I know you must be getting fed up of me but I have another question. Sleeping in a pop up.

[70321]

We are almost there but had a bit of a "hold on" moment today. So...we almost have decided. We feel we do want pop up space to sleep in if we want - or store stuff up there overnight when we are sleeping downstairs. Has anyone slept in a Hymer Sprinter pop up? Spent a long time searching you tube etc and haven't seen anyone climbing up that ladder and getting in there. Thank you.

 

[CazPaul]

I think the main problem is that it turns the van into a 2 or at the most a 3 season van. OK I suppose you could run the heating all night but with the lack of insulation up there you will get through a fair bit of gas. If you want a 4 season van it really needs to be a hard top.

But that's only if you have the pop top up though, when it's down its a warm van, as PVCs go. Not as warm as a good A class though

I agree if you are using it on winter to sleep 3 it's no good. In summer though the same or better than any PVC

I think also the roof bed is only suitable for 1 as well unless children or 2 7stone adults. Hence me saying to sleep 3, 2 downstairs and 1 adult up top(Summer only though)

 

[Reallyretired]

Nearest I came to one is a hire one, just for a week, and two smallish children could sleep in the pop top. It would have been impracticle for an adult unless they were an acrobat.

 

[scotzsue]

Wondering ifyou are thinking of a pop top purely to get the option of an alternative bed in a short van. however you may be thinking of getting under height barriers or in a garage.
We downsized to a 2/3 berth double over the garage, lots of space in there for tables chairs and everything John thinks is essential.
I get up a few times in the night, so use the made up single from the dinette, we did look at beds with a drop down front bed, but didn't like the quality of the ones we saw or the compromised storage. Van is 6M John is almost 6 ft and has loads of room in the double, the matress topper we used in our last 2 vans is too short for the bed.
like Reallyretired s idea of hiring, that really did focus our minds and saved more than the cost of having to change an unsuitable van.

 

[Ernesto]

We ruled out pop top partly due to the cold/overheating issue others have mentioned, plus making the whole van dark. The other consideration is payload - on a Hymer it’s eats up 100kg of extra payload - not worth it with all these compromises in our view, but might suit others ?

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[golly]

Thanks, probably want a 3 season van - although in better times 4 season - heading to South of Spain etc.

We have a Hymer Grand Canyon on a Sprinter 4x4 chassis with the pop top. the bed in the top is used mainly when we take grandson away, he loves sleeping up in the "crows nest" as he calls it. I find it difficult to use, and getting up in the night for the loo is a pain in the proverbial, (but I am 71 ) The bed is actually quite comfortable once your up there but wouldn't like to use it in winter. In the summer its great large windows that open with mesh screens, I think I have seen an option that allows you to pipe the blow air heating up there, but may have dreamt that. Luckily the transverse bed is just as comfortable.
so :-
On the plus side:- Gives the option of extra berths, extra insulation when top is down, in the G Canyon you still have a full height van even with the roof down, at a push, can be used for storing flat items even with top down.

On minus side :- Adds extra weight, no roof lights so makes van quite dark, and limits ventilation if roof down (when roof up there are large mesh panels you can open) Can get "interesting" in very windy conditions, quite a costly option.
If I were buying now, I dont think I would go for the pop top option, but when you need extra beds it's invaluable.
Hope this helps.

 

[70321]

Golly, thank you very much. Great information from an owner. Much appreciated.

 

[gus-lopez]

Remember Spain at night in winter is as cold as the UK.

Or even far colder in some places !

 

[70321]

Interestingly we looked at a Grand Canyon S and thought that's what we were going to settle on, it slightly narrower than the Fiat Chassis, both have pro's and cons. As you will be aware the Mercedes is narrower which is why they have pods on the sleeping area. Eventually we settled on an Ayres Rock and absolutely love it. in the end if we had of gone for a Grand Canyon it would have been the Fiat version £ for £ you are getting much the same thing except you save about £10K on the base vehicle if your buying new, and as we are discovering the Fiat is a great base vehicle with full factory support for the MoHo Market.

Regarding the PoP Top if we had needed a 3rd or 4th bed then we would have gone for a non PVC the lifting roof inhibits the skylights which are a nice thing to have just makes it like any other MoHo and gives the ability for air circulation etc. If ever we need to have occasional beds then a Tent will do

what are the "pods" on the sleeping area?

 

[Coolcats]

what are the "pods" on the sleeping area?

Because the Mercedes Sprinter is narrower than the Fiat Hymer (and others) place side pods to expand the sleeping area so that you can sleep sideways in the vehicle. I am 6’2 and without the side pods I would not be able to sleep sideways in the Mercedes in comfort. The Fiat based vehicle means no modification is required as it is slightly wider and I can sleep in the sideways bed in comfort.

