PointedThree - New rooftop from South Africa

Welcome Guest. ( logon | register )

FAQ

Member List

Albums

Today's Posts

PointedThree : Vans, Trucks, SUVs and Other Forums : G-Class : New rooftop from South Africa

Page 1 of 1

New rooftop from South Africa

Topic Tools

Message Format

Author

Posted 5/20/2017 4:01 PM

Boy G
Expert

Date registered: Feb 2007
Location: Bushveld, South Africa
Vehicle(s): Diesel G's: 617A and 602
Posts: 1683
1000

New rooftop from South Africa

Check this one out:

http://www.alu-cab.co.za/standard-products/hercules-rooftop-convers...

#236114

Author

Posted 5/20/2017 6:05 PM

Otiswesty
Administrator

Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3004
2000

RE: New rooftop from Germany

I recently bought a Schmude CampTop with Alan, Chris, and a super dude from Austin named Mauricio on CGW. they shipped them over from Germany to the Bay Area and came in in April. Chris installed mine for me down in Sausalito a few weeks ago and it is a total game changer. Much like the AluCab Troopy top, this is a permanent pop top conversion. There is a 2/3rds fixed bed and 1/3 removable piece for climbing up in the back.

Here are a few pics of my roof. It can be raised in the slanted or full up positions.

Edited by otiswesty 5/20/2017 6:11 PM

(CamptopBeach.jpg)

(MaguSlant.jpg)

(MaguFull.jpg)

(CampTop.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

CamptopBeach.jpg (137KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments

MaguSlant.jpg (89KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments

MaguFull.jpg (119KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments

CampTop.jpg (161KB - 0 downloads)

#236118 - in reply to #236114

Author

Posted 5/20/2017 8:42 PM

AlanMcR
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
2000

RE: New rooftop from South Africa

Just got back from the maiden voyage:

(20170519_070346.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

20170519_070346.jpg (443KB - 1 downloads)

#236120 - in reply to #236114

Author

Posted 5/21/2017 10:46 AM

94rover
Veteran

Date registered: Oct 2010
Location: 39.2036° N, 76.8569° W
Vehicle(s): 02 G500
Posts: 240
100

Re: New rooftop from South Africa

very NICE, Guys!

"if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it" however I have to know (for a est. 3 year penny saving budget & finding a shop capable here on the East coast to convert my G :-) )...

#236127 - in reply to #236120

Author

Posted 5/21/2017 2:24 PM

AlanMcR
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
2000

Re: New rooftop from South Africa

Right now the only way to get one is to have one installed in Germany:
http://www.schmude-hardtop.de/155-0-Camptop.html

A few of us got together and imported four of them and developed a technique to install them. It is a long and involved install with lots of cutting and welding. It is too difficult to install as a one-off. Mine was the first install and we made many mistakes which will eventually require removing the top, cutting and rewelding the supports and braces.

We are considering bringing in more. Need to work out a price and process. Realistically, it will probably cost about as much as Schmude is charging in Germany. That would be a pretty good deal considering the installation time (days of labor) and shipping cost for the giant box.

#236130 - in reply to #236127

Author

Posted 5/21/2017 6:40 PM

koly
Elite Veteran

Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500
Posts: 823
500

Re: New rooftop from South Africa

Interior pix? Looks great!

#236133 - in reply to #236130

Author

Posted 5/29/2017 9:45 PM

hipine

Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
5000

RE: New rooftop from South Africa

Interesting. The low profile is nice. Can you optionally enter from outside the vehicle, or does it require climbing around inside the truck? Does the bedding pack inside of it, or is it stored separately?

-Dave G.

#236193 - in reply to #236120

Author

Posted 5/30/2017 1:59 PM

AlanMcR
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
2000

RE: New rooftop from South Africa

hipine - 5/29/2017 6:45 PM Interesting. The low profile is nice. Can you optionally enter from outside the vehicle, or does it require climbing around inside the truck? Does the bedding pack inside of it, or is it stored separately? -Dave G.

You can enter from the front, back or inside. There is 4 1/2" of clearance inside the top when it is down, plenty for a sleeping pad and a sleeping bag. Also fits my skis when laid flat. The back of the top can be popped up without the front, leaving plenty of room to catch a quick nap or load stuff into the top.

The low profile really is nice. As far as I can tell the driving dynamics are unchanged and the wind noise may actually be less. I will need to rethink a location for the high gain ham antenna. The big flat G roof was a great ground plane. I suppose I could line the underside of the roof with grounded aluminum foil.

#236202 - in reply to #236193

Author

Posted 6/1/2017 7:35 PM

Otiswesty
Administrator

Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3004
2000

Re: New rooftop from South Africa

GfG just built one like this with the Camptop
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1793903117303064&i...

(Graid.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

Graid.jpg (99KB - 2 downloads)

#236236 - in reply to #236202

Author

Posted 6/6/2017 5:24 AM

Otiswesty
Administrator

Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3004
2000

Re: New rooftop from South Africa

Nice trip down to Mt Shasta a week ago. My buddy was driving a new Tacoma double cab with a brand new 4x4 Pop top camper rig on the back.

"You paid how much for that?" Jeez.... Nice tho.

Edited by otiswesty 6/6/2017 5:26 AM

(ShastaCamp.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

ShastaCamp.jpg (321KB - 1 downloads)

#236259 - in reply to #236236

Author

Posted 6/17/2017 4:53 PM

hipine

Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
5000

Re: New rooftop from South Africa

How are you getting in and out of it? Can we see inside views or a pic of how you climb in?

Had fun with the TopTent last weekend, camping with friends out near Leadville. Drove up the west side of Weston pass on the way home, though it was still closed by lots of snow up around 11.5kFt. Most fun part was stopping while a pickup ahead was in the final throes of backing down a rough rocky climb after failing the attempt, then puttering around him on up and over with the fully loaded G with wife and 3 kids on board. Was naturally in 4wd, but didn't need to lock up. Drove up to the snow and all the way back down without seeing him again so he must have bagged it.

-Dave G.

#236405 - in reply to #236259

Author

Posted 7/5/2017 11:50 PM

Otiswesty
Administrator

Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3004
2000

RE: New rooftop from Germany

A good friend of mine in Germany went to the Abenteur Allrad event in Bad Kissing last month. He picked up a flyer on the Schmude Camptop and sent it to me.
Funny thing is that he did not know my G500 was on the brochure.

Interior pics will be forthcoming soon.

Edited by otiswesty 7/6/2017 1:45 AM