Pop Top Canvas Pulling Out

[SpeedyVW]

Hi,

Has anyone had any issues with their pop top canvas pulling out of the roof in the top front corner when the roof is fully raised?

Thanks.

 

[ArunAlec]

Hi,

Has anyone had any issues with their pop top canvas pulling out of the roof in the top front corner when the roof is fully raised?

Thanks.

There was a recent thread on this issue, which seems to have been a T6 problem. You might be worth doing a search and see if you can find it or wait for someone to spot your thread.

 

[Sad]

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/bellows-becoming-detached.25411/

 

[SpeedyVW]

Thanks for your help Sad. Just incase anyone has the same issue the van has been into VW Leeds where they were very efficient & helpful and replaced the canvas with no quibbles.

 

[flying banana]

yes. i think replacing the canvass is the only proper cure. sometimes they clip it back in but in my experience it comes out again. hot weather seemed to cause mine. but not sure as it shouldn't come out.

 

[Meoncoast]

Ours came out last summer but I pushed it back in then pushed it home using a wooden spatula and it has remained ok since have another 2.5 years warranty to monitor.

 

[Stow]

Identical issue, it pops out as it becomes fully elevated but is very easy to see that the troublesome side of the roof elevates further than the other - it pops out because it is over-extended. Currently arranging a dealer fix. I think the hydraulics need a tweak and realigning, the bellows aren't the issue.

 

[SpeedyVW]

Hi Stow,

They did try to adjust the roof etc before swapping the canvas but it was just too far out so they decided to replace the canvas. On the plus side I got the updated canvas with the new opening front window. It also seems to fold nicer when you lower the roof.

 

[SpeedyVW]

 

[Stow]

Excellent upgrade! - I will bear that in mind when I drop it off on the 8th. There is a flurry of roof problems being reported in other threads so it's reassuring that most seem to get sorted satisfactorily.

 

[Stow]

Update: SMG Tonbridge agreed the roof was out of alignment but it was within VW specified thresholds. Despite this, the bellows kept popping out of the mounting so new bellows were fitted.

Note that replacement bellows are the new type with the giant zippable front window. It does make sliding across the shutter roof above the cockpit much more troublesome, but the window is tremendous.

 

[TripleBee]

Never had this problem on my T5.1 in 9 years.
But I still have a canvas tent, not the newer T6 fabric.

 

[TripleBee]

View attachment 43935

Can you open the front completely? Or what is that line from left bottom over the top to the right bottom?

 

[Stow]

Further update: new style bellows are even worse and now pop out on all four corners. This is an issue that isn't going to be resolved easily!

 

[Meoncoast]

Note that replacement bellows are the new type with the giant zippable front window. It does make sliding across the shutter roof above the cockpit much more troublesome, but the window is tremendous.

Interestingly I find the new big window folds easier and neater than the old type bellows I was a bit concerned as others had said it more difficult to tuck away.

 

[barry]

Further update: new style bellows are even worse and now pop out on all four corners. This is an issue that isn't going to be resolved easily!

Gorrilla superglue can attach rubber to metal.
Use it thinly and if possible leave the roof down for a week before putting it back up.
A few hours should do but a week to be safer.
My 57 plate T5.0 Cali has a new-style tent for T5.1 fitted and pulled out on two front and one rear corners.
Easily pushed back but popped out again when the roof was fully extended.
Gorilla superglue £4 fixed it.

The three corners survived three days of serious rain storms over the weekend in Glen Nevis.

 

[wunnspeed]

So, I went and spoke with two different dealers. One told me that his facilty didn't have the capability to fix or replace the tent. He sent me to another, much larger dealer in the area. They actually had a 'camping van' specialist. He informed me that the extended warranty has an out when it comes to the camping parts of the van and doesn't cover them. At this point, I've now ordered a Hess replacement in matching red.... which, it seems is sold out and then will have to make one for me. At least their higher quality product comes with installation for less than what the VW dealer told me it would cost just to replace, not install the VW replacement.

 

[Commer63]

Spotted this problem on our 2022 Beach. It is a manual roof. It comes back out each time the roof is raised and it is beginning to happen on the other side too.
Has anyone had the roof replaced recently under warranty with this problem?

 

[California Dreamer]

I had the same thing - tried to pop it back myself but it kept happening so took it to dealer and they fixed under warranty with some sort of glue - 2 years later and no problems and it’s been in all weathers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[The Little Red Cali]

Spotted this problem on our 2022 Beach. It is a manual roof. It comes back out each time the roof is raised and it is beginning to happen on the other side too.
Has anyone had the roof replaced recently under warranty with this problem?
View attachment 138392View attachment 138393

Just had mine repaired at VW Liverpool as they were doing my first service anyway. They use glue and just stick it back in. You can't use the roof for 24 hours while the glue sets. We've just returned from Camper jam and I'm glad to report it looks like its fixed the problem. A simple job by all accounts.

 

[Commer63]

Thanks for the advice. We too were at Camperjam - you may have been the red van in front of us!

 

[Meoncoast]

We had the issue a few years ago on our Ocean. At that time, the VW fix was to replace the bellows with a new one. The new bellows came out a season later. I stuck it in myself with glue, and it stayed in place.
I also stopped using the bungee cord, which I was sure did not help the issue. VW seems now to go straight to sticking it back in place.

 

[Rololux]

We had the issue a few years ago on our Ocean. At that time, the VW fix was to replace the bellows with a new one. The new bellows came out a season later. I stuck it in myself with glue, and it stayed in place.
I also stopped using the bungee cord, which I was sure did not help the issue. VW seems now to go straight to sticking it back in place.

As a matter of interest, what type of glue did you use? Ours popped out for the first time last week while at Silverstone in the hot weather. Managed to push it back in again, but for sure this is not a permanent fix. I have the 5 year warranty which expires in October, but my experience with this type of problem is that dealers are unwilling to do a warranty repair unless they can reproduce the fault in their garage - and sod’s law says that it will work perfectly when trying to demonstrate to them!

 

[Meoncoast]

As a matter of interest, what type of glue did you use? Ours popped out for the first time last week while at Silverstone in the hot weather. Managed to push it back in again, but for sure this is not a permanent fix. I have the 5 year warranty which expires in October, but my experience with this type of problem is that dealers are unwilling to do a warranty repair unless they can reproduce the fault in their garage - and sod’s law says that it will work perfectly when trying to demonstrate to them!

I used a clear window waterproof mastic. Left the roof up overnight to dry. No issues after using. Pushed back in before sticking only lasted a couple of cycles.