Pop Top Showdown: Alu-Cab Hercules vs Mulgo. Troopy Talk Episode 3
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- Finally a comparison video that shows the advantages and disadvantages of these great pop top conversions and all the finer details to help make your decision easier from owners with real-life experience.
Mulgo fitters
www.expedition...
www.cms4x4.com.au
/ odyssey_custom_fitouts
Alu-Cab Hercules Info
www.alu-cab.co...
Thank you Nick Walford for your time and drone footage
/ mr_4wd
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Hi all, my name is Ben, I have worked for both companies and currently still at one. Which you will be able to guess. I would love to add some info to this video for a few things that were addressed and a few other points. Many touching on a bit more of the reasoning behind design.
Mulgo is designed and manufactured by a team who has travelled the world extensively in a vehicle. Internal latching is actually more then just a few seconds setting up in the rain, you don’t have to leave the vehicle to open and close the roof which in an emergency, wildlife encounter or just plain terrible weather scenario means you can actually just pack up and go without leaving the vehicle.
And Alu Cab owners, you would want a few extra sets of roof latches as the break regularly.
As for canvas and bed width, two adults lying next to each other in Hercules and also alu cab tents results in shoulders touching the side of the tent which leads to condensation and wet campers. Not fun in the desert in winter trust me. The airtex canvas used in Mulgo doesn’t draw water. As for the darkness in canvas that’s irrelevant when sleeping in the bush.
Velco vs Zippers. Well zippers seize. Velcro doesn’t.
Bed length. If alu cab bed is closed and someone needs to pee in the middle of the night. Guess what? Your gonna have a angry wife who has to wake up and moved so you can pull apart the bed.
Internal fire? Another reasoning why Mulgo bed is one piece. Don’t wanna get stuck upstairs.
There was a 6 foot 6 Mulgo customer who had no issues with the single bed platform.
As for external closing of Mulgo, that can be arranged on fitment as we do all CUSTOM fitting. Alu cab is an out of a box product.
All Mulgo is CUSTOM to each vehicle to due travellers needs.
It may sound like I’m throwing one company under the bus, I am just highlighting some stuff that should be mentioned.
Free to answer any questions!!
Hi Ben. Some great points. Maybe you can help me with two things . first we have a third seat. Do you know if the mulgo or alucab allows more headspace for the person in the third seat when closed? Also, how does the mulgo go in wet weather without the awning. If it’s raining does it mean all windows need to be closed so no ventilation or is there a workaround for that?
Great video @fritzintroopy. Thanks for the comparison
Hey Ben. Thanks for your awesome input. I’m sure it will be extremely helpful for anyone watching and reading this. All excellent points which is why we love Mulgo so much. Cheers and thanks again.
@@toryheaslop9069 hi Tory, the Alu Cab unit sits higher on the car and is a much taller heavier unit. We fit Mulgos to all two, three or five seater troopies. Both units sit lower then original roof as bed has to fit somewhere. Wet weather, I’ve had one up in cape York in summer time. Hot, muggy, wet. The canvas itself is breathable. Windows can be rolled down from the top and still under the outer edge of roof.
@Kelvin Weeding Thanks Kevin. Really helpful to know. I’ve been wondering about that for ages!
Good relevant information Ben. How does the Canvas on side of tent go when sideways windy rain, no water seeps in? Does having one of these mean you have to manage airing the side wall canvas out from time to time should the canvas be wet from again sideways rain & when you pull it down/close and the canvas could still be damp?
The Alu-cab is much better.
What appeals to you please. Regards.
Despite numerous objective pros for the Mulgo. I also state my opinion as fact on the internet lol
@@StephenStHill-si7en we live as a daily basis on our troopy 3 years now... Strong winds and rainy winters in Galicia-Spain. We open our roof twice per day... And it is still like brand new. We had made a few minor improvements on it but we would buy it again for sure.
