You’ve got a Transit Custom and you want to sleep in it. Good choice. It’s one of the best vans going for a pop top roof.
But which Ford Transit Custom pop top roof? Do you need a bed up there? And what actually happens on fitting day? Here’s the straight answer from Manchester fitters who’ve been putting roofs on vans for over ten years.
🔑 Key takeaways
- There are pop top roofs for both shapes of Transit Custom: the older one and the new 2024-on van.
- We fit Drivelodge and Skyline roofs on the Custom, and we’re accredited with both.
- Most of our Custom customers add a roof bed. Choose it at the start, because it goes in with the roof.
- Fitting is 1 to 3 days, depending on your extras. The wait is the roof arriving, about 4 weeks.
- Every roof we fit carries a 5-year warranty.
5 YEARS
warranty on every roof
1–3 DAYS
roof and extras fitted
10+
years fitting roofs
Why the Transit Custom makes a great pop top camper
Ask anyone who’s looked at campervans and the Custom comes up fast. It’s one of the vans we’re asked about most, and for good reason.
- It’s a proper everyday van. With the roof down, it still drives, parks and works like a van.
- The roof changes everything. Pop it up and you can stand to cook and get changed. Add a bed and two more people sleep up top.
- There’s a real choice of roofs. Unlike some newer vans, the Custom has roofs from more than one maker, old shape and new.
- It grows with you. Start with the roof, then add a bed, heater, electrics or a full conversion later.
Which Ford Transit Custom pop top roof can you get?
First question we always ask: which shape is your van? Ford brought out a new Transit Custom in 2024, and the roof you can fit depends on it.
| Drivelodge | Skyline | |
|---|---|---|
| Fits | The older 2012 shape and the new 2024-on van | The older shape and the new 2024-on van |
| Wheelbase | Short and long wheelbase | Short and long wheelbase |
| Height when closed | Ask us for your van | About 90 to 100 mm on top of the van |
| Canvas | Made in the UK, in Drivelodge’s Keighley factory. Scenic canvas available. Most colours available: see the Drivelodge options | Scenic canvas available. Most colours available, in acrylic or vinyl: see the Skyline colours |
| Roof finish | Painted to your van’s factory colour | Colour coded to match your van, for £500 extra |
| Our warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
Source: Drivelodge, Skyline and our own workshop, October 2026.
You can see the makers’ own pages for the Drivelodge Transit Custom roof and the Skyline range. Still weighing them up? Our Drivelodge vs Skyline guide goes through it side by side.
⚠️ Did you know?
- Drivelodge’s 5-year warranty only applies when an approved fitter installs the roof. We’re on their approved list.
- Short or long wheelbase, old shape or new, we tailor the roof to your Custom.
- New shape or old? Check the front of the van, or your V5C. If you’re not sure, send us a photo and we’ll tell you.
Ford Transit Custom pop top roof with bed: your options
A pop top on its own gives you headroom. A roof bed turns it into sleeping space. Most of our Custom customers go for the bed.
- An elevating roof bed. It sits up in the roof and folds out of the way, so you can still stand up inside when you want to.
- Removable bed boards. A simpler option. The boards go in when you’re sleeping up top and come out when you’re not.
- A RIB bed downstairs. A seat that turns into a bed in the main part of the van. Pair it with a roof bed and the van sleeps more people.
💡 Fitter’s tip
Decide on the bed before the roof goes in. It’s fitted at the same time, so adding it later means another visit. Doing it together adds about an hour to the job.
The Transit Custom set-up most people choose
We looked back at the Transit Custom roofs we’ve quoted. Most of them came out the same way:
- A Drivelodge SWB roof. Our standard roof, and the one we fit most.
- Black gel finish. Smart, and no paint job to wait for.
- A roof bed. So the roof is somewhere to sleep, not just headroom.
- A front window in the canvas. Light and a view out when the roof is up.
- Carpeted trims with LED lights. A finished, factory look inside.
Want more of the outside world at your fingertips? Scenic canvas adds windows all round the roof.
Fitting the roof takes a day. Picking the right one is the part worth taking your time over.
What happens when your Transit Custom pop top is fitted?
- Talk it through. Tell us your van, the shape, the wheelbase and how you’ll use it.
- Written quote. Itemised, with the VAT shown.
- Order the roof. A deposit secures your booking. Roof parts take about 4 weeks.
- Fitting day. The headlining comes out, the roof is cut, and the new roof is fixed and sealed to the maker’s method.
- Finishing. Trims, lights and the bed go in.
- Testing. Every roof is leak tested. Seals, hinges and latches are checked, and the roof is opened and closed several times.
- Handover. We show you how to open, close and secure it before you drive away.
What else to add while the roof is off
The headlining is already out and the van is already with us. That makes it the best time for jobs that would otherwise mean stripping the inside again.
- A diesel heater. We fit Autoterm Air 2D heaters. Warm nights, all year.
- Victron leisure electrics. Lights, fridge and charging off-grid, with a 5-year warranty.
- A Fiamma awning. An outdoor room for when it rains. Which, in Manchester, it will.
- Insulation and sound deadening. Dodo insulation, so the van is warmer and quieter.
- Windows and blinds. Tinted fixed or sliding windows, and Vanshades for privacy.
- Lining. CNC-cut ply lining or carpet lining, made to fit.
Thinking bigger? We also do full conversions, with the furniture designed in CAD and cut on our own CNC machine.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not telling us your shape and wheelbase. We tailor the roof to your van, so we need both at the start.
- Forgetting the bed. Adding it later costs you another visit.
- Comparing a kit price with a fitted price. They’re not the same job. Always ask what’s included.
- Using a fitter who isn’t approved. On a Drivelodge roof, that can mean no warranty.
- Leaving it until spring. Everyone books in March. With a 4-week wait for parts, get in early.
Our verdict
A Ford Transit Custom pop top roof is one of the best upgrades you can make to the van. Ideally a one-day job, that turns a work van into a weekend camper.
Know your shape, choose your bed at the start, and use an approved fitter. Get those three right and you’ll love it. Need ideas for the first trip? Try our weekend trips from Manchester, or see our recent builds.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fit a pop top to the new 2024 Transit Custom?
Yes. Both Skyline and Drivelodge roofs suit the new 2024-on Custom, in short and long wheelbase.
Can you fit a pop top to a long wheelbase Transit Custom?
Yes. Drivelodge and Skyline both offer short and long wheelbase roofs, and we tailor the fit to your Custom.
Does a Transit Custom pop top come with a bed?
Usually not. The roof bed is a separate item. You can choose an elevating roof bed or removable bed boards.
How long does it take to fit a pop top to a Transit Custom?
Ideally one day for the roof. Allow 1 to 3 days in all, depending on the roof and any extras, because we want your van to be perfect before it goes home. The roof itself takes about 4 weeks to arrive after you order.
Do pop top roofs leak?
A properly fitted roof shouldn’t. Every roof we fit is leak tested before the van leaves us. When a roof does leak, it’s almost always the fitting, not the roof.
What warranty do I get?
Five years on every roof we fit.
Do I need to tell my insurer?
Yes. Tell your insurer about any change to your van, a pop top included.
Thinking about a pop top for your Custom?
Tell us your van and what you’d like, and we’ll send a written quote.
Unit 7, Croft Industrial Estate, Pilsworth, Bury BL9 8QG · 07576 574799