Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

OK the little trip down south has me wanting to stand up....

But, I am thinking Hitop vs Poptop.

Here is how I see it:

Poptop:
Advantages: Fuel economy, parking undergrounds, roof height around 7 feet

Disadvantages: Canvas material needs to dryout, hard to insulate, not animal proof, I suck at sewing, harder to modify,

Hitop:
Advantages: Sealing/waterproofing, more structure strength, no setup time, easier to do.

Disadvantages: Fuel economy, cross winds, slightly higher center of gravity, expected roof height 8'2"

Hitop plan: cut off my low roof, weld up 2" square tube frame (thin walled), put thin marine grade plywood over frame, add fiberglass layer and insulate on the inside. Frame will attach to the frame under the roof and roof over the front seats will be retained. A cross bar will be add where the vents are behind drivers seat and at very back of van. Roof and frame should be under 200 lbs.

Poptop: would be the modification of my VW Westi roof. Needs 6" taken out of middle and 18" removed from front storage area.

Having stood beside you I am curious why you would need a 8 foot rooftop unless you 're wanting to add a second storey. Just thinking out loud.

Super Exceeded wrote:Having stood beside you I am curious why you would need a 8 foot rooftop unless you 're wanting to add a second storey. Just thinking out loud.

Only because the van floor is 3 feet off the ground!! You do the math.

What is the plan with stretch? I have an engine hoist if you need it?

I would also base your decision on where you wanna go with you van most of the time. If you are planing to do a lot of winter camping or going up North as well as very windy areas like Patagonia, go with a hightop. If you have a lot very warm locations in mind I would rather go with a pop top as it gets pretty warm in a hightop even with a window/fan on top.

fexlboi wrote:I would also base your decision on where you wanna go with you van most of the time. If you are planing to do a lot of winter camping or going up North as well as very windy areas like Patagonia, go with a hightop. If you have a lot very warm locations in mind I would rather go with a pop top as it gets pretty warm in a hightop even with a window/fan on top.

x2

Sleeping will still be in the slide unless some kids get given to us soon (they might but that is another post). In reality most trips will be local for the next little while.

The wind in Joshua Tree gusting over 50mph made me think hightop. The west camp near us looked like the wind was hard on the back hinge.

Why not pop up on four corners (most van/sportsmobiles) rather than on two corners like the westy ?

jfarsang wrote:Why not pop up on four corners (most van/sportsmobiles) rather than on two corners like the westy ?

Only because I already bought the top of a westy (including the truck roof that we cut off just at the top of the windows).

Mostly it is way more complicated to a lifting roof then a fixed roof.

I put the westy top on ours a long time ago. It's way too heavy and big.

I would go with a hightop. That's likely the option I'll end up doing for our Safari, same as I was planning on our L400.

Ya...It needs around 6" width cut out and then 18" length (which I was going to cut out of the storage area part). But, it will be way easier to make a hitop. I have be looking on Expedition Portal for ideas (I have seen you post on there as well).

Cheers,

David

thedjjack wrote:

Super Exceeded wrote:Having stood beside you I am curious why you would need a 8 foot rooftop unless you 're wanting to add a second storey. Just thinking out loud.

Only because the van floor is 3 feet off the ground!! You do the math.

What is the plan with stretch? I have an engine hoist if you need it?

LOL, sorry you missed the joke. THX for the offer, I am hoping to pull the motor wed-thur.

A

let me know if you need the hoist I will pick it up (friend has it out in Maple Ridge)

PM me your motor plans, very interested to hear....

Some inspiration photos for you...

Thanks for the Photo! Do you have the source for it? I would like to see how they cut the stock roof (I have been looking at UK poptop tent conversion).

Is that the same one as this one? I cannot find any still photos of this one:

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2 things...1) HighTop looks surprisingly rad on the L300...very Euro VW Syncro'ish, and 2) the Toyota alloy rims look perfect on that L300.