I went the (laborious) route of starting with SS angle for the bracket - sawing out on leg of the L to end up with a short section at end for strut attachment. What a crazy thing to do with a hacksaw. I should have welded it up from flat stock, but I can't weld... yet :)

I made a rather ostentatious big washer to pretty up (and pretty is in the eyes of the beholder) the bolt attaching strut to pop top.

pics of strut assembly here:

http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/vanagon-pop-top-assist-struts/

Inside look (canvas off) of struts installed:

http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/08/13/vanagon-pop-top-assist-struts-installed/

attempt to pretty-up bolts

http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/vanagon-looking-at-pop-top-truss-head-bolt-alternatives/

alistair

On 2012-06-15, at 4:36 PM, Bill M wrote:

> I started to make my own kit but gave up after fussing with
> the lower bracket and not getting it quite right. I have the HD
> struts and with and empty roof it lifts itself. Takes a little effort to pull down but no big deal. Where it really shines is when the roof has a full rocket box and it goes up with just a little 
> push. I am still searching for that elusive attractive fastner
> for that top stud but have learned to live with the cap nut
> and washer. I also painted the lower bracket body color
> but that was a waste of time and paint. Should have just
> left it black. I may powder coat it this winter when I start
> playing with a powder coating set up I purchased at the 
> pawn shop. Need to find an oven that I can set up in the
> driveway first. My cousin is supposed to replace their built
> in with a stove top/oven unit this summer and that will be
> perfect. C
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jun 15, 2012, at 10:04 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> 
>> I made my own, but it it much more sensible (time and effort) to buy from jackbombay  (samba ad).
>> 
>> alistair
>> 
>> 
>> On 2012-06-14, at 7:35 PM, tom ring wrote:
>> 
>>> Looks very doable.
>>> 
>>> Thanks.
>>> 
>>> tom
>>> 
>>> On 14 Jun 2012 at 19:30, Loren Busch wrote:
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 7:08 PM, tom ring <taring@taring.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 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.
>>>> 
>>>> Right here: <http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=798951>