 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Pop tops other than Alucab… |
 
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| strang Member Since: 16 May 2012 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 1381   
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Have a word with Mick Outhwaite at https://www.lrbits.co.uk/index.php?main_pa...cts_id=148
He is based near Skipton - so possibly worth a trip out to see one in the flesh so to speak. Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond..... |
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2nd Feb 2022 7:10pm |
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| Terryt Member Since: 28 Jun 2012 Location: Lerryn. Cornwall. Posts: 750
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 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Sorry missed this . We had our roof done by Dormobile and built the interior ourselves. We spent a long time looking at Alucab and various others but plumped for the dormobile as it kept the classic lines and it fitted our needs ,we sleep upstairs so to speak and it works well for us we did have some issues with dormobile which left a bit of a nasty taste but nothing insurmountable. |
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5th Feb 2022 8:39am |
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| andy2111 Member Since: 17 Oct 2021 Location: Kent Posts: 365 
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We’re going on a 2 week guided tour through the Pyrenees in the summer and I’m hoping to get a pop top before then. I was leaning towards Alucab just because it’s easier to get fitted in the UK but must admit I’m a fan of ex-tec. My wife wants something that has the slatted bed frame!
I guess pop top owners choose them for speed of setup so I have another question to see what everyone does…. When camping abroad with a pop top I think I’d like a small tent so if we are staying in one place for a couple of days we can just close the roof and drive off for a day without packing everything away. To keep the speed and convenience of setup I’m thinking about a tailgate mounted small air tent so it becomes an extension of the truck when connected, but is freestanding so can be left up if we go out for the day. Anyone else do anything like this, or is it just me?  |
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5th Feb 2022 9:33am |
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| gcc130 Member Since: 05 Jun 2015 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 744 |
This is exactly what we do, we use a Caranex tent on the rear of our Dormobile.
As the bed platform is at seatbox level the loo, dog cage and table/chairs go into the tent before we set the bed up. When we go out for the day the Caranex stays freestanding. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Reversing back onto it has to be quite precise but is easy once you get the hang of it. Also has the benefit of keeping your pitch on sites. My only reservation as a life long, experienced camper is the quality of the Caranex as a tent, but I’ve yet to find a better alternative that is as quick and easy to set up. I may have my own canvas made for the Caranex poles with a few mods. Sorry I don’t have any pics of it freestanding. |
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5th Feb 2022 10:00am |
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| andy2111 Member Since: 17 Oct 2021 Location: Kent Posts: 365
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I'm glad it's not just me then!
Thanks for the pics and info. I saw the caranex site a while ago and they have been out of stock for ages so not sure if they are still trading. Not sure what tent solution to go with yet and still undecided which poptop to go for, apart from that I'm good to go! |
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5th Feb 2022 5:19pm |
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| gcc130 Member Since: 05 Jun 2015 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 744 |
I’m pretty sure Caranex have gone out of business, however I managed the buy two last year. The first came via a wanted ad on the Series Two Club forum(within minutes of posting), the second was via eBay, only used once and is the 4 HL model which has a fold back panel specifically for use with pop tops. There seem to be plenty out there many only used once or twice.
Is your Pyrenees trip with Landtreks by any chance? |
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5th Feb 2022 5:41pm |
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| andy2111 Member Since: 17 Oct 2021 Location: Kent Posts: 365
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Yes it is! That was a good guess, do you know them?
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6th Feb 2022 9:17am |
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| gcc130 Member Since: 05 Jun 2015 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 744 |
Yes, we were good friends with Wayne & Helen years ago before they moved to France. We met travelling to rally in Norway in 1990 and used to go to the ARC Nationals together for many years.
We were planning to join one of their Pyrenees trips a couple of years ago, then covid hit. Now we have the Dormobile we’ve no excuse, it’s the perfect vehicle for the trip! Look forward to hearing about your trip on here.😊 Andrew |
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6th Feb 2022 10:00am |
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| gcc130 Member Since: 05 Jun 2015 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 744 |
Ooops , double post
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6th Feb 2022 10:29am |
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| andy2111 Member Since: 17 Oct 2021 Location: Kent Posts: 365
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Ha, small world! We were recommended Landtreks by friends who have done a few tours with them. We’re going in August so really looking forward to it.
Getting back to the original topic, I’m hoping to get a pop top and also figure out a quick pitch tailgate tent in time for that trip. Feeling squeezed for time already as I have a few mods planned for the truck and I’m already in the inevitable stage of things taking longer than planned, which might send me down the Alucab route as it’s easier than going abroad for fitting. |
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6th Feb 2022 11:57am |
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| gcc130 Member Since: 05 Jun 2015 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 744 |
👍
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6th Feb 2022 12:17pm |
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| db950 Member Since: 01 Feb 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 560 
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There are quite stringent guide lines for change of vehicle use to a motor caravan (camper) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications...or-caravan We didn’t meet all the criteria so never bothered, insured through A-Plan as a camper with all the modifications listed. Plenty of room for two in a full pop top, can’t comment on the Dormobile ones. 1997 Ex-MOD 110, Pop Top Camper, build thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72352.html 2014 Discovery 4 SE Tech Instagram @the110camper |
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6th Feb 2022 11:12pm |
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| db950 Member Since: 01 Feb 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 560
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Our interior…
Including a Dometic 2 burner hob and sink, Webasto 65ltr fridge and Lavazza coffee pod machine 
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 1997 Ex-MOD 110, Pop Top Camper, build thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72352.html 2014 Discovery 4 SE Tech Instagram @the110camper |
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6th Feb 2022 11:22pm |
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| wyvern Member Since: 13 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2117 
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I think that the majority of the conversions nowadays will not be able to be classed as a camper under the new rules - a professional VW pop top company we chatted to at the overland show says that are not permitted under the new guidelines so we have never bothered either.
All modifications are logged with NFU for our insurance and they are happy, so that is the main thing for us.  Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126 |
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7th Feb 2022 8:25am |
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