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If you’re new to campervans you might have seen some that come with a canvas roof that lifts up.
These are called pop tops and they are becoming more and more popular as time goes on.
What is a pop top?
Pop tops were originally designed to provide head height and allow people to stand up in their campervans. Nowadays they’re even more ingenious.
Pop-top campervans can feature a sleeping area in the raised roof section, providing additional sleeping space without sacrificing floor space inside the vehicle. This is great for families or people travelling with pets who need extra sleeping space.
Pop tops have been around for a while! It doesn’t matter which vehicle you have, everyone can now access a pop top to fit most van conversions or campervans.
Many years ago the majority of U.K. manufacturers for pop tops was predominately for a VW campervans. In recent years, the larger and reputable U.K. manufacturers have created a pop top to fit the majority of vans. This includes the tiny micro campers all the way up to the larger hightop vehicles you see on the roads.
Benefits of pop tops
The benefits of having a pop top installed on to your camper are brilliant:
- Increase the head height and make your experience within your camper much easier and less stressful. They really do make a camper feel so much bigger.
- The additional sleeping area is also another massive advantage for the larger families, with the micro campers, being able to accommodate a small adult or child and the standard campers being able to comfortably sleep two adults.
- Increase ventilation – ideal for wet days or those boiling hot summer months.
- Add light and enjoy the view. Pop tops add a fantastic amount of light to the roof of your van. Most come with plastic windows that can be opened so you can enjoy the view, even from inside your vehicle!
Campervan sleeping arrangements, head-height and storage
For us personally, we like to have the camper all set up with the table and living area in the bottom, and then a big bed to sleep on inside the pop top. This increases the space available at all times. When we bring our dogs on holiday, they sleep in the “bottom” of the van and everyone is happy.
The “scenic canvas” is one of our favourite pop tops. It has the added bonus in the summer to ensure you receive maximum ventilation. We even sleep in the pop top with the canvas open, enjoying the cool air blowing through and falling asleep star-gazing.
Pop tops with a mattress
If you want to have a bed inside your pop top like us, a pop top bedding system can be left in place 24/7. For some, making a camper bed up in the mornings and evenings is a real chore. When the open road is calling your name, these beds are for you.
We find that a few customers prefer to keep their pop top canvas closed. Some pop tops feature a “non-opening” front window for more light, but 2 side vents to ensure you don’t get too hot. Side vents are typically designed with fly nets in place to keep those darn mozzies out. Lovely!
Insulated pop top covers
We work closely with Kents Dubs who create a fully insulated pop top covers for all roof shapes. Take a look at the options available for these insulated covers.
Yes, pop tops can go “off grid”
Solar panels are one of our biggest sellers. More and more people want to be a bit more eco-friendly and have the option of camping whist maintaining power for a fridge and phone chargers.
Flexi solar panels
We are always keen to make dream campers a reality. All of our pop top installations have the option to include a flexi solar panel installed. Keep all your 12v charged with no fuss – check out our web page on solar panels for campervans here.
Want to see a pop top demonstration?
At The Dub Hut we have an open workshop policy. Customers more than welcome to visit and take a look at the pop tops in their various conversion stages. All pop tops come with a full demonstration by our fitters, warranty and guarantees. Included in your collection is documentation such as how to care for your pop top and keep it in perfect working order.
Download our pop tops brochures here for prices, full spec and features.
Ready to book your pop top installation?
Call us on 01233733264
Email sales@thedubhut.co.uk
About The Author
The Dub Hut are campervan conversion specialists based in Ashford, Kent. Their workshop is a one stop shop for all kinds of domestic and commercial van conversions, supplying upholstery, electrical work, dampening, heaters, solar power, pop tops, rocks and roll beds, kitchens, mobile workshops and more. They have been established since 2018 and operate an open-door policy for all customers. Please drop by during office hours to see vans being worked on in real time or to speak to our team.
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