Looking for some diy van high top ideas and how they have held up over time. I've seen some made out of wood, steel, aluminum... my van was purchased very cheap and has been sort of a trial for our family. I would love to be able to stand in this van but don't want to put out the cash for getting a pop top installed. I have welding abilities as well as a bunch of leftover steel square tubing from various jobs. Anyone use something like that for a frame and what did you use for paneling?
Anyone build their own van high top?
- Thread starter BSK
- Start date
Jb1rd
Explorer
This kid built one, you only see the frame for a second or two at the 1ish minute mark, but certainly
looks doable if you have the tools and some skill :sombrero:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08DXq7S1VVU
looks doable if you have the tools and some skill :sombrero:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08DXq7S1VVU
dcguillory
Adventurer
This one is pretty awesome. Good luck with the diy though
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/112027-The-Ute-II-E350-RB-7-3-ZF6
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/112027-The-Ute-II-E350-RB-7-3-ZF6
This.
They're more or less plentiful even here in LaLa land where the junkyards get picked over heavily.
Under $70 including sales tax last I checked at LKQs yard, and they'll even bring a forklift over after you've got it free from the vehicle.
You'd spend way more just on material making your own versus one that's already designed to fit.
Plus, you'd be "green" or upcycling or whatever the cool term is now.
villageidiot327
Explorer
I'd love to find a high top here for my rb e-series. Haven't seen one in the yards in good enough shape to warrant pulling.
Accrete
Explorer
Just a thought in transit.
YMMV : )
Since you are married... and anyone else in the loop on who will be using the van will be, I would imagine, hoping to be OK being seen in such vehicle... I've rarely seen any DIY roof that most wives would be happy or excited with. Then you have the kid's and their social circle to consider.
You might be able to pull of a Sistine Chapel of a DIY job on the roof, but I can say for my wife and our rig which doubles as her DD, if it wasn't nice and respectable i'd be driving it alone.
Pulling one from a picker yard might be a good call all around.
: ) Thom
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
There was an aluminum one here on the forum... don't know who built it though.
Weight would become a concern with wood or steel.
Weight would become a concern with wood or steel.
A great pop top roof build done on a Suburban right here on this forum: 2003 Suburban 1500 Pop Top Conversion
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...&share_tid=142300&share_fid=7335&share_type=t
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...&share_tid=142300&share_fid=7335&share_type=t
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I don't know if your van is regular length or extended, but generally it would be best to work extra hours at something profitable and then purchasing one for cheap. I have recently seen 4 or 5 whole mid-late 90's whole RB conversion vans for sale for $1000-$1200. You could buy one and part the rest out, or just buy the top from a salvage yard for a couple hundred $. One was running and driving! Used EB 20" raised tops can be found for as low as $300 if you look around. Even if you try to keep costs down, I don't think you're going to beat the price of a used fiberglass top. That would also leave you with a van that you could sell easily if you needed to. One van I saw 10 years ago had the roof cut out and an aluminum jon boat strapped over the hole! If you do something wild like that, please post pics here! We'll name it "Surf 'N Turf"! Cheers!
Yeah, this guys shop is about 5 miles from my house, see this van driving around town and it is one bad ********!
njtacoma
Explorer
Track down the local airport shuttle company. Around here they drive the vans into the ground and then salvage the any parts off to keep the rest of the fleet going. They have several hulks sitting out back, but they all have the high tops on them.
Oh and they are either yellow or white here!
Oh and they are either yellow or white here!