TheSamba.com :: View topic - Official High-roof Thread

Sun Jun 14, 2015 3:29 pm

Ok! I am a split bus guy that just came across a late 1972 high roof bus. My question is where is the bed? Z bed or cots? What should it have. I am knew to th e camper scene but the bus dose look complete inside.
Please help

Sun Jun 14, 2015 4:15 pm

You're in the wrong forum. '72 is a bay not a vanagon/eurovan. It's doubtful that anyone here knows what bed is in a stock '72 high top.

Mon Aug 03, 2015 1:36 am

goskiracer wrote: I visited Paul and Linda of vwcamperroof.com and picked up one of their freshly finished roofs in Norwich. Really great folks, wouldn't let me leave without a fesh coffee and biscuts :)

Drove up to Simon at t3volution.com and started getting into fitting the roof. That syncro ambulance in the background has 47000 km on it!

Here is the top underside.

detail of the back corner.

The top...wow, the build quality is really a generation ahead of anything else out there. The roof stringers really add some serious strength and stiffness.

The pièce de résistance is the moulded flange that mates to the roof, matching the seams and creases perfectly. Folks with bonded joint experince understand why this approach is the correct way to bond a roof on...

Swabbing the deck

Decorating the cake. Here you can see the massive joint area. No messing about in the gutter.

The roof adds 13"/33cm interior height at the arch peak. Perfect for my needs.

##### The interior standing height is 180 cm #####

Wind noise/ handling? Nope/ "Full sock" crosswinds from Gothenberg, drove like my tintop normally did.
Gas mileage? Dunno, can't keep my foot out of the 10c engine.
Weight. I can lift it myself.
Cost £1250, worth the quality and fit alone. Paul doesn't work the delivery, chat with Simon at t3volution.com

Thu Aug 06, 2015 3:08 am

A few more photos of the intallation of the vwcamperroof.com top. The top was pulled from the mold just 3 days prior. Still has that new glass fiber smell 8)

https://www.facebook.com/simon.whitmore.75/media_s...amp;type=3

Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:46 pm

That's a nice looking roof, and very solidly made. It's a shame that it's not a little higher as there doesn't seem enough space up top for anyone to sleep up there? Or perhaps I'm wrong?

Craig

Sun Aug 09, 2015 9:15 pm

Hey- do you have better contact info for this guy, Paul? The email on his page is bad, and there was no answer on his listed landline.
That looks very close to what I want, from over in the Aluminum Roof thread;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=575530&highlight=aluminum

Wanna send me a PM, what it cost, and how it went down, and how you like it?
Cheers!

Sun Aug 09, 2015 11:57 pm

kernewek wrote: That's a nice looking roof, and very solidly made. It's a shame that it's not a little higher as there doesn't seem enough space up top for anyone to sleep up there? Or perhaps I'm wrong?

Craig

Like the adventurewagen roofs, you would have to drop the bed platform a bit to provide enough room to sleep up top in the vwcamperroof.com top. My needs were standing room, and ample storage for sleeping bags and ski gear with bombproof construction. The floor to ceiling height of my roof is 180cm, perfect for my needs.

If you want space for sleeping up top, it's gonna have to be a "sky-top" like the original westy roofs or the NAHT roof made by Jon.

With top selection it really helps to write down as many objective requirements as you can, then pick a top from there.

Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:35 am

goskiracer wrote: kernewek wrote: That's a nice looking roof, and very solidly made. It's a shame that it's not a little higher as there doesn't seem enough space up top for anyone to sleep up there? Or perhaps I'm wrong?

Craig

If you want space for sleeping up top, it's gonna have to be a "sky-top" like the original westy roofs or the NAHT roof made by Jon.

With top selection it really helps to write down as many objective requirements as you can, then pick a top from there.

I'm looking for a roof to replace the 30 year old French-made hightop currently on my van (the one on the right, not my buddy's Reimo). The gelcoat is starting to deteriorate so it's going to have to be replaced at some point. My primary need is space, as you can see this top is pretty voluminous.

