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Date:         Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:52:44 -0400
Reply-To:     craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Westfakia, Poptop, Access, Design
Comments: To: Neil2 <vidublu@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <5a099d980904201628y1b6037dav7c630dc663a94093@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Keep in mind that the sunroof vanagons were not by any means simply a "hole in the roof". They seem to have reinforced the entire hole fairly well not to mention the whole thing is quite different (Who knew there was a reduction of headroom in a sunroof van!?). Simply put, you 'risk' the structural problems that Westfalia recognized and comabatted properly, if you were to just cut a hole the size of the stock vanagon sunroof in there. With that said, plenty of people have done it and not died. Plenty of people have also used a slightly smaller hole, allowing for them to keep the strengthening rib you are concerned about. Plenty of people have even swapped an entire roof section from a Westfalia and welded that on. And lastly, i have seen some very creative fixes to the problem come out of britain, where they remove the rib but reinforce the structure with welded in sections of angle-iron and flat stock, essentially building their own Westfalia flat roof line to the current vanagon (quite ingenious really). The point is, people have done this. There is a ton of documentation, and you can figure out the faults with each system. Even though the weight of those sleeping is going to be distributed on a load bearing board, this is exactly like a westfalia! You still cannot cut a giant hole and expect that a sheet of plywood made it strong again.

Just my thoughts. : )

-Craig '85GL turned WESTY

On Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 7:28 PM, Neil2 <vidublu@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey volks, > > I'm planning to install a poptop on a '91 Vanagon. Haven't bought the > poptop yet. Want to do it quick and dirty by simply installing a buckboard > on the roof (and using a hinged access door which would open toward the > port > side of the van instead of rearward). > > I'm toying with the idea of cutting my access hole lengthwise, down the van > roof, instead of across. This may allow me to work in the kitchen area > with > Max Headroom :-), and double as a stairway to heaven :-). My concerns are > whether I will be able to cut the rectangular access hole the same size, > only rotated 90 deg. And, whether cutting through the roof indentation at > the middle pillar poses problems, long term. Since the weight of those > entering/exiting/sleeping in the pt would be borne by the buckboard I think > not. > > Any ideas/suggestions/opposition? > > Would someone please send me the opening dimensions of a Vanagon Sunroof > opening? > > I'll search the archives as well. > > Please and Thanks! > > -- > Neil2 > '82 Diesel Westfalia (USS Tinosa) > '86 Vanagon/Westfalia Wannabe (SaVannah) > Nunquam Pendite Divendium >


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