Pop-top vs Hi-top advice

Post by **mattc** » 02 Jul 2007, 08:30

Does anyone have any advice on hi-tops vs pop-tops? I was sold on looking for a pop-top as they look more compact. Thanks lambrettalee for showing me round his california hi-top at the weekend - now I'm torn. On one hand, the hi-top is very practical. Loads of storage and we could just chuck the toddler up there at night no fuss. It's nice and dark up there so he'll sleep, and nice and cosy.

On the other hand, I imagine pop-tops are a bit more economical as they have a (slightly) more aerodynamic shape, and generally I prefer the look of them. Has anyone owned both, or can anyone give me advice on why I should go for one or the other ( price, practicality, fuel, repairs etc)
cheers

Post by **peasant** » 02 Jul 2007, 08:43

I've had both and in my opinion, as long as you don't have to fit into a garage or something every day, I'd go high top every time.

It's just so much more practical. Every time you get into the back of the van you can stand up straight away, the storage is there all the time and insulation is better as well.

I had the biggest high roof going and still got pretty decent fuel consumption ... around 8 liter per 100 km in a turbo diesel.

Post by **rachelann** » 02 Jul 2007, 12:07

I'd sort of agree with you both - I love my pop-top to bits, but sometimes when I've chucked the kids up top for bed and it's too cold or wet to sit outside, I do wish I had more headroom to potter around inside the van.

Having said that, I can get mine into most car parks etc without worrying about overhead barriers, and the pop-top is a pretty thing.

In the end, you'll probably go on gut instinct when you see the 'van that's right for you - I looked at a few but chose this one just because it felt right. Practicality doesnt always come into that final decision.

If you're in my neck of the woods, you are welcome to have a mooch at mine to get the feel for a pop-top

Post by **shepster** » 02 Jul 2007, 12:39

For what it's worth, most pop tops have more room in them when they are up but are noisier and colder than hardtops (hard sided ones aside) but it mainly comes down to aesthetics and what you prefer as i dont think there is much difference in speed/economy between the two, oh and there are plenty of car parks my poptop won't get into so that's not much of a benefit either.

Poptops look far better though!

Post by **lloyd** » 02 Jul 2007, 14:28

I've had both and found no difference in mileage but a slight difference in crosswinds. As said above poptop can't fit in most parking garages and hitop is quieter, warmer, more usable space. With pop top you have to move everything down to close it, them move it back up when you park up. Hardside pop tops I've seen are quite small...

I prefer a medium height full length hi-top, not like the Westy hi-tops as they don't have as much storage in front. That said, the Westy is very nicely done..

As stated, in the end it will be one that grabs you and makes you buy it. Take your time, go to meets and shows and the right one will find you. We spent 5 months before ours found us. It's not perfect, but we love it.

Lloyd

PS: Make sure the van is rust free. Rust is cancer... almost impossible to stop once it starts.

Post by **ringo** » 02 Jul 2007, 15:02

Pop top every time!

Only because i dont like the look of high tops. In terms of practicality, high tops win.

A good comfortable conversion makes a difference too!

Ringo

Post by **Horney** » 02 Jul 2007, 15:06

No one has mentioned tin tops?

Oh yeah that's because you need to have a double jointed spine!

Saying that I love my tin top and not sure I could cut holes in it for a pop or a hi top.

Nick

Post by **andylekker** » 04 Jul 2007, 15:38

we have just gone through a similar decision making process and we decided on a hi-top in the end after a few weeks research.
one of the reasons was that we would be buying an old camper and a hi-top doesnt have any moving parts to wear out or rust.
the permanent storage was a big plus as well as the added insulation etc, also we thought we would get an lpg conversion at some point and that would eat up storage space elsewhere in the van.

the carpark height barriers shouldnt be a problem as the van wont be our only vehicle.

( im picking up our autosleeper hitop tomorrow - excited ! )

we did go and see a pop-top though just to make sure, and i still like the look of those holdsworth villa hard sided pop tops.

