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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 8766
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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 Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 8:07 am Post subject: Re: Do you use your head? |
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| DanHoug wrote: |
| i use my head. being tall, bald, and a frequent baseball cap wearer, i've had the top 'button' driven into my cranium many times so now i perform a 'button-ectomy' on each cap using a side cutter to pop the button off. |
All it takes to know the end result of this is a quick viewing of The Munsters.
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If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?” |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10305
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 9:37 am Post subject: |
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| vanis13 wrote: |
| ...is that a Velcro strap? What's it's purpose? |
Possibly a 'belt & suspenders' approach to assuring the top stays latched? |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 8766
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Do you use your head? |
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Last Spring, our top popped up for the very first time, thankfully on a backroad and at 45 mph. Tent was already on its way out, this really did it, and thankfully we had duct tape. New tent finally went in a few weeks ago.
The strap is a good idea, whether as idiot-proofness — or what we’ve had happen very often — trying to close the roof in sudden windstorms from the front. That is not fun, and we try having an emergency strap at the ready just for that.
We use a custom-shaped 2x4 to support the roof, right behind the clasp. That $3 hunk has saved uncountable chances for real damage, especially from sidewinds.
The good news is the poptop framework can take far more wind than we could have ever guessed, but maybe a lot of that is from the 2x4.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?” |
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3479
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Ahwahnee wrote: |
| vanis13 wrote: |
| ...is that a Velcro strap? What's it's purpose? |
Possibly a 'belt & suspenders' approach to assuring the top stays latched? |
Has to be. I have a similar thing going on. When I pop the top my strap gets wrapped onto my steering wheel as a reminder that the top is up too.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8601
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| vanis13 wrote: |
| ...is that a Velcro strap? What's it's purpose? |
Quick release nylon buckle strap, one on each side.
I hate Velcro.
| vanis13 wrote: |
| What's [the] purpose? |
Ahwahnee is correct. They're to prevent the pop-top from lifting in the wind and/or while driving. I've been doing it ever since driving east on I-40 over a decade ago with the wind raging, when I had to pull off due to chairs in the luggage bin getting blown around (not tied; just laying under a net). I noticed while parked on the off-ramp that the pop-top sides were lifting, just from the wind. Have never had the top break loose and pop up while driving (and hope to never have it occur). Can't say the same for my parents' '89; popped up on a windy trip through western Colorado several years back (and the top had been securely latched that morning). Ever since, Dad has put cam straps on... no reoccurrence of the incident.
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1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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VeeDubn
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2019
Posts: 167
Location: Olympia, Washington
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 10:13 pm Post subject: Re: Do you use your head? |
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The Bombay struts are a game changer - we roll our canvas - we used Velcro straps for a bit of peace of mind.
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THE KESZTHELY KID
Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2022
Posts: 77
Location: West Yorkshire
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2025 1:00 am Post subject: Re: Do you use your head? |
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This is an amazing and very useful thread. Thank you everyone.
FWIW I am 6'4" n bald and do use my head as I tuck in the canvas sides on Bezza's pop-top.
Not ideal but it works for me 
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Current owner of 1980 T25 Westphalia Joker.
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe - Semi-automatic!!
1983 Trabant 601S Sedan
Daily Driver - 2024 Dacia Duster Journey - Automatic |
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SoquelDude
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2021
Posts: 380
Location: Soquel, CA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2025 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Do you use your head? |
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| VeeDubn wrote: |
| The Bombay struts are a game changer - we roll our canvas - we used Velcro straps for a bit of peace of mind. |
Yup, I've got the GW basic struts. Easy to ligft the top and (maybe) just a bit too easy to bring down. Do the Bombay struts make bringing the top down tough enough to cause a hernia?
Thanks! That's what I aspire to see in my rig.
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'90 Vanagon Westy GL, AT, EJ22E conversion (1993 2.2L Legacy Engine) |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 8766
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2025 10:55 am Post subject: Re: Do you use your head? |
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As mentioned, the 90 lb. Bombays are absolutely perfect if nothing’s on the poptop roof.
Easy up, easy down.
I totally get your “pull down hernia” reference when we finally and permanently ditched our cargo box, while awaiting the 90 lb. Struts to replace the stronger ones we still had mounted. Far more a physical risk than pushing the roof up.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?” |
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VeeDubn
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2019
Posts: 167
Location: Olympia, Washington
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2025 11:49 am Post subject: Re: Do you use your head? |
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| Quote: |
| Do the Bombay struts make bringing the top down tough enough to cause a hernia? |
We have no problem with the struts holding the pop top in place going up (if necessary) or coming down (allowing for ease of rolling up the canvas), nor with lifting up or pulling down. I think the key is purchasing the correct strength strut, which depends on what (if anything) you are carrying on top of your pop top. |
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bobbyblack 
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4699
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2025 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: Do you use your head? |
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In my '86 with original tent, yes.
In my '87 with replacement tent and Bombay shocks, no.
In case anyone wants to do something to help keep their top from popping when underway, think over this (as far as I know, the PO's original and unique) solution.
The main points here are that there is a pin that needs to extend through the hand grip as the handles are pulled down. If this pin is blocked, there is no way that the pin can let go of the latched top. Yes, it is rusted, and I have not been too concerned, since it matches the rest of the '87's patina. It's never caused me a second's thought that it is ruining my camping, traveling experience.
BTW, Jack Bombay shocks are now sold by another reputable vendor. Them r good.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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