Manual Roof Conversion….?

[Ozzy Pete]

There’s a lot of standard kit on an Ocean the Coast doesn’t get…
You’re actually missing quite a bit with the Poverty spec van.

Don’t forget there are people that can hardly afford to pay their electricity bills let alone spend £60k + on a “Poverty spec camper van”...

 

[andyinluton]

Don’t forget there are people that can hardly afford to pay their electricity bills let alone spend £60k + on a “Poverty spec camper van”...

Isn't that who the Beach Tour was aimed at? it comes without an electric hook up?

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Isn't that who the Beach Tour was aimed at? it comes without an electric hook up?

So you think that if you can’t afford to pay your electricity bills you immediately go out an buy a VW beach tour? Get real. Obviously the word struggle isn’t in your vocabulary. Or is that your attempt at humour?

 

[WelshGas]

Don’t forget there are people that can hardly afford to pay their electricity bills let alone spend £60k + on a “Poverty spec camper van”...

I’m sorry but exactly what definition of “ Poverty “ are you using?
And exactly how does your ability to pay/not pay your electricity bills have to do with comparing the “ poorer “ standard specification of a Coast with the more expensive Ocean.
There are some ” paid for options “ on the Coast that will take it towards an Ocean but there are others just not available. Just the same with the Transporter range where you have the Startline, Trendline, Highline and Sportline. The Startline is the poverty spec Transporter.

 

[flying banana]

Did you change ALL of the roof sensors? It will be just one giving you the headache. Also check your bleed screw is tight in the pump

 

[Smalls74]

Hi Flying Banana,

I’ve not swapped out any sensors, but bitten the bullet and going manual.

The VW parts come in at an eye watering £1554. That’s for all the required bits and bobs to convert to a manual Beach roof. Wambamcampervan are doing the install for me.

I guess I could have explored different hardware options and maybe cut the costs but I’m keen to keep the van as Cali as I can, so to speak.

I’ll keep the thread updated with the results.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi Flying Banana,

I’ve not swapped out any sensors, but bitten the bullet and going manual.

The VW parts come in at an eye watering £1554. That’s for all the required bits and bobs to convert to a manual Beach roof. Wambamcampervan are doing the install for me.

I guess I could have explored different hardware options and maybe cut the costs but I’m keen to keep the van as Cali as I can, so to speak.

I’ll keep the thread updated with the results.

Will the Control Panel need to be re-programmed?

 

[Smalls74]

Will the Control Panel need to be re-programmed?

Yes it will be.

It’s a simple process. I had to do it to stop it bonging at me when the sensors failed.

You simply deselect the roof option in the diagnostics menu.

 

[jeff]

Hi Flying Banana,

I’ve not swapped out any sensors, but bitten the bullet and going manual.

The VW parts come in at an eye watering £1554. That’s for all the required bits and bobs to convert to a manual Beach roof. Wambamcampervan are doing the install for me.

I guess I could have explored different hardware options and maybe cut the costs but I’m keen to keep the van as Cali as I can, so to speak.

I’ll keep the thread updated with the results.

It would be great to hear how it goes as mine is a keeper, I would be very interested in total coast.
The roof is the only thing I worry about really would be great to convert it to a Manuel one.

 

[Stu@rt]

It would be great to hear how it goes as mine is a keeper, I would be very interested in total coast.
The roof is the only thing I worry about really would be great to convert it to a Manuel one.

"Total Coast" see what you did there!

 

[calibusje]

True, you RHD Coasters have it rough. All those lovely options are available on an EU spec Coast, but after 18 months wait for mine, they all seem like vapourware.

I know how you feel: I've waited 20 months but finally, totally unexpectedly, it's here. Maybe I'll drive it home next week; have to wait for all season tires and registration, then receive a number plate and then an inspection to determine the payload (it is the case in Belgium). Maybe by the end of next week...
You'll be next!

 

[Bowen]

How did the manual conversion go? Were you happy with the quality of the work and the manual operation?
Am thinking of doing the same to our 2011 Cali now we have the infamous code 1000.

 

[Smalls74]

Hi there,

I’ve been meaning to do an update re this thread, as I now have a fully manual roof! I picked up the van last week.

I’ve not posted anything up until now as I’m still getting used to it to be honest and I wanted to be fully comfortable with it before writing a review, so to speak.

The parts took quite a while to arrive at the workshop, and this in part was due to the supplier waiting for a price for one of the parts.

Anyway once all the parts had arrived Whambamcampervan set about the conversion. Martin at Whambam was up front and said he couldn‘t give me an idea of price as he was totally unsure of how long it would take.


A week later I had the call to say it had been done. Martin said that the install had gone really well and the roof was perfect. He said it is so much better then any aftermarket roof that he has ever fitted. All of the hydraulics have been removed, including the pump, as have the front scissors mechanisms and rams. They have been replaced with the genuine VW parts for a Beach manual elevating roof. All former hydraulic routing has been sealed as have any other holes from the previous rams etc.


