When you get it, can you explain where the lower end is attached within the
hinge?

Thanks!

Joy

:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
:::Of Doug Alcock
:::Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:55 AM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists
:::
:::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