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Old 04-11-2009, 11:22 AM   #21
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

I assume it's the manual pop-tops that you're worried about coming down, not electric right?
-- Geoff

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Old 04-11-2009, 12:46 PM   #22
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

Quote:
Originally Posted by geoffff
I assume it's the manual pop-tops that you're worried about coming down, not electric right?
-- Geoff
Geoffff, I actually have the electric top. I carry a boat and assorted gear on the roof. The Dowel idea like Mike uses seems to be extra security.

Mike is your top manual or electric?

steve
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Old 04-11-2009, 01:48 PM   #23
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

I've got four 1/2" aluminum bars with rubber caps on each end that I carry. I quit using them because I have never had a problem but if there was a chance that the electric top could drop I wouldn't want to wake with a ton of weight holding me down. I think the Badger's had a problem with their top but I don't recall the top falling down. I wonder if it's possible?
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Old 04-11-2009, 04:34 PM   #24
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

Steve,

It's a manual top. I can't imagine an electric pop-top coming down. Isn't the lift an electric screw mechanism? And don't you have to power it down?

Mike
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Old 04-11-2009, 09:26 PM   #25
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

Steve,

I actually had the same concern regarding the PH Top during our build. SMB assured me that if you have an Electric Top, it will not come down due to the mechanism failure. The only way the PH will come down, because of weight, is the tubular bar bending severely or breaking. Mike is correct about the screw mechanism. Hope this clarifies things a bit.

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Old 04-11-2009, 10:44 PM   #26
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

Matt,

I am driving my SMB from San Diego to Burningman this year as well but I will not be staying in it. As has been mentioned the dust there is extremely fine. Even with the windows in the penthouse zipped up the dust will still come through. Its that fine.

I would highly suggest looking into a hexayurt (hexayurt.org) which can be made using about $130 in materials from home depot and makes a structure that is wind and resistant and with a generator and air conditioner makes a good structure that will allow you to sleep well into the morning and early afternoon. It also insulates you from all of the techno that goes on until well after the sun comes up. Sleep can make a big difference in your experience and with the heat and noise it can often be difficult to get quality sleep. The hexayurt definitely gives you a legup in getting some nice quality sleep without being bothered by the noise and the heat.
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Old 04-12-2009, 08:43 AM   #27
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

Quote:
Originally Posted by surfgeek33
...The only way the PH will come down, because of weight, is the tubular bar bending severely or breaking. Mike is correct about the screw mechanism. Hope this clarifies things a bit.

Ray
Makes me wonder. If the electric motor fails, I'm in the backcountry, and the PH is raised, how do it lower the PH so I can safely travel? If I physically disconnect the motor/screw assembly, will the PH roof assembly come crashing down?

Going a bit off topic, but do we need a Field-Repair thread for posting trail fixes?


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Old 04-12-2009, 09:00 AM   #28
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

I too have wondered the same thing. Seems that one of my hoops looks a tad bent when raising the roof. I Imagine if somthing in the motor failed you could just disconnect the linkage an push....
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Old 04-12-2009, 11:12 AM   #29
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

If someone comes up with a procedure it would be a good post to keep handy on board. Without a spring mechanism I wonder how heavy the top would be on its descent and if a single person could handle it. And if you disconnected one side would it damage the opposite side? Probably deserves its own post.
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Old 04-14-2009, 04:13 PM   #30
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Re: Poptop at windy Burning Man

I talked to Peter at SMB West about concerns of an electric penthouse failure. He told me that other then a few problems that were caused by blown fuses, dead batteries, or a wire that shorted out, they are not aware of any problem. So, that being the case, as far as he knows there is no way to raise or lower the top without opening up the channels and doing something by hand. The only time this would be necessary would be in case of one or both of the motors crapping out. I realize that anything mechanical can fail, but the chances of it happening to the penthouse motors are slim and none. If one has to take things apart and lower the roof by hand, I would suggest getting something under the roof to support it when taking springs and rods apart. Also, you can drive the rig with the top up, but I'd keep the speed down. Jonathan at SMB told me about him forgetting to latch the top once and having it deploy at 60mph. He just pulled over, lowered the top, cleaned his shorts, and went on down the road.
Bottom line is, the chance of failure is slim, you can always slowly drive it to help, or you can tear into it to get it down to get it back to SMB since they have a lifetime warrantee on the penthouse.
I would also think that if you get into the motor area you could pull the motor, and rotate the "drive shaft" till the top was down. Might even be able to get an electric drill on the shaft??
If anyone has more info, let us know.
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