How Field Van Adds a Push-Button Pop-Top to a Camper Van

Press a switch in a Field Van with an electric pop-top and the roof can rise to create more headroom and, when equipped with a bed, another place to sleep. The installation that makes that possible starts well before the switch goes into the cabin.

In its workshop walkthrough, the builder follows the roof shell, fabric enclosure, reinforcement, and lift mechanism from the cutout in the van to the final water test. The overhead space you gain is only one part of the job.

The roof opening needs its own structure

Field Van describes a custom fiberglass shell and a steel reinforcement structure around the opening. The canvas forms the sides when the top is raised. The shell and the van body have to meet again when it closes, so fit and sealing are part of the installation rather than finishing details.

After the canvas and wiring go in, the hinge still has to bring the shell down squarely onto the seal. If you are interviewing shops, ask which parts they build for your van and how they check that the shell makes contact evenly all the way around.

Before choosing a roof layout, ask which rails and accessories are compatible. Include the closed shell and anything mounted above it when checking garage clearance. If the van already fits with only a little room to spare, ask the installer for the total height after the work.

Think about where a vent or solar panels could go on the finished van. A new roof layout can change where wiring needs to run and where you can reach it later. Ask the shop to mark those locations before you approve the work.

What the motor changes

Two electric motors at the rear drive the lift, according to Field Van. The operator still has to watch the canvas as it folds. If you are comparing pop-tops, ask to see a full opening and closing cycle, including anything you have to move or check before pressing the switch.

In the workshop, the builder tests for leaks before the finish work is complete and again after assembly. That gives the installer a chance to check the seal with everything in place. Ask any shop how it checks its finished work and what it covers after delivery.

The video below covers operating a finished roof. It gives you a better idea of how much attention the closing routine takes than a photo of the van fully set up. Ask the installer how you would bring the roof down if the lift lost power while you were camping.

Check the van before choosing the roof

Compatibility depends on platform, roof height, wheelbase, and model year. Compare your van with Field Van’s list of supported configurations before planning around the roof. If an extra berth is your goal, compare how you would reach it with the other camper van bed layouts you are considering.

Field Van’s Sierra gallery shows an electric pop-top as part of a short Sprinter conversion. If the upstairs bed is the reason you want one, check where the climb starts and whether you can still use the galley or open the side door while someone is settling in above.