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Autohomes - roof leaks

Posted: 12 Aug 2007, 09:06
by Ivybvus
Hi, Can anyone help?

We run an Autohomes conversion - following a leak from the roof, I have now found that the front, driverside, corner (over the cooker) has started to rot out. Called into a VW place we know to try and get ideas as to either "how to repair" or "who to go to". It would appear that this is a common problem with Autohomes conversions - so my questions are>

1) Anybody know anybody who can repair/rebuild the roof? (and cost?)
2) Is it a DIY job - if so does anybody have any details on construction - I asumme it is an aluminium, Ply, Batton + Insulation, Ply "sandwhich" - but I have not explored yet..

We live in south devon

Regards

Richard

Posted: 12 Aug 2007, 12:26
by funbus3
We had a leaky/wonky/rather useless Autohomes elevating roof, which we relaced with a fibreglass hightop from Timbertechs.

When we hacked the old roof off and pulled the Ply/polystyrene/aluminium sandwich apart we found must of the wood badly rotten. Expanding foam and flexable roof sealant had been used in the past to bodge the leaky corners with limited success.

The hightop has been a vast improvement and definatley money well spent, I wouldn't bother trying to repair the existing. Got photos of removing (inc construction) and fitting new if any good.

Posted: 12 Aug 2007, 20:03
by Ivybvus
Hi, Would love to see photo's of construction - I don't know how far it has gone - but we like the "style" - i.e straight up and down - a lot eaiser to manage than our old bus - a viking :)

Posted: 12 Aug 2007, 20:54
by Westy.Club.Joker
see for sale section, high-top roof for sale, £95 :)

Posted: 14 Aug 2007, 09:42
by BigTam
Speak to these guys

http://www.charlesandson.co.uk/

they have all what was left of the Autohomes stock and know their stuff on these conversions. :idea:

Posted: 14 Aug 2007, 16:23
by tim
....IF, you decide to get rid of the pop top, i'd be interested in having it and all the fittings :wink:

Posted: 15 Aug 2007, 17:15
by Ivybvus
Thanks Big Tam - off to see them on Saturday.

Hi Tim, it is likely that the roof maybe available - depends on how my "day out" goes - if so it is likely to be a job I do at the end of the season, and is likely to include the full roof

Posted: 15 Aug 2007, 17:23
by tim
Cheers.....might have a Devon roof sorted local, but let me know anyway....may still be interested :wink:

Posted: 15 Aug 2007, 21:45
by diviy
i got a autohomes pop top conversion this has has a new top made out of fibre glass got the receipt cost £850 that was ten years ago see if i can find it

Posted: 16 Aug 2007, 17:37
by Ivybvus
Cheers - any leads welcome - Regards Richard

Posted: 17 Aug 2007, 08:36
by BigTam
Glad to be of help mate, hope you get sorted, :wink:

Posted: 21 Aug 2007, 19:30
by funbus3
Taken longer to work out how to post a picture than fit a new roof!

[img:768:1024]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd26 ... C00253.jpg[/img]

Elevating roof

Posted: 27 Aug 2007, 21:50
by shumphreys
I also recommend charles and son in Poole

They repaired my roof a couple of years ago after one of the rams poked its way through a rotten roof. cost a lot of money to have it personally made but it so far stood up to the test.

The job is not A1 perfect I have to say, I am not sure they tested completely the fixing of the sides when up as they soemtimes pop out, but they are easy to deal with, the best that I found and they know these models.

Good luck

Simon

Posted: 27 Feb 2008, 12:01
by Ivybvus
Hi folks - just to say I finally got round to getting it sorted - went with
Autovan Services Ltd, Dorset, TEL: 01202 848414 e-mail: sales@autovan.co.uk

They replace the original lid with a GRP version - also do away with front and rear lockdowns - now fitted with locking side clamps - wasn't cheap (1200) but effective. Charles and Son couldn't do anything for me - other than recommend replacing with a "high-top" - and if we had wanted one of those we would have bought one first-time round.