Excellent thanks for this! One question when the pop top is down is the front section open like that or is there a flat panel that slides over and makes the whole ceiling flush?
Thanks! Outside everything is tight and flush closed. If you are asking about the inside ceiling, the front stays open like that. It gives you an extra foot in height at the front when down.
No, it’s the type of Canvas they have always used. Same material as convertible cars, very different from the poly cotton or nylon material found in RTTs or ground tents. :)
It is black, the nice thing about this color is that most aftermarket parts come in that color so it’s easy to color match all add-ons. However, as you probably know, black looks amazing when spotless but it is hard to maintain clean. :)
Don’t really need AC with a full ceiling pop top since hot air rises and escapes through the windows. But if you want AC with a Sportsmobile or Field Van pop top, I recommend something like Cruise N Comfort since it’s mounted below the van and you don’t have to cut into the fiberglass roof.
Hello, great achievement 👍👏 congratulations, lots of good ideas! 💡 I don't think that this type of pop-up roof here, as well as the rear passenger seat, can be approved by the state services and that's a shame. 😩 Have a nice trip!🚌
Thanks for watching! If you register your Van as an RV then yes, it is NHSTA legal, only the front seats need to be crash tested.. L-Track seating are DOT approved if you look at Travois seating, you will find all the information you need. However you are correct, as passenger vehicle, only seats installed by manufacturer are legal. Regarding the pop-top roof from Sportsmobile, it is approved by Mercedes as an official conversion company and it doesn’t void warranty. Also, Sportsmobile actually crash tested their Van’s pop top to meet EU safety standards in case of rollover. If you have other concerns, let me know. Have a good trip as well! 👍
@@gearforexperiences Hello, thank you for the response . I had looked for developers in France in 2018 (date of the purchase of my Sprinter 4x4 vehicle) who would agree to make a sunroof like yours on an H1 but at the time no one wanted to certify me that such a transformation would be validated by the official services. For the rear passenger seat, I don't really know. In any case, I find your vehicle perfect. Subscriber, I will have a lot of pleasure to follow you. Sincerely Pascal B
Merci pour votre soutien! J’ai grandi en France, et j’adorerais un jour faire quelques vidéos pour les francophones qui ne parlent pas anglais! Il est vrai que les lois diffèrent énormément selon les pays et d’une année à l’autre. Travois est une compagnie Européenne, peut-être qu’ils ont déjà résolu ce problème en ce qui concerne la légalité des sièges passagers en UE. Je tenterai tout mon possible pour que mes prochaines vidéos vous soient aussi utiles dans vos projets. Ravi de vous avoir parlé et bonne journée! ✌️
@@gearforexperiences Ah! Bien, plus besoin de Google Translate 😊 Le problème est que malgré l’Union Européenne et ses soi-disant règles communes on arrive tout de même à ne pas pouvoir importer, puis immatriculer, en France 🇨🇵, un véhicule aménagé en Allemagne 🇩🇪 (par exemple) ... Les critères de sécurité ne sont pas tous les mêmes d’un pays de l’Union à l’autre.. 🤔😰 Allez comprendre... 😭 Au plaisir de visionner une nouvelle vidéo 🎥 et si vous posez vos roues en France faites le savoir, ici aussi le Sprinter a ses adeptes Pascal B
No, that’s the best part! When you open all the windows at night, there’s a nice breeze and all the hot air rises and escapes. It’s actually cooler than a high roof van with no AC.
We use the Teton Double Sleeping bag. It’s a bit wider than the actual bed but it works amazing! We tried many other options and this one is the best. We have both the 20F and 0F, I recommend getting the 20F unless you are planning on doing a lot of winter ski camping, it’s a little thinner and easier to manage but still comfy for all seasons. You will need to fold it partially in half when getting out of bed to close the pop top with bedding. Don’t worry air will leave the sleeping bag and compress when close (3 years no issue). FIY normal pillows won’t fit when pop top is close so I recommend finding a new spot, we added a RB component ceiling net in the rear to hold them. :) TETON Sports Celsius Mammoth Double Sleeping Bag - 0° & 20° Degree Options - Taffeta Queen-Sized Cold-Weather with Full-Length Zippers - 2-Person Camping Accessory for Car & Tent Campers a.co/d/cdb1Ljl
@@gearforexperiences Wow! Thanks so much for your response and all the tips. We are beyond excited to get our van out of the shop and start to adventure. Black Friday is coming up so I’m going to see if I can score any good deals on literally all of the above. It’s best just to ask someone with experience so thanks so much for sharing! SHEEEEEET. I’m so pumped!!! Just got some new ski boots too. So ready!
