Roof seal , risk of damage when using in the freezing cold ?

[walkeryul]

We have camped every Wednesday night in all lockdowns. Rain or shine. No rule breaking. Always just on driveway! We move van, upstairs and downstairs, ring the changes! Great fun and imagine we are driving down through France this time. First lockdown we went to north Wales!
This week, Wednesday night camp out, worked remotely all evening and headed out to driveway at 23:00. We had decided we would sleep upstairs, I am a hardly Canadian and thought it would be fine! We were warm and snug but as we put roof up, lots of shuddering and shaking, eventually roof went up. Read next day on forum about rubber seal being damaged with freezing etc. Oops...

Next morning seemed all ok. Time will tell when it rains... has anyone else ordered that rubber preserving stuff? Hoping we have not caused damage.... still we weren’t cold! Trusty hot water bottle saved the night.

 

[AlisonF]

Hoping a reply might trigger some responses to your query.

I also did a search on roof seal (which it looks like you already have done looking at your post).

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/search/186175/?q=Roof+seal&o=relevance

 

[kurienp]

We have camped every Wednesday night in all lockdowns. Rain or shine. No rule breaking. Always just on driveway! We move van, upstairs and downstairs, ring the changes! Great fun and imagine we are driving down through France this time. First lockdown we went to north Wales!
This week, Wednesday night camp out, worked remotely all evening and headed out to driveway at 23:00. We had decided we would sleep upstairs, I am a hardly Canadian and thought it would be fine! We were warm and snug but as we put roof up, lots of shuddering and shaking, eventually roof went up. Read next day on forum about rubber seal being damaged with freezing etc. Oops...

Next morning seemed all ok. Time will tell when it rains... has anyone else ordered that rubber preserving stuff? Hoping we have not caused damage.... still we weren’t cold! Trusty hot water bottle saved the night.

@walkeryul , if visually the rubber is intact, it will be fine. Do walk around and check carefully that no rubber part has come undone from where the rubber seals are supposed to be. To check the front rubber seal, either raise the roof just a few inches at the front, else you will need a tall ladder to check.

If visually it is fine, you have not done any damage. Rubber, dirt and water is a potent mix and it will stick.

Once having checked everything visually, and all is well, apply some Gummi Pflege to all the rubber parts all around the roof. Apply liberally to especially the front lip that seals with the front cowl.

Applying Gummi Pflege is a good activity to do (I do it at least twice, if not at the turn of every season ... so 4 times a year). The door seals, the window seals (the spray can is best for this, for all else the stick version is good), the sliding door seals all around, the rubber accordion type cable guides on both front doors .. and it will ensure that the rubber remains supple and healthy for a long time to come.

Also, when you raise the roof, once in a while take a rag and clean the roof surface where the rubber seals sit.

Enjoy the van ... and that weekly camping on your drive is a real cool thing to do

 

[AlisonF]

@walkeryul , if visually the rubber is intact, it will be fine. Do walk around and check carefully that no rubber part has come undone from where the rubber seals are supposed to be. To check the front rubber seal, either raise the roof just a few inches at the front, else you will need a tall ladder to check.

If visually it is fine, you have not done any damage. Rubber, dirt and water is a potent mix and it will stick.

Once having checked everything visually, and all is well, apply some Gummi Pflege to all the rubber parts all around the roof. Apply liberally to especially the front lip that seals with the front cowl.

Applying Gummi Pflege is a good activity to do (I do it at least twice, if not at the turn of every season ... so 4 times a year). The door seals, the window seals (the spray can is best for this, for all else the stick version is good), the sliding door seals all around, the rubber accordion type cable guides on both front doors .. and it will ensure that the rubber remains supple and healthy for a long time to come.

Also, when you raise the roof, once in a while take a rag and clean the roof surface where the rubber seals sit.

Enjoy the van ... and that weekly camping on your drive is a real cool thing to do

Thanks

 

[walkeryul]

Thanks

Thank you for advice, so far even after today's rain, seems ok..... fingers crossed and have ordered that rubber stuff to use. This Wednesday, a campsite near Toulouse.....

 

[AlisonF]

Thank you for advice, so far even after today's rain, seems ok..... fingers crossed and have ordered that rubber stuff to use. This Wednesday, a campsite near Toulouse.....

@kurienp - I think this is for you. Thank you