No your mum is
I would like to know what the interior height is when the roof top is closed? Is there any difference between the both? (As I would also like to sit and sleep inside when the roof top conversion is closed - for example in cities.) Thanks!
The interior height from underside of bed platform to metal cargo area 1110mm for Mulgo v2
From what I've seen, as an automotive design engineer, the Mulgo units appear to be designed around a roof replacement frame, whereas the Alu-Cab just seem to be a rooftop tent redimensioned to fit. That's certainly true on the Defender pop tops, where the Mulgo Cant rail completely replaces the roof for structural & torsional purposes so the vehicle could actually be driven with no roof. The tent is then built into that. The Alu-Cab doesn't seem to have much more than the Gen 3 tent bolted on & the lid clearly takes some torsional stress as they all bust the latches in use.
I know which way my Defender is going 👍
we're definitely happy with the design now having driven over some pretty rough stuff and done a fair bit of 4WD ing. the whole unit seems rock solid. great design
Not to mention the weight!
The finishing, materials and detail on the Alucab is far superior in my opinion.
A few years back I was looking at both of these conversions...ultimately went for the Alu-Cab for the extra length of the bed, the darker style canvas and the availability of a distributer not far from where I live. Haven't looked back in getting the Hercules conversion.
Thank you also for the life hack of adding a strap from the main bed looped thru the smaller flap to be able to pull it all down from the outside, fantastic idea!
If I'm able to provide a hack which I use to be able to close the main lid A LOT easier. I leave all 3 windows 1/4 to 1/2 open with the canvas folded in towards the fly screen (so as to not get caught) that way the air trapped inside can easily escape and the top will come down no worries at all. The lid has an exception weather seal the full perimeter and have never had rain, dust or sand enter under the lid and into the bed. Hope this helps!
👍👍
Thanks Nigel for these great comments and tips. Appreciate it. Cheers
Yes! Finally a comparison video of these two pop top conversions. Thank you!
our pleasure!
The Hercules Canvas is awesome. In the night it's 100% private.
That would be a plus for sure
I have to agree, and camping in the bush with no street lights is good but there can still be very bright moonlight at times and the Hercules I have found is completely dark which is awesome
Last week I had my Alu Cab Canopy Camper installed ( it has the same pop-up as in your video). l learned a few setup techniques and that I will likely need to get a 1" topper. Thanks for the great content.
our pleasure Terry, glad you found it useful
Couple of Questions:
Just curious here with the Mulgo... to make the Bed longer, could u store a suitable size piece of Plywood under the mattress then pull it out and slot it in the open area to increase the length of the bed or just make something similar to what the AluCab has?
Also, Is there a option (paid extra) to have the windows/flyscreen modified to have zippers?
I noticed on the Alucab that once in bed that it would be impossible to exit the bed area during the night to go to the toilet without disturbing your partner...
During heavy rain period when packing up... With the Mulgo having no awnings I assume the canvas could get quite wet - when packing up is there a catch that water could eventually seep through the canvas when packed up and wetting the inside?
Great comparison... I didn't realise the differences between the 2. I initially preferred the AluCab but seeing the difference in bed width, extra height and overall height, the Mulgo might be better suited for our needs
Hey Rob, glad you found the video useful. You could make the bed longer using your plywood or similar technique for sure. I haven't bothered because its just long enough for me. Regarding the wet canvas apparently its not an issue for the bedding as it doesn't seep through. We've yet to be caught in very heavy rain. The worst we had was a shower overnight which made the canvas moist and there was no issue
This is great - a world exclusive! Here are my thoughts and comments on my Hercules.
