Open top Traveller

Post by **Pascal** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 12:20 pm

Hi,

I'm looking for a sun-friendly car to put in a holiday home. I was thinking of converting a Traveller Citroen Mehari style, but the required chassis reinforcements would make this too big a job I think.

Instead I thought about fitting a full-length webasto sunroof, much simpler and still great for sunny days (I have one on my saloon).

Has anybody got experience of fitting such a sunroof on a Traveller? Any problems to expect? I've seen that there if a ridge across the roof, will that be an issue? Finally what size of sunroof can be fitted?

Regards,
Pascal

Post by **ASL642** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:20 pm

The Traveller roof is in two sections. The front cab part - like a pick-up - and a thin alumium rear section. A webasto sunroof would be ok for the front part, but I think the rear part is much too thin to take the weight of a sunroof. I wouldn't like to try it. The rear roof section of the traveller is only pinned on with small copper tacks before the guttering is nailed onto the upper section of the wood side. I think opening it up would seriously damage any strength it has.

Post by **PSL184** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:18 pm

Remove rear roof completely - Build a frame from angled ally extrusion. Mount large webasto sunroof - Simples !!!!

Post by **ASL642** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:21 pm

Wouldn't that make it a bit "top heavy"?

Post by **PSL184** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:22 pm

Citroen 2CV's get away with it....

Post by **ASL642** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:47 pm

When did you last see a Minor plodding across a field. They were built for French farmers

Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:50 pm

no doubt ani will be along in a minute..

her blue pick up is a traveller (if that makes sense) it has the roof and glass removed with a roll bar fitted to stiffen the structure up.. it works really very well and I feel sure she will be more than happy to take a few photos if you ask.

if you search out one of her posts you will see the car in her signature.

the 2CV got away with welding two front ends together to make one car for the forestry commission!

Post by **PSL184** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:58 pm

charlie_morris_minor wrote: the 2CV got away with welding two front ends together to make one car for the forestry commission!

Post by **ani** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 6:12 pm

As mentioned by Charlie - here it is. Happy to provide any pictures if you want. The conversion was carried out by Woodies of Chichester.

Post by **aupickup** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 6:17 pm

thats a neat little pick up

i rember seeing it quite a few years ago

steve from kent a member on here also did a trav pick up conversion

so can not see why a open top one can not be done in reality

Post by **ani** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 6:26 pm

With the back window it saves having to cut the roof out

Post by **aupickup** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 6:36 pm

i think the idea is to have an open top trav with the seats in

Post by **LouiseM** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:28 pm

Wouldn't it just be easier to buy a convertible?

Post by **ani** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:42 pm

Now you're just being intelligent

Post by **ani** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:43 pm

aupickup wrote:i think the idea is to have an open top trav with the seats in

Ah ha!! A bit tricky - could always take the canvas off and stick in a couple of deck-chairs

Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:00 pm

just in case you think I was joking about a double headed 2CV..

the idea was that if you drove on a single track road and hit a fire, you simply jumped out of the front of the car and drove er jumped into the other front of the car and drove off..

Post by **ani** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:36 pm

Hey that is just wonderful

Think I would add a ladder and a big red bell - it should really be a fire engine!

Post by **Roni** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:22 am

Or what about something like this, the fire engine reference stirred the memory, but configured as a 4 seater. Sort of like a Minor Moke. Would be really sun friendly.

Post by **jaekl** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:27 pm

A Morris past through my hands once that was a convertible front and the traveller rear. No big mystery, someone had bolted on a traveller body to the convertible floor pan. The unanswered issue is that the title (legal document of the car) that came with it had a convertible serial number and the body style was identified as a wagon, but the serial number didn't match the one on the car. Was it a replacement for an earlier modified vehicle or were ther two made?

Post by **Pascal** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:20 pm

ani wrote:As mentioned by Charlie - here it is. Happy to provide any pictures if you want. The conversion was carried out by Woodies of Chichester.

Thanks ani. Looks very close to what I need. Do you have details of what strengthening was done as part of the conversion, and can you give me an idea of the conversion cost?

I don't see why I couldn't leave the rear bench in place. I'd have to think of possible designs for a rear hood. It should be ok to mount a steel frame that overlaps the front part of the roof. I had a VW combi converted that way: Reimo cut out the roof between the sides a riveted a steel frame to maintain rigidity.

Regards