How to remove Autohomes pop top

[jiffies]

Anyone know the best way to remove an Autohomes roof altogether? Thought if I managed to remove it carefully enough I could sell it for parts or in whole. It currently leaks & needs one or more gas struts replacing. It has the hard plastic sides that are still ok. Im replacing it with a Viking roof
Cheers

[timthetrader]

ive got a magazine article somewhere with my own van where the previous owner did exactly that and pic of how he did it to a autohomes! I will find it and post it up for you!

[jiffies]

That would be great. I was hoping to do it this weekend so if you can post it up ASAP, much appreciated

[samk]

try doing a search on here. I have the same roof and it needs replacing soon. I remember doing a search and finding a thread where someone explained how to do it.

[samk]

hmmm, cant seem to find the thread. Perhaps a few old ones were lost when 80 90 moved to the new server?

Anyway, did find this one that may be of some help

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... op#p180944" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[badger]

Couple of scaffolding planks between van roof & poptop, then tip the roof onto next door's driveway, hack it up with a saw/axe/hammer (or whatever other implements you have at hand) and take it to the tip; that's what i did with mine anyway..

Salvage any useable parts first, struts, undamaged sides etc - if you're changing it because it leaks, is someone seriously going to buy the complete roof & go to the trouble of fitting it?

PS. It's heavier than you think...

[simple]

Did this last year, save yourself the trouble, remove whats salvagable (roof vent, side windows, gas struts) and just rip the old leaky one off and sling it.

Keep the brackets at the front on the tintop, these can be used to rivet a high top on (more security).

[jiffies]

Thanks for the tips. Getting the roof cap off looks the easy bit. But getting the actual fibreglass off that sits ontop of the tin top looks trickier. It looks as though its glued on at the guttering & surround. Whats the best thing to remove this?

[simple]

decorators scraper and hammer, if the roofs knackered you don't need to be too careful .

[jiffies]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

It turned out to be alot easier than anticipated. Biggest problem was the weight of the roof cap. It took 3 of us to lift it carefully off the van. The fibreglass plinth that sits on the van guttering was simply screwed down & then glued on which the glue had no adhesion anyway. So unce unscrewed was just leverred off.

Anybody want any roof parts? Collection from Southampton preferred. Can upload photos if required. It cannot be used as it is, but could be used for parts or fully reconditioned with time & money

4x Gas struts (The roof popped up & stayed in position so presume some of them are ok, although I think at least one needs re-gassing/re-placing)
Roof cap (Fibreglass in reasonble condition, no cracks) Roof vent leaks though so will need stripping down inside & replacing inside roof lining
Fibreglass plinth (Reasonable condition) a few cracks around screw holes os sides that occured when removing
Side panels with windows. One side is ok, other side has a few lumps along bottom edge that occurred when removing. Fixed windows are fine though

Cheers

[RebelT82]

Hi Guys

I want to attempt this myself over the winter as I cant pop the top anymore. Can I ask what ye did after ye got the roof off and discarded it.
Really what I want to know is what ye repaced it with and is there much work involved in fitting a new roof ie. cutting a bigger roof hole???
Id love to attempt this myself to cut down on cost but might half to fork out and head to timber tech.

Any help would be great
Thanks
Dave

[simple]

What ever you do don't cut a bigger hole, you will greatly reduce the structural integrity of the van.

I fitted a hightop myself, dead easy. If there was enough space to get up in the original poptop there is enough space to get up in the top bunk, whatever top you put on.

Personally I would start a search for a second hand hightops on ebay and on here, however if your diy challanged or have the cash to get it done, from what Iv'e heard Timbertechs are the chaps to do the work.

Good luck

[samk]

Hi Guys

I want to attempt this myself over the winter as I cant pop the top anymore. e

Have you tried plus gas or similar on the catch area at the front and the back of the roof - could simply be seized due to rust/lack of lubrication?

[RebelT82]

Oh prob didnt explain myself properly. Before I bought the van it obviously had a leak in the front of the roof which I didnt spot cus I didnt do my homework. I got around to sealing the roof up but the damage was already done. Popped the top a few times no prob, but then one of the gas struts came away from the underside of the roof. On closer inspection all the chipboard is rotten and is crumbling away, even around the skylight it had a handle to pull the roof down which I cant screw back in as the wood simply wont take it.
Love the retro look of the poptop and well over here in Ireland this model is quite unique, love to keep it. Guess my options are to try take it off and recondition the wood(has ayone ever tried this?), replace with another poptop or hightop.

[simple]

Had thought of doing this, however fitted the hightop instead (for us it's more practical).
I know what you mean the roof is a good design, same they used naff materials to build it. An idea I was looking into was to remove the lifting section, salvage all the gubbins off it & build a new one. I would imagine a good grade ply would be better suited. Also check out fibre glass roofing, seems doable to build a good solid waterproof roof.
The pop top is basically a shallow rectangular box so not too difficult really. Replace the overhang with thin ply, & fibreglass the lot (The plastic overhang sections get very brittle over time). Personally if I went down this route I would loose the roof vent just to make the job less troublesome.
I had seen one for sale years ago, it had a replaced roof section fabricated from aluminium over ply, good idea but a bit shiney.