Need some lifters for pop top

Discussion in 'Camper Conversions' started by aircoolsteve, Mar 6, 2022.

  1. I'm sorting a pop top roof for my bus which has the hole cut already. It came to me that way so I'm starting from scratch. The thing is I don't have any of the lift mechs and I know there are a few different types, but what ones are the best? Any ideas welcome. Thanks.
     
  2. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Do you have the roof Steve?
     
  3. Haven't collected it yet but at the moment its just a cap with no lifters on it. There's a framework bonded into the F/glass with a centre bracket at either end for whatever holds it up. Also will need the canvus or bellows. I'm making the angle iron frame that bolts around the roof opening. Hardest part of that is putting the bend in the cross frame part to the same contour.
    It would be handy if some good members put some pics on here of what is holding their poppers up so I can get an idea of what I'm looking for.
    Also, How do I get this forum to send me a mail when I get a response to a thread/message? Not interested in Facebook!
     
  4. @aircoolsteve
    There are loads of different types of roofs, many with different lifters
    post a photo of your roof type to help narrow it down
     
    paradox likes this.
  5. bernjb56

    bernjb56 Supporter

    Have a look at ‘alert preferences’ in your account. You can ‘watch’ a thread and get alerts.
     
  6. Hi bernjb56. I went to that page right after I posted this morning and ticked all the boxes on that page, including the 'watch' a thread and get alerts, but the two posts above were posted later this morning and I still have no mail notifications. I've also been back to that page just now and all the boxes are ticked, so I have to check every now and again on here to see if I have a reply. It must be something else I need to click!

    paulcalf. I'll sort a pic when I actually have the roof! At the moment I have the choice of one like you have in your avatar and a Devon (see pic) which is probably more suited to the bus I want to fit it to which is a 66 split. I've looked high and low for an early cap but they just aren't out there. I also own a 72 Dormobile crossover bay and I do like those roofs but when I find one the seller wants the price of a bus!

    [​IMG]
     
    paulcalf likes this.
  7. paulcalf likes this.
  8. If you go to the SGS engineering website - they have details of gas struts for lifting a pop top roof - part number GSC 2426 I think.
     
  9. I can get you pics of my flat Devon roof bits if required
     
  10. Thanks Paul that would be great. Though the flat one may look a bit odd on a splitty! Its daft really as the Dormobile roof is fitted to both bay and split but there are some bay versions that would look out of place on the split. What do you think? I know the puritans would mock it but the only one offered to me that's a complete going concern so far is indeed a flat one just like yours. looking for opinions really.
    There's so many ways to crack this I can't make my mind up.
     
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  13. @aircoolsteve hope the photos abve are ok, let me know if you need me to get sme close ups of the lifter mechanism.
    With the flat devon roof you can have issues with water leaks.
    https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/leaking-devon-pop-top-pls-help.27162/#post-451059
    There isn't anyway for the water to run off easily, which is probably why devon shifted to a curved roof on later models.
    More photos of my roof from a previous thread
    https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/devon-star-gazer-roof-conversion-how-to-photos.92370/
    In October the Campsite we were on in he Lakes closed because of flooding, it also showed that my roof needs re waterproofing. I think it was getting in down the rivet holes even though they are sealed!
     
    EggBoxes likes this.
  14. Post a photo of your split.
    I'd hang on for a dormobile roof, someone will be selling one at some point. Perhaps get in touch with camper van roof specialists to see if they have an old roof to sell you
    EG proud to pop
     
  15. @aircoolsteve it takes ages to load the photos, but this site has photos of splits & bays with different pop top roof types
     
    rob.e likes this.
  16. I think if it were me doing this I would really try to go Dormobile.
    Have you tried Dormobile directly - https://dormobile.co.uk/
    Looks like a bare new roof cap is £800
     
    rob.e and paulcalf like this.
  17. I know someone who is swapping their old (perfectly usable, needs a good clean) dormobile 'canvas' for a new one at proud to pop.

    I told them to keep the old one as the vehicle is original, but it wouldn't surprise me if they just bin it. Let me know if you want me to ask them
     
    paradox and Lasty like this.
  18. yep, dormobile/ martin walter tops look great on splitscreens

    they are also gay and spacious which is nice

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Thanks for all that Paul. Yours looks really nice but I'm at a loss as to how its held up in the 'up' position. There are two Dormobile roofs on the web at the moment. One is just the bare cap but doesn't have anything else like the bellows or lifting struts or windows and vents. Its also missing the hinges and the bunks. Bit of a task to find all that stuff. The other one is all there (minus the bunks) but is priced the other side of £2.5k so I'll give that a miss!
    I think I'll go with one like the picture I posted the other day. Its pretty easy to put some gas struts on and I could do the canvas myself.

    The picture I posted I found on Marketplace and just copied and pasted it. If you are taking pics using a phone, particularly an iphone you may need to resize it in you 'pictures' which means you would need to get it into a laptop to do it. There are also apps you can get on your phone that do just that. The one I have is called 'image size'.
    Most phones take pics at a very large format and the file would be too large to display on here unless this forum has an auto re-size service.
    I've noticed that my mail notifications from here are going into my spam folder. Not sure what to do about that as I'm just using the Microsoft anti-virus stuff and I'm on a laptop.
    Anyway, I've been offered a roof just like the one in the pic I posted the other day and I may just buy it as its at a give-away price and its not far from me. I know the Dormobile roof is wonderful as I have one on my crossover bay but they are at a premium and I don't have the wealth to buy one. When I get this other roof I'll post a pic or two and keep you informed how the progress is going forward. I also have in my "stash" a bunk bed set with all the cups and poles, so that may be handy.
     
    rob.e likes this.
  20. Well after a lot of looking I have a fibre glass roof. Thanks for the note Paul re the Devon double-top roof in the sale section. Bit pricey for me at the moment and bloody miles from me a well.
    The roof I have is identical to the double-top in that its a single and the ribs look the same. It even has the flat area to take a roof opener. I think that four gas struts and a decent bellows canvas and it will basically work.
    I thought long about the flat roof one with the base plinth that we see on many bays but I think that it may have been a struggle getting it to fit the roof profile of the splity. It was only £100 but it was quite shabby. Someone had replaced the flat roof cap and drilled a lot of holes in it to squeeze some sort of glue into the holes! I could see where they went from hole to hole leaving a trail of whatever glue they were using and really, I was wondering if they had it glued in the correct position.

    Any way, I'll post some pics when I get some time from repairing the damage from the last two storms we had. Three ridge tiles and the wife's greenhouse and a bit of fencing. Any heads-up on where to find some canvas for the bellows? I'm not looking for a concertina type. Just to fill the void!
     

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