Hardtop for old camper.

[DAMINK]

I picked up an old late 60s early 70s camper a while ago as image below.

142011

Top is very old and leaks so i need to do something about it.
I am thinking of making a hardtop for it that extends up on telescopic poles so the top remains above when camper extended.
I was going to make it out of fiberglass but am now leaning towards a wood top. Perhaps coating that later with resin or fiberglass.

Question i have is first of all am i legally allowed to carry out such things?
Do you think its even safe given if it stayed above the camper and a windy enough day i guess it could become a sail?
Second assuming i can the design it how to make it telescopic? I cant locate the poles on the front or the back because it opens up that way as below image.

142012

So i would have to make the poles on the sides of the camper. Which is easy enough but i wonder if its legal. The laws of stuff protruding is my concern.
Got me to thinking i could run a bar all the way around the whole camper and then mount off that so as not to be protruding?
Interested in anyones thoughts on the issue.

Either way i have to do something about it as the poor old thing is taking in water.

[donh54]

Regarding the protrusion issue - as long as it doesn't exceed 2.5 metres wide, no probs. If the width is available, put the legs inside the lid, so they're concealed whilst travelling.

WRT the legs - I'd make up some scissor type legs for the sides, possibly with the addition of gas struts to help with lifting/lowering. Add some straps down to the chassis or similar fixing points so the roof can't take off!

[DAMINK]

Regarding the protrusion issue - as long as it doesn't exceed 2.5 metres wide, no probs. If the width is available, put the legs inside the lid, so they're concealed whilst travelling.

WRT the legs - I'd make up some scissor type legs for the sides, possibly with the addition of gas struts to help with lifting/lowering. Add some straps down to the chassis or similar fixing points so the roof can't take off!


Perfect. I am at 2050 wide currently so plenty of room. And agree having the legs inside the lid is a must.

My thoughts were using box tubing to make a telescope and then using some push rod i think its called. Spring basically and have that under the floor and pulled up using pullies and cable lifting the roof.
All that operated via a 12 volt motor like a wiper motor. I have 12 volts on board and charged off andersson so not an to use that to automate it.
I certainly plan on some locking method when down.

[pop058]

We (Nan & I ) have an early 70's poptop that has a small 12 volt winch fitted in place hand winch. Onboard battery and solar means zero effort up and down.

142038 142039

[DAMINK]

We (Nan & I ) have an early 70's poptop that has a small 12 volt winch fitted in place hand winch. Onboard battery and solar means zero effort up and down.

142038 142039

Does it use telescope poles and those springs? And how do you go closing it up? Does the winch do the work or does the winch just take up the slack?

[pop058]

Does it use telescope poles and those springs? And how do you go closing it up? Does the winch do the work or does the winch just take up the slack?

4 telescopic poles, each with there own wire that all come back to a common rail. The winch wire runs as an endless loop on the drum connected to the common rail, so winch up and down.