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Old 06-20-2013, 07:44 PM   #11
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?

We had a manual top and it was fine until we put a Thule box up there. We had to empty the box to get the top up. This meant that if we were "traving" we didn't put the top up because it was a pain to unload and reload the box for a single night. We finally had the electric top installed along with a new roof (old one had severe cracking in the gel coat) and it is soooooo nice. As others have stated, it's much cheaper to do it when the top is installed than later.

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Old 06-20-2013, 08:17 PM   #12
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Penthouse-Power or not?

Unless you like doing squats and shoulder presses Electric ftw. Try popping a manual. Add any kind of weight on top and try it again. You'll soon find out e-ph is the way to go. Do it now for $1300 or $3000 plus the hassle of dropping the van off again as a retrofit.
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Old 06-20-2013, 10:05 PM   #13
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?

Thank you for all the helpful advise. I called Sportsmobile today and scheduled an appointment to have the top installed in August. I spoke with Nick at the west store and he offered up some helpful information also. I went with the electric top, especially knowing to have it retro-fitted later would cost $3700, ouch!

Cant wait to have it installed. My van is a work in progress and I have more ideas of what to do to with it than money.

Thanks again, Greg
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Old 06-20-2013, 10:15 PM   #14
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?

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Old 06-21-2013, 04:07 AM   #15
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?

Sucks when you can't use your PH because you've strained your back
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Old 06-21-2013, 07:27 AM   #16
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Penthouse-Power or not?

Quote:
Originally Posted by daveb
Sucks when you can't use your PH because you've strained your back
I second that....although I also tightened the spring tension and put in a bigger block on the preload, that helps, along with unhooking the bed when putting it up. The added weight of the solar panel doesn't help, although turning the fan on high with everything shut trick helps, on the flip side, if you don't have the engine running and fan on and have everything shut, it creates a suction when you try to raise the roof, done that too many times, opening a window or door is a must. We have managed without, that being said, we would add it to a new build.....
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Old 06-21-2013, 09:44 AM   #17
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?

If you plan on carrying cargo on roof: powered top is a must...not an option
If you plan on not putting anything significant on the roof: power or manual ....both will work
Fairly simple choices
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Old 06-21-2013, 11:14 AM   #18
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?

Anyone ever done a do-it-yourself convert to power on an SMB manual top?
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Old 06-24-2013, 11:48 AM   #19
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?

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Originally Posted by rustypayne
Anyone ever done a do-it-yourself convert to power on an SMB manual top?
It requires a bigger hole cut in your roof to accomodate the scissor lift and equipment. This is the main reason why it is so expensive to have it retro fitted. They have to take off the top completely, cut bigger hole, put on all new hardware and wire it all. Not an easy thing.

Coming from a manual PH if I was to do it again there is absolutely no doubt I would go electric for all the reasons stated. My wife could not lift the top even after I adjusted the preload and tension. It was difficult and the weight always fluctuated depending on what was on the roof (thule box, skis, rack?)
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Old 06-24-2013, 12:50 PM   #20
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Re: Penthouse-Power or not?

Quote:
Coming from a manual PH if I was to do it again there is absolutely no doubt I would go electric for all the reasons stated. My wife could not lift the top even after I adjusted the preload and tension.
Ditto on that. I've had manual and I've had electric. Electric is the only way to go.
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