Pop top roof rack

Hi all - in thinking about putting roof rack rail on my VW T5 Trooper pop top so i can put a box on top, anyone done this and what rail were used

What roof do you have?

If it's the traditional A/S solid-sided roof, I personally wouldn't do it. The decision may to an extent depend on how strong you are - when you add up the weight of roof bars and a roof box that's big enough to be worth having, it will make the roof noticeably heavier to put up even with the box empty, unless you take the box off every time you put the roof up - which would be a pain.

Having looked in a lot of detail at the fixings on ours, I would not be happy about adding any significant weight to what's already there. I don't consider any of the hinges that A/S use on that roof to be anything more than barely adequate.

If it's the low-lie roof, I don't know enough about the fixings for that to be able to comment. It might be best to speak to A/S if so - IIRC it's a standard Reimo product and they may have made provision in the design for a rack to be added to that one.

So it's the traditional A/S solid-sided roof.

a rare beast !...yours must be one of the very last AS made vans with solid roof ! - the last Troopers sub contracted out, had the normal fabric roof ( and poor interiors with few cupboards and tambour doors).
IMO, the Trooper design excels with storage -if you need a top box as well as the rear box then you might be getting near the payload limit.

They are very rare indeed at that young age - I can recall seeing only two other facelift T5 Troopers before.

[Edit - actually now I'm not sure it's a facelift - the mirrors look like pre-facelift]

We looked at one a couple of years ago with the electric version of the fabric roof (which didn't make any sense to us at all - it already had multiple cuts in the fabric where a previous owner had shut it carelessly).

Fir the good news, got this van las February been sat on a drive for over 2 years only had 4300 miles on it had been serviced at 4280: . Inside is like new came with an awning that has never bee but up, 2500 td whick ive remap to 184 hp, get great milage 600+ on a tank. I love the top very neat easy up and down . Currently plannig a trip to Norway for 6 weeks and would like to carry a bit more that why im looking at a top box

So, pre-facelift which means you get better mirrors, a better (arguably) but more thirsty engine, no cambelt changes, etc. I guess it's a 6-speed manual? The only downside of the pre-facelifts is if it's an auto, as they really are quite thirsty!

...still can't see any sensible way to have a top box as well. Logic would suggest a small trailer, but apart from anything else, up goes the ferry fares.

Yes 6 speed manual, preface, very eco, had it. Rempped to 184 hp, but still getting 600 out of tank, thanks or the comments always useful to hav others opinions

I thought of fitting roof bars on my ‘98 Mercedes Montana to carry my kayak, but the thought of having to remove the kayak every time I wanted to put the roof up was a bit of a turn off. So approached the problem from a different angle as you can see. An inflatable kayak. I’ve not used it yet and I know they don’t handle well but should be much better than carrying one on the roof which sort of defeats the whole point of a ‘van under 2 meters in height. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]