2004 Astro AWD Build: Colorado Camper Van Pop Top

[Snowgeek]

So in mine the bed is a 3 piece deal. The forward most section is fixed over the front seats. Then there are 2 more panels that are each 2 feet long that span the width of the van and rest on tracks. Each panel has its own 2 inch deep mattress is moved with it. There is a 2 foot section at the back of the van that allows access to the bed.....normally step on the rear seat to climb up.

I have been doing some redesign on my bed panels to meet my needs. I would like to be able to attach them to the top and be lifted away if connected. I may also create a little slide in slide out panel that covers the rear bed access to give us more room up top. We have our little 8mo daughter sleep sideways up at the front of the bed and then we sleep with our heads to her. Works out well but a few more inches would be nice.

I will get some pics with the bed panels in place here soon.......when these pictures were taken I had them out for a few months. During Cyclocross bike race season it spends more time being a changing and warming room than a camp van so I just leave them at home.

Ryan

[Fishfreek]

In this process i am mounting the drivers on the normal astro base and mounting the passenger on a swivel

Junkyard swivel that will be under the passenger seat



Can't wait to get that swivel done!!

I have been looking for a swivel locally but no luck yet. Do you know what that swivel came out of?


Thanks

[Snowgeek]

It has been a really busy year and I have used my van camping and during bike races but haven't made to many mods till recently.

I had a customer get out of his ambo-camper and walk into the shop. After talking for a while turns out that he had a pair of astro seat swivels that he wasn't using. The passenger swivel was designed for a floor board with out the heater ducts so I used part of a stock base.

Drilled out the bolt holes to allow the bolts to pass through



Nestled the base into the cut down stock base





Fabing the extensions that will be a wide enough mounting point for the land rover seats.



Seat now swiveled



I do have more pics if any one needs them, just let me know.

Ryan

[Astrophysics]

Nice work!
I like the bucket seats. Which car has those nice seats with the awesome headrests and adjustments?
AP

[Snowgeek]

AP these are Land Rover disco 1 seats. I pulled the pair out of a pick&pull lot here in Boise for $40. I really struggled with the lack of bolstering in the stock seats as both my wife and I are small framed people. I love the hand holds for moving around in the van especially when driving. Biggest downfall here is no arm rests. I am working on solutions for that but haven't come up with one yet. The LR & RR seats seem to only have armrests if it is a power seat which I don't want.

Ryan

[Astrophysics]

:smurf: Hi may try to get LR seats too. I tried some Izzusu Trooper seats but bad ortopedics.
AP

[racrx7]

Just curious SG, did CC fabricate their own top for your popper, or was it a donor top? I’ve been kicking around the idea of possibly doing my own and keep seeing some decent tops at the pick n pull here. Your rig looks great

[Snowgeek]

Sorry racrx7, I don't spend as much time around here as I used to.

The whole top was done by CCV. They do use a stock mold for the fiberglass top itself.... it is nothing special and does have some issues with the doors when closed. The mech is very simple and most of the hardware is stuff you would find at home depot.

The actuators are made by Firgelli part number FA-1000-L-12-12. I would be happy to send you detailed pictures of any aspects you need just pm me and we will sort out the easiest way to communicate for that. The fabric he made has been great..... If i was doing my own top I would see this as the biggest hurdle. I can sew and have some sizeable jobs but this would be well past my skill set.

The H-top is glorious in comparison to the V-top as a westy would be. The amount of space makes life much easier ...... mostly important if there are more than just 1 person inside.

I use mine more for getting ready for skiing, ski area dinner time, and for changing at bike races than I do for camping at the momoment although I see that changing down the road.

Ryan