You might find that your "simple solution" to a flat sleeping surface won't
work....
The difference in the Westy roof is that it has a flat section, mounted
lower than the high point of the arch on a regular (or in my case sunroof)
van. As a result, your plywood enclosure may not be able to fit up there and
still close the top. Well, at least not folded ontop of it'sself the way the
westy does it. You'd have to mount it permenantly unfolded Essentially
eliminating the chance of having the poptop for headroom, but functioning
well as an additional bed. Or, you could have the front most piece of foam
mounted to plywood with your 2x4's attached, and have it as a seperate piece
which you carry with you and put up before "making your bed", this is the
way mine is set up (Poptop atop a sunroof van). It "kindof" works.

-Craig
'85GL

On Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 6:06 PM, Neil2 <vidublu@gmail.com> wrote:

> I've been looking at a pop top at a local yard wondering if it could be
> installed on me Vanagon ('86).  First prob is the luggage rack (missing).
> If I didn't find a rack pronto I guess I'd have to jury rig a wind
> deflector
> and search avidly.
>
> Bigger problem?  I'm wondering if a person could simply cut a rectangle
> with
> rounded corners in btwn the first two roof ribs aft of the cockpit and
> finish it off with some soft rubber molding.  The headliner/interior
> ceiling
> (around the rectangle) could be finished with wood, could it not?
>
> I'm thinking a level sleeping surface could be built by simply adding a
> couple of 2x4's on edge spanned with a sheet of 1" plywood.  I've already
> harvested the two foam pads from a Westy, so there.
>
> The new top bunk access wouldn't be large but I think my children would
> love
> it . . . until they're my size.
>
> Seems to me I could have a Westy pop top, installed, for under a grand.
>  No?
>
> --
> Neil2
> '86 Vanagon/Weekender in process (Savannah)
> Nunquam Pendite Divendium
>