I don't get it - why should it be any easier to push a pole than to directly
push the poptop?  You're not getting leverage here.

Joy

:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
:::Of David Etter
:::Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 9:55 PM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists (Fryeday content)
:::
:::Just a quick thought.
:::
:::How about a low tech approach.
:::An 8 ft. rod or pole (approximately) hinged in the middle. (work with
:::me here now - use your mind)
:::
:::One end is placed on the now unlatched mechanism up top and the other
:::end is placed on the floor, directly underneath the latch.
:::        Of course, with the top down, and it being 8 feet long, the
:::'bent arm' is going to sticking out toward the rear seat.
:::Grab the hinge area and pull or push toward the front of the van
:::Bingo! up it goes.
:::        Essentially you are creating a second arm like the one
:::already installed only this one is already almost open, giving better
:::mechanical leverage.
:::Your leverage is going to be better working on the horizontal where
:::you can put your weight behind the effort, than it is pushing upward
:::and carrying the entire load on your back and arm muscles.
:::        The pole collapses/folds to 4 foot long and stores up above on
:::the bed.
:::
:::It's just a start but I'll do better after my 4 cups of coffee
:::tomorrow morning. ;-)
:::
:::                                        David (dsl82westy)
:::
:::~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
:::~~~
:::
:::>Kim,
:::>
:::>Thanks for uploading all the pics! Very helpful to all of us who would
:::>like to find a better way to raise the poptop when loaded (the racks,
:::>not me). However, it seems like the struts are mounted back too far and
:::>would be more effective if moved forward with the top/bottom angle
:::>reversed. I would guess the extra leverage would make it possible to
:::>use 150 lb struts instead of 250's.
:::>
:::>Then again, 12v linear actuators would be the cats meow if we could
:::>fine the right one and the perfect place to mount them. After bringing
:::>the top down with 5" of heavy snow on top, I am ready for a solution. I
:::>got slammed to the floor and was sore for days! Now that I have a kayak
:::>and sometimes a bike, maybe a basket with spare tire, it will be
:::>impossible to lift the top by myself without some sort of assist (or
:::>hassle with unloading everything).
:::>
:::>With over 900 of us on this list, we should be able to figure this out.
:::>I am willing to put some time into this. Anyone else?
:::>
:::>Keith O
:::>
:::>
:::>On Feb 7, 2007, at 10:08 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
:::>
:::>>Date:    Wed, 7 Feb 2007 11:42:03 -0500
:::>>From:    Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
:::>>Subject: Re: Poptop Raise Assists (Fryeday content)
:::>>
:::>><http://homepage.mac.com/kimbrennan/PoptopAssist/index.html>
:::>>
:::>>I got the gas springs from McMaster-Carr <http://www.mcmaster.com>
:::>>I'm pretty sure that they were a shade under 40 inches long
:::>>(something like 39.57") but that size isn't listed anymore. Search on
:::>>"gas spring" then go to the next catalog page (1138) for the metric
:::>>gas springs. I used M8 threads in the 250 pound force. Of course, now
:::>>I'm eying those M10 threaded ones with even more force....Hmmm...