Got you all on the integrity.  Also, I think you're correct on the vertical
height.  This has been brewing in my mind for a couple of days and the only
thing I don't understand is how the kits at VWElevation fit under a poptop.
I haven't read the rest of this thread and perhaps I'll know soon.

Thanks All.  You're invaluable.

On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 2:59 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:

>  Neil my point was that the 'buckboard' platform you are invisioning is
> designed to distribute the weight of someone sleeping and is not
> structural.
> If you remove the cross members from the roof (which it sounds to me like
> you'd be doing either way), you stand a chance at reducing the entire
> structural integrity of the car. It would make for some interesting
> lawsuits
> if you get in an accident....
> The simple answer to you question in my mind is "No, you cannot just cut a
> 4ft hole in the roof and put plywood over it".
>
> The whole concept of building a bedding platform is moot untill you figure
> out the way your going to access it (and reinforce the hole) in my mind. By
> the way, it is my expereicne that a flat bed cannot be built atop the
> curved
> section of vanagon roof, and the westfalia roof still close. You have to
> cut
> out a much much bigger hole, or "carry" the pieces of plywood in the cabin
> area.
>
> -Craig
> '85GL turned WESTY
>
> On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 4:26 PM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > The ASI was just a passenger van later modified to a Camper. The top
> > will go on another passenger van just fine. The hole in the roof is just
> > something cut out between the arches.
> >
> > The quality of the ASI leaves a bit to be desired. The tops crack and
> > sag with time. They attach to the roof in a fairly Disney rodent way.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> > Zeitgeist wrote:
> >
> >> Has anyone investigated installing one of the old ASI poptop kits on a
> non
> >> camper van?  I had an '83(?) diesel ASI years ago, and it looked like it
> >> could easily be retrofitted onto another van.  I also like the
> straight-up
> >> design vs. the rear-pivot of the Westphalia versions.
> >> --
> >> Casey
> >> '87 300TD
> >> '94 100CSQ Avant
> >> '89 Bluestar
> >>
> >>
>

--
Neil2
'82 Diesel Westfalia (USS Tinosa)
'86 Vanagon/Westfalia Wannabe (SaVannah)
Nunquam Pendite Divendium