Hi all,
Has anyone ever changed the roof seal on a devon (side hinged pop up top). Mines leaks a bit, and the seal is showing its age... quite cheap to buy the kit from JK around £30 i think?
So any advise or guidlines on how to takle doing it would be appreciated.
Cheers
DD
devon roof seal
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devon roof seal
1981 2.0 A/C VW T25 Devon Camper
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)
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Re: devon roof seal
Yes I have recently changed our roof edge seal on our Viking roofed Camper.
The new seal is made with a quite soft rubber material so try NOT to over stretch/scrape any section during fitting on the hinge side of the roof, as it can be easily damaged.
First job is to remove the old seal and then clean off all the rubbish and crud that has built up over the years on the glass fibre edge also clean the gutter on all sides but concentrate on the hinge side as this is going to be the tricky one when putting the seal back on the vehicle...
Make sure the ends of the fitted seal are hidden behind one of the roof hinges (ours was the front one above the drivers door)....make a note of this when removing the old seal.
I found it is almost impossible to fit the seal 'DRY' when re fitting it past the hinges and to the roof, so a light squirt of WD40 or a similar lubricant helped it slide into place....
I also used a blunt chisel to help ease the seal into place in the hinge side of the roof, as there is not enough room to get your fingers in,,,,,,,,
To finish cut the seal so it overlaps slightly to allow for any shrinkage.
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
The new seal is made with a quite soft rubber material so try NOT to over stretch/scrape any section during fitting on the hinge side of the roof, as it can be easily damaged.
First job is to remove the old seal and then clean off all the rubbish and crud that has built up over the years on the glass fibre edge also clean the gutter on all sides but concentrate on the hinge side as this is going to be the tricky one when putting the seal back on the vehicle...
Make sure the ends of the fitted seal are hidden behind one of the roof hinges (ours was the front one above the drivers door)....make a note of this when removing the old seal.
I found it is almost impossible to fit the seal 'DRY' when re fitting it past the hinges and to the roof, so a light squirt of WD40 or a similar lubricant helped it slide into place....

I also used a blunt chisel to help ease the seal into place in the hinge side of the roof, as there is not enough room to get your fingers in,,,,,,,,
To finish cut the seal so it overlaps slightly to allow for any shrinkage.
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
One day you will find me,,
Driving in my Camper,
With a Surf and Paisley wrap on both sides....
Driving in my Camper,
With a Surf and Paisley wrap on both sides....
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Re: devon roof seal
Thanks for your reply... so i take it the whole roof was taken off then? and is your seal held in with pop rivets? did you use any sealant?
Thanks
Darren
Thanks
Darren
Fritz wrote:Yes I have recently changed our roof edge seal on our Viking roofed Camper.
The new seal is made with a quite soft rubber material so try NOT to over stretch/scrape any section during fitting on the hinge side of the roof, as it can be easily damaged.
First job is to remove the old seal and then clean off all the rubbish and crud that has built up over the years on the glass fibre edge also clean the gutter on all sides but concentrate on the hinge side as this is going to be the tricky one when putting the seal back on the vehicle...
Make sure the ends of the fitted seal are hidden behind one of the roof hinges (ours was the front one above the drivers door)....make a note of this when removing the old seal.
I found it is almost impossible to fit the seal 'DRY' when re fitting it past the hinges and to the roof, so a light squirt of WD40 or a similar lubricant helped it slide into place....![]()
I also used a blunt chisel to help ease the seal into place in the hinge side of the roof, as there is not enough room to get your fingers in,,,,,,,,
To finish cut the seal so it overlaps slightly to allow for any shrinkage.
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
1981 2.0 A/C VW T25 Devon Camper
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)
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- Registered user
- Posts: 1628
- Joined: 17 Jul 2006, 22:51
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Re: devon roof seal
NO,NO, NO,,,,,,Roof was left attached to the vehicle and,,,,,only the SEAL was removed and replaced with a new one from JK......
Roof seal grips grips the edge of the roof but needs some lubricant to get it into place,,,,,,,,,NO pop rivets are used to hold it into place.
NO sealant was used at any stage.....
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,
I was going to say FFS but I won't......
Roof seal grips grips the edge of the roof but needs some lubricant to get it into place,,,,,,,,,NO pop rivets are used to hold it into place.
NO sealant was used at any stage.....
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,
I was going to say FFS but I won't......

One day you will find me,,
Driving in my Camper,
With a Surf and Paisley wrap on both sides....
Driving in my Camper,
With a Surf and Paisley wrap on both sides....
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- Registered user
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 07 Aug 2008, 09:12
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- Location: Northampton
Re: devon roof seal
really... how on earth do you fit the seal on the hinged part of the roof? and this is the seal to the metal roof wer'e talikng about (seals the canvas bit i guess) and not the seal around the outside of the fibreglass roof which just looks like a door seal type?
Cheers
DD
Cheers
DD
Fritz wrote:NO,NO, NO,,,,,,Roof was left attached to the vehicle and,,,,,only the SEAL was removed and replaced with a new one from JK......
Roof seal grips grips the edge of the roof but needs some lubricant to get it into place,,,,,,,,,NO pop rivets are used to hold it into place.
NO sealant was used at any stage.....
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,
I was going to say FFS but I won't......
1981 2.0 A/C VW T25 Devon Camper
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 1628
- Joined: 17 Jul 2006, 22:51
- 80-90 Mem No: 380
- Location: Ormskirk, Lancashire
Re: devon roof seal
I am sorry but the roof seal listed by JK suitable for ( Devon and Viking roofed vehicles ) is the FG edge seal only,,,,,,,I was offering advice on how to fit this seal.
If you are having problems with the lower canvas surround leaking the fix for this would be to get hold of some good quality adhesive sealer as used with a corking gun...
http://www.bodyshopwarehouse.co.uk/category/tiger-seal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
OR take the whole thing off the van and do it properly,,,,,,,,,,
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,
If you are having problems with the lower canvas surround leaking the fix for this would be to get hold of some good quality adhesive sealer as used with a corking gun...
http://www.bodyshopwarehouse.co.uk/category/tiger-seal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
OR take the whole thing off the van and do it properly,,,,,,,,,,

Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,
One day you will find me,,
Driving in my Camper,
With a Surf and Paisley wrap on both sides....
Driving in my Camper,
With a Surf and Paisley wrap on both sides....
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- Registered user
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 07 Aug 2008, 09:12
- 80-90 Mem No: 6645
- Location: Northampton
Re: devon roof seal
ah that explains the confusion then.. so whole roof off then? my seal is perished especially in corners, so think its best to replace it...
Is there any threads showing how/best way to do this?
Cheers
DD
Is there any threads showing how/best way to do this?
Cheers
DD
Fritz wrote:I am sorry but the roof seal listed by JK suitable for ( Devon and Viking roofed vehicles ) is the FG edge seal only,,,,,,,I was offering advice on how to fit this seal.
If you are having problems with the lower canvas surround leaking the fix for this would be to get hold of some good quality adhesive sealer as used with a corking gun...
http://www.bodyshopwarehouse.co.uk/category/tiger-seal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
OR take the whole thing off the van and do it properly,,,,,,,,,,![]()
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,,,,,
1981 2.0 A/C VW T25 Devon Camper
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 07 Aug 2008, 09:12
- 80-90 Mem No: 6645
- Location: Northampton
Re: devon roof seal
bbtt.. anyone any experience fitting one of these?
DD
DD
1981 2.0 A/C VW T25 Devon Camper
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)
2007 2.0TFSI VW MK5 Golf GTi 5 Dr
2015 1.2TSI VW Polo-(wifes car)