Hightop poptop/ Westy top lift kit?

[dobryan]

[Jake de Villiers]

[deadaheadub]

[danbar]

For those who are curious, here’s the thread I made for my van when I bought it. So as to not derail this thread any further 😁

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=618304&highlight=sca
_________________
'88 SCA High/Pop-top Syncro camper
'61 Meyers Manx

[Rocky Mountain Westy]

[Russpauly]

[10degnorth]

I started with a tin-top van and swapped a westy top on it, then realized I wanted to be able to stand all the time so now I am putting a Reimo hightop on. However, a highpoptop would be the dream! Just enough standing room when is down and sleeping room when it's up! I'm currently in school for Product Design and this idea and project is part of reason. I've wanted to build a custom fiberglass highpoptop for a couple years, glad to see that there may be a widely available kit in a couple years.
_________________
1984 Wolfsburg Vanagon (Current Project): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773912&highlight=

1988 Microsquirted, Wolfsburg Vanagon (Sold): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708000&highlight=

Microsquirt Conversion Guide (Work now Discontinued): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1laXykNPbRYS8MT...2imqd2pnx7

[MayorMcCheese]

I'd be interested to see what you come up with. So many people want a Reimo/zwitter hightop/poptop combo.

If you're adding on to the westy top rather than just using the hardware you're going to significantly limit your market. Even re-using the hardware might limit the market, how many poptop hinges, push bars & latches are out there?

I know the market isn't there but it would be nice to see the vindic Doka canopies re-made

[Steve M.]

It's fiberglass. Anyone with a creative handyman skills and time to do it can make anything they want up there.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[Rocky Mountain Westy]

[danfromsyr]

I could see a shell or a 'topper' like a truck cap that would be made to fit onto the stock westy roof, that then once clamped down to the roof allowed the westy roof to have a center opening that would allow the added height benefit.

I'd like to see that the oe westy roof be only cut for the front half. allowing that stored items in the new poptop have a 'floor' which is in effect the old roof.
but allows the bulky lightweight items to tilt up with the roof if not needed. but yet be accessible from the top bunk.

this is in essence what I plan to DIY when I get to that point in my build
but do note that even the lightest of build materials will put substantial additional weight on the remaining westy roof, hinges and that the popup bar would still be in the middle of the way of the opening..
this is why on my brother's build he went with long 12v linear actuators to pop the top.. it just became heavy, and all that was used was 5mm luan 1x3 pine and 2 outer layers of fiberglass cloth & epoxy.

[Kombi///M3]

[10degnorth]

I was just doing some doodles around this idea. The first image is a shorter kinda joker-like top that could pop and the second is a comparison to the Reimo hightop in regards to height.

_________________
1984 Wolfsburg Vanagon (Current Project): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773912&highlight=

1988 Microsquirted, Wolfsburg Vanagon (Sold): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708000&highlight=

Microsquirt Conversion Guide (Work now Discontinued): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1laXykNPbRYS8MT...2imqd2pnx7