Which poptops have shorter travel height?

Submitted: Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 10:39
ThreadID: 135631 Views:9869 Replies:7 FollowUps:13
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We're after a shorter than average poptop van that we can garage.
There's only the 2 of us so we only want up to a 14 footer.
Our plan was the Jayco offroad because we liked the extra height (our AVan Cruiseliner used to bottom-out on the slight rise of our driveway!).
But the Outback is too tall for your standard garage!
We've been house-hunting for over a year, specifically to find somewhere with a garage to house a van.
Well, we've looked outside the square in so many ways with the house that the squares have been all but erased! Things that were once an issue are now firmly in the "couldn't give a hoot" category!!
Maybe it's now time to look outside the square with the van.
A tall van means we can't look at houses with drive through garages and we can't look at houses with a carport in front of the garage, and we have to be wary of gutter height when it comes to access down the side of the house...
Those of you with 12-14' poptops, does yours have a slightly lower travel height that allows parking in a garage?
We currently have a Kia Sorrento 3.6 to tow it. We don't even want to consider canvas options so don't go there. That's not a side of the square we're prepared to erase!! :)
I've checked out the Kimberley Karavan but oo-ee, a bit over our budget, and hubby isn't keen on the TVan (I think it's ok!). I think we could do to about $40,000...new or older models...
What else is out there in poptop land, 12-14', short but with reasonable ride height that we don't scrape going into driveways?
Anything?
Or do we keep house hunting for another year *sigh*

Thanks!


I'll just go back to my real estate websites in the meantime...
:)
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Reply By: 2517. - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 12:13

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 12:13
Hi I think Cormal pop tops are lower them most.
AnswerID: 613927

Reply By: Sigmund - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 12:49

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 12:49
Store it outdoors under a cover.
AnswerID: 613929

Follow Up By: RMD - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 13:01

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 13:01
Easily done but not much chop in a front yard is it. "Look at our house behind the cover". Sort of negates house design features don't you think?
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Follow Up By: Sigmund - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 13:05

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 13:05
OPer said she was prepared to look outside the square. Why not let her?

And some houses have a drive only down the side.
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FollowupID: 884477

Follow Up By: Member - Robyn R4 - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:49

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:49
I appreciate all 'outside the square thoughts! Hubby wants it under cover and out of sight a) for security (so our neighbours don't know if we're home or not) & b) we're about 6 houses from the ocean & we're sick to death of the corrosion, filth & shorter life span of stuff!) Of course factor b) may or may not be an issue in the new house... :)
Shall look into Coromal...thanks for that tip...
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Follow Up By: Sigmund - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 18:44

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 18:44
Any CPs close enough to store it?
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Reply By: RMD - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 12:55

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 12:55
Robyn
Has your investigations also considered a van which is too high but has air bag suspension which can be deflated to drop the whole van down to the minimum of suspension travel? That may allow a suitable van and ride height but also provide the storage parking/solution.
Depending on the van purchase price you can get Cruise master or similar suspension fitted to a van to allow the suspension be lowered.
Careful consideration of allmountings and wheel/tyre size is also required.
Some people use a small dia rim/tyre combination specificlly to get the van low enough to fit under the stupid home construction which seems to be popular.
Others simply deflate the tyres to a low pressure to drop the van if the height dimensions are not too different.
Often a van will go under but because of the driveways being uphill very often the rear of the van at the uphill attiutde is what stops the van going under. A different, ie, higher or inverted tow tongue can be used to hold ball coupling higher and the van rear downward a little to assist the entry to the garage/carport.
So the van you like may fit if some alternative measures are acceptable to you.
Vans and carports/garages are "squares" so shape is not the issue. Tangential thinking may work.
Cheers
RMD
AnswerID: 613930

Follow Up By: Member - Robyn R4 - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:57

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:57
Wow, thanks for all that! All food for thought when l next find a house and then discover (yet again)...a van won't fit.
Another side of the square is slowly being erased with one little post.
:)
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Reply By: futch - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:19

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:19
try a coromal 505 approx. height is 2m40
AnswerID: 613937

Follow Up By: Member - Robyn R4 - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:58

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:58
Much appreciated. I think we're about to switch brands!
:)
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FollowupID: 884486

