My new pop top cover

[chockswahay]

I have just (2 days ago) received and fitted my new Polar Technologies pop top cover and windscreen cover, both of which look fantastic and well made. However I am concerned about the fit (and method of securing) the pop top cover. It seems a little tight at the front and there is a fair gap along the sides at the roof line. Also the cover seems to sag under its own weight. Despite my best efforts so far I have not yet managed to tension the rear straps without pulling in too much at the front.

At this moment in time I have not yet approached the manufacturer (who by the way have been exceptionally helpful with the order and made the cover in 3 working days) because I am trying to establish if the issue is with the way I am securing the cover or an inherent design fault. From what I can see so far it does look as if the cover has straight edges at the top sides, yet the roof appears curved?

Does anyone have any advice please based on their own experience with either this brand or any other? I wonder if I am expecting too much from what is a very basic and elementary product?

Cheers

 

[ArunAlec]

I have just (2 days ago) received and fitted my new Polar Technologies pop top cover and windscreen cover, both of which look fantastic and well made. However I am concerned about the fit (and method of securing) the pop top cover. It seems a little tight at the front and there is a fair gap along the sides at the roof line. Also the cover seems to sag under its own weight. Despite my best efforts so far I have not yet managed to tension the rear straps without pulling in too much at the front.

At this moment in time I have not yet approached the manufacturer (who by the way have been exceptionally helpful with the order and made the cover in 3 working days) because I am trying to establish if the issue is with the way I am securing the cover or an inherent design fault. From what I can see so far it does look as if the cover has straight edges at the top sides, yet the roof appears curved?

Does anyone have any advice please based on their own experience with either this brand or any other? I wonder if I am expecting too much from what is a very basic and elementary product?

Cheers

Photos?
Assume you have the correct one for your T6.1.

 

[chockswahay]

Photos?
Assume you have the correct one for your T6.1.

Here are a few photos…….. (yes made to measure)

I would just add that I am not unhappy with it, just trying to realign my expectations. The product is well made and the screen cover has reduced condensation to zero. We have had two wet nights in the van as we are in Bristol for a family funeral on Monday so it’s also true that my views and thoughts might be a little muddled at the moment

 

[dspuk]

TBH, looking at the pictures, looks fine to me. Would be very hard to get the exact look your looking for without physically attaching to the actual pop too. We looking for a cover so hoping to see some examples at the NEC today, even if deals seem to be off the table.

 

[Mr T]

@chockswahay I think it looks slightly to big, ie too much material for the height of the pop top.
Here’s my rainbow screens cover for comparison on my old T5.1.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

We don’t have one, but fit does not look right in the photos; Looks too baggy with visible fabric folds. Should be a snug fit to allow rain to run off quickly.

 

[andyinluton]

What did you order? Early California roofs raised higher than current ones & the manual roof is different to the electric one, just wondering if they’ve used the wrong set of dimensions.

 

[Hawthorn37]

I would expect it to be taught / flat, so rain runs off.

 

[chockswahay]

It was ordered for the T6.1 Coast. My concern is that if I tighten the tensioner at the back they seem to pull the sides even further down….. a sort of ‘catch 22’ situation.

I will re try over the weekend but tbh with this family funeral on Monday I am a little distracted (or seeking distraction )

 

[Stu@rt]

It was ordered for the T6.1 Coast. My concern is that if I tighten the tensioner at the back they seem to pull the sides even further down….. a sort of ‘catch 22’ situation.

I will re try over the weekend but tbh with this family funeral on Monday I am a little distracted (or seeking distraction )

The manual Coast roof is a different size to the electric Ocean roof. If I recall the manual roof lifts a little higher at the rear, but not so much at the front.

Yours does look like it's meant for the electric roof TBH.

Just taken delivery of the Comfortz one (From the club shop) for our Coast only this week. We had a trial fitting a few days ago and although I didn't take any pics for you, it appears to be a better fit than what your pictures show. In addition the Comfortz one has rods in the corners to prevent it sagging. There are even short rods at the rear to keep things upright.

