Solid sided hinged pop top leaking and bowed

[TravellingChick]

Hi

I have a fairly unique solid sided poptop which is on struts front and back and the sides are made of two flaps that hinge up/down.

Photos:





Does anyone else have a roof like this?

My problem's are:

it's pretty rickety going up and down and is getting more and more shabby the more it's used.
the nearside front corner is leaking - prob resolved with a bit of flash seal
I can't figure out how/where to store the 2 smaller sized roof cushions
the offside lenghtwise panel is bowed and not sitting flush with the roof when down anymore (might be able to see from the pic).

So, I either attempt a repair using flashseal for the corners and possibly running another heavy duty seal along the groove on the offside for the original seal to marry up to. The issue here appears to be a repair to a crack that involves a steel plate (square) riveted on which has affected the shape of the panel.

Or I attempt to get some spares and repair it.

Or I drop a new roof on but that looks well pricey!

Anyone got any advice? Greatly appreciated............

Sarah

[murf]

I had a roof exactly the same on mine, bloody heavy things.
Mine was gradually getting worse, couldnt find the damned leaks on it, to the point where enough was enough.
Done away with it altogether now cos we dont need extra room anyway, only ever drive it and sleep in it.
Replacing with a pop top was a pretty pricey option and can be fraught with problems.
Did find one great roof on a dead van, unfortunately it was a westy and they just dont work on anything else, those things are factory fitted and the hole in my roof too large.
So now got solid roof, not much room but rain and hassle free!

murf

[1664]

If money wasn't an issue I'd say chuck a high top on it. I've not really looked at these roofs close up but would it be an option to dismantle it entirely and completely renovate it, either by repairing worn sections/seals or replacing with new using the old as templates?

You would of course need somewhere to keep the van out of the weather while you did it.

or possibly a second-hand roof - they occassionally come up....

[TravellingChick]

Hi Murf, tintop deffo won't do for us I'm afraid.

Hi Bren, I think my skills would let me down if I tried to re-furb the roof myself. Assuming it didn't disintegrate altogether when I took it off. No garage either so would be worried about security and weather.

I guess I'd have to consider a hightop if it comes down to it but cost is a biggie of course! I will try the running repair ideas and see how I get on I guess.

Got my lotto ticket for tonight as well of course!

[lloydy]

http://www.autovan.co.uk/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
these might be worth talking to, as they do a replacement pop top for the autohomes, which is like a half height version of your roof. Might be able to help with panels/referb. I think their new roof is just over a grand

[lloydy]

Oh yeah, this post had a high top for sale. right at the bottom
http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=73589" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TravellingChick]

http://www.autovan.co.uk/index.html
these might be worth talking to, as they do a replacement pop top for the autohomes, which is like a half height version of your roof. Might be able to help with panels/referb. I think their new roof is just over a grand

Nice one Lloydy, have just called 'em. How did you find them?

I'll see what they say, what they've done to the Kamper in their gallery is really what I need altho my roof is not in such dreadful condition, YET!

That roof sits directly on the van whereas mine seems to have some sort of fibreglass structure which it sits on - not exactly sure what that is all about.

Waiting for a call back to see what they say - otherwise the link to the hightop might be an option.........

Cheers, really appreciate it!
Sarah

[lloydy]

Can't remember how i found them, think i might have been looking for interior autohomes parts and stumbled across them. Looking at that gallery, looks pretty similar to yours, so hopefully you will get lucky with the parts you need. I've got the same hightop as the other thread, don't think i'd have a pop top now, you get so used to storage space, esp with two kids

[timber technician]

We have removed a fair number of your existing roof, theres not normally a lot holding them on you have to remove the rear bed platform and strip the side hole trim some are also bonded to metal brackets at front and rear. But the roof is very heavy to get off once all fixing are removed, we use a forklift but we are lucky.


Dave

[TravellingChick]

Hi Dave

I was looking at your website this arvo.

When I win the lotto tonight I'll be in touch for a re-fit and a new roof LOL.

I guess, as ever, it all comes down to what I can afford...............

Sarah

[jason k]

we had just the same probs on our first van, i took it off and fitted a hi top

try aztec campers in swansea for a price

could be worth the trip down the m4

[murf]

I know how you feel cos its such a shame to do away with the original roof but I was left with no choice.
I looked for a while for a suitable second hand pop top but never around when you want one.
Even that can be dodgy because for every successful tale I have heard there has also been one about difficulty in fitting, and until you get the thing on and use it you cannot be sure.
I hightop was out for me simply for aestethic reasons.
Good luck

murf