Date:         Thu, 8 Apr 2010 02:15:43 +0200
Reply-To:     Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Pop-Top Lift Assist
In-Reply-To:  <u2s2cb866ef1004062113o71ec9b5tef1c0130ea2359fe@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I've got poptop lift assists too - no way I could just watch the roof go up,
though!  But then I have around 70 pounds of stuff permanently up there
(kayak racks and kayak), which is why I need the lifts.  If the struts were
powerful enough to lift without assistance, I'd NEVER be able to get the top
closed again.

I'm glad to have the lifts (I also got the kit from Frank), but I find that
since I put them on my poptop leaks.  If the van is sitting parked, top
down, and it rains, water comes in at the seams.  I think the top is being
pushed forward just enough to create a crack where the seals are, and water
comes in at both corners.

The kit Frank was selling then (perhaps now?) requires you to drill holes in
the top.  Scary, but not a big deal.  No leaks at those holes.



Joy


On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 6:13 AM, Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have the pop-top lift struts and also think they were a good addition.
> After a year of use they still work great and I've had no issues.  I think
> that mine are from the same source as the ones on thesamba.com though I
> got
> mine from Frank Condelli.  I got the set with the stronger struts and even
> with the solar panel up top the roof lifts itself once it is released.  In
> cold weather it is a bit more sluggish but in warm weather it opens up
> really well.
>
> My favorite thing about this mod is being able to release the roof and then
> watch it lift itself, sometimes I demonstrate this to folks by waving my
> hands out of the sliding door saying,, look look,, it lifts itself! ha ha.
> Definitely worth installing if only for the entertainment factor..
>
> Jonathan Poole
>
>
> Date:    Tue, 6 Apr 2010 18:16:15 -0700
> From:    Geo <ahwahneevw@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Pop-Top Lift Assist
>
> Thanks to all who replied.  I like how his uses the existing roof
> brackets as mounting points for the sheet metal connection.
>
> I have never undone those rear brackets (left the pop-top on when I
> redid the canvas) are those bolts into captive nuts?  i.e. can it be
> undone/done without removing anything from the inside?
>
> Also -- if you have this and are not carrying anything on top of the
> top... do you find the 'standard' strength shock adequate?
>
> This isn't quite a 'save my marriage' accessory but it will make me
> very popular.
>
> Geo
>