Post by **kevtherev** » 04 Jul 2007, 16:38

andylekker wrote:
( im picking up our autosleeper hitop tomorrow - excited ! )

absolutely splendid choice old bean...finest conversion England offers I'll say.

,

andylekker wrote: and i still like the look of those holdsworth villa hard sided pop tops.

Oh yes the villa ....the great pretender!

Post by **andylekker** » 04 Jul 2007, 16:52

kevtherev wrote:
andylekker wrote:
( im picking up our autosleeper hitop tomorrow - excited ! )

absolutely splendid choice old bean...finest conversion England offers I'll say.

,
andylekker wrote: and i still like the look of those holdsworth villa hard sided pop tops.

Oh yes the villa ....the great pretender!

thanks kev! i posted the basic details of it here
http://archive.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic ... 8&start=45
seems like a good deal ( to my inexperienced eye )
if it gets me home tomorrow ill post some pics of it

Post by **ringo** » 04 Jul 2007, 17:36

andylekker wrote: we did go and see a pop-top though just to make sure, and i still like the look of those holdsworth villa hard sided pop tops.

That will be because its the best conversion available then......

I take it the Autosleeper has got a factory fitted drinks cabinet ? Thought not.....

Ringo

Post by **woodman** » 04 Jul 2007, 19:59

Weve got a 1990 California Westy high top. When hunting our van down we started out looking at pop tops, but then came across our high top which had a new engine (700km) and havn't looked back. You get a bit of drag from lorries when overtaking on the m'ways but the space and way it all works is fantastic. I'm 15 stone and 6ft and I sleep up top with our 6yr old and my wife and the 18mth old down below. I like the solid sides as opposed to tent sides also the permanent head height, and also the storage. I would like to lower by 45mm and put some nice alloys on just to 'pimp' up a little, and hopefully the lower shocks will reduce the lorry/side wind drag - anyone done this?

Cheers.

Woodman.

Post by **Flibbertigibbet** » 04 Jul 2007, 20:42

I have a pop top and still living in Brighton can not get into very many car parks .in fact none .I would love a high top to stop all that putting up an awning to chuck your stuff in or having to put duvets squirels small people etc into back of van to go out for the day only to realise you have left soemthign behind

Post by **phade** » 04 Jul 2007, 21:24

I would have to say that I would go for a high top, simply because (as others have already said) of space and better noise and heat insulation. In my case I also went for my campervan due to hardly any rust at all and very low milage (53,000).

In fact I can hardly hear the outside world in my 1982 Ci Autohomes Komet campervan. The only slight downside with my one is that at some point I'm going to have to look for replacement wood veneer (it's ok but not great) and the carpet.

I have seen poptops at various campsites I have been to (in one case an orange Type 2 T2 Westfailia Weekender) and could not even imagine how I could possibly fit my and my fiance's bits and pieces in it (eg. satelite suitcase kit, Just Kampers Munich awning, bags, waste tank, etc etc) even with it's roof up.

I did look at one hightop type 2 T3 before I got my Autohomes Komet, it was a 1988 Reimo conversion with a 1.9 litre wasserboxer engine and it almost looked like something that's about to go to a scrapyard. The bodywork (described as a little bit of rust) was awful, full of rust blisters and serious rot underneath the headlights, I had a quick look at it until the owner had asked 3,500 for it. I decided against that one and got my current one for 5,000.

Anyway it just goes to show (after I have read the Wiki before I bought my campervan) what to look out for when buying a campervan and the very first thing I went for is bodywork. If it's bad then it will be very expensive to repair.

Post by **Plasticman** » 06 Jul 2007, 20:10

Got both,I think the pop tops sort of look better and are slightly better in crosswinds, but have to put the lid up to stand, also if your parked up its obviouse you are in it if the lids up, colder/noisier and dont feel sort of as secure.
Hi top, some are higher than others, I have the emc style one, its warmer quieter feels safer etc, no one knows your in there when in town, loads of storage, blows a bit more in the wind but not a big problem, If we did just weekends and such and used sites then a pop would be fine but as we wont use sites and go for weeks on end then the hi top wins every time, also as you say you have a sproglet so a good place to bung him/her.....

Mike