High Top Van Roof Conversion | The BEST Van Life Improvement

[@Destinylandadventures]

Hey all. Amanda said we should watch.

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks for watching, we really appreciate you being here!😊

[@3generations393]

Hi! Frank said Amanda sent me. My name is Iris-grandma currently in NW Arkansas 👋

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks for watching Iris, it’s great having you along for the journey.😊

[@tidelinetoalpine]

That was great!!! I look forward to seeing the rest of the Betty build and hopefully some lush west coast interludes 🤞

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks for watching Amanda! You’re gonna love what we’re doing to Betty. 😁😁

[@margueritemitchell1829]

🎉

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@bethschenk2851]

Beautiful sunsets and beaches! Thank you for sharing them!! Prayers for safe travels!! ❤🙏🏻❤🙏🏻❤

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks for watching Beth, good to have you along!😊

[@jackiegammon2065]

OMG! That was exciting! I can't wait to see what your next steps are. Thanks for sharing and now me wanting my van to look like Betty HA!

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks for watching, Jackie! We’re stoked to show you! 😁

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Betty looks awesome, what a great upgrade! All of us regular height people would find her perfect, but she’s a fantastic improvement for those over 6’ tall.

[@SlowRoamers]

Yessir! We’re quite excited about the upgrade, especially me (Alex), BIG life upgrade. Thanks for watching, Mitchell!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@SlowRoamersYou are welcome, my super tall, but regular height for a Canadian friend.

[@sylvainlaforest4393]

Welcome to the high life. Beautiful top. Hope you’ll enjoy it for years to come.

[@SlowRoamers]

I think we will! Thanks for watching, Sylvain!

[@AceRph]

Lookee there! 3800+ subs. More will be joining in as your build moves ahead. I'm excited for you two.

[@SlowRoamers]

Yep! Slowly creeping up. Thanks for watching! You’re gonna love what we’ve got in store.😁

[@FlossyRoxx]

This is awesome!!! 👏👏👏

[@SlowRoamers]

Whew! Thanks for watching!

[@adriankung1625]

Love that high top! I didn't think you were gonna be able to stand upright in there and thought you might have gone with a Sportsmobile pop-top alternatively. I'm not a big fan of the taller high roofs, and obviously pop-tops have a few disadvantages as well, so the raised sport roof you went with strikes me as a good compromise, although, being 6'2" myself, I fear for your potential back and neck pain -- no laughing matter. I chuckled for "we paid how much for this little window". Sad truth is EVERYTHING automotive has gone thru the roof here in Canada ( I'm in North Van) and as I see it, will continue this way for some time yet. I was wondering if you plan to travel down the Pan American Hwy in your redone Betty, as I'm planning an approx. 2 year road trip solo in my SUV (barely even a soft-roader, even with awd and locking centre diff). I hope the savings in gas and up front costs will allow for alot of AirBnbs & hotels. Still not convinced about roof tents for my rig, although in theory that would be a useful bit of gear. Sadly my rig won't have much room left for toys if I'm sleeping in it - still hashing out if I'll be happy travelling long term that way or not and open to hearing suggestions if you've got em. Cheers!...from North Vancouver

[@SlowRoamers]

Hey Adrian, first off, thanks for watching! I’m 6’2” as well, I can’t stand fully. The decision for a 17” top was a strategic one. The van needs to fit in a container to ship the Darian Gap, so that’s a yes to your Pan Am question. We opted to not do the pop top due to the cost and we wanted ceiling cabinets. I’m also not a huge fan of fabric walls.

[@SlowRoamers]

Roof tents are great, I spent a collective year in one over multiple trips. Don’t get a full fabric RTT, I call those a “box of mold” because ppl in BC see so much rain and just leave those on their car roof to rot. I had an Autohome Columbus Variant and loved it. They’re aerodynamic and little lighter than the typical box of mold tents. Roof tents are great because they get you off the ground and free up some space in the vehicle, but they can also be like a sail in high winds. I have a client that is a back packer and has a little Jeep Renegade that he’s outfitting for car camping. He’s just got a bed space, fridge, small cooking space and water jugs. All he really needs. Toys can be rented or adapt your outdoor activities to something with a smaller footprint. Good luck on prepping for your journey!😁

[@adriankung1625]

@@SlowRoamers Thanks for so much useful information! Apparently it's hard to get anyone to even offer an opinion, much less a rational, qualified one!! Truly appreciate it. I actually really like the X23 Armadillo, and my 2012 Kia Sorento ("seven-seater" yah right) has a roof weight rating of 220 lbs, although I think the roof rack maxes out at 176 lbs. I just don't want that much weight up high as well as the profile is 13" - way too tall. So I'll definitely check out the Columbus. I really would have liked the Ursa Minor that is available for Honda Element, but that would be a risky experiment -- don't know if it would be structurally sound on the Sorento. I hope to leave next May (2024) and get down to Ushaia, even if the car doesn't make it all the way, lol. Definitely want to drive the US Eastern Seaboard and at least to Columbia. Thanks again!

