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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
Comments: To: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
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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