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Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 01 Jan 2011, 16:12
by ..lee..
wood burner.
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 01 Jan 2011, 23:59
by anaconda
I reckon the tin top is ideal for all forms of camping. Apart from looking better, wouldnt you prefer to cook outside, even on longer hols? Most people I know avoid cooking indoors even witha high/pop top. We've got a full height quechua pop up tent for longer hols as our 'awning' so can cook in there if the weather isnt so good. Otherwise its coffee/quick stuff in the van, but we can sit and do that.
Seems a shame to hack up your tinny.
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 02 Jan 2011, 11:49
by Cazz
We had a pop top, I found it cold in the winter, even with a thermal wrap around it, and storage was a pain. We sold that and bought a high top from the Timber Techs, this was the right descsion, everything is in the roof so we now have a permanent clear back and easy access to my failing battery, lol.
Regarding the mpg, I've found it's no different between the two. I do know that the high top is a lighter roof than our pop top was. However, if our van was a tin top I would not have cut a hole in the roof.
Regarding height restricted car parks, many shops let you park round the back, it's like having my own personal space where there are no idiots to bang my van with their doors.
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 02 Jan 2011, 12:03
by dirtygertie
Tin tops make you tidy.....storage has never been a problem in mine - I bet if everyone emptied their van out and put back the stuff they actually used on a regular basis they'd still have half the stuff on the drive
I can understand the pop top / high top route for extra beds & for standing up (although we've slept 4 in our tin top (3 on a regular basis) and I'm a short ar5e so can just about stand up to cook )
but as for storage, the general rule is the more you have the more Cr ap you fill it with!!
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 02 Jan 2011, 12:22
by eatcustard
High top
T25s look silly at the best of times, so may as well go for the ice-cream van look to finish it off
and you have more space
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 02 Jan 2011, 16:26
by horns
eatcustard wrote:T25s look silly at the best of times, so may as well go for the ice-cream van look to finish it off
Agreed. I don't really get the aesthetic objections to the high-top. It's not like you're spoiling the timeless lines of a classic jag or something. It's a van.
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 02 Jan 2011, 17:09
by kevtherev
Beauty lies within the beholders eyes..
It would be a dull world if it didn't.
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 03 Jan 2011, 00:52
by anaconda
horns wrote:eatcustard wrote:T25s look silly at the best of times, so may as well go for the ice-cream van look to finish it off
Agreed. I don't really get the aesthetic objections to the high-top. It's not like you're spoiling the timeless lines of a classic jag or something. It's a van.
I disagree chaps, its certainly not a classic but many Wedges look pretty neat. I chose mine partly on style over a T4 and a Hiace. Of course aesthetics is a personal thing but I find the high tops distort all the proportions and give it a bloated look.....thats actually being polite, an upturned white bath on any vehicle is always going to look, well pretty 'orrible. I can see the practical side though, if theres a family using it. In any scenario a well sorted tip top is fine as a camper for two people.
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 03 Jan 2011, 01:03
by anaconda
anaconda wrote:horns wrote:eatcustard wrote:T25s look silly at the best of times, so may as well go for the ice-cream van look to finish it off
Agreed. I don't really get the aesthetic objections to the high-top. It's not like you're spoiling the timeless lines of a classic jag or something. It's a van.
I disagree chaps, its certainly not a classic but many Wedges look pretty neat. I chose mine partly on style over a T4 and a Hiace. Of course aesthetics is a personal thing but I find the high tops distort all the proportions and give it a bloated look.....thats actually being polite, an upturned white bath on any vehicle is always going to look, well pretty 'orrible. I can see the practical side though, like Karen says, if theres a family using it. In any scenario a well sorted tip top is fine as a camper for two people.
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 03 Jan 2011, 09:57
by 1664
To truly appreciate the value of a high top you need to be inside the camper, not stood outside looking at it. There can be marked differences in alternative high tops too. So unless 'looks' take priority over practicality....
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 03 Jan 2011, 10:30
by Red Westie
Young family with kids or older couple not wanting the fuss and needing the added warmth = High Top
Single. younger couple wanting to go everywhere and have better access, better MPG, effected less by wind = Pop Top
Both are good and whilst we have a Pop Top, I agree that High Tops are warmer and generally less hassel to setup on camp, BUT THEN......we only paid £34 RETURN Dover/Dunkerke in August!
Swings and roundabouts.
Martin
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 03 Jan 2011, 11:01
by 1664
I'm sure we've already had the pop top/high top MPG debate and it makes no odds (apparently). I'm not sure about the ferry part; I've always booked on as a motorhome below certain dimensions (ferry company usually offer choice of dimensions, presumably to seperate the campervan from the winnibagoes of this world)
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 03 Jan 2011, 11:20
by Ian Hulley
1664 wrote: I've always booked on as a motorhome below certain dimensions (ferry company usually offer choice of dimensions, presumably to seperate the campervan from the winnibagoes of this world)
Precisely, they offer the height options for where on the boat they can fit you depending on the age/layout of the boat, and then length the van to distinguish between campers and gin palaces.
As to the why's and wherefors it's been done to death, each to their own etc. The only thing I would say is that many UK campsites and policed French Aires don't recognise tin-top panel vans as campers and won't accept you.
Ian
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 03 Jan 2011, 14:35
by anaconda
1664. Id admit it is somewhat about styling, theres nowt wrong with that, but in terms of practicality for the two of us a tinny has more than enough storage space and with an awning/pop up is good for longer hols. We did look at all options before we bought ours and I can understand the extra storage in high tops with kids etc but the cooking/standing up issue just isnt relevant for many. Being a smidge under 1.85m (lowered) also gets a cheaper crossing on some ferries too
As said though each to their own, and ultimately the real beauty re these things is that we can style whatever model we prefer to our own spec.
Re: Pop top or High top - Opinions...
Posted: 03 Jan 2011, 14:36
by anaconda
Ian. If its a panel van then its probably aimed at stopping commercial vehicles from taking up occupancy. Thankfully no such problem with a 'proper' tin top camper though.