What’s it like?
The roof sits how it did previously with no obvious signs its been converted, except for the fixture/fitting domed bolt heads being visible on the roof.
The two internal locking latches on either side fit really nicely and snug the roof down when they are locked into position. (I’m still waiting for the two safety clips to arrive from VW. These will be retrofitted in the next few days as they are due any day now. In all honesty I don’t think they are required as the locking mechanisms are very secure however I want it to be as ‘original’ as possible)
A firm upwards push is required on the pull down bar and up goes the roof. It certainly feels secure and it does require a firm even push to get it to disengage from the rear locking mechanisms that are located behind the rams. Once a few inches up the rams kick in and the roof slowly extends to its full height.
To drop the roof I face backwards between the two seats, take a hold of the pull down bar either side and pull the roof down. It gets to around 4-6 inches from being closed and you can leave it balanced there and if need be check outside that you’re not trapping the bellows. I have a bellows bungee so that takes care of that issue. A slight pull on the bar and the roof closes on its own. It almost sucks itself closed if that makes. The only slight pain is tucking the bellows behind the two locking latches, which then enables you to lock them. Having the pull down bar attached to the inside of the roof means that the bellows now sit proud of the roof, meaning less space between the roof and sliding roof door. This has had an added bonus of stopping the sliding door rattling about and sliding open on its own. Previously it was very noisy but now its nice and quiet. There is still plenty of room to flatten the bellows into the space and the door slides closed without an issue.



The cost? More than I expected. However it was the first conversion of this type (Cali electric to manual) they had done and they took their time making sure it was done properly. 24 hours labour at £72 an hour. Martin at Whambamcampervan has said that now they have done one it would take them far less time to do another, now they know what they are doing.


I‘ve questioned whether or not I should have just replaced the sensors and be done with it. Or whether or not that would have worked and then something else would go wrong. £3k is a lot of money to spend. However its done and I’ve got a manual roof conversion.
Overall I’m pleased with the result. It has taken me a little while to get used to it. There is no getting away from the fact that it isn’t as convenient as pushing a button. However, I now have a roof that shouldn’t let me down and should be a hell of a lot more reliable. And its brought me peace of mind. The thought of being abroad and having roof issues is a thing of the past. My van is a keeper. Its 10 years old. Like me its not getting any younger. The less that can go wrong the better.

I’m sure there’ll be lots of differing opinions whether or not it‘s a good idea, what else I could have spent the money on etc….

Hey ho.

Here’s to a great summer and getting out and enjoying our vans, be them electric or manual roofs!

All the best,
Smalls.

 

[Perfectos]

Fantastic informative write up

 

[BeagleMum]

Hi there,

I’ve been meaning to do an update re this thread, as I now have a fully manual roof! I picked up the van last week.

I’ve not posted anything up until now as I’m still getting used to it to be honest and I wanted to be fully comfortable with it before writing a review, so to speak.

The parts took quite a while to arrive at the workshop, and this in part was due to the supplier waiting for a price for one of the parts.

Anyway once all the parts had arrived Whambamcampervan set about the conversion. Martin at Whambam was up front and said he couldn‘t give me an idea of price as he was totally unsure of how long it would take.


A week later I had the call to say it had been done. Martin said that the install had gone really well and the roof was perfect. He said it is so much better then any aftermarket roof that he has ever fitted. All of the hydraulics have been removed, including the pump, as have the front scissors mechanisms and rams. They have been replaced with the genuine VW parts for a Beach manual elevating roof. All former hydraulic routing has been sealed as have any other holes from the previous rams etc.


What’s it like?
The roof sits how it did previously with no obvious signs its been converted, except for the fixture/fitting domed bolt heads being visible on the roof.
The two internal locking latches on either side fit really nicely and snug the roof down when they are locked into position. (I’m still waiting for the two safety clips to arrive from VW. These will be retrofitted in the next few days as they are due any day now. In all honesty I don’t think they are required as the locking mechanisms are very secure however I want it to be as ‘original’ as possible)
A firm upwards push is required on the pull down bar and up goes the roof. It certainly feels secure and it does require a firm even push to get it to disengage from the rear locking mechanisms that are located behind the rams. Once a few inches up the rams kick in and the roof slowly extends to its full height.
To drop the roof I face backwards between the two seats, take a hold of the pull down bar either side and pull the roof down. It gets to around 4-6 inches from being closed and you can leave it balanced there and if need be check outside that you’re not trapping the bellows. I have a bellows bungee so that takes care of that issue. A slight pull on the bar and the roof closes on its own. It almost sucks itself closed if that makes. The only slight pain is tucking the bellows behind the two locking latches, which then enables you to lock them. Having the pull down bar attached to the inside of the roof means that the bellows now sit proud of the roof, meaning less space between the roof and sliding roof door. This has had an added bonus of stopping the sliding door rattling about and sliding open on its own. Previously it was very noisy but now its nice and quiet. There is still plenty of room to flatten the bellows into the space and the door slides closed without an issue.



