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Old 01-14-2020, 09:33 PM   #1
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How do you deal with snow and manual top?

I just came back from camping up at Mount St Helens. It snowed a foot plus each day and night I was there for three days. I have a manual top with the little drop down legs to keep it up. How are you supposed to lower it when there is a snow load on the top? I removed what I could but it still had a decent amount. I could barely get the legs up doing a massive lift on all fours but when I did get the last one I was practically smashed by the top. The second night I did not put it up due to what happened the first night. My buddy was parked next to me with my old van which he had a CCV top put on. He did not have an issue but we both had concerns about a fail. This really made me think fixed top. Over the 3 days it snowed 4 feet of heavy NW snow. I have bent bows and have the whole kit ready fix it with new shoulder bolts, nylon swivels and cromo inserts but I'm not sure anything would make it useable in a snow situation. The thing is I do a lot of winter stuff and have been out of commission after buying the van so this is the first winter use I've been able to have. Hopefully there is some technique I'm missing.

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Old 01-15-2020, 03:15 PM   #2
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I just use a 6 foot RV extendable window squeegee to push off the majority of snow.
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Old 01-15-2020, 04:00 PM   #3
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I don't sleep with the top up but if I want to pop it I climb the ladder and get the snow off. The cargo box on top doesn't collect much snow so my task is done pretty quickly
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Old 01-15-2020, 04:49 PM   #4
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I drive it south and/or down hill until there is no snow. Then put the top up.



- Eric
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Old 01-15-2020, 06:22 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShuttlePilot View Post
I drive it south and/or down hill until there is no snow. Then put the top up. - Eric
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
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Old 01-15-2020, 09:03 PM   #6
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We are a family of 3. Parents sleep downstairs normally with the kid in the upper bed.
If more than a few inches are forecasted over night, the kid sleeps on the floor and the top comes down.
We are in Wa and that snow is heavy!
I’ll get up there and shovel it all off and put the top back up in the morning.
The plus side is the heater is much more efficient.

I think this is the most we’ve had up there and could barely move it.
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Old 01-23-2020, 10:36 AM   #7
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Aluminess hydraulic lift assist

I camp and ski all over North America and routinely wake up to feet of snow on my SMB manual pop top. No problem with an Aluminess hydraulic lift assist. It’s as easy as turning on a small portable air compressor and presto chango it up or down you’re choice. Aluminess makes these units affordable, functional and a must with a manual top, roof rack, Thule box, solar panels, and lots of snow. I don’t leave home or raise my roof without one. Call Aluminess and order one today and problem solved. Aluminess has a video on their website showing the operation of this handy accessory. I love mine.
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Old 01-23-2020, 10:49 AM   #8
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Thanks I'll check it out.
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Old 01-23-2020, 12:13 PM   #9
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I lived and worked outside in Alaska for ALOT of years. I live in the desert now in San Diego. I'll give you one guess what I DON'T do any more

Power top or Aluminess is the ONLY way
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Old 01-23-2020, 04:50 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beasty Boy View Post
I lived and worked outside in Alaska for ALOT of years. I live in the desert now in San Diego. I'll give you one guess what I DON'T do any more

Power top or Aluminess is the ONLY way
Shovel Sunshine?
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