I have !  I use and sell in Canada the pop-top lift strut kit made up by Mark Goddard, see his add on the Samba.  He has light duty and heavy duty struts.  I'm using the heavy duty ones with my 130w solar panel and the roof lifts easily with just a bit of help from me.  Pulling it closed is a bit more effort but if you go slow and easy it comes on down without any problems.  I keep these kits here in stock for Canadians not wishing to mail order parts across the frontier, $104.95 LD or HD 

  
On 2012-06-15, at 12:00 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> I have just replaced 2x15W solar panels which were mounted about as far towards
> the front as practical.  After I installed them I realized I'd done a very bad
> thing and meant to never do it again as it made lifting the roof pretty tough.
> 
> I just finished installing 2x90W panels located as far to the rear as possible
> to make sure it's as easy to lift as possible.
> 
> They are much tougher to lift than the old ones despite the position.
> 
> Has anyone ever worked out anything that would assist in lifting the roof?  I
> have come up with a couple in my mind, but they may not be practical.

Cheers,    

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 VW Westy, '00 Kawasaki 250 Sherpa, "98 Ducati 750 Monster & Lionel Trains (Collection for sale)
Frank Condelli & Associates - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems
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