JAWA Vans OK Grey Nomads, Let’s Talk Pop Top Caravans

If you’re of a certain vintage, you’ll remember the old pop top caravans. Maybe your memories include “helping” mum and dad work up a sweat winding the crank winch to get the top up and the sides out during set-up. Or perhaps your job was chasing the drips on the leaky canvas that always seemed to need maintenance.

When it comes to today’s poptop caravans, some things have stayed the same – the convenience of having a lightweight towing vehicle that is easy on fuel consumption, a dream to park in your allocated camping spot, and generally a lot easier to store when not in use.

Other things have changed for the better. Set-up is so much easier these days, vans are more watertight, and the best poptop caravans come with more everyday conveniences than ever before.

If you’re in the market for pop top and pop out caravans, there are a range of choices and they all come with different pros and cons. So, how to choose which is right for you?

Choosing the light one – where weight makes a difference

Check the tare weight of your poptop and consider your tow car. The best poptops are designed to be lightweight, especially if you’re going off-road. Rolling in with a tare weight of 2150kg and under, the lightest pop tops in JAWA’s range are:

• Lowdown Escape (2070kg)
• Lowdown Bunk (2000kg)
• Stealth 10 (1995kg)
• Stealth 12 (2150kg)

Pop tops are easier to tow than a full-sized van – and less wind drag means lower fuel costs. And towing ease really matters, especially in off road pop tops – it’s much easier to tow a pop top than a hard top if you’re going to be encountering overhanging branches! Even if you’re not the off-road type, JAWA offroad pop tops are designed for “Harsh Case Scenarios” so you’re getting a pop top caravan designed for MAXIMUM efficiency.

Setting up off road pop-top caravans – how easy is it really?

Every caravan requires a bit of set-up and pull-down. In addition to wheel chocks, coupling and connectors, and the usual stuff, pop tops can take a few extra steps. For example, to pop your pop-top, you may need to pop out the releases, roll out an awning, or adjust some interior features. While it doesn’t sound that hard, after a long day on the road, during wet weather, or with a sore knee/hip/back, it can feel like a big job. Considering how you’ll feel about these jobs on your worst day should factor into which van you ultimately choose. Choosing the simplest set-up is an investment in camping ease now – and may well benefit your changing needs in the future.

The best pop top caravans now come with push-button electric roof actuators. No more working up a sweat cranking that winch and dreading the sound of a snapping wire. The sides that do pop out are no longer leaky canvas nightmares that get stuck halfway as you push them out. Solid sides all around that fold out easily are the norm on JAWA off road pop top caravans.

And of course, every pop top caravan owner has forgotten to lock the pop top before leaving a site and every one of them has an oh lordy! tale to tell about it. But, generally, you get used to the routine. And you only forget once!

But pop out vans are not the best choice for everyone. You need to be able to pack the pop-outs up when you’re ready to move on. So if you have dodgy shoulders or no upper arm strength, the best pop top caravans for you are JAWA’s electric pop-top caravans that have their beds already set up and ready to go – the Sirocco Grande and the Stealth 16.

However, for bang for your buck that gives you scads of extra room when you pop it up and then pop out the sides, take a look at:

• the Infinity series;
• the Lowdown series; and
• the Stealth 10 and Stealth 12 models.

Each of these models comes with push-button electric roof actuators.

Choosing a pop top caravan that is designed to be simple to set up and pull down is important not just for grey (and greying) nomads, it’s important for everyone. When you visit a JAWA showroom, our friendly team can show you exactly what’s involved in getting set up on-site.

Best easy access pop-top caravans for no-pop short stops

Not everyone is a destination-focused traveller whose main priority is making good time. Some of us enjoy a meandering style of wanderlust. We’re all for embracing the simple joys of stopping for a cuppa in a picturesque spot, pausing to take in the view, or having an afternoon nap in comfort just because we can!

If you’re a happy wanderer, hardtop caravans are a naturally good fit for that kind of travel. However, some pop top caravans may also be an option for you.

When you want to make a brief stop but avoid the full set-up, JAWA’s Sirocco Grande is an excellent choice. With push-button electric roof actuators, it could not be easier to access your internal dinette, king-sized bed and internal ensuite for comfort in any weather.

Speaking of comfort – let’s talk noise, heat, cooling, power …and moisture

Noise

Pop tops tend to let in more noise than hard tops. If you’re planning to spend a lot of time in busy caravan parks, a hard-top caravan will dull the sound of your neighbour’s late-night revelry. If you’re going off-road and the goal is to find a serenely quiet location to wake up in, then a pop top is a better option for easier dirt road or no-road driving.

Heating, Cooling and Power

As avid campers ourselves, we know all too well that pop tops are a little harder to heat and cool than a solid caravan – which is why they historically have a bad reputation for being freezing in winter and hot boxes in summer. JAWA has put in the hard yards to overcome these problems in our off road pop top caravans.

JAWA caravans are constructed offshore but refitted to stringent Australian standards at our Sunshine Coast Caravan Showroom and Windsor Caravan Showroom. Actually, they’re refitted to JAWA standards – and ours are even higher! Our brilliant workshop technicians spend 7-10 days fitting, upgrading and testing every camper so when our customers drive their new van off the lot, they’re fully equipped for uniquely Aussie adventures.

