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Old 09-09-2021, 10:20 AM   #11
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Top assist

I have the same model basically. I just want to make sure you’re doing these things:

1).Open a door
2) Get down on your knees on the floor
3) Face the rear of the van
4) Extend your arms and push up

Basic I know but mine was owned by a 65 y/o woman and she was able to do it.

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Old 09-09-2021, 10:24 AM   #12
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Pop top lift asdist

We have a 2001 Dodge ram van sports mobile pop top. We googled needing assist on and found a great video on something called Venemo. And it's all about taking out a link or maybe tooth links on each side but you have to prop it up and be very careful and use a hydraulic jack and it worked. And I'm 5'2 and 125 lb and I was able to do fine after it was all fixed
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Old 09-09-2021, 11:15 AM   #13
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One hint that's been around for a while is to have your vehicle engine running, close all your van windows, turn your dashboard vent on high, and then lift the top. The increase in interior air pressure will help to some degree.


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Old 09-09-2021, 11:57 AM   #14
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Ours needed 2 links on both sides removed. Now Me, as 5ft 2 , 71 yr old granny can lift it and bring it down fine. Didn't buy anything. Used wood blocks and a good hydraulic jack and that video on vimeo
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Old 09-09-2021, 12:46 PM   #15
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I made a "lifter" out of PVC pipe to make it easier to get the top on my van raised. (See photo). The fitting on the right end is a saddle T."
Jim
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Old 09-09-2021, 09:44 PM   #16
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We have the same setup. Tweeked my neck pushing the top up with my shoulder. I really needed to find something other than my shoulder and neck to lift the top.

I really like the idea of creating positive pressure inside the van to provide some assist. Thanks Herb. I will try it next time. If you are not using Herb's positive pressure assist make sure at least one window or door is open. The effect of negative pressure on your ears is not bad but if you pull the top down without an open window the positive pressure can make it hard to hear for a few minutes.

Several years ago I tried to find a way to get the top up with as little pain as possible. My top has two Yakima bars along with 100W of PV panels. If you are going to be raising the top on a daily basis that is about all that can be on the roof. There is a 300# limit on the roof but even another 50# makes it hard to build momentum.

Head over to Home Depot or that other big box and go to where they have gadgets for pickups like tool boxes and such. One of the gadgets is made to hold things in place when you are driving around town with a bunch of construction materials in the back.

The device looks like a gray 1" tube with a "foot" on each end. It is made to stay in position across the bed and keep things from sliding around. You will also see a ratchet on one end. Home Depot lists it as the "Ratcheting Cargo Bar". URL is:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Keeper-R...7059/207097432

It costs about $26. When you extend it be careful not to get some skin caught on the ratchet gears. It do hurt. Put the outer tube (black) foot on the floor and the inner tube (chrome) foot goes under the "Push Pad" just above your head when you crawl through the side door. Try to center the top foot in the middle of the push pad before you start using the ratchet. It is easy to do and the bar is just long enough to engage the spring assist. After several lifts you will find the balance point on the push pad.

When you have a few minutes unsnap the gray Naugahyde that covers the spring assist. Look at each end of spring and if it is like mine you may see a gap between the end of the spring and the trough it sits in. Find the 1.25 PVC caps and pick up 5 or 6. Also grab several feet of the PVC pipe. You can use them to fill the gap without doing much work.

While you are in plumbing pick up 8 to 10 of the same caps and a stick or two of the PVC pipe. When you get home and raise the roof measure the distance between the shelf that runs around the base of the penthouse and the material in each of the corners above you. Cut the pipe to length and put a cap on each end. When you have the top up the pipe and caps will hold the roof up and take the load off of the bars and springs.

Since you are sitting on the upper bed check out all of the bolts that keep the cross bars held together. I had one of the 1/4" machine screws break when I was in Yellowstone. It is really hard to get the top centered once one of the components break. Drove to south part of ID where Tom (member) helped me put another bolt in. Right after he put the nut onto the machine screw/bolt the one on the other side literally popped apart.

It was July and the hottest day of the year. Tom is a good mechanic and excellent shade tree engineer. He had to create a block and tackle of sorts and use the device to pull the top into place. Fortunately there was a tree 10" away. With one end of the rope on the penthouse top and the other connected to the tree it was easy to center the top at whatever level we needed.

Best of luck. Keep asking questions. Lots of experience here.

Michael Springer
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Old 09-18-2021, 07:08 PM   #17
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I found a victim to help me lift the top. I unscrewed the fabric to reveal the spring. But, I only see one spring and these steel links. Is this the "helper spring"? Or would I remove a link to make it easier to lift the top? Appreciate your help!
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Old 09-19-2021, 08:34 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Glippie View Post
I found a victim to help me lift the top. I unscrewed the fabric to reveal the spring. But, I only see one spring and these steel links. Is this the "helper spring"? Or would I remove a link to make it easier to lift the top? Appreciate your help!

That's the main (extension) spring. Yes, you shorten that chain one (or more) link to make the top raise easier. You don't actually shorten the chain but you move the S hook up one link and then zip tie the loose end link to the other chain links.


I can walk you through the procedure to adjust that spring; that spring has significant energy stored in it even when the top is up so you really need to understand how the top stays up. You will need a come-along (about $20 at harbor freight) and maybe a motorcycle tie down and a couple of short pieces of 2x4 lumber.


The helper springs are more toward the rear of the van; pull up some more upholstery. When the top is up these springs are completely unloaded and easy and safe to work on without any special tools. These springs make the first few inches of raising the top easier.
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Old 04-11-2022, 12:23 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by boywonder View Post
Glippie: Two questions.....


Where are you located?


Is there anything else on the roof other than the crossbars? solar panels?
I just purchased a 2006 e350 Sportsmobile. The pop top had been partially replaced after a tree fell on it. Everything about the replacement was well done, except the initial lifting springs were not reinstalled and are missing. Does anyone know of a source for the two loose springs. I am not referring to the large heavy-duty tension springs. I appreciate anyone's help.
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Old 04-11-2022, 12:25 PM   #20
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On the roof there is a full-length Aluminess rack, solar panels, and exterior lights.
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