Hightop poptop/ Westy top lift kit?

[jimf909]

[jimf909]

[DuncanS]

Has anyone put one of these on a T3? Seems clean and tons of room aloft.

[?Waldo?]

[Wellington]

NAHT is not ugly at all.
My criteria is my Westy has to fit in my garage, a NAHT will not.
Maybe I concern over nothing, but the extra weight of a NAHT up high does make me wonder.

[?Waldo?]

Your concern about weight is unfounded. The NAHT is lighter than a Westy pop top or an ASI pop top.

[jimf909]

The weight or impact to handling of a high-top seems to be overstated by non-users. I don't believe it compromises handling in any meaningful way. Low hanging trees become an issue though.

As for looks, I find the AW high-top to look great but the interior space is cramped. The NAHT looks remarkably good given how much height it adds but I look back at photos of my van as a pop-top and see a good looking van that the NAHT disrupted a bit. It's not postal van ugly (as posted above) just not spectacular.

The small footprint of the roof of the NAHT reflects the challenges of lifting a Westy pop-top. As you and Ms Taboo said, to continue the angles, the roof must get smaller. That's a challenge for this project.
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- Jim

[danfromsyr]

Ahhh beauty is in the eye of the beer holder..
but there are alot of form vs function parts to a mass market equation.
go into the Bay or Split forums and EACH AND EVERY VANAGON IS UGLY

how about a design profile more following VWs european hightop.. like this

[danfromsyr]

though the VW one is sweet with it's forward cubby.

[dobryan]

[4Gears4Tires]

... and he'll eat for the day. But teach a man to be a sawzall....
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[MsTaboo]

As I see it (IMHO), the way to go is a pop top high top (PTHT) just tall enough for an average person to stand upright in when using the camper with the top down. Then having ample room in the upper bunk when sleeping with the top popped.

Being able to sleep comfortably in the upper bunk when the top is down is a very low priority to my partner and me. Seems like the "stealth" camping thing is more for bumlife than the average camper.

I had the Westy hightop, and while you can sleep up there it's like a coffin, much prefer the pop top headroom. In order to be able to sleep upstairs in a fixed hightop the overall profile just needs to be tall. The PTHT has the advantage of lower profile while driving and ample space when camping. Also better chance of fitting garages.
I did like having the added indoor storage over the cab of the hightop Westy, that would be a nice addition to any PTHT. But as you can see in the cutaway in order for Westy to provide even cramped sleeping room in the upper bunk the headroom over the stove becomes excessive. I never measured mine but it must be about seven feet!

The PTHT would only need to be as tall as the front section of the Westy hightop. Still think Reimo's PTHT is the best and I'd pay to have one. Have even thought about importing a 2wd Reimo and swapping tops with my Syncro.

By the way, below is a messed up quote, I didn't say that.

[quote="Ahwahnee"]

[jimf909]

[MsTaboo]

I like sleeping upstairs in the summer, kinda that treehouse effect with the windows open. Leave everything down below and just throw the sleeping bags up top. I would like to add a thicker mattress pad up there though, another plus to the PTHT along with being able to leave the bags and pillows up top while driving.
Cold camping would be enhanced, leave the top down but still able to cook comfortably and less space to heat.
Be interesting to see what RMW comes up with. Been happy with their other products, but aesthetics is paramount.
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'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

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[danbar]

I have zero regrets about searching the world high and low to find a proper Zwitter roof (high top/pop top). It's great to be able to stand up in the van with the roof down, or to stealth camp, or stay warmer in the winter. Summer time is top up, windows open and tons of space inside. It's really perfect. Bonus, I can still fit through a 9' garage door with plenty of room to spare.

[/img]
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'88 SCA High/Pop-top Syncro camper
'61 Meyers Manx

[jimf909]

There's a lot to like there. The first thing I notice is that the roof is large enough and flat enough to use it for hauling or solar panels. The NAHT is small and irregular on top.

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- Jim

[dobryan]

[deadaheadub]

That Zwitter model is actually pretty good looking, nice lines to it.
That would be a very attractive enhancement to the Westy poptop, imo.
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Grateful daily,
Ryan
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Past loves: '65 Bug, '70 Westy poptop, '64 Squareback project, '76 Westy tintop "Loose Lucy", '76 Westy tintop "Sharee"
Current:'84 Westy poptop "Ramblin' Rose- Rosie" w/ 2003 Subaru EJ25 conversion

[?Waldo?]

IMO overall it looks good but the leading curve doesn't fit the style of the rest of the Vanagon body. It would look better with two angles to the front.

[danbar]

Dobryan- I've never measured it inside but I’d say it’s probably 6’1” ish? I’m 5’9” and I know that it’s never been an issue for me to stand up in there. I did measure the outside height the other day and it’s about 8’3” total from the ground to the top of the roof.
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'88 SCA High/Pop-top Syncro camper
'61 Meyers Manx