Replace penthouse with a fixed top, am I crazy?

[saline]

I think I paid around $4500 for my 24" Fiberine Bubble Top. That was with added glassed in wood reinforcements, 2 windows and installation. They had it done in about 4.5 hours.

[Saltydog]

Here’s my plan, let me know if this won’t work. Right now I have the eb50 floor plan so bench folds down to sleep 2 and 2 sleep in penthouse. With the 30” camper top, can I keep the top bed where it is and add a little bunk over the cab to sleep 5? We don’t have 5 yet but he’s on his way.

[MSD]

Originally Posted by Saltydog

Here’s my plan, let me know if this won’t work. Right now I have the eb50 floor plan so bench folds down to sleep 2 and 2 sleep in penthouse. With the 30” camper top, can I keep the top bed where it is and add a little bunk over the cab to sleep 5? We don’t have 5 yet but he’s on his way.

You should be able to make this work. I had several people due the upper bed with my 24” top so you’ll have 6” to play with with the super camper top. The bed over the cab will work up to 52” bed dimensions will be roughly 21x52 then the shell will angle up a bit to the nose.

[xseal]

What about a CCV high pop top? I’m prepping a can build and trying to figure out best top.

[MSD]

Originally Posted by xseal

What about a CCV high pop top? I’m prepping a can build and trying to figure out best top.

CCV high top pop top for the Ford Eseries is a 17” top it will give you head room at the highest point of about 69” at max so if your 5’9” or taller a fixed high top might be a better choice.
All depends on what you needs & intended purpose for the van is too. To sleep 5 like salty dog asked no really an option for the 5th, 4 yes 5 not really enough room over the cab.

[Saltydog]

After talking to Fiberine they mentioned selling the pop top but keeping the steel frame so I can keep the top bunk. Would that make the top useless to the next owner? Do they need that frame to mount the lift springs etc? Basically I’m not sure how much I would need to remove to sell the pop top

[MSD]

Originally Posted by Saltydog

After talking to Fiberine they mentioned selling the pop top but keeping the steel frame so I can keep the top bunk. Would that make the top useless to the next owner? Do they need that frame to mount the lift springs etc? Basically I’m not sure how much I would need to remove to sell the pop top

You will need to remove everything & do it as one peace. It will look like this when out... basically you’ll be removing the canvas at the roof of the van, dismantle the trim & in bolt the frame to get what you see in the enclosed pictures. If your not mechanically inclined we have lots of folks here who could help out I’m sure...

There’s no need to keep the metal frame in if you need to just have some angle iron cut for the opening for you top bunk & bolt it in... with out knowing what was talked about can’t say for certain but I’ve heard of some pretty bizarre recommendations from fiberine when adding a fixed top.

[mikracer]

Originally Posted by Saltydog

Here’s my plan, let me know if this won’t work. Right now I have the eb50 floor plan so bench folds down to sleep 2 and 2 sleep in penthouse. With the 30” camper top, can I keep the top bed where it is and add a little bunk over the cab to sleep 5? We don’t have 5 yet but he’s on his way.

I've seen a sleeping platform across the driver and passenger seat before. I'm wondering if it would be roomier there rather than above in the top.

[Saltydog]

Thank you MSD, those pics are a huge help. When I was a kid my family camped in a VW westy. My sisters slept in the pop top, my parents on the bottom, and I had a canvas hammock thing that snapped in across the front seats above the dash. I’ve never seen anything like it since but it worked and the fords have a lot of room up there