autohomes poptop front catch release,.. broke!?

[Therunner]

okay so the van's on ebay & i decided to check the roof, after a long time of it not being used,.

pulled the bl**sy release handle from inside off!

now trying to bust the catch open but nothing's budging,.
anyone had to break into their roof before can you advise please??...

cheers

[Therunner]

ok, managed to get the front up!

now is there a catch at the back? because it feels like there is...

cheers

[Therunner]

Both ends up now. Just have to repair the bonnet style catch on the front and then the hole I cut in the front to access it!

Melvin

[samk]

you seem to have sorted out the problem yourself!

I don't know the answers as such but I have the same pop - top. The catch on mine didn't always click into place wen I fir got it - turned out all in needed was a decent oiling! i never pulled the latch off though!

it it the whole van you're buying or just the top?

[samk]

Meant to say. Make sure the roof isn't leaking (probably is!) check for external cracks, check for internal water marks etc - i know i'm probably stating the obvious but just in case...

on mine the front seal has pulled away, there is water inside and the aluminum sheet on top has quite a few little holes (it's really thin). All fixable in a botched DIY kind of way but ideally it needs to be replaced totally

[dooooogle]

Hi iv got an Autohomes Kamper with a GRP pop roof, and fold down sides (I called it a safri top as you can see outside when the roof goes up) I think our lid has been replaced in the past as it has a Brickwerks logo on it and is in good nick however it has raised questions in my head, so for Kamper pop roof owners can you help me?

1) The metal lock that the bonet style lock closes into (the bit fixed to the van, not pop roof) appears to have gone very rusty. Anyone ever seen spares for these or do I need to find a metal shop to bash me a new one up? Bit concerned it might fail when I reach warp speed on the motorway.

2) I have nothing holding my roof down at the back - just the rusty looking bonet latch at the front - does anyone else's kamper have a lock at the back. The roof lid its self has metal fixings, but the van has nothing to secure it when down. If there is something on the van, is this some how connected to the release catch you pull inside the van?

3) when the roof is down, can you see the gas struts inside the van ( I can) and does your roof sit flush on the GRP surround? ( Mine does not). Might be cause for my locking mechanism going rusty.

I guess I could add some photos to help show what I mean when its light outside. Other than that the roof appears to be waterproof and did not leak in the gale force wind and rain we had over Easter (but it was like a fridge up there)

[colinthefox]

Hi, Autohomes Kamper people.

I've got a complete GRP roof skirt (but not the pop top) sitting in my yard in good nick, but the gutter flange carefully cut away at the gutter line so I could get it off.

Any good to anyone? Free to collector. Devon.

And yes, there is supposed to be a catch at the back. Just a simple spring latch that could just as well be home made.

And yes, the front catches do sometimes let go, or the screws pull out of the soggy plywood, depositing all your pillows that you stuff into the roof on to the motorway, and causing much mirth from other motorists.

And yes, it's OK to see the struts from inside the van, and the rubber seal on the bottom edge of the roof is supposed to fit tight to the GRP skirt. (Must be noisy if it doesn't!)

Colin

[silverbullet]

For what it's worth, the front catch looks very mutch like a bonnet catch from BMC/Leyland/Rover/Triumph from the late 70's/early 80's. Jiffies removed his Autohomes roof and swapped it for a Viking that I sold him last year. I don't know if he's still got it knocking around - worth a pm?

[samk]

I'm probably removing my Autohomes pop top soon so will be selling a few of the bits and pieces (need to recoup some costs!) wont be too expensive though. Not exactly sure when this will happen, bit it will!

And yes, I will be asking all of you whove done the same about taking mine off. Obviously the top pop top section wont be too bad but not ure where i'd start with the roof cap section!