Hilo Roofs

[andys]

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That's what i was wondering following a bit of a dig around the site

Ah right I didn't click on the profile page, it just says "Member" on the box that comes up with his name. I still can't get anything to come up when I click on @HiLo or @Hilo though, how are you getting to it?

Edit: I also missed the year, it's 15 months since he loggod on, not 3!

 

[andys]

Good god, I'm 7th in total number of posts, time to get a life! I'm only just behind @Dellmassive who posts 7 fully researched essays an hour

 

[Farnorthsurfer]

Reading all of the review posts with interest as am hoping to choose a top for mine in the new year.
Can I just say that as an engineer I am amazed and horrified to see a threaded bolt used as a pin axle in what is clearly a loaded hinge joint. That’s just shoddy work. Better to use a plain shank bolt with the right thread length but best to use a proper hinge pin which would resist wear in the joint. The admittedly most expensive option would be to rose joint it.
How long do you think the peaks of those threads will last bearing against the SS bars?
Pretty easy to put right but maybe not when it’s all assembled.

 

[kn0bby]

There is also a company called Stealth that do a very low roof. Maybe @kn0bby can give you his thoughts.

Really pleased with my Stealth roof.. Never saw a Hilo roof so cannot compare.

One thing that should be considered is both Hilo and Stealth are low production manufacturers compared to VW. I have some niggles like Hilo owners I'm sure.

 

[Trouts]

It’s awful to read this.
It’s really put me off HiLo not because I don’t trust all converters but because if their attitude and treatment of you.

totally agree with this. I get that that some installers are better than others (although that hardly puts me at ease!!) and you take a chance with some other others, HOWEVER if HiLo are acting like this then why would anyone take the chance in getting one of their roofs installed...

 

[andys]

The product isn’t the roof, it’s the roof you end up with. The installation is an integral part of the final result so if a manufacturer does not ensure that their installers do the job correctly then they aren’t worth considering.
Worries like this were exactly why I went down the route of buying a campervan from a start-to-finish OEM company that builds Transporter campervans from new (which leaves only the California or Westfalia). I spent a long time travelling up and down the country looking at various converters work and found people unhappy with the work done, and saw examples of shoddy work even on vans at shows, with every single converter I looked at. It almost seemed to be a lottery whether they made a good job of yours and I didn’t want that. Yes it cost me a lot more up front, but I’ll also get a lot of it back come sale time.
I’m disgusted at the way @DaveyB has been treated and I hope the people responsible suffer financially for the reputation they will now get. I also hope that other installers will take note that when they do things like this then word does get out there.

 

[Skyliner33]

Just to add to this I recently sold a 12mm ply floor. The guy who came to collect it told me he was a converter who had done several cans to sell. Also he told me he did the conversions on his drive. Unusual I thought for someone who had just said it was his job.
We were then looking at the van he had bought which was an empty shell apart from a cheap pop top.
What stunned me next was he told me he had done the HiLo training to fit their roofs and was one of their approved instructors but since the training of fitting one roof a couple of years ago had never fitted one since. miss it any wonder there are issues?

 

[Gaz1971]

Reading all of the review posts with interest as am hoping to choose a top for mine in the new year.
Can I just say that as an engineer I am amazed and horrified to see a threaded bolt used as a pin axle in what is clearly a loaded hinge joint. That’s just shoddy work. Better to use a plain shank bolt with the right thread length but best to use a proper hinge pin which would resist wear in the joint. The admittedly most expensive option would be to rose joint it.
How long do you think the peaks of those threads will last bearing against the SS bars?
Pretty easy to put right but maybe not when it’s all assembled.

That’s there idea for spacing must of spent a fortune on r&d for this little problem.

 

[Johnod17]

Why are companies getting away with shoddy work like this?
I would expect that Hilo would do everything in their power to resolve this issue,as it is them that is going to suffer in the long run.
Word of mouth is the best seller of a product,even if you have a problem with something it is how they deal with the issue you have.

It it’s time that they stand up and take responsibility for the issues caused by them and there installers .
We pay good money for our pride and joys and to have this happen to it is disgusting.

I hope you can get this sorted in some way or other,it may be time for crowd funding to fight this in the court?

 

[kn0bby]

View attachment 51794 That’s there idea for spacing must of spent a fortune on r&d for this little problem.

I expect it allows them to make small adjustments to where the roof sits.. Solid spacers wouldn't allow for this.

My kit car is full of spacers like this.. Low productions stuff again..

 

[Farnorthsurfer]

View attachment 51794 That’s there idea for spacing must of spent a fortune on r&d for this little problem.

I wonder if that hex bolt is also a screw or a plain shank bolt.
Totally understand low volume production and actually have no problem with the washers for spacing. as @kn0bby says they can be used for adjustment.
But there is a difference between low volume and low cost. As I understand it HiLo have made loads of these and charge a lot for them. It wouldn't cost the earth to use the right hardware.
In fact it would probably be cheaper.

Damn, I can never get this soapbox of mine back under the seat......

 

[Base1388]

As you all know I've had some stress too with my conversion

BUT this far my HiLo has been perfect xtreme van JAY
VW T4 T5 T6 xtremevan camper conversions leicestershire, Split Charger Kits, Authorised dealers of Hiloroof, Eberspacher, Calibre, CBE, Cerwin Vega, SlidePods, Smev, Waeco, Vango

fitted it for me and so far I'm delighted and very happy
Possibly I just got lucky with my choice of installer !

How about having our own list of recommended installers ?

