WHY WE LOVE POP TOP CAMPER VANS
What is a pop top?
A pop top is a sleeping area with fabric walls and screen windows that fold down when driving–it’s essentially a collapsible tent on the top of your van. Our pop tops come with three large windows (two screened, one fixed), a spring-form bed with a 2-inch mattress, and four USB outlets.
We love pop tops because they give you fantastic versatility. You don’t have to worry about height restrictions when taking the ferry, but you still have sleeping space for the whole family when you reach your camping destination. We have years of experience installing pop tops on the Mercedes Metris and love hearing about our customers’ happy experiences with them.
How much height does a pop top add to the van?
The total height of the van with the pop top is 77 inches but will be a couple of inches more if you add a lift kit or all-terrain tires to your van. Some customers opt to add crossbars to their van, which makes the total height 81 inches (or 84 inches with the lift kit and tires). This is the perfect height for our Washington travelers because you’ll still pay a regular fare for the ferries.
Why do I need a pop top if the van has a bed?
Despite being small, our Metris camper vans can sleep up to four people–more than your average Sprinter. Two people can fit on the van’s interior bed, and two in the pop top. Even if you’re traveling with just one or two people, there are still benefits to having a pop top. The bed can be raised while the roof is up, allowing extra standing room when cooking in your van. The bottom bed can also be used as storage or living space if you opt to sleep in the pop top bed.
How do pop tops do in bad weather?
The pop top does very well in bad weather and is far superior to a ground tent. We frequently encounter rain here in the Pacific Northwest, so we’re often asked how the pop top handles it. We’ve found that its water-resistant fabric holds up very well in the rain, but we recommend airing it out after completing a trip. If you’re frequently camping in these conditions, check out our 20 tips for camping in the rain. It has a wind rating of 35 miles per hour–it should be put down for anything stronger than that. Some of our customers are avid skiers who camp in snowy conditions often. We do recommend closing the pop top if snow starts accumulating on top to ensure it doesn’t exceed the weight limit.
Is a pop top better than a tent on the ground?
Generally speaking, pop tops are better than a regular tent on the ground for many reasons:
Durability: Pop tops tend to be more durable due to the fabric quality. Ground tents can often get holes from being set up on sharp rocks, which is not a concern for a pop top tent.
Comfort: Our pop tops come with a spring-form bed with a 2-inch mattress, which is exceptionally comfortable. When camping in a ground tent, you’re responsible for finding flat ground to set it up and bringing sleeping pads or air mattresses. You don't have to worry about this with a pop top camper. It’s also easier to stay warm in a pop top while your Webasto heater works magic.
Safety: Washington is relatively safe regarding wildlife, but a pop top provides an extra safety layer when camping in bear country.
Additional amenities:
Our pop tops can be set up within a matter of seconds, so you won’t have to deal with setting up tent poles or packing everything up in bags.
Comes with four USB outlets, so you can charge your devices without having to leave them in your car or bring a portable charger.
When you put the bed platform up, there’s more headroom and living space inside your van.
The pop top allows you to convert your van from a daily driver to a roomy camper in a matter of seconds.
Allows you to connect with the outdoors and have a more authentic camping experience than you would in a large RV.
Why should I get a pop top camper from Peace Vans?
There are many benefits to using Peace Vans for your pop top camper build. First and foremost, we are a deeply established company with an impeccable reputation for quality, craftsmanship, and transparency. Having worked on over 1000 VW Camper Vans, and hundreds of Mercedes Metris’, we know this space extremely well and have the talent, IQ and EQ to support you. We aren’t a couple of people in a garage–we are craftsmen, project managers, business people, and outdoor enthusiasts.
We are incredibly passionate about what we do and want to get you on the road with your pop top camper van as soon as possible. Click the button below to learn more about our conversion styles, and our team will reach out to help you make the best decision.
