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06-19-2013, 05:21 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: ID
Posts: 68
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Penthouse-Power or not?
Hello SMB'ers, I am looking for some advise. I have saved saved enough money to finally put a penthouse top on my van. Looking around the forum, it seems to be the consensus that the power roof is the way to go. The extra $1300 seems to be a lot for this option and I am thinking I could spend that money somewhere else.
Could I please hear about the pros and cons to the power top and the manual top? Any help would be appreciated. I am looking to schedule an appoint soon to have it installed.
Thanks, Greg
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06-19-2013, 06:56 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 72
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Penthouse-Power or not?
Hey Greg. I recently had a ph top with power installed. What tipped me over to spending the extra was the fact of roof rack weight. Apparently it can get very difficult to raise the top with additional weight on the roof. Also I wanted my wife to be able to raise it up without getting angry
After multiple trips, I think it was the right choice for us.
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06-19-2013, 07:43 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Moss Beach, CA
Posts: 20
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?
An additional factor to remember is that, while the cost is $1.3K when you're putting a new rig together, it will be more than double that to later retrofit, so you're asking the right question at the right time.
Remember too it's one more system to potentially fail. Don't know what the manual override is when electric PH's fail...
I bought my rig used and it's got a manual PH. When I use our Thule box "on top" for extra gear, it's a bear to raise and lower, Wife d/n enjoy my always having to "be there" to do this,
You'll find some inexpensive manual jacking solutions for raising the PH that some of us employ in another thread somewhere. You should check those out and see if that influences your decision. I use the pickup truck bed "load tensioner" approach when the Thule is loaded -up. Works ok.
A set of Deavers and larger wheels are ahead of this on my list, but I know I wish we had power PH.
Good luck.
Paul
__________________
Paul Hoffman
SMB: 2006 RB-50 6.0 PSD SMB 4x4
1988 Porsche Carrera Cabriolet
2001 Harley Davidson Electra Glide (very not) Standard
2002 BMW R1150GS
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06-19-2013, 09:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,005
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?
I am very glad my rig has the electric penthouse top.
Undo the hooks, press a switch, walk away, the top is up.
Doesn't get much better than that.
__________________
Sportsmobile-less.
"A job worth doing is worth doing at least twice."
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06-19-2013, 09:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: santa rosa ca
Posts: 994
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?
__________________
... Charlie
EV-2 build is now complete, (yeah right).
KZ6T
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06-19-2013, 11:02 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 533
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?
I did not get an e-PH it because I didn't realize how hard it would be to raise even a lightly loaded roof. It's a delicately balanced mechanism and even just a 35 lb kayak or a single bicycle can mean a very hard time pushing it up. I now use a load bar with a ratchet mechanism (Lowe's) to raise it and wish I had got the e-PH.
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06-20-2013, 05:54 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?
We have a manual top and it works fine for our wants and needs. The drawback is as stated, if you want to carry any significant gear up there you would need the powered top or remove gear before raising.
__________________
Len & Joanne
The Green TARDIS
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06-20-2013, 08:56 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Oregon Ciry Oregon
Posts: 2,854
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Penthouse-Power or not?
I added two solar panels for a total of 55 pounds. Now have to use a cargo bar as a jack to get the PH up about 8" before I can push it manually the rest of the way up.
If you are going to add anything on top of the now or in the future get the electric lift.
__________________
Larrie
Read detailed trip reports, see photos and videos on my travel blog, luinil.com.
Current van: 2002 Ford E350 extended body camper with Colorado Camper Van pop top and Agile Offroad 4WD conversion.
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06-20-2013, 10:24 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?
You can save 30-40 lbs of lift with a manual top if you don't follow the normal top raising procedure and your van seals reasonably well. CLOSE all doors and windows and turn the van dash blower on exterior air and the HIGH blower setting. I used to do that, now I just don't bother. I lift with the top of my head, keep my neck and back straight, and lift with my legs as in a squat press.
__________________
Len & Joanne
The Green TARDIS
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06-20-2013, 10:33 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 449
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?
I opted for the electric PH top for the reasons already mentioned above. I would've opted for the manual if I could later retro the electric for ~$1300. But as others have mentioned it doesn't work that way .. a retro is I think twice that cost so I bit the bullet and did the electric.
The other consideration for me was future resale .. not necessarily in value but in ease of selling as most people want the electric.
Hope this helps™,
Ray
06 E350 RB
06 E350 Quigley V10
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