New project
- Thread starter dsw4x4
- Start date
PAToyota
Adventurer
Ah, kept looking to try to figure out how it worked. Finally noticed the picture with the actuators. Very sweet work!
boulderite
New member
Ultimate sledneck rig! Access unlimited to trail heads! Just what I need one day.
dsw4x4
Adventurer
This can be tricky, if it is a reverse flange top you can reuse the top by cutting off the flange and filing the screw holes on the van. (usually there are very few holes with this style) The problem becomes with trying to remove this style top it is glued down using some really good glue all the way around the top, removing this takes a lot of effort/strength, patientice, and some long sharp knives to not screw up the top or the van roof. If you are using a reverse flange where the screws are every three inches all the way around the rain gutter you will have to go back and weld all of those holes closed after you remove the top and begin building the poptop to otherwise leaks will be inevitable. I would say yes you are better off to not install anything until you decide on your final top. You will spend way to much time and money trying to do it twice to make a usable the first time then tear it apart to do it the second time. However if your van already has a raised roof it can be converted (probably cheaper than buying a new one) it just depends how it is attached. To build a poptop yourself you can expect to spend 2k to 3.5k depending how crafty you are at sourcing parts and scoring a cheap top plus your time. So far the average do it your self time I have seen is 4 to 6 months of night and weekends for a normal working joe with a family. My normal tops are 5500 this is the normal price for a top like you see in this build using a new top and single wall canvas (triple wall is extra) includes 6 led lights finished head liner power lift and a bed. Painted to match is extra.
RocKrawler
Supporting Sponsor
Thanks for the reply, gives me a good idea of how much to budget for the setup if I go poptop. I'm plenty crafty and can source things plenty cheap with my connections so that isnt an issue, just have to figure out which way the wife can be led. I'd personally prefer the fixed megatop for simplicity and price, and stealth factor when on the road (it will be abundantly apparent whats going on with a pop top deployed in a parking lot or rest stop as opposed to a fixed top just sitting there).
RocKrawler
Supporting Sponsor
I like the idea and "bling" factor of the pop-up, but the added expense and potential issues (both mechanical of the lift linkage & mechanism and wear/tear of the fabric) concern me in the long term. The wife gave the green light on the fixed top based on the pics of CCV's other post with the high top & 8" dropped bunk as long as we add the windows as shown, so the hunt will be on for the donor top. I think it will be the best option for us and our current budget, and if need be it can always be converted over with a little extra work if needed after the u-joint conversion if we feel we have to go the pop up route after all, but I doubt it.
David_in_TX
Adventurer
He has one on page 1 of this topic, click this link to view the post: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=783595&postcount=21
