There are now quite a few pop-top roof conversions on the market for the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Troopy. Today we’re introducing the Headspace Campers pop-top from Australia. It has some features that make it stand out.
The Headspace Campers pop-top came out of the travel experience of founder Oliver. Like so many who switch to a pop-top, he spent many months on the road in Australia and Europe with a 4×4 and a roof tent. And, this will sound familiar to many of you, he soon realised that the roof tent didn’t hold up well to conditions like cold, wind and other weather. So something else was needed. Oliver started tinkering in a shed and fitted his 110 Defender with a pop-top for a Simpson Desert crossing, keeping the original roof. The beginning of Headspace Campers.
Since then the company has added the short-wheelbase Defender 90 and the Land Cruiser Troopy 75/78 to its range. These conversions follow the Headspace idea too, using the vehicle’s original roof and so preserving its lines.
The Headspace Campers pop-top for the 75/78 Toyota and the 110 and 90 Defender
The roof conversions are designed, built and fitted in Queensland. Various models are available. For the Defender 110, prices start at around 10,500 euro converted, including Australian VAT and excluding fitting. For the 78 Troopy, from around 9,000 euro converted.
A few key figures, using the Defender conversion as an example:
- 1850 mm standing height right in the tent
- 43-degree angle, so you can sleep with your head at the hinge end, which is meant to make getting in and out easier as it removes the 360-degree turn. The 90 Defender even uses a roof with a 55-degree opening angle.
- Wrap-around awnings that let you open all the windows in the rain. They also work as sun protection.
- 95% blackout tent fabric
- 5-year warranty on the construction
- large windows with a zip to maximise air circulation
- electric fans
- around 95 kg of extra weight from the conversion
- uses the existing roof
- keeps the original roof load rating
The maker also offers various extras, such as fans, sockets, side awnings, lights and a pneumatic lifting device, plus various accessories like a large 270-degree awning or gullwings.
International shipping and self-fitting of the Defender pop-top possible
There’s currently no partner workshop or importer in Europe yet. But Headspace Campers offers a “Fit It Yourself (FIY) option” for the Defender and ships the pop-top across Australia and internationally too. As a rough shipping cost, the maker currently quotes around 1,500 euro converted.
So it’s possible to fit a Headspace Campers pop-top to the Defender yourself. Alternatively, a fully pre-assembled conversion can be supplied for a surcharge.
You’ll find more information on the Headspace Campers pop-top on the Headspace Campers website. There’s also an FAQ.
© Photo: Headspace Campers