How to choose a VW T5 Pop Top Roof

What is a pop top roof?

A pop top roof is one of the main van accessories that you can invest in for your VW T5 campervan. It is simply just an adaptable roof, in which you can pop up or down whenever you would like.

If you are someone who has seen a few van shows or gone camping, it is insanely likely that you would have seen a pop top roof on a campervan. If you haven’t, then it may be a good idea that you have a look on google or a social media platform. 

Why should I invest in a pop top roof?

If you are someone who has previously owned a campervan without a pop top roof, then you will be aware of how difficult it can be at times when you are inside trying to cook or do other simple tasks. For those of you who haven’t owned a campervan before, you are probably still going to realise that there is going to be a lack of space inside the campervan.

By having a pop top roof installed into your VW T5 Campervan, you will be able to instantly create both more living and sleeping space! Things such as getting dressed or cooking will be so much easier. Meaning that you will be able to get the absolute best use out of the space in your campervan.

What we mean by this extra sleeping space, is that as the roof will be raised, the beds can also be moved up meaning that you will be able to fit in loads of your travelling luggage, and have an extra person sleeping at the top! This is definitely a perfect option to go for if you are going to be travelling with quite a few people. 

However, it does not stop there. You will always be able to view all of the breathtaking views through the mesh windows, from literally inside your very own VW T5 campervan.

This is most certainly something that you would want if you are staying in a location that has amazing views, such as the coast or in the woods somewhere. Campervans are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and this is due to a lot of different reasons. Not only are they perfect for getting both you and the family outdoors, they are also a great way to explore new places and meet new people. So, by installing a pop top roof to your VW T5, you will be able to get the best experience possible! 

Flexibility. For those of you who do not know, pop top roofs are actually very flexible. What this means is that you will have the ability to either pop the roof up or down at any time you would like. If it isn’t popped up, the pop top roof will act as a normal roof and will only add a few centimetres to the overall height. But, when it is popped up, it will quickly provide your VW T5 with the desired extra space inside your van. 

Another reason why we love pop top roofs is because it allows for even more conversions. In other words, by having a pop top roof installed into your VW T5 campervan, you will be able to go a further mile. The extra space that is provided to you, could allow you to convert your van from a 2-berth campervan to a 4 berth campervan. This is definitely an investment which is worth the money, and you should 100% consider it. 

A fourth reason why you should invest in a pop top roof, is all to do with ventilation reasons. Now, for those of you who have or haven’t owned a campervan before, it is obvious that the space is going to be very tight and cramped. Due to this, you van won’t actually get enough air inside in order to keep it ventilated properly. For many people, this doesn’t seem like a huge problem at first.

But in reality, it can actually cause quite a lot of problems such as mould and dampness. You really do not want to have to pay even more money to get this problem sorted. So in order to avoid this in the best way possible, we strongly suggest that you invest in a pop top roof. 

Cost

The overall price of the pop top roof for your VW T5 campervan actually depends on a lot of different factors.

• The pop top roof brand 
• Long wheel base or short wheel base
• The canvas options
• Is it colour coded?
• Hinge options 
• Safety accreditation 
• Fastening mechanisms 
• Installation quality 

Most pop top roofs normally cost between £3,000 - £6,000 for the roof itself. And then around £1,200 to £3,000 for installation.

Should I install the roof myself?

Installing a pop top roof to your campervan is a pretty big job. It includes cutting into the fabric of the panel van and then attaching the roof around new supports. While it is possible to do this on a self-build project it’s not something we recommend for novice converters. Only take on this job if you have good experience with tools. 

We recommend finding a specialist Campervan Conversion company to help you with the job. Get in touch to find out more.

Also, think about whether you want any accessories that impact the roof. For example awnings and awning rails. These will be affected by the type of pop-top roof you choose to purchase. 

Safety 

When it comes to van accessories, safety is always the most important factor. To ensure this, it is always best to only ever purchase pop top roofs that have gone through and passed very detailed and reliable safety testing.

You never want to be in a position where high-quality safety is not guaranteed, especially if you are travelling with small children. So in order to ensure that your safety is never compromised, we suggest that you stick to purchasing pop top roofs which have been through very serious safety tests, even if that means you have to go slightly over your budget.

What brand pop top should I buy?

There are so many different pop top roof brands out there, some that we offer include: 

• Skyline
• Austops
• SCA
• WestDubs
• Storm

All of these options offer a great selection of roofs that can be colour coded to your van. SCA is one of the most popular pop-top roofs on the market, and this is down for many good reasons. For starters, their pop top roofs are manufactured to a very high standard and are of amazing quality. You can install them on many different types of vans, and many VW T5 owners are very interested in them. SCA pop top roofs can be quite costly, but they do come with many different benefits.

For example, SCA pop-top roofs are flat. What this means, is that they can be lifted up at a certain angle from either the rear or front. Another great benefit that they come with is that when they are closed, they only add a few centimetres to the height of your VW T5 campervan. This can be very advantageous when you are driving in things with height restrictions such as a multi-level car park. You can also unzip the mesh windows if you purchase the panoramic canvas.

The other popular option you can go for when it comes to pop top roofs is Skyline. They are well known for their affordable and great quality products. Just like SCA pop top roofs, Skyline only has a small amount of overall height, meaning that it doesn't change the profile of the vehicle.  One of the main advantages of the Skyline pop top roof is that the roof closes very neatly. 

It really does come down to personal opinion as there are merits to most of the roofs offered on the market today. Feel free to get in touch for more information.

info@wildworxcustoms.com
01789 700 029