West Dubs Pop Tops: Honest Review From Pop Top Installer
Wondering if West Dubs pop top is the best choice for your camper van conversion? As a professional pop top installer, I’ve installed thousands of pop tops from all different manufacturers, so I know a thing or two about what makes a good pop top.Â
In this guide, I’ll break down what West Dubs does well, where they fall short, and how they stack up against the competition, so you can decide if they’re the right choice for your van adventures.
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Pros of the West Dubs Pop Top
The West Dubs pop top is one of the more popular pop tops, and the design is overall pretty well done. The internal set-up is pretty straightforward thanks to gas struts, and the sleeping area comfortably fits two people. I like that they offer a variety of canvas colour options for customisation.Â
The design is sleek with no exterior bolts and the roof construction doesn’t use vinyl to minimise obvious wear and tear. It’s also a great sign that they have an M1 approval certificate, so you know the design passes those basic safety tests.Â
Overall, when compared against some of the non-branded pop tops without safety approvals, West Dubs delivers a solid design. But, as with most installations, the cracks only start to form after you’ve made your purchase (literally).Â
In my experience, the quality of the construction has a long way to go to make it as reliable as others leading the pop top market.
Cons of the West Dubs Pop Top
They just don’t have enough headroom
A lot of customers have said to me that the West Dubs pop tops don’t have quite enough headroom, and having worked on these myself I completely agree. In my experience, this is typical of a lot of low-cost pop tops as they can save costs by using less canvas.
In my opinion, the biggest reason to get a pop top upgrade is for the extra headroom. So, when you’re paying close to £3k for an upgrade, you want to be sure that it does what you want it to! I have a feeling this would annoy anyone.
For that reason, if you or your adventure buddy is even slightly above average height, I don’t recommend the West Dubs pop top for you. Â
The set up isn’t streamlined

Okay, so another thing I don’t like about West Dubs is that the setup is a little fiddly because you have to extend the straps all the way out to the height of the roof, which then extend to keep the roof in place while up.Â
With other brands like Storm and Austop, all you have to do is disconnect the short straps that hold it in place while down, as the frame is much more sturdy and doesn’t require the extra help from the straps.Â
It may not seem like a big deal, but if you’re spending a lot of time in your van, you’ll definitely start to notice the extra hassle (and time) it takes to extend the straps and shorten them during pack up/down.
The strap attachments are prone to ripping

While doing camper van repairs, I’ve noticed that one of the biggest signs of wear on old West Dubs is on the straps that connect to the roof frame. The stitching starts to fray and can actually pull on the canvas so much that it creates tears in it.Â
When you think about it, it makes sense that you would experience this problem much more than with a design like Storm’s. When set up, a West Dubs pop top has these straps taut to hold the frame in place, constantly pulling on the canvas.Â
But with Storm, because you disconnect the strap completely before the roof goes up, you don’t get that same strain on the canvas.Â
This West Dubs design flaw just goes to show how much a small change can make such a big difference in long term quality.
The canvas could be better quality
The West Dubs pop top canvas could be better, to be honest. They advertise it as weather-resistant and marine-grade, but in my experience, it’s a bit hit or miss. It doesn’t feel like the highest-quality material out there.
The fabric West Dubs uses feels a lot like upholstery material for seats which is not exactly what you’d want for dealing with heavy rain or strong winds. Back when I had a West Dubs pop top, I noticed that in heavy rain, you’d get some moisture coming through, and even the occasional droplet, which isn’t ideal when you’re camping out.
Another thing is that the canvas tends to mark really easily. If you’re spending good money on a pop top, you want it to stay looking fresh for a while, right? But with this material, it doesn’t take much to leave scuffs or marks, which is frustrating.
I’ve also had customers complain that the canvas can lose its tension over time, which causes sagging. That not only makes it a pain to operate the roof, but it also throws off the whole clean, sleek look of your van.Â
If I’m honest, I’ve never noticed these issues with other brands like Storm pop tops, so that’s why I say that West Dubs isn’t using the best canvas material on the market.
The fixings are prone to rust

