Tricked out ECamper

21946 Views 25 Replies 19 Participants Last post by JSm00thJaZ3, Nov 15, 2007

Ursa Minor

Discussion Starter · Nov 7, 2007

Here's a Element we just finished last week with a little more customizing - full wrap with 3M reflective graphics, plus the pop top & rack mounts & trailer hitch for the rest of the gear. Owned by some pro adventure racers we've known for a long time, might not believe it but their E is heading toward the 100K on the odometer soon!

If anyone is in LA over Thanksgiving, this E will be in the LA Auto Show - I'll add a thread in the event section with where to find us!

cheers,
John

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1 - 20 of 26 Posts

EXwSCnose

· #2 · Nov 7, 2007

What a cool rig!!! I see you enhanced the tent portion from the original design... Very nice!!!

BigTzElement

· #3 · Nov 7, 2007

Great looking pop up conversion, post some pictures of the inside please.

ORANGEE

· #4 · Nov 7, 2007

WHITE...........another color the Element should have come in.

I also would like to see pictures of the inside.

You do nice work!

gisele

· #5 · Nov 7, 2007

Very, very nice. I especially like the firm's logo as a watermark on the side doors instead of full color. Nice, nice graphics, awesome looking pop-up.

Congrats! -g

lala2207

· #6 · Nov 7, 2007

Love it, I want to see the inside too please!

3Bayers

· #7 · Nov 8, 2007

Wow! I'm coining a new term for that......

ADVENTURE BLING

That is simply awesome!

elementbryon

· #8 · Nov 8, 2007

Dude! Two questions. How much for the pop-top and how involved is the conversion? Looks like it's ready for Dakar!

ramblerdan

· #9 · Nov 8, 2007 (Edited)

Elementbryon,

Search for posts by Ursa Minor returned Activities > Bikin', Campin', Hikin', and Kayakin' > Element Pop Top, which has a link to Ursa Minor Vehicles.

Also see Activities > Bikin', Campin', Hikin', and Kayakin' > My "Element C" pop-up down in Baja

Margaret

· #10 · Nov 8, 2007

I've just ordered my dead pedal by Ursa Minor. I hear it can really make a difference as far as comfort goes.

That white and black sure looks good. I hope Honda sees it.

ApriliaGuy

· #11 · Nov 8, 2007

That looks great John.

Congrats!

Will

Margaret

· #12 · Nov 9, 2007

Ursa Minor

What are adventure racers?

Flobox

· #13 · Nov 9, 2007

Are the decals on the side a business that you own, or did you get sponsors for the modifications?

TrailCrazy

· #14 · Nov 9, 2007

Think of adventure racing as an off road triathlon, usually involving trail running/kayaking/mountain biking instead of the normal run/swim/road biking. They also have "challenges" along the course like rappelling down a cliff. One I did a few years back had rappelling and another where you had to completely remove a bike tube, hold it up, and show the official otherwise you were penalized like 15 mins of time.
Of course the hard core adventure challenges require mountaineering skills and a whole slew of other stuff not required in the dinky amateur ones I've done.

Ursa Minor

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 11, 2007

Thanks! The owners of this E are professional adventure racers Paul Romero and Karen Lundgren of Team Sole sponsored by Sole Footbeds, with several other outdoor gear companies also in the mix for bikes/boats/packs and everything else needed to compete in these races, so the wrap included all these companies. We just build out their E for 'em, these companies aren't our sponsors!

As far as Adventure Racing, it grew out of triathalons & trail running into a full blown sport. The races are usually 24 hours or more, and with teams of 2 to 4 people using a variety of skills - running, orienteering, biking, paddling, and some mountaineering on occasion, but always back to back, with the use of sleep in a race part of the strategy!

I'll get some photos of the inside of an Ecamper up, this particular Element is not in our hands any more until the LA Auto Show!

cheers

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Drop_Box

· #16 · Nov 11, 2007

I need another element to do this to!

Hutmo

· #17 · Nov 11, 2007

POp Top Element

I have not been active on the EOC but I have been lurking deep in the deep dark shadows of the EOC forum.

The POP TOP E CAMPER CONVERSION HAS ME THINKING!!!!

Having been a VW Westfalia owner I have often looked over my Element with the thought of making it into a "Westfalia Element". I knew it was only a matter of time until this came along.The sunroof in the rear is perfect for entry!

The price of over 4,000 make me pause... ouch quite costly. I need to do some research on this idea to do one for myself.

Best regards,
HUTMO

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EXwSCnose

· #18 · Nov 11, 2007

Hutmo said:
I have not been active on the EOC but I have been lurking deep in the deep dark shadows of the EOC forum.

The POP TOP E CAMPER CONVERSION HAS ME THINKING!!!!

Having been a VW Westfalia owner I have often looked over my Element with the thought of making it into a "Westfalia Element". I knew it was only a matter of time until this came along.The sunroof in the rear is perfect for entry!

The price of over 4,000 make me pause... ouch quite costly. I need to do some research on this idea to do one for myself.

Best regards,
HUTMO

You need to see how well this top is built. NOT fiberglass but lightweight carbon-fiber shell with rechargeable German built gas struts just as we use them at Boeing for our aircraft C-17 assembly jigs. The fit is OEM worthy and keep in mind the periphery where the shell approaches the car has to be completely reconstructed. While I will agree that $4K is a substantial number one will get a durable and transferable product built with care and pride by world class craftsmen consisting of high grade materials. Come to think of it, $4K doesn't seem that bad anymore, especially when you see what other peoples may have done with $4K on their Es.

....hmmm, no, I have no connection to the builders, BUT I have seen their own rig on two occasions...

ApriliaGuy

· #19 · Nov 12, 2007

Hutmo said:
The price of over 4,000 make me pause... ouch quite costly.

It seems inexpensive after looking at Westys....or worse yet Westy Syncros!

It isn't really for me and my E, but I love the concept and execution.

For my budget and needs I've been shopping bay window VW pop-tops for now.:-|

Will

Drop_Box

· #20 · Nov 12, 2007

I agree 4k doesn't seem like much compared to how much I've spend on my E. Plus you have the camping abilities w/o having to tow anything behind.

Lightweight, ease of use, etc. etc. Lots of benefits with this set-up.

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