Last night was a bit of a disaster - several issues

[KC83]

Hi folks,

Although I’m not a newbie, I’m generally a fair weather overnight camper so these things are new to me in my 11 months of Cali ownership (73 plate 6.1 Ocean) - wondered if you had a POV:

1. The bellows - leaking everywhere last night - mainly around the front, but drip drip dripping onto the cab surround and soaking everything around it - I understand this may be a warranty issue - anything to take note of? It’s done this on each of the 4 times I’ve overnighted in the rain, so don’t think it’s the “weathering in” effect.
2. As a result, I look upstairs to check middle of the night and lo and behold I find the roof has sagged big time to one side (drivers) only. I brought the roof down and put it back up only for it to do it again. So I decided to close the roof completely for the night and see what happens. Would it be the weight of wet bellows causing this?
3. Overhead locker is now hard to open and close - I assume related to the above?
4. I attached my new drive away awning for the first time a couple of days ago - there’s a learning experience! have trouble opening and closing the hab door without lifting the awning kador strip up - I assume this is because I’m parked too close to the awning. Does anyone have any hints / tips / marker recommendations to make it easy to know where to position when you’re on your own?

It’s due a service imminently and will have those bits investigated as soon as I can - but feeling like a very silly newbie camper this morning sigh.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dspuk]

Hi folks,

Although I’m not a newbie, I’m generally a fair weather overnight camper so these things are new to me in my 11 months of Cali ownership - wondered if you had a POV:

1. The bellows - leaking everywhere last night - mainly around the front, but drip drip dripping onto the cab surround and soaking everything around it - I understand this may be a warranty issue - anything to take note of? It’s done this on each of the 4 times I’ve overnighted in the rain, so don’t think it’s the “weathering in” effect.
2. As a result, I look upstairs to check middle of the night and lo and behold I find the roof has sagged big time to one side (drivers) only. I brought the roof down and put it back up only for it to do it again. So I decided to close the roof completely for the night and see what happens. Would it be the weight of wet bellows causing this?
3. Overhead locker is now hard to open and close - I assume related to the above?
4. I attached my new drive away awning for the first time a couple of days ago - there’s a learning experience! have trouble opening and closing the hab door without lifting the awning kador strip up - I assume this is because I’m parked too close to the awning. Does anyone have any hints / tips / marker recommendations to make it easy to know where to position when you’re on your own?

It’s due a service imminently and will have those bits investigated as soon as I can - but feeling like a very silly newbie camper this morning sigh.

Thanks in advance!

1 - Which bellows do you have? If the "new" ones (late 22 on) then yes, likely a warranty issue. See the million posts on here via search.
2 - Likewise heat is a common cause of the roof sagging. Various remedies from up and down 5 - 10 times to remove air to heat shields. The sagging is generally either leaking hydraulic seals or air in the fluid, or both. Again, many many many posts via search.
3 - Can't see how it's related. Check the catch. Lubricate the hinge.
4 - When an awning is attached you generally can't (easily) open the cab door. Use the side door. Opening the cab door all the time will drain your starter battery anyway.

 

[KC83]

1 - Which bellows do you have? If the "new" ones (late 22 on) then yes, likely a warranty issue. See the million posts on here via search.
2 - Likewise heat is a common cause of the roof sagging. Various remedies from up and down 5 - 10 times to remove air to heat shields. The sagging is generally either leaking hydraulic seals or air in the fluid, or both. Again, many many many posts via search.
3 - Can't see how it's related. Check the catch. Lubricate the hinge.
4 - When an awning is attached you generally can't (easily) open the cab door. Use the side door. Opening the cab door all the time will drain your starter battery anyway.

Thanks you!

Yes - it’s the newer bellows, but I had been reading something about it needing a few cycles of wet / dry before being properly proofed - so I’m not sure

And as for heat, I’m on Mull, it’s definitely not hot - 13c and pouring down overnight. Searched for this too and only found ones relating to the heat rather than the rain / cold.

Noted on the overhead locker and regarding the door - I think I said Hab (habitation) door - the side door is the one I’m having the issue with, I figured the drivers door wouldn’t really be useable with awning on

Thanks for the assist!

 

[vbk1975]

Thanks you!

Yes - it’s the newer bellows, but I had been reading something about it needing a few cycles of wet / dry before being properly proofed - so I’m not sure

And as for heat, I’m on Mull, it’s definitely not hot - 13c and pouring down overnight. Searched for this too and only found ones relating to the heat rather than the rain / cold.

Noted on the overhead locker and regarding the door - I think I said Hab (habitation) door - the side door is the one I’m having the issue with, I figured the drivers door wouldn’t really be useable with awning on

Thanks for the assist!

Put the figure of 8 on top of the awning housing to raise it - see post

Figure of 8 problems

Hi I wonder if anyone can help. I have a new ocean with factory fitted Thule awning, however when I attach my drive away the sliding door keeps catching the figure of 8 and separate the individual pieces. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance Ray

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[dspuk]

Thanks you!

Yes - it’s the newer bellows, but I had been reading something about it needing a few cycles of wet / dry before being properly proofed - so I’m not sure

And as for heat, I’m on Mull, it’s definitely not hot - 13c and pouring down overnight. Searched for this too and only found ones relating to the heat rather than the rain / cold.

Noted on the overhead locker and regarding the door - I think I said Hab (habitation) door - the side door is the one I’m having the issue with, I figured the drivers door wouldn’t really be useable with awning on

Thanks for the assist!

Ah. Saw hab and assumed was a typo from cab. Push the awning more central to the door usually helps.

Sounds like yours sagging defo a seal error or air. Try the 5 times up and down to expel any air.

Some say the thread can need a watering but I’m sceptical on the new ones as they definitely had a design issue.

 

[KC83]

Ah. Saw hab and assumed was a typo from cab. Push the awning more central to the door usually helps.

Sounds like yours sagging defo a seal error or air. Try the 5 times up and down to expel any air.

Some say the thread can need a watering but I’m sceptical on the new ones as they definitely had a design issue.

Thank you! Booking it in now for dealers to have a look

 

[AlanC]

There are two drains in the roof located in the front corners of the opening. These connect to pipes that run down inside the 'A' pillars on either side of the windscreen. If these pipes become blocked, possibly due to materials being flushed down them during rain, or are badly fitted and have a kink in them, then rainwater will build up around the edge of the opening and drip into the van interior.

This could be the issue you have.

I would not poke anything down them as the pipes are rubber and you may puncture them, but you could try using a blast of compressed air from a can.

Alan