Convert a pop top to a tin top?

[liam_w]

Hi all, I currently have a VW T25 1.6td Autohomes Kamper pop top conversion. I was wondering if anyone know's if you can convert the pop top back to the original metal roof skin, is it possible?? and if so, where can it be done and is there any ideas as to costs involved?? Thanks for your time, Liam.

[Aidan]

Autohomes were made on panel vans, so the roof aperture is simply cut out - to repair you just need a donor scrap van with tin top and someone who can weld big panels succesfully, ie without distortion....or you drill out all the spot welds on both and pull off the old roof and weld on the whole new roof. The latter would be the best method, but the most time consuming and expensive.
If you really want a tintop camper I'd think about selling the autohomes and getting a different van, or if the autohomes is just leaking then either fix it or replace poptop with a reimo or fauxWesty

[J188]

My van used to be a pop top but the roof was past its best. The guy I bought the van off did the work and the finish is great, has his own VW reapir shop. If you live anywhere close to Morcambe I can pass his details onto you.
However one issue with the tin top is you'll have to duck when cooking....or sit

Ste

[liam_w]

Hi, Thanks for the reply Aiden and J188, Yeah that would be great if I could have his details, I live in the Isle of Man, the ferry goes to heysham which is 20 mins away, and I'm always popping over to the mainland anyway. Thanks a lot for your time, Liam

[bigherb]

I had a Autohomes top just took it off and pop riveted a 1mm galvanised sheet over the hole, painted black until you look closely it looks like a fabric sun roof.

[PEET]

Or get Paris Beetles to make a sunroof for it...

[liam_w]

Thanks for all the info, I think we have decided to go agead with the conversion, we are not sure of the cost yet but of coarse we want to keep them down! Does anyone know how hard it is to take off an autohomes pop top conversion?? Can it be done with just one or two people with basic tools?? If anyone has a guide, Links or photos these would be great, Thanks, Liam

[KarlT]

What's the matter with the pop-top. What type is it? Do you want to sell it? Or is it in a bad way?

[liam_w]

Well the original black pop top was ruined, it was leaking and when we went to close it one day all of the solid side panels fell away as all the mountings were all rotten, so we decided as, seen as though a proper replacement would be £2000 to £3000 we would have a go at making our own, we made it out of marine ply and it works, it is around the same weight as the original and fit's right on to the autohomes conversion, it is around one year old now the roof and is fully sealed, it is quite a good piece of engineering but uneccasary for what we want. So we decided to add the regidity, stop the lane changing feature in winds and to make it look a lot better we would have a go at putting a tin top back on it, as all we ever use it for mostly is running around in and occasionally going away, but a good awning would work fine and would save us having to cart around a lot of extra weight, If you would like to see some pic's of the one that's currently on it just ask, Thanks, Liam

[KarlT]

we would have a go at making our own, we made it out of marine ply and it works,

If you would like to see some pic's of the one that's currently on it just ask, Thanks, Liam

Errrmmm, How do I put this nicely?



I think the sunroof idea would be best. Good luck,

[rab-rulez]

the roof change over can be done in a weekend with two people on the job the last 1 we done was changed from a fibreglass high top to a left hand drive roof with the sunroof above the loading bay it was a bit of work to do but is worthwhile

[liam_w]

Hi again, the roof is now gone, leaving a 42" by 50" (roughly). Does anyone know of a smaller less intrusive pop top just to give a little more headroom over that hole???? Thanks again for all the help and information, Liam

[Titus A Duxass]

Does anyone know of a smaller less intrusive pop top just to give a little more headroom over that hole???? Thanks again for all the help and information, Liam

I picked up a Reimo Pilzdach (mushroom roof) off ebay for 200 yoyos.
It's about that size and covers the main area, giving standing room whilst cooking, etc.

Reimo still do them but they are about 1000 yoyos new!
Take a look here http://reimo.com/de/G-ausbaushop/GD-dae ... ubdaecher/

You see them from time to time on German ebay, but transportation would be a problem.

[Titus A Duxass]

Here's one on ebay.de - Art. Nr. 220326353674

At 399 yoyos.

[PEET]

By comparison a new Paris Beetles sunroof worked out at £250-300ish when I was looking - you just won't be able to stand up n make a cup of tea when its raining!!