Bob,

I've seen at least two Westies at the insurance auctions where the top
flipped all the up and over, ripping the canvas, and destroying the hinges.

Consider yourself lucky... very, very lucky.

Cheers,

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Bob Stevens
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 7:39 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Pop Top ...Stupid is as .....

... Forest Gump's mom was right ;>)

I did a really bonehead thing and didn't properly latch my pop top. Got on
the freeway, tooling along at 65 or so and I heard this "thunk" .... and
lotsa breeze inside the van all of a sudden. Looking back and up I was
startled to see the top fully raised.

This question/thread has been raised in the past so I thought I'd publicly
humiliate myself and let those who've been curious know: no, the top does
not shear off or flip over backward, ripping the canvas off; no, the top
does not keep from going all the way up due to wind resistance against the
canvas .... at least not in my case.

It's a 3-window from GoWesty, the cotton canvas type, not the acrylic canvas
or Hemp. Interesting: the front screen window was unzipped maybe 6", and
when the top went up it unzipped almost all the way. That's what caused all
the interior breeze and may be why there was no damage to any of it. Very
robust stuff.

Conclusion: I need 2 cups of coffee before breaking camp, not one.

Side note and probably the most important part: I drove from Park City over
Guardsmen Pass to Heber Valley last night. A nifty "shortcut" and all, or
almost all dirt road and peaks out at around 9500 or so. I came across a big
black bull Moose on the way. Stopped and watched it for maybe 15 minutes.
Everything is so lush and green everywhere, there is lots of browse. Even in
Salt Lake there have been 5 moose and a cougar spotted in residential areas.

bob