high top or not? Who likes them and who doesn't?

Post by **lubylulu** » 04 May 2006, 12:59

Hi there

I am now thinking about getting a high top roof on my T25 rather than struggling on with my very tired and knackered pop top.

I have noticed that people seeme to have strong feelings for and against high tops. I have been told that they increase fuel consumption by a lot and also make resale more difficult because T25 lovers think they are ugly. I have also been told the exact opposite by people who say they are great if you have kids and that the fuel consumption isn't any different and they give you tons more room.

Be great to hear from as many of you as possible as to what you think of them. The pros and cons.

Post by **T2Andy** » 04 May 2006, 13:06

Hi, I previously had a PopTop Westy T2 and now have a High Top Westy T3 so here goes:

PopTop

Pros: Low so can get in more car parks, don't look as ugly as *some* high tops.

Cons: Cold in the winter, can only store stuff up there when popped up, Can Leak in the rain, Flappy noises when windy and trying to sleep, only got headroom when popped.

High Top

Pros: Storage, Warm, dry, cosy, storage, permanent headroom, storage.

Cons: Can't get in some carparks, *some* are ugly.

Mines a 1.6TD and although we haven't measured fuel comsumption yet it looks to be around 35mpg.

Post by **banana** » 04 May 2006, 13:16

Went through this 4 years ago and bought the compromise a semi high top lift up.

For
Space..so much more ( usually the crucial issue for families)
Warmer Winter camping
Dry
You can fix awnings higher up allowing sliding door to clear fabric.
Lift up semi allows great ventilation in hot weather

Against
Height restrictions in car parks and beauty spots.
Wind resistance above 50mph. Some extra fuel when driving over 60mph
Get blown around more.
Dont look as good although raked front profile high tops look alot better.
Chilly in winter.

I was looking at the T4 westfalia california recently and whilst it looks iffy the space is great. Enough space to make me think twice.

Post by **Horza** » 04 May 2006, 13:19

Sticking a big plastic sail on top of your van is bound to have some effect on fuel economy but as the van has the front profile of a shed it isn't going to make a lot of diference overall.

There may be some increase in sideways pressure too for crosswinds and the like but again, look at the side of a van, see ho the lower profile part of a hightop is over the wheel that steer, see that even huge hightops aren't half the size of the side of the van. Again it's not going to have much effect.

You can't get under some height barriers that you may have done before but be honest, with a poptop how many restricted height areas could you get into already? These vans were never Multistory friendly and little seaside towns are rarely frindly to folk who drive anything taller than a Micra.

With a hightop you get to stand up in the back all the time, not just when you can be bothered to lift the top. You can store loads of stuff up there like cheese and beer and wellies and children and whatnot. If you insulate the hightop inside then it's warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than a tent on your roof.

I think they look nice with a good hightop on, as campers go that is. If lowered bling mobiles are your bag you may disagree.

A camper is a camper is a camper, if and when you sell it you will be selling a camper. I wouldn't have bought a pop top. Other folk who bought vans feel the same. Some folk wont buy a hightop. Can you reallly predict what the market is going to be for some point in the future? On the other hand if you bought your van with a mind to sell it then are you in the right place? Surely there are sites devoted to which classic car makes the best investment?

Post by **T'Onion** » 04 May 2006, 13:26

I've had all three
tin top was ok got me into multi-storage carparks , well once it did cos i never use them, cons to room to stand up/cook etc. fuel was around 20 ish

pop top , loved it to bits , even swapped it onto me new van, the reimo and the westie ones look well cool , cons cold and noisey especially when its windy. if your ruffing it and you pop the roof everyone knows your camping.
pro's the looks , if your into lowering vans etc then a pop looks better than a hightop (imho), fuel around 20ish

hightop , well i swapped my poptop for one because it suited us , having a daughter thats growing up etc, ok the pro's over a poptop . the over cab storage, the storage in the bed area, you can stand up for a pea whenever,you can stand up and cook whenever, infact you can stand up and do whatever whenever , its quiter and warmer when camping , no one knows if your camping cos the van doesnt change shape.
ok cons .. cant get into multi or hight restricted carparks (big deal), the stick somepeople give you ( do you sell 99's) , ok the important things ermmm nowt as for as i can work out .. fuel about 20ish

as for the 'oh my god the wind has blown me into canada' , only once has it caught me out and that was one hell of a windy trip which had even modern day mpv drivers walking across the catseyes.
Wind seems to be the big issue here, the high top at say 70 is ok wind noise is fine , the reimo poptop at 70 used to whistle a bit .But ffs its a van not a lambo fitting a front spoiler help's with all vans

Its horses for courses really, do like most people do, look at what you have and what your going to be doing with it and then make up your own mind , as for lowering the value think again.Good luck with whatever you choose, if you go for a hightop then have a look at Timbertechs website.

Mark

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 04 May 2006, 13:48

all been covered above, except high top more secure, you could cut through pop top quite easily. MUCH quieter to sleep in in windyness.

Post by **lubylulu** » 04 May 2006, 13:51

Had chat with timbertech and was really impressed hence my change of heart.

Am not thinking of selling van just doing the proper research before I make a decision. All in all I think a high top would be best. I quite like the look of them actually.

Am worrying about the wind thing now. Has anyone actually been blown over??

Post by **T'Onion** » 04 May 2006, 13:56

Only by the extra space in the thing and 'why didnt i do this beofre now'

Has anyone actually been blown over

Post by **Mocki** » 04 May 2006, 16:59

there is no difference with the wind between pop top and hi top, the hitop is ridgid and sealed the wind gets in the pop top, you find the only peple who dont like hitops are either dwarfs or have cricked necks and green streaks within.

Post by **TYG** » 04 May 2006, 20:40

the wind gets in the pop top

hehe happy days hey Steve ' ee its a bit windy in the back '

hehehe

Post by **Ivor Brownun** » 04 May 2006, 22:00

I have a pop top with solid sides, does not seem to make much difference if windy when camping. I can only get in the same carparks as a high top

Storage ok if only 2 of you, high top better if you got kids, I think the pop top looks better and a tin top better again but they're not as pratical as a high top. My favourite is the factory fitted full length high top, which is the same height along its length and I think is made of metal, have seen these with extra high sliding door right up into th e roof. Like someone else said it comes down to your own preference, something as simple as is it your only vehicle? can be a major factor.

Post by **MikeB** » 04 May 2006, 23:21

Of course having the high-top means that when the wind is behind you that big sail helps push you along and may even save you a couple of drops of fuel.

Tacking up the motorway can be a bit of a problem when going into the wind though

Mike.

Post by **lhd** » 05 May 2006, 00:56

I have a pop top and my brother has a high top. From my experience there is definitely a difference with cross winds, and his is a lot newer than mine (not that means a thing).
The pop top is more handy for shopping & McDonalds.

, and although a little chilly in the winter, It's a god send in the summer.
Head room can be a pain at times but once you are going to spend more than ten minutes inside, it doesn't really make a difference
I personally prefer the look of the pop top, and the hassle free parking, but hey we all have different needs.

lhd..........................................

Post by **DiscoDave** » 05 May 2006, 05:35

sorry but high top are ugly not just some but all of them! and if you drive fast enough round a corner or round abbout it will fall over!!!

Post by **thegamwellsmythes** » 05 May 2006, 07:30

I'm 6'4" and a hi-top is definately better.

Also my 5'4" wife has a habit of taking most of her wardrobe so the extra storage is needed.

We've got the Autohomes Hi-Top raked at the front with a roof rack thing at the back and I think it looks great. Although I think the Westy hi-top is ugly even if it is really practical.

Horses for courses.