Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
CHC pop top take two-
Page: 1, 2  Next
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
xoo00oox
Samba Member


Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
xoo00oox is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 4:14 am    Post subject: CHC pop top take two- Reply with quote

I have finally found a way to fix the sloppy lift arms/sliders/springs/rollers/turnbuckle assembly of the Country Homes Campers pop top. Some of you may have seen this at Transporterfest last weekend.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Please do not ask about pricing here in this thread!! It is not an advertisement, just showing something new in the Vanagon world. If you already have a CHC roof, feel free to copy if you want. The fiberglass base and roof are the same, all other parts are changed, I used a Westy canvas. The results are great, very smooth feeling, just like a Westy roof.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
insyncro
Banned


Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
insyncro is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 4:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very clever Exclamation
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
DLJ
Samba Member


Joined: August 05, 2008
Posts: 554
Location: North California
DLJ is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 9:57 am    Post subject: pop top Reply with quote

I have installed and maintain many CC tops. I myself have one. Never did really like the open-close system. Your is very-very nice. I really like it and now (after just replacing my canvas) I may just have to modify mine to operate like yours.
Thanks for the post.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
xoo00oox
Samba Member


Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
xoo00oox is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Dylan and DLJ-

There were many many failed attempts to improve the straight up lift. I finally decided to imitate the proven Westy lift.
I spent a lot of time looking at the Westfalia Mosaic kits. I prefer the look as well although I know some will disagree with me.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
?Waldo?
Samba Member


Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
?Waldo? is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 7:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice. Looks good. It almost looks like the top is still hitting the van at the very back when the top is up - optical illusion? The lift bar design looks excellent. Combined with the shocks, that's better than the Westy design. You ought to add a link to further information...


like pricing... Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
shadetreetim
Samba Member


Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1994
Location: Riverside, California
shadetreetim is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice work. Looks very good.
_________________
Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Syncroincity
Samba Member


Joined: April 15, 2007
Posts: 1557
Location: New York City
Syncroincity is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awesome work! Much less fiddley than the original scissors... and sturdier to boot. Beefy hinges, are those repros of Westy equipment? Great stuff all around. I'll be considering this for sure.

Sorry I didn't make it up for Transporterfest, looks like a nice meet... I was having oil control issues, still working out some kinks here and there.
_________________
'86 Syncro CHC Top AAZ Turbodiesel
'04 Passat Variant 4Mo 5MT

Vanagon Build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466866&highlight=
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
DLJ
Samba Member


Joined: August 05, 2008
Posts: 554
Location: North California
DLJ is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 11:57 am    Post subject: pop top Reply with quote

What rear hinges did you use and why not stock westy? Also, after removing springs, do you think a stock westy lift bar would work ?
Love this mod.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
xoo00oox
Samba Member


Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
xoo00oox is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks for the comments guys.

Libby- only the bulb of the seal is touching when the roof is lifted. I am working on producing these, finding time between other work can be tough. Once ready I'll post an ad.

Jerry- Yep, its nice to be rid of the scissors.

DLJ- We made all new parts, I did not want to have to rely on finding used parts in order to produce these kits.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
xoo00oox
Samba Member


Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
xoo00oox is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DLJ- here is the finished hinge. I also am using a piece of angle iron under the Vanagon roof skin to tie the hinge to the vertical piece below it so its not flexing the sheet metal.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jackbombay
Samba Member


Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
jackbombay is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice work, I'm digging the lift bar design up front!
_________________

Gas struts to pop your top easily!

Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies Smile


Samba ad here.


DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
xoo00oox
Samba Member


Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
xoo00oox is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Jackbombay, believe it or not, I had a set of your shocks on the prototype. Without the spring loaded liftbar that the Westys have, they were not strong enough. After trying a ton more, we ended up using much longer ones and reversed the angle at wich they lift the roof.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jackbombay
Samba Member


Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
jackbombay is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 7:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

xoo00oox wrote:
Without the spring loaded liftbar that the Westys have, they were not strong enough.


Was that with my "standard" struts?
_________________

Gas struts to pop your top easily!

Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies Smile


Samba ad here.


DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
DLJ
Samba Member


Joined: August 05, 2008
Posts: 554
Location: North California
DLJ is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 12:13 pm    Post subject: pop top Reply with quote

Gotta say again, this is one of the best mods I've seen in a long time. It really hits home with me because I've installed many CC tops, and I regularly repair them for customers. Nice simple and functional. Could you have used the westy lift bar ? If not why ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
xoo00oox
Samba Member


Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
xoo00oox is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 1:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jackbombay- I only had a set of your standard shocks, I did not try your stronger ones..

DLJ- Thanks, I really appreciate that. I just took a look at a Westy lift bar, I think it could be adapted but you would probably need to shorten and narrow it along with change the way the bottom of it attaches. I think in the end it would be quicker to copy the picture of the one I made if you have something to bend tubing with. You will find any small change in dimension on the lift bar affects every thing, the height it lifts to, the location of the push up bar when roof is down, the amount of "latch" it makes when roof is up and push bar is pushed forward to lock it.

If I can make myself do it, I may show a picture of the pile of all the failed lift assemblys I have been working on before I was happy with this.


milling the hinge brackets....
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
xoo00oox
Samba Member


Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
xoo00oox is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 1:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Westy hinge to the left, Flint hinge to the right.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
xoo00oox
Samba Member


Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
xoo00oox is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote


Link
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
CdnVWJunkie Premium Member
Samba Member


Joined: February 01, 2004
Posts: 1107
Location: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
CdnVWJunkie is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 5:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool vid. Dig the hanging art Wink
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
insyncro
Banned


Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
insyncro is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice job Andrew Exclamation
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
xoo00oox
Samba Member


Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
xoo00oox is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 3:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

New video showing how to install a kit. We still need to edit a few spots.



Link


This roof was then pulled back off and sent to NM, it is also the same bus that is getting the backward engine.


Andrew-
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.