I have dithered over our purchase for a long time for the very reason that lots of firms don't appear to recognise that the roofs are different sizes. Shayne at the club shop gave me all the assurances that I was buying the correct one and although it hasn't been used yet, initial trials at home look promising.

Darren at Pucer couldn't give me the assurances that I wanted over sizing, so I avoided the Pucer.
@Ferryman was kind enough to take some pictures for me of his Ocean Pucer wrap on his Coast and you can see how there is too much material at the front and not enough at the rear. (Looks a little like yours I think). I think I would be emailing your pictures to the supplier and asking for their opinion. Good luck.

Roof Canvas Query

I've got a 6.1 Coast that developed a hole in the roof canvas, not caused by it being caught in any mechanisms, so VW are replacing under warranty. It went in to the dealer on Tuesday who told me it was a 1 day job. Late Tuesday they called to say they were having issues. Late Wednesday they...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Elly Swanson]

Here are a few photos…….. (yes made to measure)

I would just add that I am not unhappy with it, just trying to realign my expectations. The product is well made and the screen cover has reduced condensation to zero. We have had two wet nights in the van as we are in Bristol for a family funeral on Monday so it’s also true that my views and thoughts might be a little muddled at the moment

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I wouldn’t be happy with that. Before you purchased, did they ask you for your pop top dimensions Or is it standard fit? Even the same models can differ slightly.

 

[chockswahay]

They did indeed ask me to measure the dimensions and we had 4 phone conversations on the day to check sizes. I will of course contact Polar Technologies but just wanted to gain a few independent views beforehand. Thanks to everyone on here for your input so far

 

[Billylou]

Apologies for asking this but have you measured the product and determined if the measurement's are as per your order. Could be you’ve got someone else's cover.

 

[chockswahay]

Apologies for asking this but have you measured the product and determined if the measurement's are as per your order. Could be you’ve got someone else's cover.

I haven’t yet but will do all that early next week once the funeral is over…..

 

[Big Ted]

I bought a Polar Screens pop top cover and have also got the screen wrap.

I measured the roof myself and sent the dimensions for the pop top.
The pop top has been out in some biblical rain, with no leaks.
The top of my front can sag a tiny amount, but being 6’8” I can pull the corner seam upwards if needed.

I’m really pleased with them, with their customer service being ace.

 

[chockswahay]

Update on this…… I measured the cover and it transpired that they had made it a little too small at the front (35mm across the width). As I had reason to drive through through Telford I dropped the cover in for them to look at. Caroline (MD) was as always very helpful and agreed to replace it with a new one. Whilst doing this she suggested adding a cm to the height all round. I also asked if she could change the tensioning straps from one central to two (one higher and one lower).

The new cover arrived last week and we have just been able to try it for size over the last two days. My observations are that it is better than before but tbh I think it suffers from a few design issues. Perhaps these are the nature of the beast. In practice it seems to function quite well, I just think that it could be much better engineered.

The general quality and workmanship is excellent and Caroline has been very helpful all the way through the process from order to replacement.

Putting aesthetics to one side, the cover makes a considerable difference in comfort (and noise). Assuming dry weather at the point of putting it up, it does keep the bellows dry for when time comes to remove it a lower the pop top. The windscreen cover is probably the most bangs per buck for comfort/performance/convenience. The pop top cover is a little fiddly both up and down but not too tricky between two people.

 

[westfalia]

That looks too long and also a bit too short on the width.
It might do the job but it looks a bit baggy to me.

I wouldn't buy one.

 

[2into1]

The dimensions / shape of the pop top area is much more complex that it initially appears.

Setting aside the differences in the very early, and Beach models, I'd much rather buy one from a manufacturer who has worked on (and tweaked) and then settled on a design, rather than this madness of making custom covers to the differing measurements of the same roof made by folks standing on their tip toes and balancing off step ladders.