X-Gloo with pneumatic roof system study at the CMT 2025

New study shows inflatable lifting roof with 3DTEX technology for motorhomes and caravans

Photo by: X Gloo

By: Fabian Grass

Jan 20, 2025 at 3:09am ET

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The company X-Gloo has developed a new roof system study for the Mercedes Sprinter, which will be presented at CMT 2025 in Stuttgart. The concept is based on X-Gloo's 3DTEX technology and aims to improve the comfort, flexibility and space efficiency of motorhomes.

The centrepiece of the study is a pneumatic lifting roof that inflates automatically in around 90 seconds. It creates an additional sleeping area with a sleeping surface of 1.96 x 1.48 metres. The X-Gloo 3DTEX material used is opaque, sound-absorbing and has good insulating properties.

Photo by: X Gloo

Photo by: Hymer

The firmness of the integrated inflatable mattress can be adjusted via a smartphone app or a control panel. An electronic control system monitors the air pressure to ensure the stability of the pneumatic structure. The X-Gloo 3DTEX material is highly resistant to UV radiation, water and wind. A PU coating contributes to its durability. According to the manufacturer, the heat transfer coefficient of 2.28 W/m²/K corresponds to the insulation performance of an 8 cm thick brick wall.

The X-Gloo 3DTEX technology is also used in other vehicles. The Bürstner Lyseo Gallery, for example, has an inflatable alcove roof that creates an additional living space with over one metre of headroom in 90 seconds.

Hymer Venture S with inflatable lifting bellows

Photos by: Hymer

The Hymer Venture S also has a pneumatic lifting roof with a sleeping area of 2.10 x 1.48 metres. It is operated via an app or the vehicle electronics. The Adria TWIN Sports 640 SGX also uses this technology to create additional living space thanks to the pop-top roof and at the same time improve aerodynamics when travelling.

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The Bürstner Caravan Talis is a flexible and lightweight caravan concept. Despite its small external dimensions, it offers plenty of living space thanks to the so-called Air-Xtension system: the fixed transverse bed in the rear becomes a large lengthways bed measuring 200 x 170 cm.

Lyseo Gallery TD with Gallery-Roof roof construction

Photo by: Bürstner

Adria Twin Sports with pneumatic pop-top roof

Photo by: Adria

According to the manufacturer, the X-Pump developed for the system works quietly and enables the pop-top roof to be put up and taken down in less than two minutes. It is installed in the rear garage or in furniture and connected to the vehicle electronics. With a power consumption of up to 300 watts, it utilises the 12 V on-board voltage.

For safety reasons, the system consists of several chambers so that the structure is held by the other chambers in the event of damage. At 150-200 mbar, the operating pressure is well below the specified burst pressure of 1400 mbar.

The new roof system for the Mercedes Sprinter offers an impressive amount of space. With an interior height of 115 cm and an interior width of 135 cm, it creates a generous feeling of space, which is further enhanced by the almost parallel roof walls and the X-Gloo 3DTEX technology. For installation, the system is placed on the existing vehicle roof and a passageway is cut out. Access is via a ladder.

With this innovative retractable roof system, X-Gloo aims to reinterpret mobile living. The combination of 3DTEX technology, generous space and weatherproof design is intended to meet the demands of modern campers. According to the manufacturer, variants for other vehicle models such as the VW Crafter or Fiat Ducato are planned from 2026, in which larger interior widths could also be realised.