DIY hi-top/interior head lining - ideas?

[gazc]

hi everyone

we're doing a DIY conversion on our 1986 T25 1.9 petrol. just looking for inspiration on how to line the inside of our leisuredrive hi-top

the last owner had stuck some sections of carpet onto the inside but we want to take this off and put something a little nicer up there. also we have no headling in the back so we need to sort something for this too. anyone got any hints/tips or pics of previous work to give us a starting poit and some ideas!

cheers!

[AngeloEvs]

A lot depends on the construction of the Hi top as many are single skinned and the choice of covering can also provide a bit of insulation. Many Pro conversions use panels on to which the material is attached and the rear of the panels can be insulated or just left with an air gap. My personal choice is for vinyl as it is easier to maintain in terms of being easily cleaned but the downside is that it can be easily damaged. Quite a few threads from owners who have used tradditional textile materials either as a renovation or new DIY conversions - the adavantages are a bit of added insulation, easier to apply and hard wearing but more difficult to keep looking clean and fresh IMO. Pretty sure you will get pointers to threads regrads the various coverings available and what they look like ..........for starters, heres my textured Vinyl refit..................



https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=56991

[donnieg]

When i did mine afew years back i did it with carpet.If you are going to put on carpet just make sure you use high temprature spray glue evo stick do a good one this will make sure if the temprature in your van gets really hot the glue will not soften.Saying that the next time i do it i will put carpet in the high top and vinyl on the bottom half of the van as it will be easer to keep clean.

[donnieg]

Angeloevs just had a look at your thread that looks fantastic

[gazc]

cheers guys - look great!

our hi-top is single skin fibreglass, so trying to keep as much heat in as possible would be good! thinking of carpet roof with vinyl floor, not decided on sides yet - maybe carpet up to window/worktop height and vinyl or painted wood above that (ours is a converted van with only one window)

[Cazz]

Angeloevs just had a look at your thread that looks fantastic

Like wise, it looks really nice, very well thought out.

Our high top is insulated with that silver foil bubble wrap stuff and covered in head lining carpet. We didn't insulate or carpet in the cupboards, the difference in temperature between these and the living area is amazing.

Our side panels are made from coloured hardboard that match the van interior. This needs replacing but we can't find it anywhere, we are now looking into vinyl for these.