Campervan roof conversions NZ: hi-top, pop-top & Euro guide

A van roof conversion is the way to go if you want to make your camper more spacious and better suited to family living. Not only do campervan roof conversions improve internal headroom but they can also sleep up to 2 extra people in an upper bed.

In this article, we take you through the three different styles of campervan roof conversions: hi-top, pop-top and Euro-style. We’ll describe how they operate, what the advantages are and what you need to consider before converting. Plus, we reveal the best way to install a roof and how to earn a return on your investment!

Soon enough, you’ll know exactly which style of campervan roof conversion is right for you and your travel needs!

Try before you convert: hire a roof-conversion campervan in NZ first

A roof conversion is expensive and permanent. Spending a long weekend in someone else's converted van first will tell you more than any showroom visit. On Camplify you can hire real Kiwi-built hi-top, pop-top and Euro-style campervans, sleep a few nights in each, and figure out which roof actually suits how you travel.

Kiwi owners run the full range from Northland to Queenstown. The owner-by-owner examples sit in each style section below — hire one for a long weekend before you book your own build. Or browse the full mix of converted campervans on Camplify NZ and filter by region — North Island or South Island.

Adam at Hazy Campers is one Kiwi owner who's run this play more than most: nine Toyota Hiace conversions on Camplify, half hi-top and half pop-top. Hiring one of his for a weekend is also a way to check his work before you order your own build — more on that below.

Ideas for campervan roof conversions

Hi-top campervan roof

A hi-top roof (aka high-top or high roof) is a raised fibreglass roof that is permanently mounted on top of a campervan. This raises the ceiling clearance in the rear of the campervan by anywhere from 20 - 80cm, creating extra headroom whilst standing and an area that can double as a roof bed (in certain hi-top models).

Whilst many models of van can be bought with a hi-top roof pre-installed, it is also possible to add a high-top roof to a van during a conversion. However, this will require you to cut out the roof of your van. Due to the safety risks posed to yourself and others when modifying the body of a campervan, this is a job that should only be carried out by a certified professional (more on this below!).

Once installed, it is practically impossible to remove a high-top roof, as you will be left with a hole in the top of the vehicle. It is also not possible to adjust the height of the roof. However, it may be possible to replace the hi-top with another style of campervan roof, such as a pop-top or euro.

Advantages of a hi-top roof

• A permanent solution for more ceiling clearance and headroom.

• Certain styles of hi-top roof can double as an extra bed for children or a light adult.

• Doesn’t have to be set up every time you arrive at a campsite.

• Durable and designed to last the life of the campervan.

• Better insulated than other types of campervan roof conversions.

• More waterproof than other types of campervan roof conversions.

• Able to hold more weight than other types of campervan roof conversions (e.g. solar panels).

Considerations for a hi-top roof

• Raised height of the vehicle is not adjustable, restricting your access to areas with low clearance (e.g. car parks and some bridges).

• May make your campervan less aerodynamic, maneuverable and fuel-efficient.

See hi-tops on Camplify NZ:

• Aoraki - Hitop with Shower — Toyota Hiace 2009 with en-suite, hire in Canterbury (Christchurch).

• Tohorā 2 — family-friendly Hiace hi-top, hire in Wellington (Porirua).

• Cosy Hi-Top Camper! — older Hiace, entry-level fit-out, hire in Northland (Awanui).

Pop-top campervan roof

A pop-top roof is a fibreglass roof that can be raised and lowered. It faces vertically upwards and is attached to the roof of the campervan with lift mechanisms and a canvas or vinyl skirting.

Pop-top roofs usually raise the ceiling clearance in the rear of the campervan by anywhere from 40 - 60cm. Whilst great for improving headroom, most vertical raising pop-top roofs do not double as a bed.

Most pop-top roofs are spring-loaded and take less than a minute to raise or lower. As such, not only do you benefit from extra headroom when set up at camp, but you also enjoy better aerodynamics, maneuverability and fuel efficiency whilst on the road.

Some pop-top roofs may also improve the natural lighting in your campervan by allowing sunlight through the skirting windows. Most of the time, these windows will have zips or velcro so that you can close them up at night.

Installing a pop-top requires that you cut out the roof of your campervan (a job that should only be carried out by a certified professional). Many of them have a fibreglass base which is secured and sealed to the existing van roof.

Advantages of a pop-top roof

• Takes less than a minute to set up at camp.

• Certain styles of pop-top roof can double as an extra bed for children or a light adult.

• Most pop-top roofs only increase the height of the campervan by less than 2cm when closed. This means you can access areas with low clearances (e.g. car parks).

• Closing the pop-top roof whilst driving makes the campervan more aerodynamic, maneuverable and fuel-efficient.

• Easy to access solar panels and wash the roof.

• Extra windows improve ventilation and sunlight.

Considerations for a pop-top roof

• Generally less durable than a hi-top and will deteriorate after years of use.

• Lack of insulation allows hot air to escape when winter camping.

• Has to be set up every time you arrive at a new campsite.

