I've recently bought a VW van and have issues closing the Austop roof ( design has two ratchet straps.) I've watched many YouTube videos on how to do it etc. and have tried folding the material; pulling material out when closing and cable ties around the latch but despite all advise the pop top seems 'loose' over the driver's side so much so, that rain came through the zip bit when driving. I presume the rain was getting underneath and then pooling in the canvas and then dripping through the zip. I'm starting to wonder if I need to take it for someone to look at. Unless anyone has any ideas of what I might be doing wrong or something I need to fix. One thing I have noticed it the strap at the back of the pop top to pull it in is broken and they have attached a bungee cord round the middle of the outside to help bring it in...I have found this to be advice on how to avoid the material tearing in the folding mechanism. Just wondered if anyone had any advice on what it might be or what I'm doing wrong. Thanks in advance.
Not sure what brand my pop top is but it also uses two cam straps at the front to secure it closed. I pull the pop top down so it’s about 150-200mm open and it holds itself there allowing me to reach back and give each side a good tug 
. This pulls the canvas over the mattress and I do this toward the front too. I then grab the front panel (widow and cover in my case) and pull that in, creating a nice fold in each corner. A quick walk around the outside to check nothing is trapped and I can then pull the top all the way down. Then it’s just a case of tightening each strap - not the easiest as the gap between each metal loop ends up being the same dimension as the buckle on the strap so it can get a little trick. But once there I fold the rest of the flappy canvas back in on itself to tidy up the inside. We’ve driven in horrendous weathers and at 80mph in the wind/rain with no leaks or lifting.
We do have a little rubber strip along the top of the windscreen area that must deflect wind/rain from the pop top seal at the front. Kind of ‘sharks fin’ in profile and stuck with a mastic type sealant/glue (presume Sika brand). I would say that’s a key piece. Do you have that or signs it was once there?
. This pulls the canvas over the mattress and I do this toward the front too. I then grab the front panel (widow and cover in my case) and pull that in, creating a nice fold in each corner. A quick walk around the outside to check nothing is trapped and I can then pull the top all the way down. Then it’s just a case of tightening each strap - not the easiest as the gap between each metal loop ends up being the same dimension as the buckle on the strap so it can get a little trick. But once there I fold the rest of the flappy canvas back in on itself to tidy up the inside. We’ve driven in horrendous weathers and at 80mph in the wind/rain with no leaks or lifting.We do have a little rubber strip along the top of the windscreen area that must deflect wind/rain from the pop top seal at the front. Kind of ‘sharks fin’ in profile and stuck with a mastic type sealant/glue (presume Sika brand). I would say that’s a key piece. Do you have that or signs it was once there?
Its might just be the way u are folding the canvas .I have had an Austops for about 3 years now and occasionaly when packing up I will notice the top not sitting right to the van (usually drivers side for some reason!) .Have you still got the internal elastic strap at the back of the canvas that comes with it .That pulls the back in perfectly ,I then pull the straps right down until the roof is sitting on my head .then pull the sides in from front corners until a nice smooth triangle then try and fold front as neat as possible before pulling straps down tight!
Takes a bit of trial and error to get it just right .
.then pull the sides in from front corners until a nice smooth triangle then try and fold front as neat as possible before pulling straps down tight!Takes a bit of trial and error to get it just right .
My straps need another 2 mm of tightness to close onto the roof but I can't get it as the buckle is at its limit any clues .and yes I bought the small straps that were advertised on here still not getting that final tightness onto the roof for the rubbers at the front
Similar threads
