you all know I've been doing my research and I was just wondering

for those with the pop top campers ,ie hi ace, 

how hard are they to bring the tops down when you want to?

I had a look at one today and it was bloody hard for me to pull down..

I think for me id rather a hi top, i know you'ld probably get more wind lag 

etc but  i cant think of doing that every time you stop over night... 

and i figure a hi top would be more insulated ?? 

I can still get mine up and down OK so far milo, but I'm going to go to the Gold Coast when I can afford to and get an RV airlifter unit installed .  Just have to press a button then, to put it up or down.  I find getting it up harder than getting it down.  I have a Solar Panel on top. 

http://www.rvairlifters.com.au/

Used to cost around $1,000.00 to convert.  Less if you do it yourself.  Might be a bit dearer these days.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Milo,

My Hi Ace is easy to push up (I use my head to start it, some ladies I understand use a small stool) but hard to pull down. 

I was told by the people that do the conversion that they can adjust it to make it easier to pull down, but then it will be harder to push up and once adjusted I could not be reversed.

The missus came up with a brilliant idea of using a light rope in a skipping rope loop with a caribeena hook at each end.  The rope hooks are hooked onto the pull down handles, one end on each handle, and the looped rope stops short of the floor by about 8 inches.  To keep the rope apart at the bottom, I put a piece of clear plastic tubing on the rope at the bottom.

Then a simple matter of holding the pull down handles (with rope clipped on) and stepping onto the raised rope at the same time with one foot as you pull down on the handles, this gives the roof a start and then simply continue to pull the roof down by the handles.  When the roof is down remove the clip on hooks.   Works for me.

The high roofs do make life easier, and there is not a lot of difference in fuel usage (I tested my pop top against a high roof over 500 kms, both refuelling a the same time) in fact it was almost the same.   The high roof will give you a bit more buffeting in high side winds but not a great deal more.    Remember though that a high roof will generally not fit under a carport or any driver throughs (eg; McDonalds, underground carparks (some) or other type drive throughs, so you need to keep an eye on the boom heights.

Don't know about being colder in Winter, but in Summer, you have 4 zippered windows,  that let a lot of breeze through to cool the 'van down, and they work beautifully.  You don't have that with a Hightop I think.

As for storage, I made the bed a 3/4, and bought storage drawer units from the Warehouse.

Cheers,

Sheba.

brickies wrote:

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Would a pop Top be colder in winter than a full height , Then would a Pop Top be cooler in summer , Storage seems to big then in favor of both Pop Top Van and Caravan

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 I think full height in caravans would be better if you have aircon (cooling or heating) as you lose a bit through the canvas/vinyl on pop tops.

For free camping though in summer the pop top probably comes out on top if not running an A/C via a generator, but would be colder on a cool or windy night.

As far as caravans go, be aware that the fibreglass composite cladding ones are better than aluminium cladding for being cool or warm as the material is a better insulation against hot/cold etc.

At least this has been my experience with too caravans and one hard wall camper trailer I have had.  

Milo I think alot of the high tops are ex hire, often have largish klms on clock but I have seen 2008 vans reasonably priced because of the mileage.

thats the trouble i have seen the last year or so while researching, the amount of high k's and still high prices.. etc

I have seen later model Hiace Hitops for $29000 but 150,000ks ex hire.

Happywanderer wrote:

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It can take more than a couple of minutes Andy, and hard on the head and shoulders. Many times I haven't bothered if staying just the one night. If the weather turns I rush to get it down again rather than get the canvas wet. Then there is trying to get the clips back in place when its closed down, just about breaks my wrists. I have also had to put clamps on the outside to keep it in place.
Then of course if I don't put the top up I end up walking around doubled over.
With a hi top None of the above would be a problem.

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 I agree with you 100% Marj.

Milo that is my thought too, it would be terribly difficult I imagine to have any sort of made up bed at the front. With the twin bed you could leave one as a bed and one as table and seat. It would be quite a thin bed though from the looks.

and most seem to be 1983- 90's etc 

maybe  i should just get a pop top....

every where i look , the pop tops are the cheaper units, hi tops are the dearest ,
only problem i see with a hi top is going thru my carport, don't know how high they are??

The High tops are too high for underground shopping centre carparks too. Mine just barely gets in my local carpark.

milo wrote:

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Also how are the bed at the back compared to at front?
Ie kitchen at the back?
Think I'd prefer bed at the bed, that way Could leave it made up all time..
Also any one know the height of a high top?

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Milo, the hi-top Hi Ace is 2.6 mtrs high.

My Hi Ace Commuter is 2.285 mtrs high.

According to Toyotas website, the standard Hi Ace is I.980 mtrs high.

Hope this helps. Happy searching.

Cheers. Pam.

My bed is permanently made up at the back Milo.  [ Check out Pics on the Forum. ]  I'm going to get the Airlifters. [ I'm 71, and have Emphysema, therefore, a breathing problem.]   At the moment I can still get the Pop-top up and down OK, [and that's with a large Solar panel on top,] but it would be a problem later on, when the breathing gets worse.

I decided on the Pop-top, 'cause with a Hi-top you have more wind-drag, therefore use more fuel.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Travel Bug wrote:

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Milo, the hi-top Hi Ace is 2.6 mtrs high.

My Hi Ace Commuter is 2.285 mtrs high.

According to Toyotas website, the standard Hi Ace is I.980 mtrs high.

Hope this helps. Happy searching.

Cheers. Pam.

 

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 All the specs are shown on the Toyota website as Pam says Milo, but bear in mind that when the pop top if fitted they are even higher.

Also, early model Hi Ace are lower than the later models as the wheels are bigger (higher)......

I have the height of my High Ace as 2.1 metres written on a bit of paper on my visor to remind me of the clearance I need for underground car parks and booms, drive throughs (eg; Macca's, bottle shops etc) and usually try to park in open car parks.  You need to allow for a little bit to make sure also.   I got caught in one underground carpark where the entry height was ok as posted, but they had made modificatons inside with things on the roof (lighting/sprinklers etc) and hadn't changed the entry height sign.....Luckily I was able to weave my way out again missing said obstructions.....

hmmm,

i guess when the time comes ill have to see if i could get owners of the camper van

to try and see if it will fit..