See pop-tops on Camplify NZ:

• Trekker Pop Top Troopy — Toyota Landcruiser Troopcarrier 2023, off-grid build, hire in Queenstown.

• Paddy — VW T5 California pop-top, the European factory template, hire in Auckland (Red Beach).

Euro-style campervan roof

A Euro-style campervan roof is similar to a pop-top roof in that it can be raised and lowered. However, instead of only raising vertically, the Euro is also able to be raised at an angle (i.e. you can raise just the front, just the rear or both the front and rear at the same time).

Euro-style roof conversions tend to have the most internal headroom. Plus, many come with an option to convert the roof into a double bed at night. Euro-style roof beds tend to be more spacious than hi-top roof beds because there is usually less insulation and more breathing space.

Speaking of insulation, whilst Euro-style roofs might be thinner than a fibreglass hi-top, they still tend to have more insulation than canvas pop-top roofs. This is because they are designed for campervans in chilly European climates - as the name suggests!

Euro style roofs are often the simplest type of adjustable roof to set up once you arrive at camp. Rather than being spring-loaded, Euro roofs have gas struts that raise themselves. You can adjust the pressure of the strut to make the roof easier or harder to open and close.

The other benefit of a gas strut system is that it tends to rattle less than a spring-loaded system whilst on the road. Plus, when closed, Euro roofs tend to be more streamlined and aerodynamic than other styles of campervan roof conversion.

Advantages of a Euro-style roof

• Easiest style of adjustable roof to set up at camp. Gas struts are self-raising.

• Most Euro-style roofs can be used as an extra-wide double bed.

• The lowest clearance height of any campervan roof conversion when closed. Even easier to access areas with low clearances (e.g. car parks).

• Closing the Euro-style roof makes the campervan more aerodynamic, maneuverable and fuel-efficient whilst driving.

• Better insulated than pop-top roofs because they have several layers of material.

• Easy to access solar panels and wash the roof.

• Extra windows improve ventilation and sunlight.

Considerations for a Euro-style roof

• Less durable than a hi-top and material may deteriorate after years of use.

• Typically less insulation than a hi-top.

• Has to be set up every time you arrive at a new campsite.

See Euro-style roofs on Camplify NZ:

A true Euro-style raise-front-or-rear-or-both roof is rare on the NZ market — most Kiwi pop-tops use a simpler vertical-raise mechanism. The closest match in everyday use is the VW California / Transporter pop-top family. Browse VW pop-tops in the North Island for the closest in-NZ experience.

Installing a campervan roof conversion

Unless you’re well equipped and highly experienced in doing so, you probably should not try to install your own campervan roof conversion.

Doing so involves cutting a hole in the top of your campervan, which modifies the structure and the frame of the vehicle. If you cut in the wrong place or fail to install the roof conversion properly, not only will you ruin your camper, but you will also be putting you and your passengers at risk.

Instead, have your campervan roof installed by a professional conversion team and legally certified by an engineer.

Find an NZ roof-conversion installer

Professional roof-conversion installers work across both islands. The LVV certifier search above is the right starting point; many certifiers either fit roofs themselves or partner with a local conversion shop.

One Kiwi owner who both rents AND fits is Hazy Campers. Adam now fits hi-top and pop-top conversions for the public and also builds complete new campervans. Since he lists nine of his own Hiace conversions on Camplify, you can hire one, look it over, then talk to him about your own. The pattern works even if you use a different installer in the end: a few nights in a few real vans gives you a list of spec questions (insulation, bed size, cabinetry, headroom) to take to whoever you hire.

Want a sense of the budget first? See our cost-to-convert breakdown or our full campervan conversion guide.

In New Zealand, the road rules state that if you modify the body of your van, you need to get a low volume vehicle (LVV) certification before you can get a Warrant of Fitness (WoF) or be road-legal. Use this [website](https://www.lvvta.org.nz/contact.html# certifier) to find an LLV certifier near you.

Earn a return on your campervan roof conversion

Once you’ve got your campervan roof conversion all set up, you’re almost ready to hit the road and explore New Zealand!

But what about when your road trip comes to an end and your campervan sits idly in the driveway? Why not earn a return on your investment by renting it out? Holidaymakers love campervan rentals that include a roof conversion with extra headroom!

Why Camplify?

Each year, many Kiwis earn up to $10,000 by hiring out their campervan through Camplify. By doing so, they quickly generate a long-term passive income stream. And the best part is, Camplify takes care of many of the expenses involved in hiring out your vehicle, including:

• Comprehensive hire protection.

• 24/7 nationwide AA Roadside breakdown cover for hirers.

• Dedicated customer support.

If you’re interested in earning a return on your investment, you can calculate how much income you could generate each year by using our earnings calculator.

Some Kiwi owners turn one conversion into several. Adam at Hazy Campers is one example — hire income helped fund his fleet of nine Hiace conversions, and he now fits them for other people too. He's not alone: dozens of Kiwi owners on Camplify quietly pay off the cost of their build through weekend and holiday hires. A decent roof conversion can pay for itself in a few seasons.