Penthouse Tops

  • The item that started all of this. The Penthouse Top is one of the major items that can be added to a Sportsmobile or to your own van separately.

    The Penthouse Top can be installed in the following vans:

    • Ford Econoline | 1992-2014 – Regular & Extended Body
    • Chevy Express | 1997-Present – Regular & Extended Body (Note: passenger vans with rear airbags cannot install the top.)
    • GM Savanna | 1997-Present – Regular & Extended Body (Note: passenger vans with rear airbags cannot install the top.)
    • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 2007-Present – Regular Body (144″) with the Low Roof
    • Nissan NV | 2012-Present – Low Roof
    • Dodge Promaster | 2014-Present – Coming Soon!
    PENTHOUSE TOP PRICING

    TOP UP

    • Makes your interior more spacious with an raised ceiling.
    • Sleep two upstairs with the optional bed.
    • Five large-screen windows provide 20 square feet of cooling cross-ventilation, panoramic visibility to enjoy the scenery during the day and the stars at night, and lots of natural skylight.
    • For privacy the front window flap zips closed. Side windows have opaque curtains that roll up/down.
    • Soft vinyl side windows have double zippers so you can leave the tops of the windows open that are protected by the top’s eave when it’s raining.
    • Penthouse raises full-level, not at a slant that reduces the interior space and restricts the sleeping position at one end.

    TOP DOWN

    • The Penthouse is nicely styled to blend with the van’s good looks.
    • Crosswind handling effect? Fuel economy reduction? Minimal.
    • Raises and Lowers in Seconds

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  • TO RAISE:

    • Unlock front & rear latches.
    • Start up with a little push.
    • Patented spring counter balance system makes it easy.
    • Optional electric top available

  • TO LOWER:

    • Pull down.
    • Lock the three latches.

  • FORD/CHEVY Dimensions

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  • SPRINTER DIMENSIONS

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UPSTAIRS BED OPTION

There’s room for two in the upstairs loft. It’s a fun and comfortable place to nap or enjoy a good night’s sleep. The main bed section is made of the same soft and firm foam as Sportsmobile’s seats/beds. No closed-in feeling over the bed with a ceiling height of 30″ and large windows that help provide an open feeling. A ladder is (O).

Like to read in bed? Two ceiling lights provide plenty of light. There’s even space for snacks and drinks. For privacy, opaque curtains roll up and down.

When the main bed section is attached to the ceiling, bedding can be left on top. You will still have a height of about 55″ under the bed when the top is down.

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  • What’s the durability of the Penthouse? We really don’t know. Since we introduced our third generation model in 1974, we have never replaced a part because of wear. The top itself is made of reinforced fiberglass with built-in wood stringers. Metal parts are all heavy duty construction. Counter-balancing tension and compression springs are over-engineered. This means they will never fatigue and lose their strength.

    However, if you have an electric top (O) and you do not unlock the latches before you raise it, you will bend the elevating u-tubes. The 12V motors are powerful. If you do bend them, the u-tubes can be replaced by Sportsmobile.

    Sidewall material is tough and weather resistant. Its convertible car-top vinyl-impregnated fabric exterior is easy to clean. The fabric interior is mildew and condensation resistant. Since it doesn’t breath it helps hold heat out in summer and inside in the winter.

  • Insulation. Tempshield bubble foil, with a down R-Value of 14.9, is sandwiched between the fiberglass top shell and ceiling panels.

    Leak? We built our leakers decades ago. The top is guaranteed not to leak under any weather conditions up or down. Should a leak ever develop, it would be very easy to fix.

    Is the van roof cut-out reinforced? Yes. The front roof van rib over the cab and the rear rib are not removed. The sides and rear of the roof cut-out are framed with 14 gauge steel, bolted to the van roof. This heavy steel frame reinforces the roof, supports the optional bed, and is the base for the elevating assembly. Actually, we feel the roof is stronger after the Penthouse has been installed. It easily passed the FMVSS 216 roof crash test.

  • Why is the “dual-U-tube” elevating assembly important? We feel this patented system is the model of simplicity, a straight forward means of making the top go up and down. Dual compression and tension springs working with the dual-U-tubes makes the raising/lowering of the top quick and easy. An electric top is optional.

    Wind blowing? No need to lower the top unless it really gets strong.

    Is is OK to stand on the top?
    Yes! A few people are able to stand up there

    Solar Panels and Roof Racks are available. They can be easily mounted to the roof.

  • MERCEDES-BENZ TEST

    Mercedes-Benz required the following test and specifications be met by Sportsmobile to install Penthouse Tops on RB Sprinters.

    Roof Crush Resistance Test FMVSS 216 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) — General Testing Laboratories conducted the Roof Crush Test on 07/02/2008. The Sprinter RB with Sportsmobile’s Penthouse Top more than exceeded the test weight requirements.

    Roof Weight — Mercedes-Benz allows a maximum added roof weight to the Sprinter of 660 pounds. The Penthouse Top installed adds about 345 pounds, a difference of 315 pounds.

    Center of Gravity — With our RB-50 Conversion and the Penthouse Top, the center of gravity is 45.8″, well below Mercedes-Benz specified 51.2″ maximum.

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    Photo taken at start of test. A force of 11,042 pounds was applied. The Sprinter with Sportsmobile’s top easily passed with minimal damage done to the top and Sprinter’s roof.

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