In general I prefer things such as struts to be in a sheltered
location. Helps them last longer. But truthfully, it simplified my
installation and in my original attempt I was just checking to see if
it would make any difference. Which it did. If it didn't, then I could
remove them, and my alterations would be nigh on invisible unless
someone knew what to look for.

As it turned out, having them where I put them means that regular VW
folk hardly even notice them. I like stealth sometimes.

On Mar 4, 2008, at 3:55 PM, Joy Hecht wrote:

> Kim, why did you put yours on the inside instead of the outside?
> Was that
> cosmetic or to protect them from the elements or some other reason?
>
>
>
> Joy
>
> :::-----Original Message-----
> :::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf
> :::Of Kim Brennan
> :::Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 3:26 PM
> :::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> :::Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists
> :::
> :::Yes, I used 250 pound struts that I got from McMaster-Carr.
> :::
> :::I believe I used 9416K54.
> :::
> :::However, part of that choice was dictated by my particular needs.
> :::
> :::
> :::On Mar 4, 2008, at 1:55 PM, Keith Ovregaard wrote:
> :::
> :::> Hey Joy
> :::>
> :::> I've been thinking about putting some assist struts on my
> poptop for
> :::> some time now, so I am glad you brought it up. Kim Brennan and I
> :::> emailed back and forth about a year ago and he seemed happy
> with the
> :::> struts mounted to the poptop brackets.  I think they were 250lb.
> :::> struts. Kim, do you have a part number? Did you get the struts
> from
> :::> McMasters?
> :::>
> :::> Keith O
> :::>
> :::>
> :::> On Mar 4, 2008, at 4:01 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
> :::>
> :::>> Date:    Tue, 4 Mar 2008 06:57:48 -0500
> :::>> From:    Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM>
> :::>> Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists
> :::>>
> :::>> 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