Reply By: Erad - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:54

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 17:54
I have the same problem - heightwise. My garage door is 2.1 m clearance. Coromal are the lowest I can currently find on the market. Compass used to have a low version of their poptop, but I don't think they are on the market now. I have a 2000 model 16 ft Jayco poptop and it fits OK, but the new models with fibreglass sides are I think too high.
Salesmen come up with anything to clinch a deal. Most offer replacement wheels. That would work, but it is a pain in the .... and I think a poor solution. I investigated getting air suspension on a van but that is expensive.
I was looking at getting the van out of our driveway (sharp dip at the gutter), so the air suspension would solve both problems. I finished up by gettting the driveway crossing concreted, and the van now scrapes loudly as it goes in or out. That solves one problem, but the height virtually precludes us from buying a new van - we are stuck with our old Jayco. It opnly took me 15 years, but I think I have finally got all the bugs ironed out of that van so maybe I have to keep it

Side issue - having a lower roof height when travelling means better fuel consumption and also possibly better access to car parks at supermarkets etc when travelling (not underground if possible).
AnswerID: 613940

Follow Up By: Member - Robyn R4 - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 18:03

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 18:03
Thanks for your input!
I shall go and google up alternatives and put all words of wisdom into the erasing of yet another side of the square!!

:)
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Reply By: GREG T11 - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 19:18

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 19:18
Corner block and build your own garage / shed to suit on the rear.
AnswerID: 613944

Follow Up By: Member - Robyn R4 - Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 09:37

Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 09:37
Yep. We've thought outside that edge of the square....trying to find one that's got enough width to do it. Some have only a 'walkway' in width...
Thanks!
:)
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Reply By: Member - peterdre - Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 21:16

Sunday, Sep 24, 2017 at 21:16
Hi Robyn,
A 14XL Off-roader by NCC would meet your requirements.
Plenty of clearance underneath, same width as car, about 2metres high, easy to reverse. Made by North Coast Campers in Caloundra Qld. Very easy to set up with electric rams to raise the roof. Might be a bit dear new, but you may find one second hand? Have a look on their web site.
Cheers
Pedro
AnswerID: 613948

Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 08:51

Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 08:51
You will have to stretch your budget for that one. The 14FT Off Road XL Camper Trailer - PRICED FROM: $82,500.

Another that you will have to stretch the budget for but not quite as much is the 510 Off Road Eco Tourer - prices. You did not specify which Sorento you have, the later models may not have a high enough ball weight capacity for these models.
PeterD
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Follow Up By: Member - Robyn R4 - Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 09:46

Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 09:46
I checked them out a few years ago and went "ouch" at the cost...but that may be a side of the square that can be blurred if I find a decent bargain in the real estate side of things!!
We have the 08 Kia Sorento, the meatier dual range dude. Not sure of ball weight. We've only been towing a ripper little home made trailer until recently, so weight wasn't in our vocabulary!
:)
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 10:25

Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 10:25
Looks like either of those will be OK, The 2007/2009 models have a 2800/280 capacity according to my guide. Check the vehicles handbook, the limits should be in it.
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Follow Up By: Member - Robyn R4 - Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 14:00

Monday, Sep 25, 2017 at 14:00
Bless you for doing my homework, Peter!
The Kia is currently 45km away at hubby's work so I've been online checking out vans without that info at hand (in between trying to nap away my sinuses from hell!)
I'm inspired by the Coromals and the meaner looking offroad vans...
Looks like I now have to strike a good real estate bargain so we have more money up our sleeve to consider these dearer options!

Thank you!

:)

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Follow Up By: Member - Robyn R4 - Thursday, Sep 28, 2017 at 19:30

Thursday, Sep 28, 2017 at 19:30
Thank you kindly once again to all who helped out with wise words and experience.
Today we successfully won the battle of the highest offer on a house...a you-beaut old-fashioned design where half the yard is level and clear to put in a caravan shed. The carport will need to be replaced (ah, the joys of living near the coast and the rust that we endure) and we can lift the new one a little to get a van of just about any height (yay!) through to the back yard.
After a year of realestate.com I can now swap to caravan sales web sites instead!!!

:)
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