You can readily add a poptop to a passenger Vanagon or Syncro. I've done
a couple and will be doing 1 or 2 more soon. The catch is the upper bed
as you already figured out. The upper bed is not part of the poptop. The
arched rear roof of the passenger models rises too close to the added
top to allow the complete upper bed to fit. If you don't insist on also
adding the upper bed then adding the top is a piece of cake. Ok, almost
a piece of cake. If the Vanagon has either type of roof air it adds
difficulty. If it has a factory sliding sunroof it adds difficulty. The
key to doing it the simple way is to not cut into the arched structural
roof supports that are hidden under the headliner just at the front and
rear edges of the siding door. All that gets cut out in this case is a
flimsy rectangular piece of sheet metal between these supports.

Mark

Kevin Carrubba wrote:
>
> Hi Everyone,
> Well looking to add a pop top to my new vanagon I have noticed the
> differences in the roofs and wonder if I'm not going to use the upper bed
> just want ventalation and storage. Do I need to fabricate the flat bars on
> the sides of the roof for support and so the hindges close properly or can
> that stay rounded?  Or am I better off getting a whole roof and graffing in
> from just above the gutters.  I'm trying to avoid any paint work because the
> van was just painted last summer.
> Thanks
> Kevin
> 80 Westy
> 81 Vanagon