changing pop top....

Post by **ermie571** » 29 Jul 2007, 16:09

Ok,
My camper has a side elevating roof which runs from the end of the cab to the end of the roof - 2/3 of the roof I suppose. Internally, the roof has been cut away from cab to locker.....quite a big hole!!!

I am wondering whether I could put on the viking roof that I have. The only issue is the fact that the only viking I have seen has a much smaller internal hole....from cab to first support only. I have the metal support bar for the viking, and it would only take up about half the hole that I have.

Has anyone changed a pop-top....or know whether the viking can be fitted to my huge hole??? Or if I can't.....can I change the van's roof to take it??? The new roof has three rams.....so how would I mount the central one - I am not sure where the ram locates on the roof....

All ideas gratefully received! I would really like some additional space up top! If not, its gonna have to be the caravelle for the chop!!! But the camper is the best place for it to be.

thanks very much folks....so many questions....

Emma

Post by **perro** » 29 Jul 2007, 18:30

Have you thought of an autosleeper pop top they fit to the length of the roof end to end . The hole stretches from behind the cab to about half way of the rear windows if you have a rear top locker the hole comes to just befor that. It would apear an ideal conversion for you as you can cover any variation in the current hole. They come up on e bay quite a lot . Can you post a pic of the inside may help people to compare what they have .

You could fit a pixi hat hi top they are on e bay quite a lot and there are some vans being broken on there at the mo which may have a top. If it were me I would stick with a pop top every time .

Hope it helps will be glad to send a pic of the hole size for the autosleeper top. Good luck

Post by **camper** » 29 Jul 2007, 20:36

I would not worry about the large hole you are discribing. .The most important factor is that all the roof braces are intact and not cut ie the two metal roof bows that have the holes in between each.I recently fitted a full length devon side elevation roof to my tin top which required cutting the roof.When the Devon factory fitted these roofs it was designed around a fibre glass base that was pop riveted to folded parts of the tin top after cutting.You can get an idea of this by looking at one of our members Matt Devon roof fitting on the wiki.So to fit the viking roof you have you need to understand how this was fitted then make comparisons to the cut away tinware on you vans roof. It would be possible to replace cut roof tinware by riveting if need be.The most important part of fitting these roofs is to produce the strengthing properties around the roof bows and tin on the vans roof.The devon full side elevation roof requires the fibre glass base to have metal support panels running along each side of the van .Try to find out how the viking was fitted and go from there.

Post by **ermie571** » 29 Jul 2007, 21:17

Thanks for the advice.....

Will look at the wiki and the bits of roof that I have and don't have, and the fittings for the viking!

Cheers
Emma

Post by **hembo666** » 01 Aug 2007, 19:25

Emma, please give us a shout at costock and have a hands on look at our viking, ive been really slack and still not took the photos you asked for.

Post by **ermie571** » 02 Aug 2007, 09:03

Hembo - taa....

will have a good look then and see what can be done....

Only a couple of weeks until Costock.....yipee!!!

Emma

Post by **Louey** » 02 Aug 2007, 10:16

Emma what are you doing with the Devon roof?

Post by **ermie571** » 02 Aug 2007, 11:49

Not sure that it is a devon per se.......and its not a full length roof either (which I though Devon's were)

poss thinking about fitting it to the velle with the rnr bed in it.....but then again, maybe not! Poss swap it for some assistance fitting the viking if it can be done....

Looks like I will have to find a centre bow - all the viking conversions I have seen only have the hole in the centre of the van.....

so gonna have to do some work me thinks.....

are you interested??

Emma

Post by **camper** » 02 Aug 2007, 14:18

That centre bow is very important.It is a strengthener for the vans roof and body.Years ago i visited a workshop of a well known VW camper camper van sales & conversion company in South Godstone Surrey.In the work shop was a VW T2 bay window having a viking space maker roof fitted.I noticed the vehicle had a lot of body rust also the centre roof bow was cut .The fitters where welding in a rectanguler angle iron frame to the cut centre roof bow and roof tin .I inquired to ask if this was how a viking roof was normaly fitted they said the angle frame was the replacement roof strengthener.Regarding fitting a viking roof to a T25 there may be a angle frame welded in as discribed above.I am not sure i would like to go as far as welding in a frame unless completely sure of the safety aspect for the vehicle.Its not that i carnt weld as i have advance craft city& guilds in welding practices.You have to bear in mind things like van insurance & possible engineers report after changes to the vehicle.

Post by **ermie571** » 06 Aug 2007, 10:53

Camper,
thanks for the advice.

I have the rectangular frame....it came with the roof. BUT....I think it should be fixed (riveted or welded) to the centre bow, as it has fixings along every side of the rectangle. I have enquired at a breakers for refixing the bow, which they say can be done...with care to get all the measurements and height correct.

thanks again,
Emma

Post by **camper** » 06 Aug 2007, 16:22

If you have the rectangular frame for the viking roof i would think it is full length for the roof bellows.The roof bows might interfere with the way the roof is used for beds& open space.Again you need to find out if the bows are retained or cut on a viking roof for a T25.From your topic discription your existing roof has a cut roof bow.In that case if you are fitting the viking roof rectangular frame and the bow is cut as part of its feature.It could be mig or tig welded it to the existing cut bow and roof tin.As i said in my last post i did see this being done on a T2 baywindow having a viking space maker with the rectangular frame being welded .If it going to be welded get a competent trades person as there are other aspects to consider ie controling distortion & where the welding is needed to get the frame & roof strength for the van.Oh from memory the roof bow of the baywindow cut ends was welded adjacent to the roof frame ie butt welded.

Post by **ermie571** » 06 Aug 2007, 20:24

Camper, again very sound advice - thanks. I must admit, you left me a little worried regarding the strengthening in the van.....so tonight I have been out and had a look......Under the grey carpet that the van is trimmed in is a metal (steel?) rectangle....and its really deep - I would guestimate about 1 inch or more box section. I guess this is providing the necessary strenthening!

With regard to the new roof, the metal rectangle I have is NOT the full length of the van....it matches the "hole" that would occur if you laid it on the tin-top roof and cut out from the first pressed bow on the roof and third bow....about half of what is cut away in the camper. I need to work out if I can fix this viking support to the metal support that is there now.

When its light next I will take some photographs. I will also get round to stripping some of the trimming to have a really good look at my roof.

Thanks again for all the help:D
Emma

Post by **camper** » 06 Aug 2007, 22:41

Sorry if i worried you that was not my intention.Your own inspection seems to have found that it has a properly fittted roof strengthener.Which would have been the main concern if it had been my vehicle regards to fitting the viking roof

Post by **camper** » 11 Aug 2007, 18:05

How are you getting on with the viking roof?.