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Gruppe B Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2007 Posts: 1331
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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dobryan wrote: |
That strut might be able to hold the pop top up but it does not provide much support side to side. The H bar does both.... |
Agreed, but it is also the conventional method of poptop support for Eurovan Westfalias from 1996 onward. Might work! |
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bobbyblack Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015 Posts: 4332 Location: United States, Iowa
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Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 9:17 am Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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Gruppe B wrote: |
Another poster had been discussing using these Eurovan hydraulic struts to replace the Vanagon H-bar. |
I sure do despise the H-Bar... Although I agree on lateral support issues. However, I am not real sure about the lateral issue in regards to the design of the top. My EV Westy had the 'late model' system with no H-Bar, and did not seem to have any issues side-to-side. It would be pretty easy to fit a mechanism on the non-locking side that would lock it in manually. The self locking side kept me plenty happy that the top wasn't going to go kiddy-whampus all a sudden. Perhaps on one occasion in extreme wind, I was a tad concerned.
Anyway, I think my attempt is only 1 part (2 pieces same part) away from a test. The EV Westy h-bar delete from the big vendor only lacks the correct lower support that is needed to miss the Vanagon bunk articulation. I believe I have the part narrowed down now Only about $15 for two. The bottom bracket simply needs to be Z shaped, with the ball going outward, opposite of the EV's inward facing ball. That would place the cylinder outboard of the bed articulation area. _________________ '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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steve_hoge Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2009 Posts: 42 Location: Boulder CO
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Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 11:36 am Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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bobbyblack wrote: |
Gruppe B wrote: |
Another poster had been discussing using these Eurovan hydraulic struts to replace the Vanagon H-bar. |
I sure do despise the H-Bar... Although I agree on lateral support issues. However, I am not real sure about the lateral issue in regards to the design of the top. My EV Westy had the 'late model' system with no H-Bar, and did not seem to have any issues side-to-side. |
Might it be possible to add a 3rd shorter hydraulic strut to the front (leading) edge of the pop-top extending either leftward or rightward that would help with lift AND provide lateral stability due to its orthogonal (right-angle) orientation relative to the other two struts?
-Steve |
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ryaz Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2016 Posts: 35 Location: CA
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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this is amazing!
Great job!
Maybe I have missed but did you think about removing cargo part and making it flat from the top? so you ll have some cargo space between van roof and pop top? |
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3260 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 5:57 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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Thanks for the compliments!
I left the "luggage rack" space as is, but added drain spigots that connect to hoses that drain rainwater outside the van. I prefer this approach so that I can still use the luggage rack as intended by the factory.
There is still a gap of about 1.5" to 2" between the metal roof and the bottom of the luggage rack, and this is where some of the pop-top tent goes when the top is in the "down" position. I can put large but thin items in that 1.5" to 2" space for storage. It would likely fit the late-model Westfalia (low-profile) dining table.
The factory contours of the luggage rack give it a lot of strength, so going with a flat top would, I believe, weaken that structure too much. _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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Multiman mv Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2017 Posts: 987 Location: Martha's Vineyard, Ma
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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Incredibly well done mod! Great innovation and expertly crafted. That tent is pro! I wish I had the patience to do this mod also. I think for now I’ll grab a wasserstopper rain fly but your mod looks like a a great solution for those who want more space up top. This gets my vote for best samba mod! |
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kguarnotta Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2004 Posts: 1160 Location: Woodstock, NH
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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I just saw this - and wanted to say "IMPRESSIVE"
thanks for sharing. _________________ -Kevin
Lincoln, MA
'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper |
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sanchius Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007 Posts: 1446 Location: IN
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 2982 Location: MD
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:43 am Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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Fractal pop tops. I want to see the next level. _________________ '87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3260 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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Hey Sanchius, could you let us know a link to the site on which that double-popper was found?
I thought about something like that as I like the idea of that head room in the upper berth, but this guy executed on the concept. It looks like a well-designed and well-executed job. _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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sanchius Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007 Posts: 1446 Location: IN
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campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4485 Location: Richmond VA
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:55 am Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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4Gears4Tires wrote: |
Fractal pop tops. I want to see the next level. |
Tesseract tops. _________________ '87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic |
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3260 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 1:44 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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I haven't posted a pic of the extended pop-top showing the re-paint on the pop-top that I did several years ago.
Here it is on the Duffey Lake Road this past June:
_________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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Sodo Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 9517 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-top Extension: Evolution of the Pop-Top |
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Howesight wrote: |
I haven't posted a pic of the extended pop-top
,,,,,
several years ago. |
We noticed.
Can't go wrong with more pics. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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