I like it.  How about a wire shelf (close organizer type) that attaches to
the rear roof/AC area (somehow) and collapses up when not in use and pulls
down to create that second level of storage.  I might have to play around
with that idea a bit.

Looking at your photos, one of the things I really like is using a shower
curtain rod (the kind you twist to expand) up front just behind the front
seats.  It allows me to hang a dish towel or a sheet if I want privacy
without having to snap in the front curtains.

>From: Rob Campbell <mantid@GMAIL.COM>
>Reply-To: Rob Campbell <mantid@GMAIL.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Are pop-up tops really necessary??
>Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:36:58 -0800
>
>I love my poptop, but usually dont sleep up there.
>
>The standing room while cooking is great.  When I make camp, first thing I
>do is pop it up, and move less-often-used items up there.  this keeps the
>downstairs clean for "living" and then sleeping.  I find the downstairs bed
>much more comfortable than the upstairs.
>
>However, as I was "stealth camping" quite a bit, and didnt want to pop the
>top to draw attention, I got tired of having to clear all the stuff out of
>the back when it was time to sleep, so I built this "loft"
>
>http://rob.quimp.com/gallery/Ronan/IMGP0857
>
>if you move around the gallery, you can see construction details.  I
>designed it specifically so that the rubbermade tubs fit easily below or
>above.  So during the day, they are between the matress and the top.  At
>night, I just pull em out and set them on top of the loft.  This has the
>added advantage of blocking visibility from the back window (I dont even
>have to pull the curtains).  During the day, gear etc is pretty well
>hidden.  I keep a cheap fleece blanket on top of the loft while driving, it
>-almost- looks like a factory shelf to the uninitiated.  Note that I did
>include cutouts for the closet door and washer fluid.
>
>The only problem is that the loft needs to come out to access engine hatch.
>I'd love to see a better design.
>
>In short, the poptop is nice but certainly not needed for comfortable
>camping.
>
>On 2/24/06, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
> >
> > I have a GL and wish to better equip it for road trips and camping. If
> > one does not sleep up in the top, other than being able to stand up, is
> > there any other advantage to cutting a hole in the roof and installing a
> > Westy Pop-top.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > John Rodgers
> > 88 GL Driver.
> >