Firstly - additional height. I really struggled to get a clear answer from AluCab on this, which really annoyed me. One fitment manual said 4.9cm additional height, another document or email from AluCab said up to 14cm. Considering I had a strict limitation with my car park height, this was really important to me. It's also pretty critical for anyone considering a Hercules, so I don't understand why they don't make it clearer. There is some leeway, it seems, depending on how it's fitted, which AluCab should document. The garage that fitted mine in the end were aware of my car park height - a little over 2.2m. In the end the Hercules added 8cm additional height. This, along with a a 5cm lift, left my Troopy a shade over 2.2m, which meant I could fit it in my car park. You can imagine my nerves when I first drove it home after the conversion... And how pleased I was when I made it to my parking space intact! (Obviously I had measured things all over the place to be sure, but still).
Weight - it may weigh 116kg, but the original Troopy roof is obviously removed. According to one of AluCab's fitment manuals, it adds 80kg overall to the Troopy once fitted. Presumably the bits of the roof that are removed as part of the fitment process weigh 36kg.
I really like the fact that the Mulgo lights have usb sockets into them. I had my garage run some power up inside, but it's not as neat as just plugging your phone into the base of the lights at each side of the bed. For me that would make a huge difference to the practicality of the Hercules.
I'm 183cm (6ft) and it's not really a problem if the person next to me needs to open the 'lid' to get out when I'm asleep. That area is also a nice spot to store clothes, books, etc, when you're asleep up there. Some people convert it so that it's cut in half so one person can slip down. With regards to the Mulgo I think for me it would be weird sleeping with a gap behind my head, plus my pillows, Kindle, etc, would fall over the edge at night! I've only ever slept up there with my daughter (8 at the time of writing). If it's my wife and daughter out with me I get relegated to a small pop up tent. I'm sure my wife and I would fit up there ok together and I know a couple who have travelled for weeks in theirs. When you're on your own it feels positively luxurious up there.
I need to check my side windows - a friend who bought one at the same time has zips on his for the fly mesh. I looked the other day and couldn't find any zips, perhaps I have velcro? Either way I've never felt the need to open them yet, but I can see why it would be nice to be able to.
I often don't bother with the 'awning' at the rear. I find I open the side windows to get some breeze or look at the view rather than the back window, but it's nice to have the option. A top tip if you do regularly put the rear awning up - get some grip tape on your rear bumper! It's really easy to slip, especially when the bumper is wet from rain or damp with morning dew.
The clips at the read do pop open. I have two little caribiners there to keep it closed. If I were travelling outside the UAE or the GCC, I'd put a padlock on them.
The Hercules is really well insulated. Keeps me warm at night (it can get chilly in the UAE, but rarely to sub-zero temperatures.) Best of all it keeps me cool in the morning when the sun's out. I tend to, ahem, go to bed quite late and like to sleep in in the morning. When my friends' tents have turned into microwave ovens from the sun at 7am, I'm still nice and cool in my roof, especially with the help of a small fan, until well after ten during camping season. This is very important to my enjoyment of camping!
The shelf at the front is great. I need to carpet mine so I can stick things onto it. I've run some power up into it, so I can charge things there easily.
When I was ordering mine in 2018/19 Mulgo would only install at their HQ in Oz (or at least only at affiliates elsewhere in Australia), so they weren't an option.
The Mulgo does look like a great bit of kit - there's no clear winnder and I do understand what Ben says in his comments above about being able to open and close the roof in bad weather, or when surrounded by animals. That's not an issue for the way I use it, or for anyone else I know who has one in the UAE, but the point is still valid.
Both great options and I'm very happy with my AluCab Hercules. It does turn the Troopy into something you could genuinely live out of for long periods of time. I hope I get to do that one day.
Thanks Christopher for this detailed contribution. I'm sure it will be every useful. Cheers
Alu-cab is like a tank
Great review thank you for that! So in a nutshell the Mulga is for Hobbits and the Alu Cab for normal people. ;) ;) ;) You showed me a lot of ideas for our Alu-Cab Hercules, e.g. that you can put down only the little bit to sit on it in bad weather, great idea. The pull down strap for closing both platforms at the same time. You didn't mention the electric set up, e.g. the reading LED lights up inside on either side, the lights in the front and end. For the closing of the roof in general, it is much easier if you leave a window unzipped and to make it much easier as well you should put the string where you pull below the rubber band which is holding the sides together, so when you pull it down at the same time you are pulling the walls inside... The comparison though doesn't fit 100%, "Harder to open and close" (In the video it looks much more work to close the Mulga), "Looks bulkier" (subjective), whereby darker inside is a huge plus for the A-C (when I am inside I usually want to sleep). The awning is a big plus, when it is raining you can leave the window open, without you cant. Great review! Much appreciated, thank you!
