I was posed with same dilemma.  If you load the top. Great.  You have to
unload to camp.  Bummer. You get extra wind resistance on the road and
greater cross-wind sensitivity.  On the other hand, if what you carry will
fit in a small trailer, maybe towing will be the answer.  You keep the
cross-wind sensitivity, lose the air drag, but you have to pull the weight
of the trailer.  If you have small light-weight trailer, perhaps of the
motorcycle variety, you will benefit from extra storage without having to
unload.  And you have the option of leaving it at a camp site, chained to a
nearby tree, of course, while you go sight-seeing.

Just my .0023 cents worth.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Bill Davidson
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2000 10:19 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Thule Rack and Rocketbox

> My question is this, does anyone have experience with approximately how
much
> weight one can put in the rocketbox and still keep the poptop in the UP
> position without causing any damage or other adverse events to the poptop
or
> any other parts of the van or persons?
> Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Doug,
The problem will be lifting the pop top with weight on top of it. I have
read a post on the list that claimed they could lift the top with a kayak on
top (with great difficulty)... but I installed Thule gutter mounts and bars
last fall and found it difficult to lift just with those installed! So my
guess is you will have to unload the contents of the box at least... and
possibly the box itself to raise the top.

Bill