Where to get a Hi-Top roof for Hiace Super Long Wheel Base
PandB said
06:03 PM Jan 29, 2019
HI,
We are new to all this so apologies if i am in the wrong place. We are finally going to purchase and convert a Hiace super long wheelbase to a camper van and are really looking forward to getting on the road. As I am 187 cm (6'2 inches in the old money) and the van is 165 cm i would like to have a permanent hi top roof fitted to give me the extra height. We are in Brisbane and there are a few places locally that fit hi tops and pop tops for the long wheel base but unfortunately i haven't been able to find the hard roof for the SLWB. Has anybody done this conversion or suggest who we could contact. I am prepared to go interstate if I have to but closer to Brisbane would be better.
Cheers
Paul
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:41 PM Jan 29, 2019
If it was mine, I would build it myself from fibreglass sandwich panel.
Cheers,
Peter
Greg 1 said
12:34 AM Jan 30, 2019
I am assuming that the roof in question is constructed from fibreglass. You could get the shorter roof and a fibre glass fabricator can split the roof and add a section in to extend it. This sort of thing is done quite regularly with GRP products. Once done and painted, you would not know it has been done. One of the advantages of GRP.
That's a possibility. I assume that it wouldn't loose any strength.
Paul
Possum3 said
10:19 AM Jan 31, 2019
PandB wrote:
That's a possibility. I assume that it wouldn't loose any strength.
To the contrary you would in most cases reinforce the centre section.
KJB said
10:27 AM Jan 31, 2019
Get 2 and cut them "off centre" and join the 2 longer sections....
Jaahn said
09:33 AM Feb 1, 2019
Hi PandB
I do not think I have ever seen a SLWB Toyota with a raised roof. The hire camper vans usually are LWB and have the fiberglass high roof fitted in Australia. You have found that out probably. The SLWB is also the widest too. I believe the LWB is not as wide, and that will affect the use of another fiberglass roof. I do know the Hiaces come in several widths and also lengths so check that out before you start. The extra width and length and height makes the SLWB van such a roomy vehicle for a camper. The standard SLWB roof is steel not fiberglass like some have suggested here.
Here are the Toyota dimensions. https://www.toyota.com.au/-/media/toyota/main-site/vehicle-hubs/hiace/files/hiace_spec_data_sep2018.pdf
A truck and bus body builder would have the expertise and authority to cut the roof and raise it say 150-250mm and do a safe job. They do that for a living. Not sure of the cost though.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Friday 1st of February 2019 09:54:14 AM
jetj said
03:28 PM Feb 4, 2019
There are hire vehicles based on the SLWB size vehicles with a fibreglass roof. It isnt as obvious as the LWB roof. Might be Kea not sure, there is a mould somewhere. Never seen one new for sale only ex hire
Jaahn said
09:19 PM Feb 4, 2019
Hi jetj
I am interested in that too. So if you see one in your travels look at the brand and let us know please, ex hire ones too. I have seen a few advertised generally as SLWB but were actually just LWB when looked at in detail in the photos.
I searched for a suitable top again just now and I see a NZ converter WBR may do one, and there were images on another site but they just tried to scam me to click on something.
This is an actual site that does their own SLWB conversion ; https://www.xcentrix.com.au/custom-campervans/
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Monday 4th of February 2019 09:21:29 PM
HI,
We are new to all this so apologies if i am in the wrong place. We are finally going to purchase and convert a Hiace super long wheelbase to a camper van and are really looking forward to getting on the road. As I am 187 cm (6'2 inches in the old money) and the van is 165 cm i would like to have a permanent hi top roof fitted to give me the extra height. We are in Brisbane and there are a few places locally that fit hi tops and pop tops for the long wheel base but unfortunately i haven't been able to find the hard roof for the SLWB. Has anybody done this conversion or suggest who we could contact. I am prepared to go interstate if I have to but closer to Brisbane would be better.
Cheers
Paul
Cheers,
Peter
That's a possibility. I assume that it wouldn't loose any strength.
Paul
To the contrary you would in most cases reinforce the centre section.
Get 2 and cut them "off centre" and join the 2 longer sections....
Hi PandB
I do not think I have ever seen a SLWB Toyota with a raised roof. The hire camper vans usually are LWB and have the fiberglass high roof fitted in Australia. You have found that out probably. The SLWB is also the widest too. I believe the LWB is not as wide, and that will affect the use of another fiberglass roof. I do know the Hiaces come in several widths and also lengths so check that out before you start. The extra width and length and height makes the SLWB van such a roomy vehicle for a camper. The standard SLWB roof is steel not fiberglass like some have suggested here.
Here are the Toyota dimensions. https://www.toyota.com.au/-/media/toyota/main-site/vehicle-hubs/hiace/files/hiace_spec_data_sep2018.pdf
A truck and bus body builder would have the expertise and authority to cut the roof and raise it say 150-250mm and do a safe job. They do that for a living. Not sure of the cost though.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Friday 1st of February 2019 09:54:14 AM
Hi jetj
I am interested in that too. So if you see one in your travels look at the brand and let us know please, ex hire ones too. I have seen a few advertised generally as SLWB but were actually just LWB when looked at in detail in the photos.
I searched for a suitable top again just now and I see a NZ converter WBR may do one, and there were images on another site but they just tried to scam me to click on something.
This is an actual site that does their own SLWB conversion ; https://www.xcentrix.com.au/custom-campervans/
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Monday 4th of February 2019 09:21:29 PM