Pop-tops: are they worth it?

[Navi]

Standing up in a fixed top would be awesome. But I'm 6'3, and I'm not sure I want that huge of a top. I might eventually get an aerodynamic style top that my wife can stand up in (she's 5'1) and I won't be stopped over as much.

 

[transporterjr]

I have a Vanagon pop-top and love it. But if I am by myself and it is rainy or cold, I leave it down. For solo travel, I believe I'd have no problem at all with a tin-top. Perhaps the same for two people as well. But I have a "Weekender" interior, that is no stove, sink, etc. so really I onky sleep in van, grab lunch inside with the flip-up table. I just tend to hang outside, maybe with my bike-touring / back-packing roots, I expect to be outside when I'm camping.

I'd certainly have a good awning and a roof top box if I was traveling with a tin-top. Perhaps a room that attaches to the awning.

 

[Petrolburner]

My buddy has a high top sprinter and the amount of room inside is insane. However, I need to be able to tow more than 5000lbs, so the sprinter won't work for me.

I really like how easy it is for him to stealth camp in there.

I'm strongly considering tossing a 24" high top on my van. Now... to find one that doesn't look goofy...

Does this one look goofy? Pretty common Fiberine top I think.

Untitled

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'd love to see more pics of that van.

 

[naterry]

A chainsaw was on my short list of additions when I had the ambo (w/high roof etc).

Something to consider, 3rd time I've scraped under:

 

[sixstringsteve]

I've decided against a pop top. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with a 24" bubble high-top.

 

[Backcountry Pursuit]

I'm not making a call on high top/pop top until I see MGs options and pricing.

 

[tequilasunset]

Welp after my experience with the pop top, my vanagon will get a high top... onward and upward as they say, more full time storage... now to watch for low branches and no drive-up windows

 

[luthj]

Welp after my experience with the pop top, my vanagon will get a high top... onward and upward as they say, more full time storage... now to watch for low branches and no drive-up windows

I have found many (most?) drive throughs have 9ft clearance. My sprinter is 8ft and change, so it is only slightly scary.

Honestly having a tall vehicle hasn't been a problem. Turning radius is much more important I think. Of course the vanagon has no problem in that area.

 

[tequilasunset]

I have found many (most?) drive throughs have 9ft clearance. My sprinter is 8ft and change, so it is only slightly scary.

Honestly having a tall vehicle hasn't been a problem. Turning radius is much more important I think. Of course the vanagon has no problem in that area.

U turns... Vangons are wicked good in these

 

[Petrolburner]

I'd love to see more pics of that van.

I've posted a bunch in this thread if you search my posts, or check Petrolburner on Instagram.

 

[dcguillory]

I have found many (most?) drive throughs have 9ft clearance. My sprinter is 8ft and change, so it is only slightly scary.

Honestly having a tall vehicle hasn't been a problem. Turning radius is much more important I think. Of course the vanagon has no problem in that area.

I only go to In-n-Out as far as fast food so I can only speak for their drive-throughs. I have only found one drive through that i couldn't go through with my van at 9' 3". I'm sure other restaurants have plenty that are shorter

 

[wjeeper]

I was fully planning on going the pop-top route, but I snagged a 14 inch tall "TV top" off a conversion van from the local pick-n-pull on half off day....................best $50 I have spent on the van thus far! Only spent one night in it and its a total game changer!


The storage over the front and rear seats, the ability to (almost) stand up and the all weather ability are major wins. Never thought about drive-thru clearance............I should probably see how high the van is before I smush the top at taco bell!:snorkel:

 

[Petrolburner]

I'd love to see more pics of that van.

After by Trevor Stellrecht, on Flickr

Untitled by Trevor Stellrecht, on Flickr



Just built a new loft bed capable of holding two people yesterday.

Untitled by Trevor Stellrecht, on Flickr


There's still room to stand in front of it and behind it within the van.

Untitled by Trevor Stellrecht, on Flickr

 

[CSG]

My Pleasureway Traverse is designed similarly to a Westy and has a pop-top. It's useful on occasion but the fiberglass roof is challenging to mod according to PW. I wanted to have a Fantastic vent added but PW discouraged me from that. With the top up, especially with one that has 14 year old fabric, it's not weather tight. Every season I have to patch, spray, etc. It is terrific having standing headroom in a camp spot to be able to stand, change, cook, etc. But in the future (I was 57 when I bought the van in 2008, I'm 65 now), I would much prefer either a high top conversion or, better yet, a tall top van. The older you get, the less crawling around you want to do. That said, I do a fair amount of stealth camping while on my way to and from a place and the top stays down. Bottom line, I would not buy another pop-top van.