I have 2x250 pound struts). In my
case it helps lifting (a bit) and more importantly gives a LOT of
protection when lowering the top (so all that weight doesn't come
crashing down on my head when lowering it.)
<http://homepage.mac.com/kimbrennan/PoptopAssist/>
The above is a link to photos I took showing the struts installed.
On Mar 4, 2008, at 4:18 PM, Michael Elliott wrote:
> Kim,
>
> Like Joy says: we want details. I wouldn't mind a little assist even
> for
> my unladen poptop. The old "arthuritis" in the right shoulder makes
> lifting the top a bit painful. 50lb of lift would be right peachy, I
> betcha. Just need some idea how to mount the things.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
>
> On 3/4/2008 12:25 PM Kim Brennan wrote:
>
>> Yes, I used 250 pound struts that I got from McMaster-Carr.
>>
>> I believe I used 9416K54.
>>
>> However, part of that choice was dictated by my particular needs.
>>
>>
>> On Mar 4, 2008, at 1:55 PM, Keith Ovregaard wrote:
>>
>>> Hey Joy
>>>
>>> I've been thinking about putting some assist struts on my poptop for
>>> some time now, so I am glad you brought it up. Kim Brennan and I
>>> emailed back and forth about a year ago and he seemed happy with the
>>> struts mounted to the poptop brackets. I think they were 250lb.
>>> struts. Kim, do you have a part number? Did you get the struts from
>>> McMasters?
>>>
>>> Keith O
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mar 4, 2008, at 4:01 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
>>>
>>>> Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 06:57:48 -0500
>>>> From: Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM>
>>>> Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists
>>>>
>>>> Yup, I know I'm replying to an email from more than a year ago!
>>>> But
>>>> I'm
>>>> back to carrying a kayak, and thus back to being unable to lift my
>>>> poptop.
>>>> Very inconvenient. So I'm looking at struts.
>>>>
>>>> Kim, why did you install them inside instead of outside? Is that
>>>> cosmetic
>>>> or functional? And I can't tell from your photos where exactly
>>>> they
>>>> are
>>>> mounted at the lower end. Are they attached to a metal plate that
>>>> is part
>>>> of the poptop hinge?
>>>>
>>>> If anyone else has tried this, I'd be interested in your experience
>>>> as well.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Joy
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