 

[Roose1]

Yep same issue for me;
Canvas worn through on top and bottom drivers side corners.
It is booked in with Hilo for a fortnight Monday for them to have it and rectify. To be honest I am so sick of all of the problems I have had with this roof and the incessant creaking that drives you to utter distraction whilst driving, I would never ever ever ever ever recommend to anyone, knowing what I know now, for them to spend their hard earned money, and wreck their van, by installing a HiLo roof.
I only hope I can get mine fixed to any kind of reasonable standard before they go bust. Because this recall, coupled with overselling and under-manufacturing of the surf roof whereby they had to close the factory just to try and get back on top (and still aren’t) is gonna hurt them and consumer confidence must be rock bottom. Says everything when they don’t even turn up as a manufacturer to CamperJam, instead opting to have an installer represent them.
Yes the roof looks good when down, but if I could do it all again, i’d not put any poptop on, because if you want stealth look - keep the original metal roof that VW stuck on it.

My friend has had massive issues with Hilo throughout the summer, he paid over 6K for the pleasure too!
He has had an absolute nightmare with them, I feel quite bad as it was me that led him to going for a Hilo roof based on appearance and height of the pop top. Without going into detail here it’s also made me rethink And now I’ve decided against a PopTop roof.

 

[Insert Coin]

As you all know I've had some stress too with my conversion

BUT this far my HiLo has been perfect xtreme van JAY
VW T4 T5 T6 xtremevan camper conversions leicestershire, Split Charger Kits, Authorised dealers of Hiloroof, Eberspacher, Calibre, CBE, Cerwin Vega, SlidePods, Smev, Waeco, Vango

fitted it for me and so far I'm delighted and very happy
Possibly I just got lucky with my choice of installer !

How about having our own list of recommended installers ?

My roof has been faultless too, I used VW Transporter Conversion Specialists & Campervan Hire in Dorset

 

[Ann3x]

As you all know I've had some stress too with my conversion

BUT this far my HiLo has been perfect xtreme van JAY
VW T4 T5 T6 xtremevan camper conversions leicestershire, Split Charger Kits, Authorised dealers of Hiloroof, Eberspacher, Calibre, CBE, Cerwin Vega, SlidePods, Smev, Waeco, Vango

fitted it for me and so far I'm delighted and very happy
Possibly I just got lucky with my choice of installer !

How about having our own list of recommended installers ?

Pretty speechless about this thread. Horrible experience and attitude from the "pros" @DaveyB. I can 100% see why you're so p****ed off.

Despite this, as I said in another thread,my own HiLo is great and Xtremevan fitted it perfectly and with great care/comms. Seems to just be a lottery . Still worrying to see HiLo themselves being so unreasonable and I'm just unbelievably glad that I chose Xtreme instead of VanDoc (who I also considered).

Pro converters are a lottery.

 

[Vincent]

Hi here are some pictures of my van after Hilo took it to crystal campers to fit roof as they were to busy this was done in May have not heard from fitter since July and after Hilo been sent photos of kit and fitter issue's will not do anything unless I return it to fitter.Pay attention to last photo where drain tube pushed through bulkhead. Grommet has been removed and 12 volt permanent feed trapped on metal work I think sums up the quality of this paticular job,I think pop tops are great but after this could only say I wish I'd gone for the the stealth roof it's low, carbon finish,so no paint peeling off and hinges on the inside so won't be going rusty on you after 5 months,and hopefully you don't have to keep a tea towel on hand for when you want to use it

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Oh this will be the oh so wonderful Ady Beckwith that again Hilo themselves ushered me towards singing his praises.

I'm posting my own thread tonight on this certain individual and the "work" he's done on my van!

This has to bloody stop..! I will look at a way of petitioning against HiLo and their approved fitters.
Please keep all details, photos and corrspondants thats you may have with either HiLo of their approved fitter..

@Deaky
@DaveyB
@Keaney
@Gaz1971

Please add me to this list @Fish, I'll be putting up a thread of my own tonight with included photos regarding my treatment (or lack of) by Hilo.

 

[Insert Coin]

I'm genuinely not trying to come across as a HiLo fanboy and I'm aware I've been quite 'lucky' with my roof so far, I'm only trying to add a little balance to the discussion.

My van was in for some minor work this week with the guy that fitted my roof (Old Harry Camper Co), he's fitted 12 HiLo Sport roofs this year, prior to March this year he'd never fitted one at all.

To date he's no had no major issues, communication has been a bit iffy he said and there's a few things that he's had to alter/modify on the install process, but nothing of any real note.

My own roof was the biggest issue they've faced so far, my roof lid arrived with him and it had warped somehow in transit, but it was replaced within a few days and the rest of my install went smoothly.

Maybe the current iteration of the HiLo roof has ironed out a lot of the build quality issues and maybe Old Harry Camper Co were trained up in the most up to date methods of installation which would explain his lack of HiLo build and install issues?

 

[DPS]

What a dreadful experience. Any company stands or falls on the quality of its customer service. Things can always go wrong, but what matters is how they are put right.
Fortunately I have have never had any dealings with Hi-LO and nor will I at any time in the future. The arrogance of the Operations Manager sums your experience; what chance have the team got when they have to take their lead from someone with that attitude.

 

[Bentley T6]

Thanks for your response Kerry @HiLo Roofs. I've spoken to Mick and Vandoc. Looking forward to this issue being resolved.

Hi Deaky,

I've just ordered a HiLo sport roof to be fitted in March. Just come across you post from last year, how did you get on with resolving your leak was it all resolved?

many thanks in advance,

andy

 

[czmate1999]

Hi Deaky,

I've just ordered a HiLo sport roof to be fitted in March. Just come across you post from last year, how did you get on with resolving your leak was it all resolved?

many thanks in advance,

andy

Hi @Bentley T6, also check out the threads from @DaveyB for his issues with Hilo.

Best

CZ.