Pop-top vs Bed Lift, choosing the right one for you.
- Blackthorn customs
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
There are a lot of fun decisions to make when designing your dream campervan or deciding which one to rent, wood finish or white? Bug nets or blackout shades? Swivel seats or extra storage?
But one of the biggest and most overlooked questions is this:
Where are you going to sleep?
Bed Lift
At Blackthorn Campervans, we’ve spent years building high-quality vans in Lindon, Utah and running a rental fleet that’s constantly out exploring the West. That means we get real-world feedback from hundreds of people using our vans in all kinds of conditions.
One thing we’ve learned? A dedicated bed system, like a bed lift or pop-top, makes vanlife way better.
They’re not required, but if you want better sleep, more space, and less hassle, we highly recommend including one. Not only that, but having either option allows you to have room for a second bed!
Each option has its pros and cons, and we’ve gathered years of insights to help you decide. Let’s break down how they work and why so many people love them after just one trip.
What is a Bed Lift?
A bed lift is a motorized bed platform that moves up and down inside your van. Press a button and it lowers when you're ready to sleep. Press it again in the morning and it tucks up near the ceiling so you have your space back for the rest of the day. It’s like the Murphy bed of vans... but even easier.
At Blackthorn, we use the Happijac system. It’s solid, quiet, and smooth. The bed moves on four vertical metal pillars mounted to the walls, and it can stop at any height. When you pair it with a bench or convertible bed below, you can sleep four people in the same space. That’s a game changer for families or groups who don’t want to split up into tents or book separate beds.
1. Why We Recommend It
Let’s be honest, sleeping on the ground kind of sucks. Cold nights, rocky soil, unexpected rainstorms, and mysterious animal noises just feet from your head? Hard pass.
A bed lift keeps you and your family off the ground and out of the tent. You get a real mattress, real comfort, and real convenience, all inside your warm, insulated van. It’s great for:
Families who don’t want to split up into tents
Couples who want flexibility and extra space
Anyone tired of stiff necks and lumpy foam pads
Anyone who doesn't like dealing with wind and the cold
Save space in your van for other commodities that make for comfortable camping
Campers who want to convince others to join them
Plus, when your bed isn’t in use, it’s not in the way. It just disappears into the ceiling. Magic.
2. Ease of Use
Bed lifts are easy to operate. You push a button, and it moves. That’s it.
We’ve seen everything from 5-year-olds to grandparents use the system confidently. And because it stops wherever you want, you can adjust it to your layout—low for a cozy sleep, high to clear space for gear or the other bed below.
The only rule? Don’t try to move the bed with someone lying on it (or under it).
3. Installation & Design Details
Now, full transparency: bed lifts look simple, but the install is a puzzle.
Each of the four support pillars needs a flat, vertical surface to mount to. In a Mercedes Sprinter, especially the 144” wheelbase model, that’s not always easy. The walls taper inward, so we’re limited on how wide the bed can be. Mounting it lengthwise takes up precious cabin space; mounting it sideways requires flares (custom extensions that bulge out the walls), which add cost and complexity. You lose a significant amount of height in the bench area and most people bonk their head the first time. And when you’re fitting two beds in the same area, both end up with less overhead clearance.
Also, in shorter vans like the 144” Mercedes Sprinters, you are stuck with choosing between flares and shorter beds or full length beds but little room left to fit other things.
Visually, those big metal pillars are hard to hide. We do our best with but they’re there, hard to miss and are required.
The silver lining? Bed lifts are much more affordable than pop-tops and easier to install during the initial build process—especially in longer vans like the 170” Mercedes Sprinters.
4. Feedback from Real Renters
Our renters generally love the bed lift. They appreciate the convenience and how quickly it transforms the space. Things they’ve told us:
“So much better than sleeping on the ground.”
“Way better than building a bed every night.”
“Headroom below is a little tight, but totally worth it.”
The most common complaints? People bumping their heads on the bed frame when using the space underneath (the lowered ceiling catches you by surprise the first few times), and the top bed can be a bit of a climb when it’s raised higher.
Still, most people say they’d choose the same setup again—just with a little more padding on the ceiling corners.
What is a Pop-Top?
A pop-top is an electric roof extension that turns the top of your van into a second bedroom. When closed, it’s barely noticeable. But when open? It’s a full-blown sleeping loft with:
A full-size bed
Insulated canvas walls with zippered windows
Dimmable lights
360° views of wherever you’re parked
Ours come from Colorado Campervans, and they’re rock solid. With a collapsible ladder to climb up, it feels like your own little treehouse—but with A/C, solar, and a killer view.
1. Why It’s Awesome
Pop-tops are a total game-changer for space. Instead of trying to fit two beds within the van, you elevate one out of the way entirely. This is especially valuable in fully loaded vans with a shower, toilet, kitchen, and all the amenities. It eliminates that cramped feeling entirely.
You don’t have to split headroom between beds. Tall people can sit upright. Kids can have their own little fort. Couples can get some space from each other after a long day in the van (just saying).
No more crawling over gear or sleeping shoulder-to-wall. You get a full, private bed—with airflow, natural light, and a view.
2. Ease of Use
Operating the pop-top takes about 2–4 minutes. You unlatch the top, hit the switch, and it raises automatically. Lowering it takes a little finesse—you’ll want to guide the fabric in to make sure it seals cleanly. Not difficult, but something to get used to.
It takes a bit longer than the bed lift, but the payoff is worth it.
3. Installation & Limitations
Installing a pop-top is... not for the faint of heart. It involves:
Cutting a hole in the roof (yes, the roof)
Weatherproofing
Lifting an extremely heavy platform into place—often with a forklift, and then the shell on top of that.
On top of that, pop-tops take up valuable roof space, which means you’ll have to be strategic about how you use your limited space for solar panels, fans, or a/c—especially if you plan to go heavy into boondocking or overlanding.
But what you get is an entirely separate bedroom. That’s a pretty solid trade, especially considering we can still fit quite a bit on top.
4. Feedback from Real Renters
Pop-tops are consistently the favorite feature in our rental vans. People love the open-air feeling, the elevated views, and how much bigger the van feels with one.
Quotes we’ve heard:
“We liked that it was just a button, the additional space and the extra ventilation.”
“My kids loved it, and the space feels a lot bigger than you expect!”
“Didn’t feel cramped at all—even with four people.”
The only drawbacks? Slightly more setup time, and the ladder taking up space in the room when set-up. But for most renters, the added comfort and space make up for it tenfold.
Final Thoughts: Do You Need One of These?
Let’s put it this way:
You can sleep on the floor of your van. You can make the kids or other campers sleep outside. You can throw together a DIY foam pad bed.... But you probably won’t want to—especially after trying a pop-top or bed lift. These systems:
Keep you warm, dry, and off the ground
Give you real, supportive beds
Make your van way more comfortable and less cramped for families and groups
Eliminate the setup/teardown routine of traditional camping
Make every trip feel like an adventure—not a chore
Give you more space to do more in your van conversion
So no, you don’t technically need a bed lift or pop-top.
But if you ask us? Once you try one, you won’t want to build a van without it.
Whether you're exploring canyons in Southern Utah, parking above the tree line for some boondocking, or just road-tripping with your family through national parks, a smart bed setup will make every night better.
We’re here to help you choose the one that fits your layout, your budget, and your style—and then build it right.
Let’s build your dream van—with a bed setup you’ll actually look forward to sleeping in.
