Gas strut assisted pop tops?

[77_Bus_Girl]

So as to avoid hijacking someone's thread where I (inappropriately because it was off topic ) asked about westy's fitted with gas struts to assist lifting the pop top, I'll start a new thread... (I hope this is the proper etiquite!)

Nigel A. Skeet wrote:

[jeremysmithatshawdotca]

The struts would be comparable to those that help lift hatchback gates, so they're not all that large. You should be able to find some at your FLAPS, and they might be able to hook you up with some mounting points too. If not you could raid a station wagon or hatchback in the junk yard for the mounts (I'd go fo new struts though, no use getting some that are who knows how far from losing their charge!)

Jeremy

[NASkeet]

Dear 77 Bus Girl

In order to fit the gas struts to the GRP (i.e. glass-fibre reinforced plastic) pop top, I deliberately fabricated custom-made attachment brackets (about 170 mm long), so that the considerable force produced by the gas struts, would be distributed over as large an area as possible.

They are fitted to the pop top using two stainless steel pan-head M6 screws (button-head, M6 Allen screws, would probably be even neater) through the sloping sides of the pop top, with 25 mm diameter washers on the outside and a long duralumin reinforcement plate on the inside, plus four stainless steel self-tapping screws, into the longitudinal wooden reinforcements, onto which the fabric is stapled.

In the future, I shall remove these custom-made, gas-strut attachment brackets, for painting and to photograph for my "How To" technical article.

VW Camper & Commercial magazine, back issues 23, 22, 21, 20, 18, 17, 15, 14, 13, 11, 9 & 8, are still available from the publishers, priced at £4·25 + shipping.

The magazine was originally published quarterly, but recently changed to being bi-monthly. The magazine can be readily obtained directly from the publishers, by either of one or two year subscription. There are several subscribers in the USA and Australia, so there are probably some in Canada too.

http://www.volkswagencamper.co.uk/


These are the subscription details:

http://www.volkswagencamper.co.uk/subscriptions.htm

Volkswagen Camper & Commercial subscripions come in 6 issue and 13 issue (one free) packages: Zone 6 Issue Subscription 13 Issue Subscription
UK £23.70 £47.40
Europe
Air Mail* £32.46 £66.38
Outside Europe
Air Mail* £39.18 £80.94
Outside Europe
Surface Mail** £32.04 £65.47


*Airmail delivery time is usually within three days to Western Europe, four days to Eastern Europe and five days for the rest of the world, following the day of posting.

**Surface Mail - To keep the subscriptions cost down for overseas subscribers, we have given subscribers the choice to have their magazine sent out by printed paper Surface Mail. The delivery time for the first issue will be up to 2 weeks for Western Europe, 4 weeks for Eastern Europe and 8 weeks for the Rest of the World, subsequent issues will follow bi-monthly.


The following is an extract from the magazine's Internet website:

http://www.volkswagencamper.co.uk/about.htm

« The only magazine exclusivey dedicated to the VW Bus, in all its forms »

« Volkswagen Camper and Commercial was established in 2000, the same year that marked the Fiftieth Anniversary of the launch of the VW Transporter, with the strapline “For those who live their life with a van.” »

« As well as featuring and celebrating the VW bus, in all its forms, the magazine caters for all things bus related. ‘How To’ features cover subjects from fitting a sunroof or Dormobile elevating roof through to replacing panels and sills. ‘Travel’ describes interesting routes, campsites and also documents stories that range from crossing Africa to touring the Cairngorms in winter. Archive stories trace the development and history of particular models such as The Samba or The Pick Up, or Camping Conversions ranging from Devon to Sundial. The Bus Doctor is there to help out with technical queries and News and Products keeps you updated with bus related accessories and goodies as well as what’s new on the scene. »

« Each issue features top quality buses, from across all generations, to inspire and admire. Whether your passion is for Splitty, Bay or T25, we bring you the best around and not just from the show circuit. Many of our features are buses restored by their owners to be used as daily drivers, and you don’t have to have spent shedloads with certain names to be featured in the magazine! We even recognise and profile the T4 and T5! We profile different interior layouts used by converters like Danbury, Devon, Westfalia or Viking and also feature interiors designed and built by owners. »

« VW Camper & Commercial - the magazine for those who live their life with a VW van. If you drive a Type 2 then this is the mag for you! »


That's all for now.

Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

[daves_ale]

SO who else here thinks that Nigel is on the magazine's payroll???
_________________
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wishes us to be happy"- Ben

'66 Euro Beetle 1200A
'71 Single Cab
'78 Westy
'02 Jaguar XK8 convertible

[Randy in Maine]

I would spend some quality time lubircating the hinges and pivot joints on that top.

I used some "slick 50 spray lube" that I found someplace and that really reduced the effort required to pop the top.

Finding a good spot to stand to perform "the lift" is also helpful.