Hobbits... too funny😂. Interestingly many taller people find the Mulgo bed length suitable for their needs and comfort so I guess its up to individual like and dislikes. thanks for the extra tips much appreciated
Great review guys! Busy looking at buying a troopy in SA now that we can buy them again and really like the Alucab version. It seems neater than the other Mulgo with all it’s bit hanging down. Also nothing better on an awesome night or morning to open the sides up. With our Hannibal Roof top tent I have often retired to bed early while the other stay at the fire and continued chatting through the window. I am Lucky to stay in Cape Town and the owner of Alucab Jeremy is giving me his personal troopy for the day to check it out. Great 👍 video
Glad you liked it. Good luck with your build
It’s very tempting to get a conversion, thanks for providing this comparison guys! Love the vid 😍🤗
Both models very gentle on the eyes😉
I agree but the Mulgo is gentler... hahah
I'm 182 and Mulgo works fine length wise. I don't sleep on my back with my toes pointing straight up, call me weird :P - also at first glance the extra bedroom is better in the alucab, but getting up for a pee in the middle of the night is no longer possible if you have your partner in there with you.
Climbing down separately is fantastic I agree. Mulgo all the way. Thanks
How many times do Mulgo users loose there pillow down the hole in the night 🤣
What if the shelf was cut in two so that each side could be moved independently?
To hard heap of shit....
I had a KEA Conquer 2007 vintage twice the room way easier to use better ventilation a benchmark in pop tops ...these aluminium cabs would be a nightmare in high winds and when it wet and freezing outside.
A hard top is a better option than these expensive mistakes
Awesome you feel you had such a great pop top... everything has its pluses and minuses... cheers
I think I would go for the Mulgo.
This was a great video. I had never heard of the Mulgo before and it was really helpful having such a thorough comparison between it and the Alu-Cab.
Cheers Matt Glad you found it useful
Awesome work folks. I finally went with the Hercules top being a single bloke with stuff on the roof and that extra bit to perch on is cool. Thanks to Ben for his input, I'll be thinking about fires now and will be keeping a box cutter up there for emergency exits hopefully there's time to unzip a window though. Goes on at the end of May. See you out on the tracks.
Cheers mate! always good to have an escape plan... although you could always use those handy side zips... hahaha. see you out there!
Great video . I had the alucab and loved it apart from not wide enough for 2 . I do like the mulgo especially the width . Disappointing with the mulgo is the canvas hanging down when closed and have to wrap up also I can see pillows falling down all the time . The alucab is not wide enough and would stop me going that route again . I can see easy improvements in the Mulgo eg have a second hatch like alucab which would stop pillows etc falling , add length and I would also replace the material as it looks really cheap. The alucab material is perfect. Again I love the alucab but would go Mulgo next time and add improvements myself .
The width is really important for us too. Cheers
Nice car 👌💸
I own the Hercules and just want to say the wind noise is something to get used to. So if the mulgo has less wind noise it be the winner despite all of its other shortfalls
Looks like an Exped Megamat Duo would fit inside the mulgo for extra comfort, and deflat for more room when closing up
Cheers will check it out.
@@fritzintroopy it does and works fine, I use it under the existing foam and deflate it. You can buy an exped widget which inflates it.
Another issue, Australian vs RSA…..
Oh the pros and cons. ?????
Brilliant comparison presentation.