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[autorouter]

Sorry to be depressingly practical, but if you're trying out the high bed, don't forget to climb the ladder without your shoes. I find it to be a painful experience. You may want to make alternative arrangements like steps or a box to climb up on.

 

[Coolcats]

Side pods these are fitted to both sides of the van (windows are extra) on the sliding door side if you have a window on the sliding door side pod, don’t open it if you open the sliding door as it will take the window out ☹

 

[golly]

This is our van, you can see the panels in the pop top and the side bulge with a window in, its not worth getting a window in the pod on the same side as the door.

 

[CazPaul]

This is our van, you can see the panels in the pop top and the side bulge with a window in, its not worth getting a window in the pod on the same side as the door.
View attachment 390507

Looks lovely that, have you got the electric sliding door option, the Hymer GC 4x4 I looked at had this and it wouldn't open because the batteries were flat.

They had to attach a power pack and put some power in then after a while it opened.

 

[golly]

Looks lovely that, have you got the electric sliding door option, the Hymer GC 4x4 I looked at had this and it wouldn't open because the batteries were flat.

They had to attach a power pack and put some power in then after a while it opened.

Yes we have the electric side door, It did fail once but there is a switch to enable you to close it manually, if you have muscles like Popeye but there is a sequence to reset it .

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[mitzimad]

do you realy want to spend that kind of money to sleep in a tent?

 

[nicholsong]

do you realy want to spend that kind of money to sleep in a tent?

Before I comment can somebody pleas enlighten me on what sort of money is involved in some of the pop-top modeld mentioned?

Geoff

 

[70321]

Before I comment can somebody pleas enlighten me on what sort of money is involved in some of the pop-top modeld mentioned?

Geoff

about £4k

 

[nicholsong]

about £4k

From some of the answers and pics I thought you were looking at new.

Now my comment would be irrelevant.

Geoff

 

[70321]

From some of the answers and pics I thought you were looking at new.

Now my comment would be irrelevant.

Geoff

The pop up bit costs 4k.

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[CazPaul]

From some of the answers and pics I thought you were looking at new.

Now my comment would be irrelevant.

Geoff

You are looking at roughly just over 80 grand Geoff for the Hymer GC 4x4 obviously give or take depending on the options, which can add up.

The main part for me about the pop top is the construction, is it sturdy and more importantly when it's down totally waterproof?
No water can get in the van when it's down through the joins?
If is both these things then if you are taking 2 kids in summer or 3 people(And the one using the top bed is agile enough) in summer it's a good option.

 

[Grianan]

We were absolutely convinced we wanted a pop top but ended up deciding against it for the following reasons
- if in uk you could end up having trouble drying it out
- water penetrating if you touch sides when raining
- catching by wind in stormy weather

so we have a 6.3m panel van and are happy

 

[70321]

The pop up is a "nice to have" option for us (we think). Wouldn't use it if weather was an issue and we actually don't know if we would regularly use it. Never thought about a possible issue with leaks must admit.

 

[nicholsong]

Beatrix

So you are thinking of buying new?

How would you rate any of the pop-ups you are contemplating compared to an N&B 'A' Class 6 years old(16,000 miles) with 2 x king-size beds and a garage for £27,500, which is what I bought, and been very happy for 10 years.

Unless you are fixated on a narrow camper, which with a pop-up may not get under a 2m barrier.

I think you need to look at the quality secondhand market before you do anything. There is plenty of time to do that during lockdown.

Geoff

 

[70321]

Beatrix

So you are thinking of buying new?

How would you rate any of the pop-ups you are contemplating compared to an N&B 'A' Class 6 years old(16,000 miles) with 2 x king-size beds and a garage for £27,500, which is what I bought, and been very happy for 10 years.

Unless you are fixated on a narrow camper, which with a pop-up may not get under a 2m barrier.

I think you need to look at the quality secondhand market before you do anything. There is plenty of time to do that during lockdown.

Geoff

Thanks Geoff. I've no idea what an N&B is however I believe A class are large vehicles. We are looking for a <6 metre van.

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[Coolcats]

This is our van, you can see the panels in the pop top and the side bulge with a window in, its not worth getting a window in the pod on the same side as the door.
View attachment 390507

These are great options we were very close to getting the Mercedes version but went for the Fiat base and no PoP Top mainly due to how we use the MoHo and our previous experience of being damp in the T5 if they weather was poor, having said this the T5 did not have the same build quality of the Hymer or the hot air pipe. As they say you pay your money and take your choice and what an amazing vehicle yours looks like

 

[Coolcats]

Thanks Geoff. I've no idea what an N&B is however I believe A class are large vehicles. We are looking for a <6 metre van.

Have a peek at a Hymer Ayers Rock 5.4metres It may not be for you but they are great MoHo’s. They also have the pop top option.

 

[golly]

.