Is a pop top any good in the wind?

[Trish]

Our hightop problems in the past was wind and limitations in where we can park as hubby has to park in a multi storey for work which isn't ideal for a multi storey van!

By the way, having a good excuse to post again on 80-90 is great...while we've been van less I have missed you guys.......thanks for your responses!


Will keep you posted how we get on!

[A KIRK]

A lot fo pop tops still won't fit into multistory car parks.

When its windy the noise can be a problem if your a light sleeper, obviously not as well insulated as a high top, and more parts to have to repair etc

[jamesc76]

Driving a pop top in the wind isn't an issue, can't say that about a high top!

Yes I can - I've driven both types and they both get blown around pretty much the same....

You must be unlucky then, my T25 pop top gets less problem with side winds than my T4 tin top works van. I've always put it down to to steps and pipe tube on top of the T4.

no its the fact that the suspension on the t4 is completely different (torsion bars etc)!!!! Cant quite understand how you can compare a t25 with a t4 when the question was about high tops and pop tops!

I have had my van from a tin top to pop top to high top and its all the same in wind!

[Gandalf]

Never had any problems with pop top in the wind but it is worth having a silver screen for the pop top as it stops the canvas flapping otherwise can be quite noisey.

Exactly that.

[ajp]

[ Cant quite understand how you can compare a t25 with a t4 when the question was about high tops and pop tops!

The T25 is a pop top and it has less issues with wind than a T4 tin top, its just an observation regarding the stabilty of my T25.

[Red Westie]

It sounds like a high top is more suitable for your family but less suited because of your job situation, it's a shame that you need to compromise one for the other.
As far as the debate goes, poptops are great but use a wrap in wind and rain.
Martin

[choplee]

Had a hi-top and now got a holdsworth elevation roof with solid side's ....Best of both worlds in a way ...
Both do get abit of wind rock when camping ,but the elevation roof is better on the road ...

[BigTam]

Having owned two T25 high tops, one T25 pop top, a big foooook off Florida LT and now a T4 pop top I have to admit that the high tops are best for storage but the pop tops best for driving in all weathers, mind you I never did drive with the pop top up in the wind

No seriously, have had the pop top up in my California and T4 in some strong winds, no issues what so ever

[Mocki]

i have had all three roofs on a t25, and the high top is no better, no worse than a pop top in the wind when moving, the high top catches a bit of side wind because of the height, but the pop top catches just as much because of the wind getting into the roof where it joins the van, the tin top was slightly better, but useless to live in.

when parked, the hightop wins hands down, quieter, better insulation and more room, less wind battering .

the biggest thing you can do to stop the wind when moving is the spoiler under the front bumper and no ally wheels.

[Cruz]

I find the wind wander no worse with alloys than the old steels

[jpennington]

Wind when camping - I've never really worried about it. I recall a stormy night on a cliff-top in North Devon a few years ago. Tent campers were lashing down with fat straps and even them some tents and caravan awnings were uprooted. No problem with the Westy though. It is probably a good idea to park facing downwind if possible, though more to reduce the effect of driving rain on the canvas.

As for space, well 20 years ago we managed a week with 2 adults, 3 kids, and a Welsh Springer spaniel. Smallest slept in hammock bed over the front seats. It did call for careful co-ordination and organisation, especially moving things around at bedtime Then we got an awning.

Wind when driving - not an issue at all. Except a couple of times in the last 24 years, travelling solo, when I set off bright and early after an overnight stop; and forgot to drop the top.
The van didn't seem to pull as well above 50 mph, and then I noticed people waving at me.


jp

[ericos_bob]

jp[/quote]Wind when driving - not an issue at all. Except a couple of times in the last 24 years, travelling solo, when I set off bright and early after an overnight stop; and forgot to drop the top.
The van didn't seem to pull as well above 50 mph, and then I noticed people waving at me.

That story reminds me of an incident I had with my poptop travelling in my bay window. Was driving along a 4x4 track in remote australia when a passing 4x4 kicked up a boulder and smashed my windscreen to bits. Ended up driving back to the nearest town which was 200kms away in pouring rain and sunnys to keep water out of my eyes. About half way back I was doing about 70km/h on a sealed road when I heard this almighty bang. When I stopped ot inspect the damage I realized I had effectively turned my kombi into a convertible. My poptop was on the road behind me. A strong wind gust pushing through my broken windscreen was too much for the top. I did manage to lift it back on the car and tie ropes around the full girth of my kombi to hold it there. Looked like a wrapped christmas present driving back into town

Oh and I have no issues with my syncro poptop so far but if I ever break a window I'll be tieing the thing down solid pretty quick

[mikey9]

Camping in the Western Isles and Western Scotland - you may reassess your confidence in the pop top - unless you park the right way round.

We had several dropping the lid last year due to a bit of (normal for Lewis!) wind.

Driving a Hi-top year round in the Highlands (where we also get a bit of wind) I can say the only challenging bit is over the bridge to Inverness where it can be like tacking in a yacht.....I like to use both lanes if I can .

Wouldn't swap the convenience of ALL THAT STORAGE and sleeping space (and we only have 1 multi storey in the Highlands).

[kevtherev]

TMI Andy...TMI

There are, however, signs of light staining to the head lining.

[geordie skydiver]

Has anyone got a picture of one of those Brickwerks Westfalia pop top thermal sheet?