[Blaubus]

it would help to have some struts that can lift a heavier load. the top is way heavier than a hatch. i have a catalog with industrial grade gas struts. i will have a look

[Blaubus]

suppliers of these struts refer to them as gas springs, you can find the greatest assortment by searching thru google for "gas springs" ... do not forget to include the quotation marks. without the quotations the site will look for any sentences that have both words but not necessarily together or in that order. for example: "...the valve SPRINGS on your GAS powered engine..."

the real trick with these gas springs is to find a way to position/angle them within the defined stroke length etc. without also binding the scissor hinges of the camper top. tranverse mounting is one way to avoid binding at the hinge.. since the springs lay somewhat flat when the top is closed, and the springs exert pressure in this position as well, longitudinal mounting would stress this type of hinge. the transverse mounting will also provide an angular advantage when the top is in the closed position, as the lifting of the top begins.

as far as capacity, i glimpsed breifly at the springs that were availble on some of the sites and found ones with extended lengths of 35" and spring forces of 250 lbs. that one was found at www.guden.com . under the standard springs tab then click on 10mm rod X 22mm tube

what the heck, why dont i just make some kits w/ instructions and sell them on this site?

[NASkeet]

[Birdibus]

OK, 77_Bus_Girl, I'm going to take a different approach and encourage you to believe in yourself and your own ability to open the poptop. I, too, am a skinny girl, and I made sure I could open a poptop by myself before I purchased a Westy. It isn't easy, but it can be done. I am now a lot older, but can still do it alone if necessary.

Lubricating all the moving parts is an excellent first step. Next after releasing all the catches, I lift the top as far as I am able by pushing up on the black grab bar or palms flat against the fiberglass. I then change position with both hands on the metal lifting bar, and one (or more) foot braced against the seat/bed behind me. Take a deep breath and PUSH REAL HARD until the lifter fully extends and locks into position. If height is your issue, I have heard of people fashioning pieces of lumber to lengthen their reach and provide leverage during the PUSH. Good luck, you can do it!
_________________
`
'74 Westfalia Yosemite Yellow
'71 Bus Niagra blue and white

[BusBerd]

[twinfalls]

I never had the rear hinges working ok.
Lubing,
Removing, dismantling, reshaping, relubing,
No good;
It seems I have the softest white metal ever, and the worst design about stuff that should slide smoothly iso jamming.
Are they better rear hinges than what they fit on my Feb 74 Westy ?
_________________
Stock 1974 US Westy, AW-A 1800cc dual carbs. Twin Falls is my favorite site on the Churchill river in Manitoba.

[77_Bus_Girl]

Thanks for the input people! I love this site!

I'll give it another try... lubing it up may be the ticket. However, I won't be trying it any time soon - I put out my back putting in a heater box and muffler!

[Birdibus]

[NASkeet]

A few days ago, I wrote:

« For my ½ page and 2 page articles, which were published in Volkswagen Camper & Commercial magazine, in the Autumn & Winter 2005 issues, I received complementary copies of those issues »

Whoops! The articles I wrote, were actually published one year earlier, in the Autumn & Winter 2004 issues. How time flies!

If any one is interested, they were about unmasking the headlamp high-beam warning light and fabricating a neat, home-made, oil-pressure gauge-sender, installation adapter, for the Type 4 engine, using commonly available, M10 x 1·0 mm threaded fittings, including some elegant banjo fittings.

That's all for today.

Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

[NASkeet]

After a few months of waiting, my local public library's flat-bed scanner, is finally back in operation!

So, without further ado, these are links to the postings and picture files, in The Samba Gallery, illustrating the Volvo 300-series gas struts, with integral electrical switch, which I retro-fitted to my 1973 VW Type 2, Westfalia Continental campervan's elevating roof (i.e. pop top in USA parlance!):


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=294831

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=294830

Enjoy your viewing.

Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

[covelo]

For what it's worth, I am 6'4 and have pretty strong arms from kayaking and I hate lifting and especially lowering the poptop too. It is easy to hurt your back when you don't let it down the right way. It doesn't help having to make sure that the canvas ends up on the inside. So I like the idea of the struts if done right. Thanks for persisting in your search for a solution!
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'80 Vanagon Westfalia

'72 Bay Window Westfalia (with 2L AVP engine and dual solex carbs) -- sold in 2009

[Duncwarw]

Nice work. Thanks for sharing Nigel.

I suppose one could get really lazy and devise a powered top raiser easily enough. Classy!
_________________
“To find yourself, think for yourself”
Socrates, 470 BC - 399 BC

[tristessa]

[tristessa]

Oh yeah, and in case anyone Stateside is wondering, we never got the Volvo 300's over here. They were built in the Netherlands by the DAF passenger car division that Volvo bought a stake in back in the '70s. So we'll have to find gas struts from something we *did* get and adapt NASkeet's diagrams & instructions appropriately.

Here's a pic of the Volvo 300:

[SlowLane]