The ULTIMATE Troopy Roof Conversion Comparison!

Mulgo vs Headspace Campers vs Alu Cab vs Alu Innovations. The video that all Landcruiser Troop Carrier enthusiasts have been waiting for!
It took a fair bit of planning to make this happen, but we finally got 4 Troop Carriers together with all 4 different roof conversion to give you all a tour of each. We go through some pros and cons of each and give and some non-bias opinions from the owners.
It's a big decision to make and a lot of money to spend to get someone to cut the roof of your pride and joy, so hopefully this video makes the decision of which one to go for a little bit easier.
Cheers to all the Troopy owners that made this possible!
00:50 Headspace Campers
07:46 Mulgo
14:30 Alu-Cab
22:40 Alu-Innovations
Details of each conversion:
Headspace Campers
Australian made: Yes
Height Added: 70mm
Weight Added: 95kg
Price: Starts $15,800
Customisable: Fully Customisable
Close with bedding in: Yes
Awnings: Yes
Rear access doors: Yes x 2
Black out canvas: Yes
Fully opening windows: Yes
Bed frame to roof:1850mm
Bed length: 1920mm
Bed width: 1300mm
Roof loading capacity: 150kg
Latches: Interior or Exterior
Lights: Yes
Cooling Fan: Yes
Interior storage: Yes
USB charging: Yes
Mulgo
Australian made: Yes
Height Added: 35mm
Weight Added: 90kg
Price: Starts $18,000
Customisable: Colour/none
colour check plate
Close with bedding in: Without pillows
Awnings: No
Rear access doors: No
Black out canvas: No
Fully opening windows: No
Bed frame to roof: 1080mm
Bed length: 2050mm
Bed width: 1200mm
Roof loading capacity: 90kg
Latches: Interior
Lights: Yes
Cooling Fan: After Market
Interior storage: No
USB charging: Yes
Alu-Cab
Australian made: No
Height Added: 200mm
Weight Added: 120kg
Price: $15,500
Customisable: No
Close with bedding in: Yes
Awnings: Yes
Rear access doors: Yes
Black out canvas: Yes
Fully opening windows: Yes
Bed frame to roof: 1150mm
Bed length: 1900mm
Bed width: 1200mm
Roof loading capacity: ?
Latches: Exterior
Lights: Yes
Cooling Fan: No
Interior storage: No
USB charging: Yes
Alu-Innovations
Australian made: No
Height Added: 110mm
Weight Added: 100kg
Price: $15,500
Customisable: No
Close with bedding in: Yes
Awnings: Yes
Rear access doors: Yes
Black out canvas: Yes
Fully opening windows: Yes
Bed frame to roof: 1300mm
Bed length: 2000mm
Bed width: 1150mm
Roof loading capacity: 50kg
Latches: Exterior
Lights: Yes
Cooling Fan: No
Interior storage: No
USB charging: Yes

[@fritzintroopy]

Hey guys. Great 4 way review, very comprehensive. Been 3 years since Nick and I shot our head to head review of the Mulgo v Alucab and 5 years of traveling around in our Mulgo and we wouldn’t change it for a second. Still love the look, the fact we can leave all our bedding up there and the fact that it has no zips to rattle in the wind. No awning to mess around with and still the lightest and most slimline look. 5 years and still no issues. Would still choose it all over again over the others. Cheers 👍🏼👍🏼

[@lachie8888]

Yes! Your review has been the best until this four way comparison - Many thanks for that. Where have you two been lately? We miss your fantastic balanced content!

[@fritzintroopy]

@@lachie8888 cheers!!! we have been quiet on KZbin as life got in the way but have been pretty active on Insta. Just got back from a trip to South Africa and Namibia

[@alllozzyadventures]

