Hi all

When vw made campers did they do any strengthening/mods to the roof or pillars?

I have a pretty rusty 71 camper with a really nice interior and poptop. I really want another camper but I know where I can get a rust free standard bus cheap. Would it be hard to get the hole cut in the roof and move the poptop over or am I better off holding out for a rust free camper?

Any idea of the cost?

Thanks a lot.

Tim

I put a Sopru pop top in my 77 Kombi. I just mesured the hole from the old camper when I removed the pop top and made a template to cut the hole in my bus. The pop top I have did not require the removal of the "B" Pillar, If you have to remove this for yours I would consult a body Engineer before I did any cutting at all, in fact I would not even contemplate it. It would be more trouble than it would be worth! I did have to remove thr centre roof bow. I used some of those power shears to cut the hole in the roof, I just got some from a hire company.
The pop top on mine had a glassed in plywood frame that was screwed to the roof, it was not bonded from the converter, but I used a marine epoxy as well as stainless screws.
After I did the job I had to get a certificate of compliance, from a certified RTA engineer, to prove that it was structually sound and complied with all the standards, the Kombi I got mine out of was converted by a company that had certification from the various roads and traffic office, I just put it in the same way they did with a little extra strengthening.
Rob......

Thanks for the info Rob. Is the B pillar the one behind the drivers head? The donor poptop is a 3/4 length campmobile top that I am pretty sure starts behind this so I might look into it some more.

Cheers
tim

Yes the B Pillar is the one behind the drivers head, It must remain in place!
If you decide to do it try to do it in a shed large enough to allow you to do it out of the weather and with plenty of light, measure 3 times walk away and think about it and cut once! it is too late if you make a mistake!
And talk to the engineer you will have to take it to for certification before you do it to make sure of the requirements, and any tips. It will be a lot easier for you if you collaborate with him/her first.
Rob...

Thanks a lot for the suggestions Rob.

mine has 2 parts of fibreglass (one which lifts up, one which stays on the roof) and the stationary one has steel frame in it for re-inforcement, i think this is the exception rather then the rule though.