Best way of putting poptop down?

JonriceT6

Senior Member
T6 Guru
Picked up my new conversion today, has an Austops pop top fitted, the converter showed the best way to fold it down and Made It look so easy, I’ve had a couple of goes but can’t seem to pull it down and get it flush with the roof. It’s maybe. Sitting 1cm or so off the roof.
What’s the best technique to fold it down?
Any tips and hints?

Thanks in advance
 
Picked up my new conversion today, has an Austops pop top fitted, the converter showed the best way to fold it down and Made It look so easy, I’ve had a couple of goes but can’t seem to pull it down and get it flush with the roof. It’s maybe. Sitting 1cm or so off the roof.
What’s the best technique to fold it down?
Any tips and hints?

Thanks in advance
I’ve not got an AusTop, but are you trapping the canvas between the roof and the poptop?

With my HiLo, you have to pull the canvas in at the front aspect and, with the sides, fold it in triangle shapes like that of an envelope. Pull on the fabric to ensure it hasn’t got caught before finally dropping the roof down the last few inches.
 
the secret is to push the canvas out at the front as far as possible while pulling in the straps. there should only be one fold in it. you must have doubled it over for it to be sitting up by 1cm. does take a bit of practice and a few pant fillers when its not down correctly and the wind catches it
 
The guy advised to consertina the front window section as you fold it down. I’m thinking there should be fewer folds in it? The sides are pulled in, I’m thinking the corners are too bulky where it’s gathered?
 
We have an austops roof and we concertina the front in like 25cm folds. Once it’s trained it is quick and easy, my daughter is in charge of this now.

Also worth finding a bungee cord to pull the back in and away from the scissor hinges
 
the secret is to push the canvas out at the front as far as possible while pulling in the straps. there should only be one fold in it. you must have doubled it over for it to be sitting up by 1cm. does take a bit of practice and a few pant fillers when its not down correctly and the wind catches it
If you do that wouldn’t the canvas stick out the front of the roof causing the issue described?
 
We have an austops roof and we concertina the front in like 25cm folds. Once it’s trained it is quick and easy, my daughter is in charge of this now.

Also worth finding a bungee cord to pull the back in and away from the scissor hinges
The pop top already has a bungee cord attached inside for when closing.
I’ll keep trying, tomorrow and find the best solution
 
The pop top already has a bungee cord attached inside for when closing.
I’ll keep trying, tomorrow and find the best solution
Not the bungee across the middle another one that goes all the way round the outside.

I pull the bungee right down at the front so it’s sitting on the van roof as I only want it to safeguard the back and found it got in the way of folding the front so it is tidy inside
 
Thanks, I was told not to use bungees around the middle of the canvas as it puts strain on the canvas at the bottom front corners where it’s siliconed?
 
If you do that wouldn’t the canvas stick out the front of the roof causing the issue described?
doesn't on mine. i pull the straps so the roofs about half down, then push the canvas forward as far as it goes. make sure the sides are single folded too and the bend in the canvas is just at the straps. this lets the roof sit down onto the body of the van with no issues
 
doesn't on mine. i pull the straps so the roofs about half down, then push the canvas forward as far as it goes. make sure the sides are single folded too and the bend in the canvas is just at the straps. this lets the roof sit down onto the body of the van with no issues
Is it an austops roof? Like @JonriceT6 I was told to put 3 folds in it (so out/in/out if that makes sense) and it sit down nicely. Actually I little worried that it may be pulled down too tight for the seal.
 
Thanks, I was told not to use bungees around the middle of the canvas as it puts strain on the canvas at the bottom front corners where it’s siliconed?
BAA626AF-91DE-4C30-9222-1C8D5145530B.jpeg
This is ours. I have the front basically sitting on the silicon but it’s really not very tight at all. The air pressure caused if we were to close the roof with the doors closed would probably override the benefit. But it good to know it out of the way at the back. I also pull the sides forward at the front to be doubly sure
 
doesn't on mine. i pull the straps so the roofs about half down, then push the canvas forward as far as it goes. make sure the sides are single folded too and the bend in the canvas is just at the straps. this lets the roof sit down onto the body of the van with no issues
So you push the front out, and pull the sides in?
I’ll try the various ways tomorrow and see how I get on
 
I have a Skyline roof, when dropping the pop top I pull down to half height, pull the sides in as much as possible to clear the scissor hinges, put a single fold in the front window and single folds in the sides, then continue pulling down and arrange the sides so they fold under the front window as it is pulled further into the van as the roof drops.
FA871D32-413B-4FF3-AA32-0A0CE010837A.jpeg
 
We've got an Austops roof. What I do is grab the straps and kinda lean back, feet planted. That way you use your body weight to pull the roof down as well as your arms. I pull it down maybe half way, then stop and 'concertina' the canvas, then repeat. Finally pull the straps tight as the roof will 'flop' under it's own weight, fold straps up and tuck away
 
We have an austops roof and we concertina the front in like 25cm folds. Once it’s trained it is quick and easy, my daughter is in charge of this now.

Also worth finding a bungee cord to pull the back in and away from the scissor hinges
New to this forum so not sure how to ask a question….. I had an austop fitted approximately 10 months ago and have only put it up twice. I find it extremely difficult to pull down with the straps and takes every bit of my three weetabix. I am frightened of going somewhere and not being able to get it down. Is it normal for them to be like this. TIA
 
Is it the strength of the gas struts that you can't overcome or is the canvas not going where you want it? If it's the latter then try opening the windows to let the air out, if it's the former you might have to use a ratchet strap or two to pull the roof down a bit at a time until the gas struts close.
 
I pull mine half way down then make sure all the fabric is pulled in before closing fully.

You can get 'bands' that go round the side to make sure everything is in. No experience of them but thought they were a neat idea.

 
I’ve not got an AusTop, but are you trapping the canvas between the roof and the poptop?

With my HiLo, you have to pull the canvas in at the front aspect and, with the sides, fold it in triangle shapes like that of an envelope. Pull on the fabric to ensure it hasn’t got caught before finally dropping the roof down the last few inches.
Thanks but it’s not that anything is trapped I just cant Begin to pull it down from The top position as it’s so so strong‍♀️
 
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