Pop Top??? Owner install?

[cloudbaseracer]

The fiberglass is 134"long x 56" wide, 103" long w/o luggage rack.

Canvas is 50" x 96"

Just curious how the interior size of the Astro compares to the VW Westy? Specifically the camping/sleeping section. It looks like the VW being rear engine has more room than the Astro with the engine in front of the driver even though the Westy may be shorter overall?

Cheers,

James

 

[TroySmith80]

Yeah, i haven't taken measurements, but i have both an '84 2wd westy (with subaru engine) and a 2003 AWD Astro cargovan (for work) and just going by feel, it seems like the westy has a lot more interior space.

I sure wish there was a modern AWD or 4WD medium sized van with the flat front, rear engined layout. Not very aerodynamic but it sure is a lof of space for the footprint!

 

[T.Low]

Yeah, i haven't taken measurements, but i have both an '84 2wd westy (with subaru engine) and a 2003 AWD Astro cargovan (for work) and just going by feel, it seems like the westy has a lot more interior space.

I sure wish there was a modern AWD or 4WD medium sized van with the flat front, rear engined layout. Not very aerodynamic but it sure is a lof of space for the footprint!

It's been years since I actually measured, but I'm pretty sure that the Vanagon has 16" more length from the back of the front seats to the rear of the van than the Astro. That is a fairly substantial difference in a van the size of these.

Look at it this way: the fabric for the pop top of the Westy, the Astro, and the Eurovan is about the same. The very front of the Westy top does not open; it just sits on the roof above the forward control cab. The size of that piece that does not open is roughly equal to the extra space inside the Vanagon. Or it's about the equal to the the distance from the front bumper to the beginning of the roofline on the Astro. (sorry for the convoluded explanation)

Here's a pic of mine for comparison sake.

Oh, what the hell, I'll just og out and pop the top and measure it right now.

 

[T.Low]

The fiberglass is 134"long x 56" wide, 103" long w/o luggage rack.

Canvas is 50" x 96"

My interior canvas measurements on the GTRV pop top are 46" x 104".

 

[fritz]

My interior canvas measurements on the GTRV pop top are 46" x 104".

T.Low,

How long is the top bunk in your GTRV? I am 6'1" and wondering if I would fit. I have an '85 Westy Camper that needs lots of work and am thinking of getting rid of it and replacing with an Astro.

Thanks.

 

[T.Low]

I'll try to measure it tomorrow. I'm just shy of 5'11" and fit fine but too much taller and you'd want to make a small bunk extender like I've seen on TheSamba.

 

[labbe66]

Alright, so now we are getting somewhere! So it looks like the canvas on a GTRV is 46" X 104", and the canvas on a Westy is 50" X 96". I have measured the width of the top of my Astro at 54" max. So it appears that at least the canvas and hardware of a Westy will roughly fit the Astro. Looks like I need to start looking for someone parting out a Westy...

 

[fritz]

I'll try to measure it tomorrow. I'm just shy of 5'11" and fit fine but too much taller and you'd want to make a small bunk extender like I've seen on TheSamba.

Thanks for the info.

 

[fritz]

I'll try to measure it tomorrow. I'm just shy of 5'11" and fit fine but too much taller and you'd want to make a small bunk extender like I've seen on TheSamba.

Thanks for the info.

 

[TroySmith80]

Sometime in the future I will be building a small universal poptop that can be put on the roof of any van and owner installed. Or I can sell you all the parts to build a full size one yourself.
Derek

Any news on this?