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Unicamp Kia Carnival Pop Top: An Affordable U.S. Minivan Camper Explained

Unicamp’s Kia Carnival Pop Top adds a two-adult electric pop-top bed for a listed $16,000 conversion price, with an optional Ququq box creating a four-sleeper layout.
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The Unicamp Kia Carnival Pop Top is a $16,000 roof conversion that turns the three-row Kia minivan into a two-person pop-top camper while preserving its everyday family-vehicle role. That price covers the conversion only—not the Carnival, taxes, delivery, installation-related charges or optional camping equipment.

What the Unicamp Kia Carnival camper is

Unicamp USA sells the Univan RT CL in the United States as the Kia Carnival Pop Top. It is not a factory-built recreational vehicle. Instead, Unicamp replaces or modifies the Carnival’s roof with an electrically assisted pop-top sleeping module. The underlying minivan remains usable for normal driving and family duties when the roof is closed.

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Unicamp says the roof opens and closes in approximately five seconds using either the Kia Carnival Smart Key or buttons inside the vehicle. A manual backup is provided if the powered mechanism cannot be used.

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Price: what the $16,000 listing includes—and excludes

Unicamp USA’s current product listing shows a $16,000 conversion price. New Atlas reported a $16,000 introductory price in 2023 and said the planned regular price was $18,000, so the current listing is the figure prospective buyers should verify with Unicamp.

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The conversion price is not a complete drive-away RV price. The total budget also has to account for:

  • The Kia Carnival itself
  • Taxes, registration, destination and dealer charges
  • Installation arrangements and any travel or shipping costs
  • Optional sleeping, cooking or storage equipment

New Atlas estimated a new Carnival plus the conversion at slightly more than $50,000 at launch in 2023, before optional camper equipment. That was a historical estimate, not a current U.S. on-road quote.

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Sleeping capacity and dimensions

The standard pop-top creates one elevated sleeping platform measuring 40 by 85 inches (102 by 216 cm), specified for two adults. It is best understood as a compact double bed rather than a spacious RV mattress.

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Feature Documented specification
Roof-bed size 40 x 85 in (102 x 216 cm)
Roof-bed capacity Two adults
Recommended roof load 485 lb
Roof operation Electric lift, approximately five seconds; manual backup
Ventilation Large window with integrated mosquito net
Roof construction Reinforced thermosetting plastic

How it becomes a four-sleeper camper

Four-person sleeping requires the optional Ququq camper-in-a-box described by New Atlas in 2023. The $4,000 package weighs 110 lb (50 kg) and adds equipment for the lower part of the cabin:

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  • A fold-out mattress measuring 43 by 77 inches (110 by 195 cm)
  • A dual-burner gas stove
  • Two 10-liter water canisters
  • A tailgate-mounted counter and table

With the roof bed and the Ququq mattress installed, the layout can sleep four people. The four-sleeper description therefore applies to a pop-top-plus-Ququq configuration, not to the $16,000 roof conversion by itself.

Everyday usability and operation

Opening the roof

Park the Carnival, use the Smart Key or interior controls to raise the roof, and allow the electric lift to complete its roughly five-second cycle. The manual backup gives owners a way to operate the roof if electrical assistance is unavailable; follow Unicamp’s supplied operating procedure rather than forcing the mechanism.

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Roof load

Unicamp lists a recommended roof load capacity of 485 lb. That figure should be treated as the conversion’s stated recommendation, including occupants and any items placed in the elevated sleeping area.

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Ventilation and insects

The pop-top uses a large ventilation window and integrated mosquito net, useful in warm-weather camping while keeping the sleeping area open to airflow.

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Is the Kia Carnival camper AWD?

No. The U.S.-specification Carnival described by New Atlas uses a 3.5-liter V6 driving the front wheels, and that coverage noted no all-wheel-drive option. Buyers who regularly travel on snow, loose surfaces or steep unpaved roads should not assume the pop-top conversion adds traction hardware; it does not change the Carnival’s drivetrain.

Unicamp also lists a Toyota Sienna Pop Top. The Sienna is the more relevant alternative for shoppers who prioritize available all-wheel drive and hybrid fuel economy. Compare the actual model year, seating configuration, conversion price, installation location and included camping equipment before deciding.

Safety and structural claims

Unicamp’s first-installation release says the roof underwent an intensive roof-crush test intended to ensure that the structure maintained or exceeded the original roof’s strength. That is a manufacturer statement about its testing, not independent certification or a government crash-test result.

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Before ordering, ask Unicamp and the installer how the conversion affects the specific Carnival’s warranty, roof loading, emergency procedures, insurance classification and local registration requirements. Those details can vary by vehicle year, installer and jurisdiction.

Who the Carnival Pop Top suits

  • Best fit: families or couples who want a daily-use minivan that can provide an occasional two-person sleeping platform.
  • Good fit with the Ququq: travelers who need four berths and a compact cooking and water setup without carrying a full-size RV.
  • Less suitable: buyers seeking factory-integrated plumbing, a built-in bathroom, generous standing room, all-wheel drive or a turnkey RV price.

What to confirm before buying

  1. Request a written quote separating the $16,000 conversion from the Carnival, taxes, delivery and installation costs.
  2. Confirm which Carnival model years and trims Unicamp currently accepts.
  3. Verify whether the quoted package includes the bed platform, mattress, controls and manual backup hardware.
  4. Price the Ququq separately if you need four sleeping positions, cooking equipment or water storage.
  5. Check roof-load guidance, warranty effects, insurance requirements and service support in your state.
  6. Compare the front-wheel-drive Carnival with the available-AWD Toyota Sienna Pop Top on fuel economy, seating and total installed cost.

Bottom line

The Unicamp Kia Carnival Pop Top is an unusually flexible entry into minivan camping: the current $16,000 conversion listing buys a fast-opening, two-adult roof bed while leaving the Carnival usable as a family vehicle. A Ququq box can turn it into a four-sleeper with a small kitchen, but the combined price, base vehicle and front-wheel-drive layout mean it is not a low-cost substitute for every type of RV.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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