What van should I get

Post by **eatcustard** » 29 Oct 2008, 10:02

Good day all.

Have a bit of a dilemma, should I get a High top or a Pop top?
Taking into account I have 2 young rugrats on tow.

Post by **Mocki** » 29 Oct 2008, 10:13

hi top.......
it will save you changing to one later when you realise, like most do, that pop tops are a pain in the whatsit when you find you have no storage and have to keep moving things everytime you want to move the van...........

Post by **jamesc76** » 29 Oct 2008, 10:18

Exactly what mocki said i've gone from tin top to 2 different pop top's and this weekend gettin a high top fitted! And i cant wait!

Post by **Molly Man** » 29 Oct 2008, 12:08

Pop Top... when you realise that you can't get into that town centre car park with a high top or that one close to the beach when you just want to stop for a brew and park easily and its got a height barrier!

Pop Top... when you fall off the high top trying to do simple maintenance and cleaning...no need for a long ladder!

Pop Top... when petrol/diesel consumption is an issue I believe but this could be wrong! and I will be corrected...wind resistance etc....have placed book down trousers!

Pop Top... When you realise that you have just as much storage when the top is up! and you don't have to move that much... and it makes you tidier!

Post by **richnewton** » 29 Oct 2008, 12:21

ive had a pop top for about 7 years and i'm slowly thinking maybe time for a hightop

Post by **Cruz** » 29 Oct 2008, 12:55

Hi-Top that lasts for years and doesn't end up like a gaffa tape patchwork quilt, doesn't freeze the rooftop sleepers nor wake the whole van with loud canvas flapping noises in the slightest breeze.

Buy a hi-top and pitch an awning rather than have a mouldy tent on the roof

Post by **ttcharlie** » 29 Oct 2008, 12:58

Deff a High Top....

You can throw all the stuff up in it when your other half and the kids sleep on the bed and you have to sleep in the awning!!

Why would you want to go shopping in a camper anyway??

Post by **windysurfer** » 29 Oct 2008, 13:16

Hitop here.

Warmer, quieter,more storage,and all my windsurfing stuff fits behind the passenger seat which is a massive bonus

[IMG:768:1024]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z242 ... AG0063.jpg[/img]

Post by **Cruz** » 29 Oct 2008, 13:44

Someone at work reminded me of another plus about hi-tops. He said "When it floods you can flip it over strap the inboard motor on and use it as a boat"

.............says the plonker with a Honda ja(i)zz

Post by **hightower** » 29 Oct 2008, 13:49

Molly Man wrote: Pop Top... when petrol/diesel consumption is an issue I believe but this could be wrong! and I will be corrected...wind resistance etc....have placed book down trousers!

I think VW quote in their handbook a difference of around 1mpg between hitop and tintop and i think i read something somewhere recently either on here or in a mag that the drag factor was better on a hitop as it wasnt effected by negative pressures as much (i think).

This is exactly the dilema i am in at the moment after our 1st year of ownership of a solid side poptop, we find the boot space is full up with camping chairs, table and awning before we even start with the duvet and clothing etc etc, so the back seat area is always chocka when we go, this was very evident for vanfest where our friends who live about 100yards away were also going but in their car and they suggested about them coming up with us, well we could have fitted their camping gear in but not them aswell. We are ok once parked up as we stuff everything in the roof space once up.

But if we went hitop then we have the problems that there are a lot of height barriers on the carparks around our neck of the woods.

Post by **teutonic T3** » 29 Oct 2008, 16:24

pop top,unless you want to look like an ice cream van?

only joking before you all start! each to their own that's the beauty of these vans

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 29 Oct 2008, 16:29

Hi-top - that leaks in round the old cracked sealant that it was stuck down with 20 years ago and you can`t find where it`s coming in

And is a cow of a job to remove and re-seal on yer driveway

Warmer? - good thermo screens available for pop-top at night, keep the warm out during the summer as well as in during the colder weather.

If you can`t look after the "tent" from damage it`s a bad do

Pop-top material breathes, reduces condensation as well, unlike a fibreglass roof.

Roof rack / bars fit to pop-top easily, fishing rods / surf-boards / roof box for storage, not forgetting lotsa (properly designed) pop-tops have a front luggage tray over the cab. If you havn`t enough room take less stuff! Or get a trailer.

People with young kids usually go for a high top for the obvious security benefits, no argument there (that`s the society we live in)

Personal preference on looks

You pays your money, you makes your choice

Everyone has their own opinion, mine is right for my circumstances

Post by **Cruz** » 29 Oct 2008, 17:20

Lined Hi-tops have no condensation probs

Post by **Plasticman** » 29 Oct 2008, 18:45

Had both, now with Hi top. As we have no spoilers we have the rear top for all the bedding stuff and clothes and as its insulated and panneled out we get no condensation, standing hight all the time and when we are vparked up nobody knows if were sleeping or not, with the pop top its like a bit obviouse.
Mike

Post by **kevtherev** » 29 Oct 2008, 20:40

High top.. all day (and night)

pop tops look great... but... for all year round camping , a hightop and a propex is the thing..