Pros and cons of pop ups!

[bennyyorkie]

Hi,
Ive noticed that a lot of smaller campers have pop up tops. As Ive never used one, would be great to hear from those who have them. trying to be practical, I made a list yesterday of the possible problems i could see with a pop up. maybe Im way off or overthinking it.

1) Going to the bathroom at night would be difficult as you cant stand up.
2) You would have to get dressed lying down especially if its raining outside
3) using the pop up when its raining is difficult as you cant fold it down again until it dies out, as it would rot otherwise (over time)...like putting a damp tent away.
4) Some physical strength is needed use the pop up.
5) Prone to leaks and require more maintenance

Pros:
1) Great for getting under barriers
I havent heard any other advantages Im afraid.

 

[deleted-member02]

i don’t think no.1 is a problem, as pop tops don’t have bathrooms, as far as I’m aware...

 

[bennyyorkie]

i don’t think no.1 is a problem, as pop tops don’t have bathrooms, as far as I’m aware...

Thats true I think. Could get a small cassette toilet to solve the problem

 

[Nasher]

Not a direct answer to your question, but I had a VW T5 for a while (no pop top). There's no way in hell I would even consider a pop top - you might as well have a tent!

I got fed up with crouching down to do everything in my T5, including getting dressed, but also cooking, washing up, etc. (going to the toilet was not an issue) I wanted more room, as a result I bought a bigger van - only 5.4m long but higher & wider

Only downside, is that you can't get into some car parks (height limitation) - for me, thats been a minor issue twice in 3 years in my current van (and once in 2 1/2 years in my T5! )

I suggest you hire a van & see how you get on, much better than overthinking

Incidently, one of my neighbours had a VW T4 camper, it was his pride & joy, then he met this lady & the T4 went as in her words "you couldn't even stand up in it to get dressed" she always comments on how she likes my van

Hope this helps

 

[Treeeev]

Hi,
Ive noticed that a lot of smaller campers have pop up tops. As Ive never used one, would be great to hear from those who have them. trying to be practical, I made a list yesterday of the possible problems i could see with a pop up. maybe Im way off or overthinking it.

1) Going to the bathroom at night would be difficult as you cant stand up.
2) You would have to get dressed lying down especially if its raining outside
3) using the pop up when its raining is difficult as you cant fold it down again until it dies out, as it would rot otherwise (over time)...like putting a damp tent away.
4) Some physical strength is needed use the pop up.
5) Prone to leaks and require more maintenance

Pros:
1) Great for getting under barriers
I havent heard any other advantages Im afraid.

Hi Bennyyorkie

Prior to getting my high top Malibu (as in my profile pic), I had VW's with elevating roofs for about 35 years. I have responded to each of your problem points below. I think you may be over thinking it

Cons
1. We used a Porta Potti 235 in our vans. This was very low, so I used it kneeling down, so no problem hitting my head

2. Without a high top or pop top, means bending over or laying down to get dressed

3. Even when it's raining, the pop top canvas doesn't get too wet. It can be put down wer, but does need to be opened up within a couple of days to dry out. I never found this a problem

4. There shouldn't be a need for physical strength to push up the pop top. If there is, the rams need replacing. The same applies for pulling it down.

5. I never had any leaks. If you get leaks, the canvas would need reproofing

Pros

1. Great for getting under height barriers

2. Cooler in the warm weather. In cooler weather you can fit insulation inside the pop top, or wrapped around the outside - I made one for mine using the silver 'bubble wrap' insulation, or you can buy wrap around insulation, look up "Pucer Screens" on facebook

Cheers

Trevor

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[1ten]

We had a T5 pop top before our current van and used it all year round in some appalling weather without problems. We had a thermal cover that we put on the outside during the winter as the kids slept upstairs. Just like old fashioned tents if the pop top was wet and you had something against it for a while water would come thorough, our two children slept upstairs in lots of rain without an issue and the thermal cover gave loads of protection and took under a minute to put on or remove.
The pop top is very easy to raise and lower as they use gas struts and takes seconds.
If you raise the pop top you have plenty of head room.

No issues with maintenance, apart from drying it before it is closed for any length of time we didn't do anything. If we had to close it when wet we simply raised it at the first opportunity and stuck the webasto heater on, half an hour and it was dry.

They are also very cool, but cramped which is why we moved to a PVC.

 

[Sabino]

1. We have a Dometic 972, and on the rare occasions I have kept the lid down at night, it has never stopped me performing.
2. When I was at school I often got dressed in my bed. We didn't have any central heating
3. The pop-up dries very quickly. It has never been an issue.
4. My wife often does the roof when we are making a quick getaway.
5. No signs of any leaks yet for us either.

Another Pro for your list.
I have never paid anything but Class 1 on the French Autoroutes (we are 1.98m.)
Oh, and I can park it in the garage if we need more cars on the drive.

 

[bennyyorkie]

Many thanks for your replies. Its a little disappointing that there are not more high top options with VW's etc but some great advice given. I really appreciate your help

 

[Feltwell]

If you want fixed high top conversions as well as pop top based on a T5/T6 have a look at Leisure Drive. "Vivante" is a hard top.

http://www.leisuredrive.co.uk/