Cool --- thanks for the tip --- I just ordered mine and as it turns out the
guy just happened to be on his way to the Post Office --- so it's in the
mail already!!! I'm excited.

Cheers,
Doug

On 3/4/08, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Someone on the samba has come up with a design and started producing kits.
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=267447
>
> -Craig
> '85GL
>
> On Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 6:57 AM, Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Yup, I know I'm replying to an email from more than a year ago!  But I'm
> > back to carrying a kayak, and thus back to being unable to lift my
> poptop.
> > Very inconvenient.  So I'm looking at struts.
> >
> > Kim, why did you install them inside instead of outside?  Is that
> cosmetic
> > or functional?  And I can't tell from your photos where exactly they are
> > mounted at the lower end.  Are they attached to a metal plate that is
> part
> > of the poptop hinge?
> >
> > If anyone else has tried this, I'd be interested in your experience as
> > well.
> >
> >
> >
> > Joy
> >
> > ****************************************************************
> > Joy Hecht
> > and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
> >
> > For musings about life and the vanadventures:
> > http://www.joyhecht.net
> >
> >
> >
> ****************************************************************:::-----Orig
> > inal Message-----
> > :::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf
> > :::Of Kim Brennan
> > :::Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 9:58 PM
> > :::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > :::Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists
> > :::
> > :::Though no one asked I feel a few other comments are in order (I've
> > :::mentioned them before without the pictures. )
> > :::
> > :::It's a good idea to attach any struts to a strong point on the
> > :::poptop. In this case I already had a rack mount, which has a
> > :::reinforcing plate on the inside (invisible in the photos.) That helps
> > :::spread the load of the lift.
> > :::
> > :::On the lower mounting point, the place chosen was just about as far
> > :::forward as I could make it (it doesn't look very far forward, and
> > :::there is a reason for that.) The gating factor here was the existing
> > :::mechanism, which folds up and would occupy spaces further forward. I
> > :::also needed to ensure that there was clearence between the gas spring
> > :::(strut) and the existing mechanism. It was a tight fit using the
> > :::parts and mounting cups that I had.
> > :::
> > :::When I initially set it up, I used 125 pound struts. These were
> > :::woefully inadequate and in fact I couldn't even tell if they were
> > :::installed. I believe I also had on hand 150 pound struts, but again,
> > :::those simply weren't enough. The 250's were the highest rated I could
> > :::get in this model. I wouldn't have minded something a little bigger,
> > :::but them's the breaks. Just encourages me to pack light....
> > :::
> > :::Other folk have stated that they thought I would have mounted them
> > :::the other way (with the lower mount point further forward). I
> > :::considered that. But I tried it this way, on the theory that if it
> > :::didn't work, I could still switch to the other method with only the
> > :::cost of a hole in the poptop hinge to show my work. As it turns out
> > :::this was quite adequate, and I didn't pursue the other method.
> > :::
> > :::On Feb 3, 2007, at 3:18 PM, Kim Brennan wrote:
> > :::
> > :::>
> > :::> <http://homepage.mac.com/kimbrennan/PoptopAssist/index.html>
> >
>

--
http://www.dougalcock.com