A few things I forgot to mention during the run-through about the Mulgo if anyone is interested: - there is the Fanello bed upgrade option (timber slat and cushioning option to give you 120mm of comfort incl the 70mm standard mattress - V1 starts from $16500 and V2 $17950 out of NSW (plus freight for Melb/Perth). Price includes engineering sign off. - internal access up to the bed from the back of the car to the bed base is 450mm (no hatches to wake your partner up if you need to get up in the night) - floor to bed base height with roof closed 1090mm - floor to under roof height with roof open 2450mm - canvas is Airtex 100% watertight - 10 year warranty on roof, lower frame, bed & hinges - can be signed off as a 5 seater with the factory forward facing rear bench seat. can also fit Techsafe seats and be signed off. - lower frame can be manufactured higher to allow more headroom - internal hinges allow for continuous seal around the roof - integrated tie down racks on roof with checkerplate - means the roof can be used as a roof rack itself. load bars can be added. - No mechanical fasteners are used to install the Mulgo Pop Top, the same glue is used by high end cars to join body panels. No movement possible between the vehicle and the lower frame of the pop top. As a result the sealant cannot crack, which would lead to rust issues. - Accessories optional to add include awning brackets, shower awning brackets, solar panels on the roof (we have 2 x 100w panels), At the time we were researching roof conversions we only had the Mulgo and the Alu-cab available in Perth. We went for the Mulgo because we liked its simplicity - no awnings to flap in the wind, no zips to rattle in the night, internal latches for added security, a lighter coloured canvas to enjoy waking up with the sun (can always wear an eye mask if you want to sleep in), full height windows from the bed base to the roof, internal hinge at the front makes for a sleek look/profile, no internal hatches to open during the night if you want to get up and down. The only downsides we have found is not being able to open the bug mesh - sometimes I'd like an uninterrupted view of camp from bed without the bug mesh in the way (but I'd still rather not have zips rattling), and having a tall partner means Jake only just fits with the bed length without the internal hatch. We've got around that by sliding out mattress back toward the rear and that's given him a bit more room. Daniel (Expedition Centre) and Toby (Odyssey Custom Fitouts who fitted it in Perth) have been a pleasure to deal with since we first ordered the roof conversion. The Mulgo was also the fastest to set up and pack away whilst on the trip with Gav and the others during filming, we think that's a pretty good pro too - especially if you had to pack away quickly in wind/rain! Stoked with our choice.

[@tobyhartley2829]

Can vouch for the slatted base in bed👍 Bought our troopy 2years ago with conversion and really appreciate this. Also have made internal with portapotty at rear so can use at night. A consideration when you are older!😂 Thanks for a fantastic overall review.

[@fatmanoverlanding]

Brilliant comparison. So good to have all four RT conversions in the one place. It really shows the difference between the four. IMO the Headspace Campers from an exterior aesthetics, headroom space and features point of view is the way to go. But also cost the most.

[@Marius-ov8cw]

What may not be obvious but: - if you have solar panels on the roof, the open angle of the headspace is the worst - the headspace also has the biggest attack area if windy, which is the most critical weather condition for these roof conversions - with the slim version you cannot leave your bedding in the roof - if you are overlanding worldwide I would choose the brand that is the biggest and also available in America, Europe, Africa (Alu Cab)

[@SandyTracksOfficial]

Are you saying you can’t leave your betting in the headpscape??

[@headspacecampers]

We’re shipping all over the world :)

[@Marius-ov8cw]

@@SandyTracksOfficial that is why Overland Travellers changed it to the high roof conversion

[@Marius-ov8cw]

@@headspacecampers currently travelling with my Aussie Troopy in North America and happy they have Alu Cab in stock here without waiting time. (before in Europe, which was the same and next Africa)

[@troopyinafrica]

Some very good points made Marius 🤙

[@Downunderham]

Great video mate thankyou! , it's just missed if you had dramas tucking the sides in when closing - you featured that with all the other reviews but yours

[@gadgetphilosophy8290]

Exactly. Well spotted

[@headspacecampers]

It’s good to see Australian made receiving some airtime! All four conversions are great products. We’re releasing another version shortly, silent zips included and awnings will remain detachable 😉

[@mboyaian]

Great 👍. Would you please consider integrated loading rails? It would save one the trouble of installing roof racks. Idea being a choice of hardened roof (like a checkered floor) with integrated load rails/tracks for cargo.

[@mboyaian]

Yeah, and the options of thicker mattresses for the glampers out there. 😁

[@headspacecampers]

Absolutely! We already offer both of these options ⚡️⚡️

[@buschtaxi75driver55]

Great stuff. I would go for your version. Only problem is that I'm based in Switzerland. Is there a chance to get a dealer somwhere in Europe in the near future which does import and looks after your brill product ? Cheers, Bruno

[@neilmitchelhill9388]

Very well done, I am getting a Headspace Conversion in September, was sold on the Mulgo but car took so long I decided to go Headspace when they started to offer a Troopy option. Everything I am adding (where an option is available) will be Australian made

[@antonioviteri1440]

Muy buena comparación, buen video, saludos de un colombiano desde Brasil .

[@Onemoreventure]

Sick vid Gav! Been watching the troops build for a while keen to see more!

[@patrick4886]

Great video but watching it with earphones it kept swapping the audio to left and right . Maybe a quick audio fix would fix this issue ! Ripper job tho

[@CooeeAdventures]

Great to see a comparison between them all. They all look good, happy travels 😊

[@destination4wd788]

Good video comparing them. Something I’ve trying to do for long time. living in FNQ the awnings are definitely not an option if I have to open the windows and it is pissing down raining, same if I have to opening from the outside. But it looks good thou

[@alialnasri6972]

excellent video 👍 Headspace nailed it 👏

[@oaitsemoremi5657]

Good comparison of the conversions but the line of questions sounded awful,bashing the South African brands and kinda promoting headspace ,sounded like an Ad, even closing yours and the specs (edited out) but the rest were shown! With 4x4 accessories,there isnt any perfect brand,its compromise and preference at the end of the day.cheers mate!