Congrats! Between the double sleeping bag and diesel heater on high, we camped in 11F temp and weren’t cold all night even though it is a pop top. Have fun, after a couple nights of using it you guys will have your own tricks as well. :) ALSO, I highly recommend having Sportsmobile wire the pop top directly to your second battery so that you don’t have to start the engine to bring pop top up/down and use the lights, much more convenient. Especially, because you’re not suppose to idle newer diesel engines.
@@gearforexperiences "Especially, because you’re not suppose to idle newer diesel engines." Can you elaborate on this please? :) Also what year is "newer" starts. I have 2014 MB diesel. Thanks.
Absolutely! :) “In order to comply with emission regulations, starting in 2008, Sprinters have the famous DEF fluid to refill and components such as the DPF. This can get very technical, but simply speaking: Diesel don’t run hot when idling which prevents excess matters found in DPF from burning clean. As such, you should avoid idling for a long period of time, and prioritize highway over urban travel which promotes idling of vehicle to keep cabin warm or cool while waiting at red lights. 2019+ Sprinters will continue the DPF regeneration process while idling, however since most people don’t check to see when this process is occurring, they often stop their vehicle in the middle of the process. As such, checking when DPF regeneration is occurring and promoting highway commute can prevent costly emission systems failure. I personally don’t idle my van more than 30 minutes, if truly stuck in traffic I turn off the engine. It is possible to get emissions systems removed but it may not comply with emissions standards laws in your state/county”. More Q/A on my website :) gearforexperiences.com
Sportsmobile in Austin,Tx if you go at the bottom of my common Q/A page, you will see that there are new locations that opened last year. gearforexperiences.com/pages/commonly-asked-questions
Finally found a decent pop top video on newer model sprinters. Thanks!! I can’t wait for mine, they scheduled me for install on March this year 2022:)
Awesome! You will love it!
FINALLY! A video of what these look like.. thank you for this video!
Avec plaisir! :)
Nice build! Wondering what you used to attach the L track to the steel pop top frame without interfering with the bed panel.
Great review !
Thanks!
wonderfull , its great
Thanks!
Excellent thanks for this! One question when the pop top is down is the front section open like that or is there a flat panel that slides over and makes the whole ceiling flush?
Thanks! Outside everything is tight and flush closed. If you are asking about the inside ceiling, the front stays open like that. It gives you an extra foot in height at the front when down.
I like it! Is the 4x4 system factory or aftermarket conversion?
Factory Mercedes 4x4 (4hi, 4lo, 2wd), I did change the suspension to Agile Offroad RIP kit.
Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Sportsmobile offers a thermal /winter canvas for the top. Did you select that option ? Or maybe it's not needed ?
No, it’s the type of Canvas they have always used. Same material as convertible cars, very different from the poly cotton or nylon material found in RTTs or ground tents. :)
what color is your van black or black/blue? We are trying to decide on color. Thank you ;)
It is black, the nice thing about this color is that most aftermarket parts come in that color so it’s easy to color match all add-ons. However, as you probably know, black looks amazing when spotless but it is hard to maintain clean. :)
What about adding an Air conditioner unit when you're in hot weather?
Don’t really need AC with a full ceiling pop top since hot air rises and escapes through the windows. But if you want AC with a Sportsmobile or Field Van pop top, I recommend something like Cruise N Comfort since it’s mounted below the van and you don’t have to cut into the fiberglass roof.
@@gearforexperiences nice! thank you!
Hello, great achievement 👍👏 congratulations, lots of good ideas! 💡 I don't think that this type of pop-up roof here, as well as the rear passenger seat, can be approved by the state services and that's a shame. 😩 Have a nice trip!🚌
Thanks for watching! If you register your Van as an RV then yes, it is NHSTA legal, only the front seats need to be crash tested.. L-Track seating are DOT approved if you look at Travois seating, you will find all the information you need. However you are correct, as passenger vehicle, only seats installed by manufacturer are legal. Regarding the pop-top roof from Sportsmobile, it is approved by Mercedes as an official conversion company and it doesn’t void warranty. Also, Sportsmobile actually crash tested their Van’s pop top to meet EU safety standards in case of rollover. If you have other concerns, let me know. Have a good trip as well! 👍
@@gearforexperiences Hello, thank you for the response . I had looked for developers in France in 2018 (date of the purchase of my Sprinter 4x4 vehicle) who would agree to make a sunroof like yours on an H1 but at the time no one wanted to certify me that such a transformation would be validated by the official services. For the rear passenger seat, I don't really know. In any case, I find your vehicle perfect. Subscriber, I will have a lot of pleasure to follow you. Sincerely Pascal B
Merci pour votre soutien! J’ai grandi en France, et j’adorerais un jour faire quelques vidéos pour les francophones qui ne parlent pas anglais! Il est vrai que les lois diffèrent énormément selon les pays et d’une année à l’autre. Travois est une compagnie Européenne, peut-être qu’ils ont déjà résolu ce problème en ce qui concerne la légalité des sièges passagers en UE. Je tenterai tout mon possible pour que mes prochaines vidéos vous soient aussi utiles dans vos projets. Ravi de vous avoir parlé et bonne journée! ✌️
@@gearforexperiences Ah! Bien, plus besoin de Google Translate 😊
Le problème est que malgré l’Union Européenne et ses soi-disant règles communes on arrive tout de même à ne pas pouvoir importer, puis immatriculer, en France 🇨🇵, un véhicule aménagé en Allemagne 🇩🇪 (par exemple) ... Les critères de sécurité ne sont pas tous les mêmes d’un pays de l’Union à l’autre.. 🤔😰
Allez comprendre... 😭
Au plaisir de visionner une nouvelle vidéo 🎥 et si vous posez vos roues en France faites le savoir, ici aussi le Sprinter a ses adeptes Pascal B
Does it get too hot in the penthouse?
