Date:         Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:19:18 -0500
Reply-To:     craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: ebay Vanagon with extra headroom - poptop only - no roof.
Comments: To: Thomas Buese <tombuese@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <92653F8D-6EA6-4CB7-8027-EBFAC9AA46DD@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Yes and No.
The 'hole' in a westy is at least double the size of the sunroof hole.
Furthermore, the sunroof busses have a thick rib that surrounds the hole and
gives rigidity, as well as a great deal of extra "stuff" up there (you even
loose 1.25'' of headroom inside as a result!~)

I was under the impression that that cross brace was the only real
strengthener on the westy, but it's been a while since i've cut up a westy
(but I have done several). Since that cross brace is in place on this westy
in question, I don't really see the big deal. The wooden bunks aren't really
secured to anything in any way that adds any strength, and at least at first
glance, that's all the appears to me to be missing.

I think i'd drive around like that without much hesitation, but further
investigation may be required.

-Craig


On Tue, Dec 28, 2010 at 11:10 AM, Thomas Buese <tombuese@comcast.net> wrote:

> In my professional experience w/ structural engineering, I believe that the
> Westy cross brace in the ceiling is more for the structural support of the
> upper bunk than for cross bracing the roof-sunroof models don't have that
> brace, right Craig?
>
> YMMV,
>
> Mr. BZ-you can never have too much headroom, but where do you store your
> stuff?
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 28, 2010, at 7:40 AM, craig cowan wrote:
>
>  Ahh. I guess they did pull out some structural stuff.
>> In that case, it may be somewhat compromised. How much? It's hard to say.
>>
>> -Craig
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Dec 28, 2010 at 12:05 AM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  On Mon, Dec 27, 2010 at 7:30 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com
>>> >wrote:
>>>
>>>  It's only missing the top bunks right? They're not structural....
>>>> So, "YES"?
>>>>
>>>> It looks good!
>>>> If you don't use your top bunks, that looks slick!
>>>>
>>>>
>>> BUT it is missing all the sheet metal part of the top in that area and
>>> maybe more important the  very beefy cross brace at the front of the bunk
>>> the VW/Westfalia put in.
>>>
>>>
>