Club 80-90 Forums

How are people securing pop top roofs down?

This is a Westfalia reproduction roof which came with no cleats where a strap could pass through and then be secured to another point on the van to ensure wont pop up when driving.

There are 4 holes in the roof which have been carpeted over could be used to screw in some sort of cleat?
How are original are the original roofs secured down?



At the moment I have a ratchet strap across the top hooked into the gutters on either side.


Thanks a lot.

I would like to use a strap similar to this

There should be a latch on a Westy roof, I’ll get a picture

davidoft1 wrote:There should be a latch on a Westy roof, I’ll get a picture

Its a reproduction roof, not an original roof

you should make something like this on the two corners:
https://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/threads/sid ... wn.259015/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com/t2359-poptop" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rtmgsn wrote:

davidoft1 wrote:There should be a latch on a Westy roof, I’ll get a picture

Its a reproduction roof, not an original roof

Yes still understand it’s a repro roof so I expect it can be held down in the same way as the roof it’s a copy of ?

do you have the H bar setup and reinforcing plates??

davidoft1 wrote:

Rtmgsn wrote:

davidoft1 wrote:There should be a latch on a Westy roof, I’ll get a picture

Its a reproduction roof, not an original roof

Yes still understand it’s a repro roof so I expect it can be held down in the same way as the roof it’s a copy of ?

Its hard to get an original westfalia latch mechanism. Only the latch pin is available in repro.

mrhutch wrote:do you have the H bar setup and reinforcing plates??

The roof is slightly different, the mechanism does not include the H plates seen on the original pop roofs...
Unless the H plates were an accessory/after market option to support the roof?

ZsZ wrote:you should make something like this on the two corners:
https://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/threads/sid ... wn.259015/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com/t2359-poptop" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This looks pretty spot on, I am just unsure on drilling into the roof and being able to secure a bolt into it properly?

Rtmgsn wrote:

mrhutch wrote:do you have the H bar setup and reinforcing plates??

The roof is slightly different, the mechanism does not include the H plates seen on the original pop roofs...
Unless the H plates were an accessory/after market option to support the roof?

This way of doing it is not an option as my roof does not have the H frame..

Rtmgsn wrote:

ZsZ wrote:you should make something like this on the two corners:
https://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/threads/sid ... wn.259015/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com/t2359-poptop" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This looks pretty spot on, I am just unsure on drilling into the roof and being able to secure a bolt into it properly?

Use some plates or fender washers behind the bolts to spread the load.

Thank you will do, I have identified suitable areas to drill a cleat into the van, bit of an odd one because the original roof was a boat like hightop looked almost home made which has been taken off and the hole cut out of the roof has been cut slightly too wide!

Am I correct in saying I should not drill through the pop roof and secure the bolt from the outside too?
Confused as to what it the bolt will screw into as the rood is relatively thin.

Thanks

ZsZ wrote:

Rtmgsn wrote:

ZsZ wrote:you should make something like this on the two corners:
https://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/threads/sid ... wn.259015/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com/t2359-poptop" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This looks pretty spot on, I am just unsure on drilling into the roof and being able to secure a bolt into it properly?

Use some plates or fender washers behind the bolts to spread the load.

If there is no strenghtening frame built in on the perimeter of the roof which you can screw into then you will need to drill the fiberglass.
You have to bolt through the roof skin, the bolt is pushed in from the outside, a washer or reinforcing plate on each side and a nut on the inside. Its wise to use some non silicone caulk under the washer to seal around the bolt.
Something like this, although poptops usually have no core foam as boats do:

I think this is my solution, thanks a lot.

The roof has 4 holes which have been carpeted over (see first post photos) could I just use these holes?
These current holes are bang in the middle of the roof though.. might not pull down the roof enough and then become a hazard..

ZsZ wrote:If there is no strenghtening frame built in on the perimeter of the roof which you can screw into then you will need to drill the fiberglass.
You have to bolt through the roof skin, the bolt is pushed in from the outside, a washer or reinforcing plate on each side and a nut on the inside. Its wise to use some non silicone caulk under the washer to seal around the bolt.
Something like this, although poptops usually have no core foam as boats do: