Kombi roof lining. Fitting when none currently fitted

My bus has a thin carpet type stuff glued/screwed in as roof lining. Ok but want to do a better job with something lighter (it's black so makes the inside dark) and still hardy enough to use the van for stuff - last thing I want is to put something in thats going to tear if I load something into it. With the curves in the roof its not really easy to stick something directly to the roof without cutting around the contours. Van is a late bay.

First question, what did things like panel and delivery vans have as a roof lining? Surely would have been different to the stretched fabric type?

Second, any ideas for replacements? I have no hood bows to give the lining shape and really don't like the idea of having to pull all the windows out. Any tips for something that will work practically but still look ok?

Not worried about originality just want practicality.

My lowlight was previously a coffee van, so for practical purposes the PO put in light laminated board on the rooflining, screwing it into the frame....

From what I gather panel and standard vans only run fron roof lining to the first rib and then bare for rear.


Nick's looks good and have seen this in a range of vans, including splits.

You could do that then carpet it... I just ran carpet over it all bare when I was a 1st year apprentice... It's what we were doing for other commercial vans at the time so I just did it .. Looked pretty tidy.