Syncro sunroof: poptop or hightop?

[tim_ha]

Hi Samba Folks,

I am looking for thoughts and opinions on what to do with my syncro sunroof to make it more camp-able. I have a pipe-dream of driving the PanAm Highway in it and so I will need it to be comfortable and be able to carry quite a bit of gear. I am planning on building a custom kitchen/cabinets, but don't know what to do about the top. I realize that it would be a shame to cut the roof off of a syncro sunroof and make it into a syncro westy, so I am looking at alternatives.

Requirements:
-Stand up to cook. (Sunroof already meets this one)
-Stand up to cook with protection from the elements.
-Add either storage or a bed.
-Allow for a surfboard rack.
-Keep overall height/weight to a minimum.

One question I have is: Can I just bolt a westy top on to my roof? I am concerned that there would not be enough room to build a level sleeping platform plus have padding and the canvas all tucked under the top when closed. The westy top sits pretty much right on top of the rain gutters right? How tall is just the top?

I have been thinking that some sort of removable hightop or removable poptop would be cool. Possibly, I could use rain gutter roof rack mounts to attach a wooden/fiberglass homemade top. My dad has some experience building small sailboats with a plywood/fiberglass hull. Other materials or construction recommendations are appreciated.

Hopefully you, the great Samba folks, can help me with some inspiration and ideas for this project.
~Tim

[bosruten]

Perhaps, you might consider selling the sunroof Syncro? depending on the condition...it might be favourable. You could use the money to purchase something more to suite the needs of a long trip.
Happy Trails!
_________________
'87 Syncro Weekender

[carterzest]

[Syncroincity]

I'll second the hightop option. Loads of permanent storage space, can still use rack/load bars, more aerodynamic than a Westy pop-top, and lastly, easily reversible.
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'04 Passat Variant 4Mo 5MT

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[J Charlton]

I'm obviously prejudiced - but - on a trip such as that you're going to be taking lots of stuff and I think that security of storage would be a consideration. You can still hang large items off the side of the van on some custom racking.
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[Phishman068]

I would only consider a hightop, and even then....
I'd consider selling the bus you have (at a premium as it's rare) and then getting something that could better suite your needs.

I have lived out of my sunroof syncro westy and love it. Yep, it sucks a bit when it rains, you just cook on your knees. Storage=roof box. In general, I like them more anyway.

As far as putting on a poptop, Yep, you "can", but it won't be usable. My first bus was a sunroof bus with a westy poptop, and It sparked my interest in searching for the sunroof syncro I now own. The only way to put a bed up there was to carry the "front" piece separately, which ironically fits nowhere in a westfalia interior. Ya, it would give you the standing room.... but it's hacked and not right. The head room isn't directly over the kitchen in a sunroof bus the way it is in a westy.

Hightop is the only thing i'd consider, and i wouldn't really consider it, as I LOVEEEEEEE my sunroof syncro for several reasons.
STEALTH CAMPING: It doesn't look like a camper, so even with the roof open (not obvious from the street) i can have good air flow, stand up if I want, and still camp anywhere. Ya, you can do this with a hitop, but it's far more obvious that you're an RV and many places will be the wiser.
HOT DAYS: Sunroof dude! That's all there is to say!
It really is better than AC.
FALLING ASLEEP LOOKING UP AT THE STARS:
Need I say more?
That southern Cross is going to look pretty darn good from your bed in your sunroof syncro.....
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482402&highlight=sunroof+syncro
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569774
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6864936#6864936

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[bgoodell]

I had this exact same delima. I had a sunroof synco that was super fun to drive and I had a 2wd westy. With a family of four, the sunroof van just did not have enough room for us all. I also thought the removable hightop would be the best of both worlds. I ended up selling both the vans and bought a syncro poptop. If my family was not as big, I would have just kept the syncro sunroof.
_________________
86 syncro poptop

[joseph928]

[danbar]

Personally I think you have what you need for a pan am trip. Think of sleeping in the van with the sunroof open on those hot and humid nights. So much better than a tin top or high top. I think you can rig up a small pop up dome tent and use magnets to hold it to the roof for standing up during inclement weather. As I would love to have a sunroof syncro though I may be biased. I'll agree with the others though that a high top would be the better option over the westy.
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'61 Meyers Manx

[Jedi]

high top
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2 1963 Rag top bug's
1965 Manx
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1971 combi
1990 Vanagon GL
2007 Audi A4 3.2L quattro

[photogdave]

How about a roof rack with roof tent? Maybe there's one you can access via the sunroof?
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[nemobuscaptain]

First vote: sell the sunroof and get a tin top to convert to high top.
Second vote: high top.

If you do the westy top, you should consider chopping at the pillars and welding the new roof on. I think that is easier than cutting the whole, welding the supports and all that. Then sell your sunroof top to someone who wants to make a sunroofer. Those are pretty rare. With a cargo basket front and rear (or cargo boxes) you can have plenty of storage on top of a sunroofer and still have that neat gigantic sunroof.

I once had a sunroofer and when I had it, I wanted a poptop or high top. Now, I kinda wish I still had a sunroofer. It was much more fun to cruise in. Lighter and all that fresh air and sky above.
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[tim_ha]

Thanks for all of the good input.

@carterzest - Thanks for the links. Those are a huge help to me.

I am pretty attached to this vehicle, and it would be hard for me to sell it after all of the time I have invested putting in a 2.2 subie as well as lots of upgrades, not to mention what great shape it is in.

Lots of votes for hightops... Are they really more aerodynamic than a westy top? Does anyone have a weight comparison between the two? The hightop may also be cost prohibitive.

@danbar - This pop up tent idea is something that I have thought about. I really do like the idea of having the option of just opening the sunroof up to the sky and stars. If I could come up with something that would have options of being totally open, just bug protection, or wind/rain protection, that would be ideal.

~Tim

[0to60in6min]

depending on your needs, how many people will travel with you..

if I have a vanagon w. sunroof I would put on the top, behind the sunroof a large top box or a roof tent. I can have access to the top box from outside or via the sunroof easy. With this option I can carry more stuffs and keep the vanagon w. sunroof intact because it's rare... Once you chop/cut to put the hi-top or a poptop then will be no going back, the unique characteristic of the vanagon w. sunroof is gone...

[hans j]

I would go high top. I would love to have the sunroof slide closed to keep heat in or remove the handle after all your stuff is stuffed inside the high top to keep it safe.
_________________
1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[purplepeopleeater]

Hightop, your only problems will be..

1. won't fit in a standard garage at home

2. you'll need to commit extra funds to ensuring your suspension is good and stiff, good shocks and springs will be needed...I soon will have a thread or in my threads addressing what I've done to correct said issue.

and 3...finding enough stuff to it put in your van with all the new space.

[joetiger]

Hey Tim, great to meet y'all last night and that's a great-looking Syncro.

I'd said that you should go high-top, but man...What a pretty Sunroof Syncro that is...
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[carterzest]

[tim_ha]

@joetiger - great to meet you too. I am still considering my options, and have lots of other work to do before I need to make a decision on this one. Thanks for letting us check out your rig. You've got a lot of great upgrades!

@carterzest - Thanks again for the link. I did find the aerodynamics info digging into it deeper. The rooftop tent option I am considering would be to cut the floor out of a kids tent or something that would just sit over the sunroof for bad weather conditions.

[tim_ha]

I thought that I would close the loop on this post and show off what the eventual outcome was. With the help of my dad and girlfriend, we built this great solution to the question that I originally posted in this thread. I hope that at least some of you like it.

_________________
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