Also think about the tent fabric you want. Mine is proofed canvas, which is very breathable and I don’t get condensation. Stays dry inside. Others have a vinyl which is arguably more waterproof but less breathable, and more condensation prone.
Also think about the tent fabric you want. Mine is proofed canvas, which is very breathable and I don’t get condensation. Stays dry inside. Others have a vinyl which is arguably more waterproof but less breathable, and more condensation prone.
Not sure which roofs have a vinyl canvas, but the Hilo has a high quality, marine-grade canvas. Not sure if that's the same as water-proofed. but never had any water ingress.
Not sure which roofs have a vinyl canvas, but the Hilo has a high quality, marine-grade canvas. Not sure if that's the same as water-proofed. but never had any water ingress.
I see Hilo/Horizon now has 60Kg roof loading, which would put it back on my list. I was picking mine in Autumn 2022, so not the right time to be going Hilo.
I see Hilo/Horizon now has 60Kg roof loading, which would put it back on my list. I was picking mine in Autumn 2022, so not the right time to be going Hilo.
Or go for a pop top that uses removable panels rather than a pull-down bed. On a trip when you don’t need them leave them at home. We have only taken our bed panels once and on all other occasions have benefited from extra headroom when the roof is lowered.
Or have a pop top that doesn’t extend the cutout over the cab area. Gives some extra storage space when the roof is up and likely also makes the vehicle cab stronger in the unfortunate event of an accident.
Hi - hope you are all enjoying the lovely weather and out there in your campers .
We are still searching for ours - almost there I think but just wanted some advice on Pop tops. Are there any that stand out about others , anything we should look out for. We are looking to buy one already converted but need to know if there any pop tops we should be looking out for . Thanks in advance x
Difficult one - everyone will have their favourite pop-top and it's usually (but not always! ) the one they chose.
One thing to consider is whether you want/need to be able to leave bedding in the pop-top when it's closed - such roofs are sometimes, unkindly referred to as upturned bath-tubs - or whether you want/need the roof to be unobtrusive and inconspicuous (at least to the uninitiated) - a so-called "stealth" roof. Each has pros & cons, but I've yet to find a roof that satisfies both requirements.
Another thing to consider is who will be sleeping in the pop-top. Young children will probably be fine with a rigid bedboard and SIM, whereas older teens and adults would probably want/need the additional comfort afforded by a slatted bedboard or a bedboard incorporating a Froli spring system.
Also consider whether you want/need a bi-fold bedboard. Roofs with these afford a lot more headroom at the back of the van (when raised) than those with a standard single-hinged bedboard.
Finally, the price. Pop-tops can cost anywhere between £2k to nearer £9k, so your budget will influence your choice of roof.
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