Don’t know if your van is sitting in direct sunshine. The heat from the sun will increase the gas pressure in the struts supporting the top. Maybe when it cools it will pull down easier. I left the heavy duty tailgate struts on last year when I took the bike rack off. No problem in uk but when we got to hotter climes I had to literally hang from the handle to get the tailgate to move. Learned my lesson struts changed.
Thank you. It was a hot day yesterday but when I first had it done in November last year it was
Cool. Had a Go then when I got
It home And it was The same. Think I will have to go back and see
If there is a knack to it
I’ve let my daughter to pull the roof as it’s her job (and she does F all else) and she pulls the cords which allows her the time to concertina the front down while organising the sides. I used to pull the top onto my head and then sort it out but this seems like a better option so I follow her led there. Not sure about heat and the struts but I would say it important to keep it even and that may be even more true if the struts are behaving differently because of the heat
I should say my roof is getting a bit ropey all round. The bungee cord and the solar panel leads are having an effort of the rear canvas and the rubber all round is getting a bit mildewy. Also the top is losing its gloss. The hinge and fittings seems ok despite having zero maintenance (I’m not sure what’s best) and the rubber along the front windscreen is coming away at both ends. But all this aside the roof is still fully functional and weathertight and (I think) still looks pretty good after 5 years!
I have an Austops roof, had it for 7 years on our campervan. I have 2 internal bungee type cords front and rear that pull the roof tent inwards, when you close the roof. (I’ll take a pic if it helps). I use my full beer belly weight to pull the roof half way, then make sure the canvas is folded neatly for the full closure. I don’t struggle, but the mrs does. The roof is snug when closed with no gaps. You do need a door open to let the air out.
If you have the bungee at the back does it not get in the way of the bed board? Ours never came with a bungee cord but I’ve seen the loops in the canvas where one could go
No it doesn’t get in the way and has never been removed. You do need to unfasten the front one though.
I assume you are pulling the bed board down first and not trying to do that and the roof at the same time?
Also do you have anything on top of the bed board, if it has a mattress or anything else on it try with that out, it might be too thick.
Also do you have anything on top of the bed board, if it has a mattress or anything else on it try with that out, it might be too thick.
For what it's worth (my roof is a Westdubs), I used to pull the bed board down followed by the roof by wrapping the cam straps around my wrists and pulling down with a bit of assistance from my body weight. It can easily be stopped in position 4" - 6" short of fully closed and I then gave the canvas sides a quick tug inwards to tidy it all up (a pop top bungee does most of that work though). Nowadays though, I have a couple of loops of 8mm rope fixed to the handles on the underside of the roof. I posted about it here with a picture shortly after doing the mod:
So, I emailed Austops and they have said that the gas struts have to be of a certain pressure because of the weight of the top but I could swap them for valved struts. Just sat in Dubbed campers and they said you can sometimes alter the pressure in the struts which may help. Just writing this in case it’s helpful to anyone else with a similar problem
Hi Dbz,
If I don’t lower the bed board first and try and pull the roof down with the bed board still up I can’t as that’s two sets of gas struts I’m pulling against (occasionally forget and wonder why it won’t come down ) - assume you are lowering the bed board first then the roof second?
If I don’t lower the bed board first and try and pull the roof down with the bed board still up I can’t as that’s two sets of gas struts I’m pulling against (occasionally forget and wonder why it won’t come down ) - assume you are lowering the bed board first then the roof second?
Yes tried that yesterday but still the same. I think a local gym Is needed to become an Austop owner. Not crabbing them at all they seem very well made but you need to be strong.
I was advised that it is essential that a door is left open when pulling the roof down (ours is a Reimo roof) as otherwise the pressure inside the van will make it very difficult to pull the roof down, and also the canvas will bellow outwards risking it getting trapped in the scissors
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Your wife….. No not at
The moment. My van is used as a dog van. I am a protection and drug /pyro dog handler so haven’t converted fully. What are
You doing while your wife sorts
The roof out funny
