Damaged roof California T6

[Rusty Mac]

Hi

Anyone had experience of dealing with a twisted roof on a California T6. The roof was closed on the canvas which was protruding at the front. The plastic strip on the front of the canvas has been bent and the roof will not close fully on the left hand side. It is sticking u about 2inches at the front and is not locked in at the rear.

I think the roof has twisted and may need replacing or can it be straightened. The canvas may also have to be replaced.

If any one has any experience, ideas or thoughts please let me know....am looking at a significant insurance claim!

Thanks

Rusty

 

[Sandyvan]

Can the plastic strip be removed from the Canvas? to try it again On the new front opening canvases post March 19 the horizontal poles look like they are removable. Can the strip be straightened in situ from inside when the roofs open? if storing I would open the roof so its not locked in twist permanently.

 

[Kmann]

This is a common mistake, and why many - myself included - us the bungee cord around the canvas. I have never seen that the roof will not close. I can see you have got the typical bends at the back end, wish also is a common result when this happens.

I would suggest to raise and lover the roof a couple of times, to see if the hydraulic can get it to close properly. If not I would secure the roof with the tiedown kit and visit at a dealer (don't drive with the roof like this unsecured).

The mechanic might loosen and tighten the fixpoints to see if it helps (it might be twisted there). If so the roof and canvas are only damaged cosmetically and the canvas can get a patch. If not you are in for a new roof (and canvas). You might go for that anyway.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi

Anyone had experience of dealing with a twisted roof on a California T6. The roof was closed on the canvas which was protruding at the front. The plastic strip on the front of the canvas has been bent and the roof will not close fully on the left hand side. It is sticking u about 2inches at the front and is not locked in at the rear.

I think the roof has twisted and may need replacing or can it be straightened. The canvas may also have to be replaced.

If any one has any experience, ideas or thoughts please let me know....am looking at a significant insurance claim!

Thanks
View attachment 51009
Rusty

Check out the Dealer Review section. Be prepared to travel if there is no recommended Dealer close by.
Which Insurance company are you with?
If not with a Specialist Campervan/Motorhome insurer then be prepared for a battle.

 

[Meoncoast]

Have you tried pulling canvas in at the front by pulling on the plastic strip as the roof comes down we had the canvas pull out on the way down on one ocation on a windy site in Scotland even with a bungie. After that it seemed to want to fold from inside to the outside for a while. You need to see if the roof is bent or just uneven to canvas being in wrong position.

 

[Moose]

Have you tried pulling canvas in at the front by pulling on the plastic strip as the roof comes down we had the canvas pull out on the way down on one ocation on a windy site in Scotland even with a bungie. After that it seemed to want to fold from inside to the outside for a while. You need to see if the roof is bent or just uneven to canvas being in wrong position.

I had the same happen to mine whist in France on the last day (last Thursday) canvas wanted to go out when closing, so fully open the roof and closed it again all fine and thought no more of it.
Once home opened the roof to let it air and dry, upon closing again the canvas is trying to go out rather then in!!! Had to close the roof standing up in the inside and pull the canvas in by hand haven't tried it again since. I also have a bungee fitted and the front canvas vent, widows and or doors or all where open so not a case trapped air. I always check when closing the roof regardless so roof was not fully closed.

 

[T6 CFO]

On closing the roof in a strong wind at this weeks meet I needed to firmly pull in the front. It’s always been fine before with bungee fitted for added help. I always stick my head up the hatch as insurance and if possible have someone checking outside as well.

Back home now and waiting for a dry and calm spell to check all is well.



Good luck with getting yours sorted.



Mike

 

[Louis II]

Is the roof visibly bent? From the picture it looks like there might be a visible kink towards the back but hard to tell if that is just a reflection.

If not visibly bent but just closing unevenly then there are some hooks on the underside of the roof into which the scissor mechanism locates as the roof closes. They are held in place on the aluminium rail with a small grub screw and their position has a big impact on how evenly the roof closes. Just a few mm movement forwards or backwards can create a gap of a couple of cm at the front / back depending which way you move it.

I had a similar (although less extreme) problem with a gap of around 2 cm at the rear corner. I could tell the hooks had slipped as the grub screw had visibly scraped the aluminium rail but was able to resolve with adjustment of the hook.

If you do take this approach i would advise carefully marking the original position and adjusting in very small increments. Unfortunately I can't remember which way I had to move the hook in order to bring the back down.

My van is older and out of warranty so I was comfortable with this kind of tinkering, for one so new you might prefer an insurance claim and I should point out that I not in any way qualified to give this advice, just sharing my experience of how I resolved a similar issue.

The hook is part is number 18 on the below picture, i would take a photo but it's a bit wet to put the roof up!

 

[MartinH]

Ours sometimes needs a bit of persuasion to close all the way on the passenger side. I will have a look at whether that clip needs realigning - Thanks

A few months ago had loads of trouble getting it to come down, it was an windy day and I even moved the van round to change the wind direction. After about half an hour of frustration and 'gentle persuasion' I finally realised one of the kids had bent roof bed light and that was what was jamming it. The roof closed first time once I moved it back out of the way, I felt stupid but relived that it was just user error.

 

[Jonathan Caira]

I had a similar issue, I secured the roof and took a very slow drive round the M25, to the BW dealer in Tonbridge. Turned out it wasn’t anything to do with the canvas but a faulty scissor hinge, dealer took one off a new van on the forecourt and rescued me as I was going on holiday to France the following day. Definitely worth visiting especially if still in warranty.

 

[Cwcltd]

Noticed my Ocean roof was dropping on one side, then on closing wouldn’t shut properly. Took it to Hereford VW today and it needs a new hydraulic pump; being fitted 2 Jan.