The seller just put up an actual ad:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=578890

B wrote:
> Aaargh!  I *need* this.  But the forum that pops up from the link on
> craig's post only talks about a kit, but doesn't provide any info on
> how to order it ... ???  What am I missing?????
>
>
> B(no-arm-strength)&S
> '87 Westy 'Esmerelda Blanc'
> SoCal
>
>
> On Mar 4, 2008, at 8:55 AM, Doug Alcock wrote:
>
>> 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
>