I like the extra width of Alucab
But
Prefer the zip arrangement of Mulgo
thanks so much Peter, Glad you liked it
Great video mate. I dream of those rigs
Thanks Lyndon, cheers
can I ask what material is used to make the bed panel?
for which conversion alucab or Mulgo?
@@fritzintroopy either of them. I am guessing some sort of composite panel?
2 GREAT 'PRODUCTS'!!!! ..Just WISH The TROOPY Was 'Available' Up Here in Canada!! CHEERS!
thanks... you guys are missing out
@@fritzintroopy we're Deprived Over HERE!! You Guy's have All The 'FUN'!!...lol..
How does it effect the handling of the vehicle having the extra kgs up top, is there more body roll. Awesome video guys 🤟🤟
probably more than a standard troopy but given the most people load a roof rack up there probably the same as most touring set ups
13k & 14k for items with flaws WTF like cheap arse matressses
yes a thicker mattress would have been nice!
Just keep in mind, the Mulgo will soon have a panel to make the bed longer.
Really? Where did you hear that?
@@fritzintroopy in the group
Both really crap,looks like they'll all copy my design down the track
what's your design?
Now I just need Maltec and Tom's Fahrzeugtechnik to be added to your comparison.
I’d love to a Maltec one day. They look pretty cool. I’ll have to look the other one. Cheers
Can the rear seats stay in with the bed installed?
Can’t see why not might be better to ask Expedition centre or Ben on these comment threads
Yes.
Mulgo, sleep width, lighter weight by 30 plus kgs ?, custome made with aluminium checker plate roof, internal hinge. With out a lock external on the Aly cab, could someone not open break in whilst your out surfing/hiking etc .?
What are the insurance, is it easy to add another 15 k to a 75 k troopy plus 10/15 of 4x4 accessories?
Great video thank you for this ?, both great products, great for options but I think mulgo for the win, for me !, cheers
Another consideration is low height / low profile, as even my standard troopy, height is always an issue for car parks sheds etc !
The external locking only on the Hercules would definitely make it easier to break in. Thanks for the feedback
I don’t think a theft will even think to open up a tent that size when there is a window? You could also add an internal lock to Alucab
Great video - much appreciated. Probably already covered in the comments but could you confirm difference in load capacity on the roof. What weight can each take. thanks
Cheers Michael. I know from personal correspondence with the Mulgo designer that it is rated to 150kg which is the same as what Toyota rates the Troopy roof at production. Not sure about the All cab version I coudnt find any info about that. Of course with a 150kg on the roof you wouldn't be able to lift the roof without unpacking it first but I have seen a photo of the Mulgo carrying a motorbike over corrugated roads and there was no issue at all from a structural point of view
This is the first video I've seen with a tall person talking honestly about the room.
Cheers
I appreciate you are in mostly sunny Australia but any provisions for the fabric part for cold weather, rain?
Hi Dimitris, I'm not aware of any insulation that is made for either model. Rain doesn't seem to be problem though
The Mulgo bed length can be improved by sliding the mattress back 50 mm and use the foot end for extra storage I put awning poles and sides in there.
Great idea. That would for sure. Cheers
Haven't watched it yet, but this video is really appreciated!!
How is the ride comfort and road noise in a troopy, compare to say a land cruiser 200?
Hi Malcolm, Haven't spent too much time in a 200 series but From what Ive heard Troopies are significantly noisier and a rougher ride. They are after all an agricultural vehicle built pretty simply and for much abuse
This is great guys, thanks for posting this. I'm still undecided which way to go! I'm only 5'2 and would need to be able to close the tent by myself, do you think this would be too hard with the Alucab? I like the Mulgo but don't know if it would be too bright at night for me if there are other campers around
Hi Genevieve. I've asked Nick and he thinks you might struggle pulling down and pushing open the Alucab tent especially if you are light in weight/strength. Pushing open and pulling down the Mulgo also requires a bit of effort. Mrs Fritz is quite strong and she can only push it open from the inside... which is the standard way the Mulgos come. We added external handles and strap...Best to try it out first if you can.
