Hi, we have a tin top ex telstra and a trakka hi top, double diff, decoupled top spec van on raised gowesty springs with emu shock and 15" alloys. Basically we absolutely adore it. The storage in there is incredible. It also retains the front cross member in the roof which keeps it pretty rigid. We store laptops, bedding, all sorts up top and the main van area is nice and uncluttered. It also, and most importantly for us, means on windy winter excursions we are snug as anything with a high roof keeping things home-like, yet the weather doesn't keep us awake etc etc. We spent years looking for a high top van and kept chuckling at the toyotas etc that look relatively uncool. We think ours looks great, drives great and even has a custom installed roof rack and solar panels on top. Top heaviness may be an issue on side slopes but we drive accordingly. The sunroof up front is good too.
I was looking at the ebay one with a view to converting our tin top semi camper syncro too, but have been stopped by the wife for getting silly (which is true as the tin top is just a daily driver and local off-roader.)
We are lucky enough to have a high roof garage... Essential if you want to keep her out of the weather at home.... That would be the one grumble if we moved house etc. You also notice the cross wind a little more when driving, but our bay window pop top was worse! Lastly, once or twice we been off-road and had to slow down for low branches.... Not really a big deal though!
We have had a couple of pop top vans in the past and despite loving the compactness when parking, the camping hassle of top up, down, up in good or bad or windy weather was frustrating and we also got tired of juggling storage space at night etc... Wetsuits, laptops and so on adding to the mayhem.
I would say go for it, I will be kind of envious as those roofs won't come up often! You could always change back one day if you really needed to.
There are pics of ours on the forum pics site, and we wrote an article about it in a UK vw mag.
Do check the sunroof seals and the side window mechs. Ours were old and we had to track down a seal from the UK... Quite a hassle, and also replace a couple of parts on the side wind-outs.
Hope that helps,
Nick
Anyone had experience of the Trakka Hard Top raised roof for T3?
There was one for sale on Fleabay recently
Were they any good? Some of the Over Seas Hard Tops look pretty awesome.
Just Wondering how would they compare?
Rowan Hardinge