Pop top price comparison what to consider prior to pop top

[VANLIFETerry]

Hi All,

First time post, recently purchased a 2017 SWB VW T6 and have started the conversion journey.

We're at the point now where a bottleneck is pop top fitting (and deciding if we even want one) and starting the electrics so that we can get the carpet in. We are planning on living in the van for at least a year travelling around Europe so a difficult decision between stealth/utility vs height comfort as both 6ft.

We'd basically like to hear your thoughts and opinions on:
- Full time van life with/without a pop top - we're not going to need/use a pop top bed if that's a consideration, or use campsites
- Any reviews or recommendations for pop top fittings
- If we did decide to go for a pop top, what would be necessary to get done before booking the van in.
- Is it possible to insulate a pop top? Has anyone tried to do this after fitting or has requested this from the company?

Our research on prices and companies
Don't think we can justify spending 5k+ on a premium pop top when our van is relatively old, though we could consider this if the consensus is that's best.

• Storm Pop top (Bath) - £2795 for the pop top. Colour code + £400. Solar panel upgrade 100w (£550), 160w (£600), 200w (£675).
• Skyline Poptops (Bristol) - £2900. Colour coding £500. 160w Flex panel with mppt bluetooth controller (£600).
• C and H Campers (Huddersfield) – £2100. Colour coding - £400. Solar Panel Charger – 160w (£570). Spotlights £120
• Creative Camperz (Yorkshire) - £2300. Colour coded roof £500. Don’t mention solar panels on price list.
• Altitude roofs (Cornwall) - £2795. Solar panel 200w £715
• Wrap Pop Tops (Camarthan)- £3000 including scenic canvas. Colour coding £350. Solar panel (180/200w) unwired £450. Full fit £550.
• West Dubs (Worchester) £2900 pop top.£345 colour coding Gel. Solar panel price not disclosed.

What should be done prior to booking in pop top?
I suppose the answer is dependant on which pop top you go for but what are some of the extras that you should go for when booking in? Example, should you always get the pop top company to fit carpet, spot lights and solar panel on your behalf as opposed to installing these yourself after the fitting?

• Fitting dashcam
• Running additional 1.5mm² cable around the roof as spare for future proofing

Our current pros/cons list for getting a pop top:

Pros

• More comfortable for cooking, washing up and moving around in the van
• Could make a SWB feel more spacious
• Ventilation
• More appealing if sell the van in the future
• Potential for additional sleeping area if required
• Looks cool

Cons

• A pop top would make it obvious that the van is a camper and so not very stealthy
• Less insulated
• Another place to have potential leaks - unlikely but still a possibility
• More noise in the van
• Would need a flexible solar panel rather than rigid which seems less reliable and more expensive
• Lose the ability to have additional storage/kayaks on a roof rack
• Cost and additional maintenance going forward
• Potentially wouldn't get much use due to wild/free camping

Many thanks!

 

[CAB]

Living in the van for a year, I'd forget the poptop and get a high-top.

Your backs will thank you.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[JumpShip]

I never liked the look of a poptop and didnt see the point of spending good money on chopping out a load of steel to replace it with a load a fibreglass .
Drafty, noisy etc etc .... not for me .
Are you gonna keep the van ?
Lots of roof fitters want an empty van , no furniture to work around .

A year in such a small van is gonna be more challenging when the weather gets cold and wet , in the dry you live out of the van not in it so much easier .
Then theres the travel limitations within schengen to consider.
Lots to think about .

 

[Sasquatch]

Look for...

Stainless hinges. Don't rust.

Beefy struts. Don't twist or flex, hold it firmly upright in poor conditions.

Solidity of construction. My Redline pop top is far from the last word in svelte style, but was absolutely rock solid in 35mph winds with 55mph gusts.

As above, a hi top is well worth considering if stone cold practicality is more important than appearance.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Search the forum for C&H campers. They appear frequently and not for good reasons.

 

[drinfinity]

Some pop tops will take a roof rack and kayaks - that’s how I use mine.

Also consider tent fabric. I chose canvas because it is more breathable, and isn’t covered in condensation in the morning.

I’m not tall, but I wouldn’t fancy being hunched over in the van for a year without a poptop.

On mine I ran all the cables first. The ‘fitter’ used screws rather than pop rivets for the metalwork along the sides, so I could do my own lights and carpet afterwards.

I got it from Streamline / Poptops in the north east. Their factory is a mess, and I had to rectify their work later. All good now, but don’t get one fitted there.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Two six footers in a SWB T6 for a year with no pop top as you may well be wild camping sounds like you could just leave it as a stock van and sell it when you've had your gap year.
We had a month in France this year through that June/July heatwave, not quite wild camping but with night time temperatures still in the low 30s C the pop top with mud flaps rolled up provided a hint of security and a good impression of ventilation from the side draft... we're 5'6" pygmies but by the month's end we were more than happy to return to the mother ship.

 

[ben5560]

I never liked the look of a poptop and didnt see the point of spending good money on chopping out a load of steel to replace it with a load a fibreglass .
Drafty, noisy etc etc .... not for me .
Are you gonna keep the van ?
Lots of roof fitters want an empty van , no furniture to work around .

A year in such a small van is gonna be more challenging when the weather gets cold and wet , in the dry you live out of the van not in it so much easier .
Then theres the travel limitations within schengen to consider.
Lots to think about .

What travel limitations??

 

[JumpShip]

What travel limitations??

90 days in every 180 for us

 

[ben5560]

Ah ok yes, of course

 

[naynay]

Some of your cons aren't necessarily true depending on what roof you go for. There are a few companies that offer stealth roofs which make it really hard to tell there's one even on. This also eliminates out any extra or added noise that you may get from a standard roof.