No, that’s the best part! When you open all the windows at night, there’s a nice breeze and all the hot air rises and escapes. It’s actually cooler than a high roof van with no AC.
Who is that beautiful lady at 00:45 ?
Looks like you have the best of everything.
This vehicle is astounding.
Thanks! My wife, yes I got lucky with her. :-)
What comforter do you have up there? Looking to get one for our pop top too! Also worried whatever I get won’t fit too!
We use the Teton Double Sleeping bag. It’s a bit wider than the actual bed but it works amazing! We tried many other options and this one is the best. We have both the 20F and 0F, I recommend getting the 20F unless you are planning on doing a lot of winter ski camping, it’s a little thinner and easier to manage but still comfy for all seasons. You will need to fold it partially in half when getting out of bed to close the pop top with bedding. Don’t worry air will leave the sleeping bag and compress when close (3 years no issue). FIY normal pillows won’t fit when pop top is close so I recommend finding a new spot, we added a RB component ceiling net in the rear to hold them. :) TETON Sports Celsius Mammoth Double Sleeping Bag - 0° & 20° Degree Options - Taffeta Queen-Sized Cold-Weather with Full-Length Zippers - 2-Person Camping Accessory for Car & Tent Campers a.co/d/cdb1Ljl
@@gearforexperiences Wow! Thanks so much for your response and all the tips. We are beyond excited to get our van out of the shop and start to adventure.
Black Friday is coming up so I’m going to see if I can score any good deals on literally all of the above.
It’s best just to ask someone with experience so thanks so much for sharing!
SHEEEEEET. I’m so pumped!!!
Just got some new ski boots too. So ready!
Congrats! Between the double sleeping bag and diesel heater on high, we camped in 11F temp and weren’t cold all night even though it is a pop top. Have fun, after a couple nights of using it you guys will have your own tricks as well. :) ALSO, I highly recommend having Sportsmobile wire the pop top directly to your second battery so that you don’t have to start the engine to bring pop top up/down and use the lights, much more convenient. Especially, because you’re not suppose to idle newer diesel engines.
@@gearforexperiences "Especially, because you’re not suppose to idle newer diesel engines." Can you elaborate on this please? :) Also what year is "newer" starts. I have 2014 MB diesel. Thanks.
Absolutely! :) “In order to comply with emission regulations, starting in 2008, Sprinters have the famous DEF fluid to refill and components such as the DPF. This can get very technical, but simply speaking: Diesel don’t run hot when idling which prevents excess matters found in DPF from burning clean. As such, you should avoid idling for a long period of time, and prioritize highway over urban travel which promotes idling of vehicle to keep cabin warm or cool while waiting at red lights. 2019+ Sprinters will continue the DPF regeneration process while idling, however since most people don’t check to see when this process is occurring, they often stop their vehicle in the middle of the process. As such, checking when DPF regeneration is occurring and promoting highway commute can prevent costly emission systems failure. I personally don’t idle my van more than 30 minutes, if truly stuck in traffic I turn off the engine. It is possible to get emissions systems removed but it may not comply with emissions standards laws in your state/county”. More Q/A on my website :) gearforexperiences.com
Not sure it’s mentioned in the video but could you tell me what the wheel/tire size is and the offset?
Absolutely! It’s 275/70-17 BFG K02 on Black Rhino Arsenal rims (38mm offset ) with Agile Offroad spacers.
@@gearforexperiences awesome thank you! Is it also with the stock 4x4 sprinter lift?
In this video, yes. In newer videos, I have the AO RIP kit installed.
Can you share the address that you install the penthouse from ?
Sportsmobile in Austin,Tx if you go at the bottom of my common Q/A page, you will see that there are new locations that opened last year. gearforexperiences.com/pages/commonly-asked-questions