On May 22, 6:17*pm, Ken K wrote:
Does opening the top allow you to do individual bolt replacement with
no additional clamping? i.e the struts are fully extended and the
'lift' vector is almost vertical.

KK







3) Do NOT remove these bolts without clamping the
trailer top down and restrained from moving
forward. If you undo the bolts without restraining
the top, even on just one side, even just one bolt,
the gas strut will deliver you a nasty surprise
(as happened to me on the highway to Hobbs).
CAREFUL !

5) I'm designing a clamp to safely hold the top
during replacement of the hinge and bolts...

No ! No !!
To clarify #3:
Best to OPEN the top AND THEN clamp the front down...

The "lift vector" is NOT non-existent;
CG of top is AFT of strut attach point and
front of top will pivot around the strut attach
(upwards) and push forward as well...
Unless it is well clamped !
Look at the picture he
http://www.nadler.com/public/2010_Hobbs/2010_Hobbs.html

Hope that helps, From soggy Ridge Soaring,
Best Regards, Dave "YO electric"