Turning a tintop into a poptop cost?

[Emma&Al]

I have a tintop...i'd much prefer a poptop!

Any idea on the cost of having this done professionally? Bearing in mind I can't do any of the work myself!!

Thanks

[T3luestar]

This might give you an idea......
http://www.poptoproofs.co.uk/shop/produ ... p?id=30350" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.spaceroofs.co.uk/type-25-ele ... f.htm#tab2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tforturton]

Alternatively, you can source a used roof, and have it fitted to your van. Been done loads of times. Though to be honest, if you have to pay someone to do it for you, then there's little difference in the total cost.

[Emma&Al]

Christ Alive - okay so I really can't afford that!!!
My van only cost me £2000! I may aswell buy an actual factory built pop top van!
Thanks for the links, it's interesting to see what the cost is

[T3luestar]

I was looking into getting it done myself, as my family is going to be +1 any day soon! A multivan just doesn't have the room anymore.

[Emma&Al]

T3luestar I was thinking the same...a small child has unexpectedly come into my life and now the Caravelle seems small!

[Tinium]

Just the three of you? A cab bunk for the front could work - We used one of these with our 6 month old in a popup cot tied to it, worked a treat (if a bit fiddly). There's probably a time gap though when they can start to get out of the pop up cot, but too small to be able to leave in the bunk safely... we got a blow-up drive-away awning at that point (lush, but still bigger + cheaper than a popup!), but looking forward to when we can use the cab bunk again

[Emma&Al]

Sounds like a practical idea
The little one thats come into my life will be 5 soon, so a little big perhaps for a bunk at the front? But Im sure there must be an alternative still

[jim potter]

ive been looking into this. my tintop is soon to go in for a make over .
and i wondered about the cost of a second hand roof .

is any particular one better than an other ?

[tforturton]

Well, most people would say the Westfalia was the best, but there's no solid reason for saying that - there are plenty of different types out there, and they all have their admirers. If you want to buy a pop top to retro-fit to your van, then you'll find Westfalia types are usually more expensive than say, a Viking, or Devon roof - and good ones are harder to find, as well. That's purely down to the fact that people prefer the Westy, so they get snapped up, and so the sellers can ask a good price. That said, the spares availability for westy parts is very good - you can buy just about anything -not so good for the other makes.
Expect to pay between £500 and £800 for a good westy roof - depending on age and condition - more if you're also buying the whole roof cut (rather than just the pop top unit itself). Fitting it is a tricky job but there are those who have done it themselves. If you have to pay someone to do it, then it's going to cost between £1000 and £1500 depending on how much work you have done (paint, etc) and how good a job it is. So if you have the skills,and the premises to do it yourself, it can be done fairly cheaply.
Being able to stand up inside your van is a great feeling!

[camper]

Doing it your self costs only the price off a lift up roof or pop top.I got a complete Devon roof for £150.00 and cutting the roof is straight forward .Dont cut the roof braces unless you have a reinforcement frame.Some of the spacemaker roofs fitted on viking conversions have a rectanguler frame welded on to the cut braces and roof steel.Done this job my self make sure you get the cutting dia correct for where the roof sits .

[irishkeet]

I'm having a westy roof grafted to my Caravelle in Jan by Ady at Boxwagen, he has done quite a few and done them well. Im not attempting it myself as I want to keep the full original Westy roof hole and its a trick job grafting the new roof on.

I sourced the poptop & the roof cut and I refurbed the pop, replaced the fixings with stainless steel. Photos on my thread and more to be added in Jan

[tforturton]

There are two ways to do this - either you cut off the whole roof (usually including the gutters), and replace it with a complete Westy roof, OR you cut a big hole, then fit the pop-top to your existing roof. I had the latter done (also by Ady at Boxwagen). If you do this, you need to factor in the cost of the bed base, as non-Westy roof profiles are curved. It cost me slightly in excess of £2k - that's buying the roof, and then getting it fitted, with bed base included. I imagine cutting the whole roof off, and welding a new one on could be expensive, but at least then you don't have to worry about cutting a hole, positioning the hinges etc, as they're already there.

[Thefamegame]

I already have a 1000x1100 cut out in the roof from a previous pop top which i think is a standard caravelle sunroof opening. Is there a decent thread or guide online to fitting a secondhand westy pop top? I have the complete westy roof cut and without looking i don't know if i can remove the metal trim that surrounds the cut out- i was *told* that boxwagen make them.

Thanks!

[tforturton]

Yes, boxwagen do make them. Have a look at my thread "just bought a westfalia roof". Plenty of photos of this job, and of the hole frame.