New T25 owner, pop top question.

The Tardis factor (interiors , awnings, roofs etc)

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Sunray
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New T25 owner, pop top question.

Post by Sunray »

Been given what I think is a Kamper '88 Devon pop top.

Not perfect condition but hey it was free. Cost me about 600 quid to get the MOT as it was sitting about for a few years.

I'm a little unsure about the roof. I'm assuming its a devon but it looks strange. Its in cornwall and I am in London atm. Here is the picture

Image

That rust is where someone bumped into it and that is the only rust on the body. Gonna get new panels and that door to a panel beater and resprayed.

Anyway I'm Going to check it out at the weekend. Am I alone in expecting that roof to be white fibreglass rather than black? I've had a good search of images and can't see one like it. Mum says a catch is broken, fitted to wood? Wood? Hey its my mum. She cant lift it any more says its too heavy. Goes straight up according to her.

Anyone recognise it?

I'll know more on Sat when I collect it. I was hoping to repair it with new struts and canvas and a replacement catch. It seems that a new high top is the cheaper option if its beyond repair? Could only find one pop top supplier at 3000 quid.

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marcus_asparagus
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Location: Carmarthen, West Wales

Re: New T25 owner, pop top question.

Post by marcus_asparagus »

Hello,

What you have there my friend is an Autohomes Kamper pop top!

For pictures check out my garage at the top of the page and all will become clear about the roof.
There are loads of others on here just browse the garage feature.

They don't look particularly attractive up or down but for space they cannot be beaten.

Somewhere on here people have been able to source new gas struts just use the search facility.

Oh and welcome to the club/money pit!

Regards
Mark.
If passing pop in kettle always on!
Member No.2884
1.9DG Kamper fitted with Dellorto 40's!
Wife's T5 174 axe Caravelle.

jaylo264
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Re: New T25 owner, pop top question.

Post by jaylo264 »

they are BRILLIANT roofs esp if you have kids , so much space and so secure -- if it leaks , use some Flashband on it ; if it won't go up or down easily , maybe get new gas struts ( German maker on strut body ) ;defo spray some grease on the hinges, ( all ) ----- be crazy to replace with hi top, simply no comparison. :wink: our Autohomes Kamper , 1986 , sleeps 6 (! ! ) :shock: and is especially ace when in s of france /spain , the top opens to allow great air circ/cooling, and our kids ( 13,11 , 9 ) use it as a playroom.
jaylo
1986 Autohomes Kamper 1.9 Petrol DG

Sunray
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Re: New T25 owner, pop top question.

Post by Sunray »

Thanks for the info all. Very useful.

It appears Autovan in dorset still maintain them so I will stick it into them for a quote to refurbish it, perhaps see if they can do those dents as well.
1989 1.9 Petrol Autohomes Kamper

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mininut
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Re: New T25 owner, pop top question.

Post by mininut »

£600, what a bargain :D. As mentioned before, you have an Autohomes Kamper 8)

Bit of spit n polish and it'll be as good as new.

Your roof is the right colour, black sides, white top. There should be a pull release for the roof, top left as you look in the sliding door.

Click HERE for piccies of my roof up and down. Like jaylo said, they are great when it's hot as you can open the top side flaps to allow air to flow through the van 8)

ENJOY!!!!!
Paul

1990 Autohomes Kamper 1.9DG......... (Diabolical miles per Gallon)

Sunray
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Re: New T25 owner, pop top question.

Post by Sunray »

OK, I now have in my possession this 1988 Autohomes Kamper Transporter.

I just went from Cornwall to London in it and the engine sounds great. More power than I expected. I did it at 60, but would probably do 80 on the flat which I was surprised at. Until my Mum got her hands on it it was lovingly looked after. Full dealer stamps from 88-2001. Gets a bit patchy after that, but it seems to have weathered it OK.

Comedy moment putting up the roof, she was telling me how its not been used for ages, too heavy. So I gave it a good ol heft and went 'daylight' :?: as the thing proceeded to disintegrate round my head. Two left side struts were held on by pure iron oxide. That gave way making it fall to the left and unknown to me bent the back right side strut, only the rear set of panels went up with the roof, all the hinges had also gone to the god of chemical reactions.

Slight panic then. I was going to drive it back the next day and the roof wasn't going back down so grabbed both handles and pulled, and ripped one of the handles totally off in a shower of rotten wood. Had to rip the bent strut from the wood with a screw driver as one of the screws had burred.

In short : Roof is dead.

I had to ratchet strap it down to drive it here. I'm still umming and ahhing between the high top and the pop top. The High top is nearly maintenance free and all that extra storage.

e2a: Found this,
http://www.autovan.co.uk/kamper_roof_1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Those metal panels are are twisted due to the struts failing, wonder if they supply replacement ones?
1989 1.9 Petrol Autohomes Kamper

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