Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:30:57 -0700
Reply-To: mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Westfakia, Poptop, Access, Design
In-Reply-To: <5a099d980904221054v411aba43q297f45850267bf48@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I cut the hole and installed my first poptop 15 years ago to make my
Baja Syncro Camper. It has been offroad many many times, heavily loaded.
As long as the roof arches are left alone, the roughly 4' x 4' hole cut
over the standing area is not a problem, in my experience. I have put
150k miles on that Syncro since. I still have it and I have done the
same to a few others since that one.
VW sold passenger vans to conversion companies for many years, knowing
that those companies were going to cut a hole and put their own tops on.
In Europe various reputable aftermarket companies have marketed kits to
put tops on passenger models, like Westfalia, Reimo, etc.
As to what someone told you regarding a "standard sized" hole I can't
say since to me that means cutting more like a 7' by 4', removing a main
arch and this is problematic unless the arch is replaced.
Mark
Neil2 wrote:
> Someone in CA who works at a well known Vanagon supplier/refurbishment
> company, told me if one doesn't take the Vanagon offroad the standard
> sized Westy opening cut in a Vanagon poses little problems.
>
> Again, similar to what Mr. Drillock stated, I had perhaps hoped to only
> cut a hole half the size of the sunroof/westy hole but now that I hear
> all the integrity arguments I definitely would do so only ACROSS the
> roof not lengthwise and likely only between the first and second roof
> extrusions. I only need enough room for to stand and unlatch the pt and
> allow access/egress from the pt.
>
> I also toyed with the idea of constructing a thin, aluminum ladder to
> store in the pt and made to fit from the ground to the luggage rack.
> This would allow the Vanagon roof to go unscathed and the children would
> like it even better. More like a real tree house! I'd have to cover
> the luggage rack with some form fitting plywood contraption while in
> port, so as to not stress the roof below it.
>
> I plan to buy a roof tent now but will follow this thread to the bitter
> end, since I started this argument and want to ensure my bad name isn't
> cleaned up!
>
> On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 4:41 PM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net
>
| 