Regarding the light coloured Mulgo fabric... I would be more concerned about the noise from other campers if you are that close and you are worried about light...
Hope that helps
Peter
@@fritzintroopy awesome thank you! invaluable info. looks like I might be heading to NSW for the mulgo installation.
Both look great
How do you get down if one wants to go to toilet in middle of night, without both of you having to get up?
Hi Anna. In the Mulgo its less of an issue as there is space to climb down but in the Alucab the small end flap does need to be lifted which would mean the partner would have to sit up or move down the bed. In the Mulgo we have no issue getting up and down. One of us just moves over to the side a bit to allow the other to swing their legs through. Hope that helps
Do you leave your window cracked to allow the air to escape? Might be easier to close.
the back door is always open so that's probably enough vent space... good thought though....cheers
I'm looking at purchasing a Troopy soon and I'm learning towards the Mulgo due to it being much lighter and having a lower profile to the Alu-cab. I'm only a 173cm so the length of the Mulgo should be just fine for me.
hey Andrew... I reckon you'll be just fine in it at your height. Enjoy
@@fritzintroopy I enjoyed the comparison, you did a good job explaining the pros and cons of each. Just a question mate on how does it perform when it’s windy, is that a issue or not really? I’ve heard from others who had roof top tents and they said they were terrible when it was windy, so I’m keen to see how the Mulgo holds up.
@@andyedison2416 a mild to moderate wind isn't too bad especially if its not too cold and you can open the sides and let the link go through... Anymore than that and they do flap about a fair bit which is annoying but It would be the same for all RTT with canvas.At least the mungo has no zips to make noise in the wind though...
Very informative... wish I could try it😜
Thank you Leonora for your wonderful feedback
lol, after adding the alu cab and lithium set up i want to sell my troopy for a 79series 😂😂😂😅... love the troopy though. I want portal axles and a removal camper. 🤪..
you'll want to go back to the troopy, I have both and much prefer the troopy to drive. my opinion.
I’ve got a 79 and wondering if I should get a 78 tbh
@@newlife8318 i commented this to him directly and he said he would go back. As soon as he started driving it you could see he had made a mistake, you could see it in his expression. And guess what? He did exactly what i said to him would do. I have both models and the 79 just sit in my garage as new.
I wonder if the same differences would apply to the defender variants🤔
Mulgo defender pop top is worlds apart. The original roof is customised into the new pop top roof. Colour coded or painted to customers choice. Not just a generic black or white. Bed systems are the same in both products.
Alu cab roof stick out like a sore thumb. Mulgo looks like it’s been driven out of the original factory
Some beautiful troopys right there
Thanks mate.
If it's wet when you pull them down, does the mattress get damp?
Hi Duncan. Great question. So far we haven't had an issues with any moisture getting through. The fabric seems pretty waterproof. We had a small amount get through the velcro window seals but that was our fault as we didn't close it properly. Cheers
@@fritzintroopy Thanks
Great video, guys! 🤙
thanks so much
Nice video lads, and good to be balanced.
Thanks so much
Love the video, now I just wish we could get the troopy in the U.S.
Sad that you can't get them there... only second hand imports I believe
@@fritzintroopy yes, have to be 25 years old.
Perhaps they should make them a little larger to handle the pillows.
vacuum bag the pillows, very simple.
@@christurner68 I don't see many of the 4x programs talking about vacuum bags. It's quite easy to make a pump that is driven off an air compressor.
eg. www.nexflow.com/blog/venturi-system-vs-vacuum-pumps/ for the principle.
Then you can vacuum pack clothes into a very small space, keeping them clean dry and free of bugs etc.
@@Nickle314 there are also small portable products that are used to deflate air mattresses as well. But yes thinking outside the box
@@christurner68 I've a pump you can use both ways.
Both crap designs go outside under 270 awning