The cost? More than I expected. However it was the first conversion of this type (Cali electric to manual) they had done and they took their time making sure it was done properly. 24 hours labour at £72 an hour. Martin at Whambamcampervan has said that now they have done one it would take them far less time to do another, now they know what they are doing.


I‘ve questioned whether or not I should have just replaced the sensors and be done with it. Or whether or not that would have worked and then something else would go wrong. £3k is a lot of money to spend. However its done and I’ve got a manual roof conversion.
Overall I’m pleased with the result. It has taken me a little while to get used to it. There is no getting away from the fact that it isn’t as convenient as pushing a button. However, I now have a roof that shouldn’t let me down and should be a hell of a lot more reliable. And its brought me peace of mind. The thought of being abroad and having roof issues is a thing of the past. My van is a keeper. Its 10 years old. Like me its not getting any younger. The less that can go wrong the better.

I’m sure there’ll be lots of differing opinions whether or not it‘s a good idea, what else I could have spent the money on etc….

Hey ho.

Here’s to a great summer and getting out and enjoying our vans, be them electric or manual roofs!

All the best,
Smalls.

If it’s right for you, it was the right thing to do regardless of cost. Peace of mind is priceless.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Thanks for posting an update. I’m sure many will find it useful.

I do miss my manual roof from the Beach. Although , I do like the electric roof operation of just being able to press a button to raise and lower and also lift with a load attached. It does have its merits.
It’s just that nagging issue that one day it will fail.

 

[Bellcrew]

Thanks for posting an update. I’m sure many will find it useful.

I do miss my manual roof from the Beach. Although , I do like the electric roof operation of just being able to press a button to raise and lower and also lift with a load attached. It does have its merits.
It’s just that nagging issue that one day it will fail.

Everything fails in the end, the problem is that the people who can cope effectively with unusual faults are rare and unsung. Perhaps a list of dealers/garages who have repaired faults with hydraulic pop-top mechanisms with some efficiency could be compiled.

 

[Bowen]

Great review Smalls74.
Could I ask if the bolts through the roof and adjacent roof have been treated to reduce the risk of corrosion.
Is the seal of the roof to the rest of the body when closed tight enough to stop the ingress of water when raining.
Is the roof where the pull/push bar strong enough to withstand frequent use over time?
Many thanks for the informative review.

 

[Smalls74]

Great review Smalls74.
Could I ask if the bolts through the roof and adjacent roof have been treated to reduce the risk of corrosion.
Is the seal of the roof to the rest of the body when closed tight enough to stop the ingress of water when raining.
Is the roof where the pull/push bar strong enough to withstand frequent use over time?
Many thanks for the informative review.

Hi Bowen,

All bolts used were stainless steel as far as I’m aware.
The roof seal is good, the same as it was when it was electric. I haven’t noticed any water ingress. I’ve used the van in the rain and had a hosepipe out checking for leaks.
As far as the push/pull bar is concerned, it is the factory fitted VW item with the corresponding handles etc…
The roof on both models are made from aluminium as far as I’m aware. The cutaway drawing of the beach roof section/parts required does not show any form of reinforcement of the roof area where the push/pull bar is fitted,
I guess only time will tell if it requires strengthening in that area.

Cheers,
Smalls.

 

[Smalls74]

Everything fails in the end, the problem is that the people who can cope effectively with unusual faults are rare and unsung. Perhaps a list of dealers/garages who have repaired faults with hydraulic pop-top mechanisms with some efficiency could be compiled.

That’s a great idea. It certainly would have helped me out and given me a bit of comfort knowing if I did have issues there’d be a trusted place to get the work done. Rather than get well and truly fleeced by an uninterested VW dealership.

 

[Basecamper]

Brilliant thanks for posting this, been tearing my hair to find someone to carry out this conversion. Is there any chance you could pop a few photo’s up please?
Thanks again, Tim.

 

[Smalls74]

Brilliant thanks for posting this, been tearing my hair to find someone to carry out this conversion. Is there any chance you could pop a few photo’s up please?
Thanks again, Tim.

Certainly will Tim. Give me a few hours and I’ll ping some photos up. I’m Kent based should you want to have a look yourself.

Regards,

Smalls.

 

[Bowen]

Hi there Smalls74- how are you getting on with the roof?
After the conversion did the small roof light have to be removed?
Photos would be great !

 

[Smalls74]

Hi there Smalls74- how are you getting on with the roof?
After the conversion did the small roof light have to be removed?
Photos would be great !

Hi there Bowen,

Yes I had to have the bendy roof light removed to accommodate the retaining mechanism.

I’ll add some photos…..

 

[Smalls74]

No change to the tambour door