We know that quality counts and have invested heavily in top-quality solar panels, batteries and electricals for peak electrical performance. We only install the best quality heating and cooling brands available for off-road vehicles – Eberspacher and Webasto. No, not as optional extras – these inclusions are standard in every one of our caravans. So if you’re buying a pop top caravan made in China, make sure that your electrical fittings are Australian-fitted and premium quality. Otherwise, you might have a hot box pop-top on your hands.

Moisture and Ventilation

Caravans, be it pop tops or hard top caravans, are all enclosed spaces that can tend to get moist. It is what it is. And pop tops have an unfortunate reputation for being more prone to moisture issues, including mould. Older pop tops were notorious for this – think back to that mucky canvas with its leaks and condensation build-up. Back in the day, caravan companies were so fixated on the function and weight that they forgot to let in some air.

JAWA did not forget! Our pop top caravans come with fully enclosed ensuites with high window openings and a rooftop opening that ventilates outside rather than into the cabin. All models feature high-quality reverse cycle air conditioning which removes moisture from the cabin air, together with a dust reduction system (DRS), skylights and generously large window openings with midge-proof screens that allow plentiful ventilation and airflow.

Consider your storage needs in a pop-top caravan

Hard-top caravans offer more storage. That’s just how it is. With overhead space to add cupboards and racks, you’ll always have more storage in a hard-top. So, if you need a “house on wheels” for long stints on the road, you may wish to opt for a hard-top caravan. If you like to pack light, you’re good to go with a pop top.

That being said, JAWA does do storage really well. All our best pop top caravans come with large external storage boxes and pantry drawers, and some really handy internal storage spaces.

Choosing an off road pop top caravan that is easy to store

If you’re empty-nesters who have recently downsized, you may be faced with limited storage options. You may no longer have the double roller door workshop garage on the back of the block and are instead relying on a carport to house your caravan. Alternatively, owning a caravan may involve paying for off-site storage. Caravan storage can cost up to $3000 a year, so if that’s not part of your budget, you’ll need to consider hybrid caravans that are low enough to store at home.

Most Australian carports are around 3m wide, 2.4 to 2.6m high and 6m long. You may be lucky and have a wider, taller and/or longer set-up, but it is something you need to consider (and measure) if you plan on storing your pop-top at home. A standard carport is a good fit for some of the pop top caravans in JAWA’s range, including:

The Lowdown Series

The lowest pop-top caravans in JAWA’s range are the Lowdown Escape and the Lowdown Bunk – both are 2200mm and pop up to a functional height of 2800mm. Under 6m in length, they are a prime candidate for carport storage. Push-button electric roof actuators allow for easy set-up and at ATM 2550kgs, the Lowdown series is lightweight for towing ease and can be moved around by hand when a slightly different angle or placement is required.

The Stealth Series

At under 2500mm wide, the narrowest of JAWA’s off road pop-top caravans are the Stealth 10 and Stealth 12. They are slightly taller than the Lowdown series at 2560mm (and 2920mm when popped up). But again, they are a lightweight poptop van under 2700kg and still under 6m in length.

Pop Top Caravan Maintenance

Maintaining your caravan is essential, on the road and when you get home. To keep it in peak condition, there are general maintenance things you’ll need to do (watch our guide here). It’s all part of owning a van.

But all the maintenance in the world can’t help you with a shonky design. And full transparency – there are some shonky caravan sellers in Australia. You’ve probably heard all the stories around the camp kitchen…

The key to avoiding van dramas is to invest in a well-designed caravan from the beginning. There’s no way around it. Your pop top caravan will give you many years of reliable service when you ensure it is:

• designed and engineered especially for Australian conditions
• quality built using premium materials
• fitted and finished in Australia using name-brand hydraulics, electrical and plumbing products.

By taking the time to research pop top caravans in Australia, you can avoid ongoing, time-consuming and sometimes back-breaking maintenance. And if something unexpected goes wrong, dealing with a caravan company that provides genuine aftersales support will give you peace of mind.

Hydraulics and Gas Struts

If you’re thinking of buying a second-hand pop top caravan, a word of warning. The gas struts used to “pop the top” on vans are often the first thing to go, so make sure they’re newly replaced and in perfect working order.

At JAWA, we generally recommend hydraulic “touch of a button” pop tops that are fitted by hand. Not all Australian caravan manufacturers offer them – while others consider them an optional extra. The quality can vary dramatically, too, so always ask for a demo when visiting a caravan showroom. Pay attention to how well their hydraulic pop-top system works and don’t be afraid to ask about the quality of the hydraulics and the fitting itself. Paying attention to these details can make all the difference. After all, the last thing you want is to be halfway into your Big Lap when pop-top problems strike.

All JAWA pop top models have push-button electric actuators so set up is a breeze. We love demonstrating a good “pop” – it’s very satisfying! So just pop into your nearest JAWA showroom to see how simple it is. Alternatively, visit us at the next Caravanning Show.

Find the closest JAWA showroom to you.

Sunshine Coast Showroom | Sydney Showroom | Brisbane Showroom | Townsville Showroom | Perth Showroom

If you have questions about our pop top caravans but can’t get to one of our showrooms, please get in touch. The JAWA team are here to help!