Can I change my pop-top for another brand?

[czmate1999]

In the hell of waiting for my new van to be delivered (mid Sept now) I am massively overthinking everything to do with my conversion and I have a stupid question, so here goes,

If i opted for a Reimo pop-top for my LWB because rear seating height concerns, but at some point in the future wanted to change the roof to say a HiLo could it be done? Is the Reimo cutout smaller than the HiLo or vice versa...

I am just panicking about cutting a hole in my new £40k plus van and then worrying about making the right choice... (silly me )

 

[Deaky]

I think I'd be looking to get it right first time, get yourself over to bus fest or camper jam and come and have a sit in our vans. What seat are you thinking of?

 

[DXX]

You said it!

 

[czmate1999]

I think I'd be looking to get it right first time, get yourself over to bus fest or camper jam and come and have a sit in our vans. What seat are you thinking of?

You are spot on with Bus Fest Deaky - if i can make it. Its my 20th wedding anniversary that weekend so will have to play it by ear...

Reimo Variotech 3000, the sliding rail system. Top of seats are about 49cm from the floor...

 

[Deaky]

I have a Caravelle seat. The cushion is 42cm from the floor. That's the bit your ass sits on not the front bit under your knees. I have 92cm from there to the underside of the HiLo bed. I can comfortably sit on the seat with about 15cm between the top of my head and the roof. I'm 5'9".

 

[czmate1999]

I have a Caravelle seat. The cushion is 42cm from the floor. That's the bit your ass sits on not the front bit under your knees. I have 92cm from there to the underside of the HiLo bed. I can comfortably sit on the seat with about 15cm between the top of my head and the roof. I'm 5'9".

Thats useful, thanks. Looking at the photo and measure i took - i would estimate that the is no more than 2 to 3cm drop from where your knees are to where your backside is... Think the height issue would be pushing it for me... Think Bus Fest is going to have to happen so i can check things out fully!!

 

[Salty Spuds]

Why on earth would you go & spend £5k on a roof with the intention of changing it later??? That’s a hell of a temporary stop gap.
We have the Reimo LWB easyfit along with the Variotec3000, works perfectly for us, the missus is sat on the seat as we speak & her feet are touching the floor. She’s 5’6”. If you want a HiLo, why not just get one to start with?

 

[czmate1999]

Why on earth would you go & spend £5k on a roof with the intention of changing it later??? That’s a hell of a temporary stop gap.
We have the Reimo LWB easyfit along with the Variotec3000, works perfectly for us, the missus is sat on the seat as we speak & her feet are touching the floor. She’s 5’6”. If you want a HiLo, why not just get one to start with?

I know Salty. My head says go with the Reimo - i even prefer the mechanism but i do like the look of the HiLo. So i am trying to trick myself and say go with the Reimo you can always swap it in a few years... if it bugs you that much. Can you get the opening canvas with the easy lift?

 

[MikeB]

It depends what you want. If you want a proper campervan with a good, safe and comfortable seat/bed, you need a Reimo roof with the proper bedboard and built-in mattress. A genuine Cali seat/bed will give you a decent travelling seat, a comfortable bed (with a topper of course) and will also give more than adequate head-room while also allowing the vast majority of people to get their feet on the floor. I guess the Variotec will too. Both solutions are reassuringly expensive.

Or - go for the stealth look of the really low roofs - and then come back asking how to get a comfy mattress and then where to store it when the roof is down. This said, if you don't plan to use the poptop to sleep in, then it's irrelevant.

 

[Shaun Witts]

... you need a Reimo roof with the proper bedboard and built-in mattress. A genuine Cali seat/bed will give you a decent travelling seat, a comfortable bed (with a topper of course) and will also give more than adequate head-room while also allowing the vast majority of people to get their feet on the floor.

That is my layout. I am 6'1" and have never noticed a lack of headroom when sitting on the rear seat, but I have noticed that the headroom is a bit more limited when sitting up on the bed, though sufficient without having to crouch.
I use a Duvalay 5cm mattress topper and find it good enough to use 2-3 nights a week while I am away. My son has slept in the roof, also on a duvalay, and found it fine (the bedboard & mattress are from Exploria & look good enough on their own).