[@SandyTracksOfficial]

Hi mate, thanks for you comment. As this was filmed over a few days. The first one we did was the headspace and made a few slight changes for the better for the rest of the videos. The stats and measurements that I missed (assuming that’s what your taking about) I added these into the description information.

[@SandyTracksOfficial]

And in regards to the “bashing South African brands” this was not the case at all. A few day prior to filming this I put a post up in the Troopy Carriers Of Australia Facebook page and asked people what they wanted me to cover. Alot of the questions were about accessibility to spare parts from the South African brands, so I ensured that I covered it. As for my comment saying why I choose Australian made. Simple because of the easy of communication and my personal choice to support Australian products.

[@Marius-ov8cw]

Felt the same

[@JasonMcMahon-h1c]

Just trying to justify the spondooly i guess ​@SandyTracksOfficial

[@timothybrown3244]

I’ve have an alu cab RTT which is really good but I don’t like how bulky it is…but I’m really impressed with headspace nice design, slim and the split entry/exit point is a winner…thanks for the comparison 👌🏾

[@annalawrence6084]

So happy with our Australian made Mulgo. So well made, looks so slimline too

[@stephenberlyn8377]

Awesome comparison guys! We are now thinking of doing the same...can I ask a few questions please? 1. Which Troopy did you buy/use to convert? 2. Which company did you use to do the roof conversion? 3. Which company did you use to do the kitchen conversion? 4. Which company did you use to do the GVM upgrade; if you did one. Thx again! Great work :)

[@colinross6259]

Thanks for doing the hard yards and giving a non biased compara.

[@michaelkim949]

Good comparison video. Might have been worth covering which of the roof conversions do and don’t come with parcel shelf storage above the dash. The Alu Innovation and Alu Cab do and the Mulgo and Headspace don’t. Unless it’s optional at all? Very handy for additional storage space. Also there’s a bit of a difference in the awning and en-suite tent brackets that come with these conversions which could sway peoples decision on which one they prefer. For example the Mulgo has probably the largest brackets which bolt to the body of the car rather than the roof itself. The South African conversions would be harder to source parts but keep in mind that Alu Cab are distributed through Iron Man and they have dealers all over Australia. Pretty much any camp trailer or caravan repairer around Australia can fix or replace latches, hinges, zips, canvas or gas struts. We had this experience going around Australia with an Aussie made camp trailer that had a failed gas struts at one point. Went through a local caravan repair place rather than the actual dealer as they were far more expensive. All great roof conversions which ever way people decide to go.

[@jakeharvey5982]

Nice work mate

[@Dodgy_Dave]

great info! Thanks a lot for der video and the details.

[@Candyman1996.e]

Not sure you noticed but there was an audio issue (left and right ear alternated) Around 2/4 minutes in. Didnt detract but figured you might like some feedback

[@GavinGillett]

Excellent review mate - subscribed :D

[@mattvenn8950]

I think the Alu innovation one is v1 I have V2 and there is no way I can sleep like that and I’m shorter than him, I ended up splitting the hatch so we could wake up doing the night and go toilet without having to wake each other up. If I had my time again I’d go Headspace, unfortunately they weren’t around in WA when I did mine.

[@magnusaller2671]

I only got this 4 months ago so must be v2, me and my Mrs definitely do. I'm 5'9 🤷‍♂️

[@Bushtravellers]

Great review.

[@gricads]

You missed out the bonetti camper's full troopy conversion

[@jamesmazurstudios]

Great video. Thanks for this big effort. (audio seems to be single channel)

[@mr_j83]

GREAT set up! Whats the weight of your vehicle?!

[@AZMUNDOGATES]

Great video ☺️

[@jandevlieger0]

Nice

[@walratcliffe925]

The one question I would ask is what are they like in a storm with the canvas flapping around and the wind caching the awnings

[@tunatuna1783]

LETS GO HEADSPACE YEWWW

[@graveltravelcanada]

Are the aussie ones aluminum? I would have expected durability to be a key consiseration. Smacking tree branches, tip overs, etc

[@stefanobonetti7789]

I would love to see which Cruisinator this lady had.

[@rafaeldenboogert6853]

Sandy Tracks youtube channel?! For sure subscribing

[@mattberlo1400]

whats the TOYOTA truck model. And is it available in the U.S.

[@alllozzyadventures]

Mulgo for the win 😉

[@farmboy8663]

Is this US or AUS dollar

[@our_roadtrip]

Please convert this to mono. Listening on headphones with people hard panned to one side really sucks.

[@SandyTracksOfficial]

@@our_roadtrip how do I do that hahaha