Craig

Mon Aug 10, 2015 3:41 am

Hmm, I am not sure who makes new roofs here in Europe that are as large as the top you have.

Reimo may still be producing their roofs new.

Autovan Services in the UK is producing the Komet and Kameo roofs, might still not be tall enough for you.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROOF-FIBREGLASS-for-KOME...35ef166bcc

If you like the form and function of your current roof, it might be best to repair the gelcoat?

Mon Aug 10, 2015 3:56 am

Side windows, roof vents, roof hatches?

High top folks, I'd love to get your experinces and impressions on having side windows and roof vents.

When I met an English couple while waiting for the ferry in Rotterdam they told me how they love the side windows on their high roof, since they gave them fresh air, and a ability to peek outside without removing curtains... alowing some privacy.

Roof vents, especially in hot climates are certainly useful. Looking at my roof I have a 60cm X 100cm area above the center area, and between two roof stringers where I can put a vent.

Why not install the largest possible roof vent? Is using a marine deck hatch a terrible idea? Such as a Lewmar size 60 ocean hatch. Or, for the more traditional route a reimo heki roof hatch.

Those of you who have side windows or roof hatches, what do you enjoy about them, and what would you do differently if you could?

Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:16 am

A side window on each side will give you best ventilation. If you can afford it the Seitz windows are excellent, I used them on my T4 hightop when I built it, they're double glazed, easy to fit and have integrated mosquito net and blind. My T3 has cheaper sliding windows which are okay but not so convenient and less well sealed against the weather.

As for roof hatches, you should think about whether you'll eventually put anything else up there, such as a rack or solar panels, as a bigger hatch will reduce your rooftop space. I have a 28cm Fiamma which is compact but features an electric fan so can refresh the air pretty quickly and help evacuate cooking smells.

Craig

Wed Aug 12, 2015 8:18 am

I really like that mating surface, really nice to ensure a very strong bond!

Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:15 am

What awning of you guys/gals using with your hightops? I have an 84 adventurewagen and would like to install an awning but I am worried about the top interfering with the awning install.

Anyone have pictures/brand/mounts/ of an awning installed on a AW top?

Thanks!

Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:45 am

emmetleahy wrote: What awning of you guys/gals using with your hightops? I have an 84 adventurewagen and would like to install an awning but I am worried about the top interfering with the awning install.

Anyone have pictures/brand/mounts/ of an awning installed on a AW top?

Thanks!

Rhinorack awning (Same as ARB) with Gowesty mounting brackets. Had to shorten one of the brackets feet that sit in the rain gutter, but that was done with a grinder, took a few minutes is all. Other than that, goes on without issue.

Wed Aug 12, 2015 10:47 am

Fiamma still makes kits for T3's.

Mon Aug 17, 2015 10:45 pm

Hello all. Do the Reimo or Carthago poptop owners have photos of how those open and close? specifically the hardware that isn't in the way of a high top poptop?

I'm making a custom high roof "bubble" onto my existing westy poptop, but haven't exactly resolved how to lift and hold the top up. I just don't want the stock lifting bar in the middle of my new headspace.

I hope this makes sense, and if I had pictures I'd post them.

Thanks!

Sun Oct 25, 2015 8:58 pm

[quote="clift_d"]Here's our Syncro Westy Club Joker High Top.

I think this is what I want. Is there a good place to look for these for sale? Or a forum about them? I will take a 2wd . How is the 1.6 TD for power? compared to a 2.1 wbx?

Wed Nov 18, 2015 7:08 pm

Just bought this Getaway van.
Just need a Syncro to put underneath this roof!

Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:35 pm

Here is my 1989 Vanagon Westfalia California Hightop.

5 speed, 1.6 Turbo Diesel. imported to Canada from Germany by the previous owner approx 15 years ago.

Thu Nov 19, 2015 7:22 am

Are Factory High tops allowed?
I plan on installing a westfalia high top bed (hopefully it wont feel too much like a coffin up there)

This is my RHD Factory High top syncro...