New style of pop top roof for Defender wagons

[86mud]

This looks interesting

X-Vision-X*-*Panoramadach inkl Dachträger (http://www.x-vision-x.de/product_info.php?info=p32_panoramadach-inkl-dachtraeger.html&XTCsid=36fa7ce9cdc955ba205e64f34f827457)

[tc_s1]

This looks interesting

X-Vision-X*-*Panoramadach inkl Dachträger (http://www.x-vision-x.de/product_info.php?info=p32_panoramadach-inkl-dachtraeger.html&XTCsid=36fa7ce9cdc955ba205e64f34f827457)Interestin g to see this design on a Defender. I fabriated my trailer with offset, dual hinges for a similar effect but havent yet applies it to a rooftop unit. It certainly opens things up a bit. Thank you for sharing.

[Dervish]

I saw this style of pop top on a 70-series that a Swiss fellow was driving around Oz in, up FNQ way somewhere. It's one of those things; on some nights it would be tremendous, on some nights it would be awful. On a bad night you could leave the front lid closed - but they've lifted the bed platform to best take advantage of the new opening, meaning that the headroom is worse than a normal pop top with it shut...

...but on a clear night by the beach [thumbsupbig]

[Ranga]

I still reckon the best design is a side fold-over unit. My Trayon has an extraordinary amount of room in it. A member here who had a Trayon has done a fantastic job converting his 130 using the same approach - 130 Station Wagon with side fold pop top build (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-and-tutorials/185072-130-station-wagon-side-fold-pop-top-build.html).

This allows so much more room inside than a regular pop-top, with either double the sleeping area, or the ability to have heaps of standing room and double bed. Plus, when open you have an awning.

I tend to wonder if the second best design is the simple pop-top without the front hinge, like the old troopy we owned. Plenty of room in that also, but maybe the front hinge design is stronger or something?

[The Cone of Silence]

Not sure about that...you lose a lot of roof rack space for the sake of having your heads at the front.

The only thing I dislike about my Pop Top...the Mulgo design, is the lack of room at the front, but I spend little time up there awake anyway, I simply push the sleeping platform up and I've got a huge amount of room in the cabin.

[weeds]

There is never one camping setup that is 100% on the money.....

Our Mulgo best suits us for the time being although footspace is just enough for 6’1”, we just need to work out weather proofing between 270 awning and back door.

We plan to some gear at the front off our roof rack which we wouldn’t be able to do on the one above.

The one above also introduces potential leak straight into sleeping area.

Either way it Land an option.........

On our trip last weekend we drove until we’re tired (had a lot of k’s to knock over) within 30sec of pulling up we pulled the match sticks from under our eyelids and were in bed and didn’t even have to get out of the defender.

[Tins]

On our trip last weekend we drove until we’re tired (had a lot of k’s to knock over) within 30sec of pulling up we pulled the match sticks from under our eyelids and were in bed and didn’t even have to get out of the defender.

That's the thing I like most about your's, Weeds. Must be a godsend when it's raining as well.

[weeds]

This site has given me an idea for a part external roll cage for a Poptop ......might shoot an email to shingleback offroad.

[Tins]

This site has given me an idea for a part external roll cage for a Poptop ......might shoot an email to shingleback offroad.

The around the windscreen thing?

[weeds]

The around the windscreen thing?

Yep, with a bar going across to join the two sides behind the seats/B Pillar

[Tins]

Yep, with a bar going across to join the two sides behind the seats/B Pillar

Let us know what you find out. I just had a very interesting conversation with Daniel ( Mulgo ). Might be best for him to do it at conversion time...

[tc_s1]

This site has given me an idea for a part external roll cage for a Poptop ......might shoot an email to shingleback offroad.Would love to know more. Id kike to put one round my Mulgo, but havent come up with anything reasonable yet.

[Ranga]

didn’t even have to get out of the defender.

Definitely agree that's a great feature of the Mulgo design. For 2 people, his design is a great option, much better than others on the market that I've seen.

[Tins]

Definitely agree that's a great feature of the Mulgo design. For 2 people, his design is a great option, much better than others on the market that I've seen.

Daniel tells me his 130 sleeps four comfortably. He also tells me he would have no problem converting a 130 single cab, something that has me VERY interested.

The 130 also has a longer PopTop, for those a bit taller. It is more expensive, obviously, but would be a rare car.

[Mulgo]

Yep, with a bar going across to join the two sides behind the seats/B Pillar

I don’t think that bar is needed. With the roll cage attached to the lower pop top frame externally there should be enough strength.

[DiscoMick]

This looks interesting

X-Vision-X*-*Panoramadach inkl Dachträger (http://www.x-vision-x.de/product_info.php?info=p32_panoramadach-inkl-dachtraeger.html&XTCsid=36fa7ce9cdc955ba205e64f34f827457)I could see that design letting in a lot of rain.

[F.N.S.]

Its quite a lot of money for what it is thou...

Note that the price listed is just for the panorama bit and the roof rack... so you still need the roof conversion along with it.

[Zeros]

I don’t think that bar is needed. With the roll cage attached to the lower pop top frame externally there should be enough strength.

I like the idea of an internal bar across the vehicle joining the B pillars if there is no roll cage.

The way the body flexes when you simply close a Defender door is quite something LOL. How do lateral stresses affect the body long term?

I can see it may be tricky under the bed platform, but if there was a way it could be incorporated it could be a great addition? I assume also that the rigid bed platform would assist with this when the roof is closed, contributing to the better than original engineering repot?

But then, I'm not an engineer and perhaps a degree of body flex is actually a good thing?

My 20 year old Defender that has seen extensive corrugations, certainly has the rattles side to side!

PS When I can raise the funds a Mulgo pop top is high on my list of priorities.