Gene The Camper Our camper has a pop-top fitted and this was the only compromise we made when we bought him (we wanted a tin-top). We've considered fitting a Paris Beetles sunroof in it's place but heard bad reviews for leaks etc. What are peoples thoughts on converting the van back to a tin-top. Is this possible? Any advice? Costs? Cheers, Rich.
Mmmnnnn, I've got Devon poptop. Have been contemplating this and made similar enquiries myself. Will be interested to see what replies you get. Main way I can see is to get a roof cut from a donor and weld that in? Similar reviews found about Paris ragtops which is unfortunate. Good luck!
If the pop top dosent leak I dont see the point if your going to use it as a camper as there great for the extra space and beds? If its that important and your seriously thinking of doing it I would sell it and buy a tin top.
Its going to be very hard to weld a such big curved wobbly panel i would go for a sunroof or do a full roof chop at the gutter or sell the van and buy a tin top
Anything is possible in the right hands. This one was a Devon I think and done by it's owner. It had windows as well when he got it. He filled in the roof with the appropriate part cut from a scrap bus. I've had a good look and I can't tell it's been done. His company logo is on the side. Why not give him a call.
A friend of mine with an prototype bay had it done - in fact I benefitted because I had the poptop from him when he went back to a tintop. He first tried filling the hole with a piece of metal, and that didn't work, because he couldn't get it straight - you could see where he had filled the hole in. In the end, he drilled out all the spot welds in his gutters and fitted a complete replacement tintop roof instead. If you want details about how he did it, he's on earlybay.com - his username is baj. Oh, and don't forget, you'll need to put the roof support hoops back at the B and C pillars if those have been cut out when the poptop was put in.
Gene The Camper Hoping that the guys at DubTricks can give me a good price for fixing the roof back to a tin-top! Cheers
Just spoken to Dubs and Classics, he said he hasn't done one for a customer before. He said he was going to try and remember how long it took him, work out a price and get back to me, in case you were still interested mate.
My camper was a pop top, now a Tin top, see photos on Robbie the Camper, on facebook It was done by Border Restoration, no problem
Sorry, he was there for a lot of panels, so no individual price, but he did sell my pop top for me, and credited the final price You could ask for Marc, on 07977334687, and tell him the same as Robbie the custom campers roof
I have a solid sliding sunroof Bus...well I did but it was so rotten I chopped the sunroof out and not just have a hole... My local small VW garage is going to weld a piece in to convert to a Tin-Top, should be taking it to him tomorrow.
Thank you very much, just in paint shop now, going for House of Kolor Brandy Wine over Silver mettalic, then some custom touches which are still close to my heart........and wallet
Gene The Camper Thanks everyone for your comments and advice. I'm looking forward to finding out how much it'll cost. If anyone can post some before and after photo that'll be brilliant. Cheers, Rich.
