Now there's a creative idea! This got me thinking, and recalling the
pictures i've seen of the various pop tops, most noteably the "dormobile"
(assuming thats the spelling). This design i believe was only used on the
split windows (or maybe bay windows as well), and folded out to the drivers
side revealing an acordian style tent. Your idea seems like it would require
a very thick platform for sleeping on, which would also double as the roof
when colapsed. Furthermore, i think support pipes would be in order which
would have to have respective fittings on the body of the car (like some
awnings do). As far as a tent goes, this had me thinking of the large flat
surface of the Dormobile tent and the strangeness of the acordian style and
i would think a pitched tent with a peak in the center (right over the
passanger side of the car) would be pretty cool, especially if you could
figure out a system of pipes that hinge and fold in simply and easily like
the current westy tent does.

Then someone could build a boat that fits the top perfectly so when you get
to your campsite, now you have a boat.

It's friday right?
-craig
'85GL

On 10/26/07, David Wilhite <dlwilhite@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> With all the talk lately about roof top tents I figured I'd mention
> something that I always thought would be neat, which would be for the pop up
> to open along the side of the van perpinduclar to the way they currently
> open.  The thought is that the roof would be hinged along the passenger side
> of the van.  The roof could fold all the way over and become the floor for
> the sleeping quarters.  In this setup, when the roof/floor is opened up, it
> would also provide a nice awning area  I don't know if I'm clear enough or
> not, but basically, the upper sleeping area would be off to the side of the
> van and up in the air.
>
> It would be somewhat similar to the Overland tent in the link below.
> http://www.autohomeus.com/products/overland.php
>
> I just think it would be really slick, especially if it was the length of
> the whole roof, and not just the 3/4 or so that it is now.  Of course, the
> difficulty would be in making the roof structure strong enough to be a floor
> and also in how to support it.  The space currently taken up by the existing
> upper bunk and front cargo area could be left open for plenty of storage.
>
> David Wilhite
> 84'  Westy
>