[@alistairjackson7658]

Great vid. Glad you're having fun!

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks dad!

[@richardhenry1969]

Nice job. Im planning on doing this to my chevy express. The only difference i plan on leaving more roof in the back. I like the storage plus the roof support beams. I like a few in the front and at least one in the back. I don't need hight over my bed. Storage however, i can't get enough.

[@SlowRoamers]

Right on! Do you have a SWB or LWB?

[@richardhenry1969]

@@SlowRoamers long wheel base its a 2500 with the 2 doors.

[@SlowRoamers]

@@richardhenry1969 sweet! they're a great platform for building in.

[@NicholasMatteo-p3b]

Great job on the roof !! Question: what is the height ...??? Thanks nick

[@SlowRoamers]

Interior height without ceiling is about 5’9” current height with ceiling is about 5’5”

[@carolkar5687]

Amanda sent me....subscribed.

[@SlowRoamers]

Fantastic! Thanks for following along, Carol!

[@vlad_ebakov]

hey guys. sorry for such a silly question, but would you mind sharing a link or a more detailed description of a CRL window you’ve got? Thanks so much! Your channel has been a big inspiration for me and my girlfriend! ❤

[@SlowRoamers]

Not a silly question at all, here’s a link to the window. By no means is it the cheapest price, but it’s just the first link I found. www.dkhardware.com/universal-non-contoured-awning-34-3-4-x-11-3-4-aw1033-product-1289476.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwo6GyBhBwEiwAzQTmc-VJDBg-pFE2SeWXzr4gHJq2YESKv99wJZPkDGa_qjxqvnKGaIEffxoCWD4QAvD_BwE

[@Georgesadventure]

I guess this answer my question on the latest video 😂

[@SlowRoamers]

😁😁I’ve tried to answer every question about the van in previous videos, likely whatever other questions you have are interspersed between a few videos. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelharris1455]

Hi guys, looks good! Is Micah(?) making those tops, or just installing them?

[@SlowRoamers]

Hey Micheal! Micah and Lindsay are just doing the installs. Best give him a shout via his website if you have any questions. www.hightopvan.com They’ll be able to get you all the info you need.

[@STACKYCHAN-u1f]

WHERE CAN I BUY A PREMADE TOP?

[@SlowRoamers]

HighTopVan.com tell them Slow Roamers sent you.

[@STACKYCHAN-u1f]

@@SlowRoamers grateful ! thank you🚐🚐🚐

[@SlowRoamers]

😁🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@STACKYCHAN-u1f]

@@SlowRoamers THanks br9!

[@SlowRoamers]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@chilly28]

Hi guys, i I love what you did in your van(high roof upgrade), I would like to do the same on my 2007 Chevy express 3500 passenger van. Do you guys have any info about who do I need to contact?

[@SlowRoamers]

Yep! Hightopvans.com, make sure to let them know Slow Roamers sent you!

[@rschreck876]

Damn how did you guys get one so you could install it yourself?

[@SlowRoamers]

Pays to know the owner of the company.🙃

[@natalieharris4779]

Could you list the tools you used for cutting the roof off?

[@SlowRoamers]

We used a pneumatic “knipper”, grinder with a cutting wheel and sawzall. The knipper is by far the cleanest, quickest and easiest way to cut but you’ll need a large-ish air compressor to run it. The grinder was used to make up for where the knipper didn’t do a good job and the sawzall was used for the lateral supports.

[@Outside1717]

How tall was the top and what did the interior height go to and from?

[@SlowRoamers]

It’s a 17” top and height went to 5’5” from 4’

[@MikeTython369]

I was checking out the site you got this roof top from but the ones listed with pricing look alot taller. The one you have looks shorter almost like the original one from the express Explorer vans. Was this custom made or one they make normally?

[@SlowRoamers]

You’ll have to contact them directly, they don’t offer this one on the site as it’s not as popular, but they can definitely have it made.

[@MikeTython369]

@@SlowRoamers awesome thank you! I planned on reaching out to them soon just thought I'd check with you first. Happy roaming!✌️❤️

[@luisramirez2263]

You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry…I modify vans.

[@SlowRoamers]

Careful, I modify Lexus’ too…

[@PlayMyMusicPlaylist]

Should just get a small moving truck

[@SlowRoamers]

That’s always an option, but they’re a little more unruly and heavy off-road, plus we need to fit into a container.

[@PlayMyMusicPlaylist]

@@SlowRoamers what's the maximum height to fit into container?

[@SlowRoamers]

8.46ft