West Dubs pop tops are constructed using stainless steel fixings. And look, when I first started out in the business I thought that stainless steel was the gold standard for long-lasting, anti-rust construction.
Then, Storm pop tops launched their design using Black Powder Coated Steel. This is basically a coating on the steel that prevents corrosion, and I think it works like a charm.Â
In my experience, the fixings on Storm pop tops are almost rust-resistant while the West Dubs tend to seize up pretty quickly. As you can imagine, rusty fixings can severely impact the usability of the roof and cause annoying squeaking sounds during highway drives, so it’s an important factor to consider.
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The warranty is too short
West Dubs pop tops only include a 2 year warranty on their pop tops, which in my books is nowhere near long enough to justify the price point of these roofs. The reason that West Dubs can only afford to include such a short warranty is because they don’t use the same quality materials that other brands do, so they break faster.Â
For example, Storm includes a 5 year warranty on all of their roofs. In my experience, you’re unlikely to have any issues with Storm’s roof even beyond the warranty because of their commitment to high quality materials and design improvements.
Comparing West Dubs to Other Pop Top Roofs
Comparing the Skyline to the West Dubs pop tops

In my opinion, West Dubs and Skyline pop tops are pretty similar in terms of quality, and both are solid options in a similar price range. Usually, the Skyline tends to be slightly more expensive by a few hundred pounds, depending on the model.
One key difference is that West Dubs has been in the game longer, launching their pop tops back in 2010, whereas Skyline started offering theirs in 2016. That said, neither brand has made any major updates to their designs over the years, so the core features and look have remained pretty consistent.
Ultimately, if you’re torn between West Dubs and Skyline, it’ll likely come down to personal preference and which one suits your style and needs better. Both are well-known and widely used by UK campers, so you can’t go too far wrong with either one.
Comparing the Storm to the West Dubs pop tops

Okay, so I already touched on this a few times, but Storm is hands down my preferred pop top roof brand. Let me explain why it stands out compared to West Dubs.
Storm continuously improves their product
Storm is always refining its product, and over the past five years, they’ve really stepped up their game. Their focus on testing, feedback, and innovation has resulted in a pop top that’s leaps and bounds ahead when it comes to aesthetics, durability, and consistency.Â
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for West Dubs, who haven’t made any major changes since launch.
Storm has a reliable RTM construction
One of the key things that sets Storm apart is its consistent build quality, thanks to their advanced manufacturing process. Unlike West Dubs, which relies on a more traditional hand-laid GRP method, Storm uses vacuum infusion moulding (RTM).
This machine-driven process eliminates the chance of human error, so every roof comes out with the same high standard. With West Dubs, there’s a bit more variability, which can be a downside when you’re paying for a big upgrade like a pop top.
Storm has more durable finishes

The finish on Storm pop tops is not just cleaner but also far more durable.
For starters, Storm uses a higher-grade canvas that’s noticeably sturdier than West Dubs’. While the West Dubs canvas can feel flimsy and struggle in heavy rain, wind, or constant sun exposure, Storm’s canvas is designed to hold up much better in tough conditions.Â
Over time, West Dubs’ material can sag or even leak, which isn’t something I’ve seen happen with Storm.Â
On top of that, Storm pop tops come with a polished gel coat underside. When the roof is raised, it looks neat and clean, unlike West Dubs, where you might see untidy or exposed areas underneath.
Storm also goes the extra mile with stainless steel and black powder-coated fixings, which means way less risk of corrosion or sticking, even after years of use. This kind of long-term reliability is why Storm gets such glowing reviews.
Is West Dubs a Good Choice for a Pop Top?
While West Dubs is a popular choice for camper van conversions, especially for its affordability, I’ve got to say that Storm takes the win here. The attention to detail, durability, and overall quality make it a standout option for anyone serious about their pop top roof.
If someone asked me whether West Dubs is a good choice for a pop top, I’d say it depends on your priorities and budget. While West Dubs is a popular choice for camper van conversions, especially for its affordability, I’ve got to say that Storm takes the win here.Â
In my opinion, the Storm is worth every cent extra for the piece of mind you get. With West Dubs, headroom is limited, the canvas and fixings could be better quality, and the straps are prone to wear and tear, which makes setup and long-term use more frustrating.Â
If durability, convenience, and premium materials are your main priorities, I’d recommend looking into Storm pop tops instead. Storm’s design and construction are far more advanced, and they’ve clearly focused on refining their product for better long-term reliability.Â
Ultimately, West Dubs may work well for a few years if you’re looking for a basic, affordable option, but it’s not the best choice on the market.
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