Pop Top Securing Method

[The Flying Scotsman]

Morning all, just reviewing this thread after a 70mph strap unravel and pop top opening on the dual carriageway. Was like a scene out of a movie with an aeroplane door opening, the noise etc. Fortunately a sharp and controlled emergency stop saved any obvious damage that I can see……in the last few years is there any other secure closure mechanisms to consider as I now want to replace the current webbing strap with cam buckles.

View attachment 326380

Get yourself a set of these
They are brilliant and so quick and easy to use

QuickPop

QuickPop is a simple and affordable quick release Pop Top strap designed to cut down the time spent releasing or tying down your pop top to a mere 4 seconds so you can spend your holiday time doing the important things.

www.sjb.design

 

[Kramsdog]

For info, i had the SCA roof blow open twice, this happened on a Motorway and a dual carriageway after 2 years of ownership, investigate the issue and it was down to no/poor maintenance.
The Cables to the locks needed adjusting so that they locks when pulled down.
Other issues with extended use,
- Ribs in the canvas broke, these are not replaceable without unpicking the canvas, making packing away a real pain, having to constantly check that the canvas is inside the top and not hanging out of the seals.
- Canvas constantly binding on the locking mechanism when closing, resulting in tear in the material needing repair. As a result over above.
- Constant smell of resin on a hot day, which never went away.
- Roof paint bubbled, little round blisters after a 12 months.

I have now sold the van and starting again…

 

[RichieNufc]

Get yourself a set of these
They are brilliant and so quick and easy to use

QuickPop

QuickPop is a simple and affordable quick release Pop Top strap designed to cut down the time spent releasing or tying down your pop top to a mere 4 seconds so you can spend your holiday time doing the important things.

www.sjb.design

Cheers mate I’ll take a look, we were in your neck of the woods when it happened yesterday. Opening up on the 1st bit of dual carriageway on the A1 past Berwick up to Edinburgh Royal Highland Centre for the dog show. Dogs weren’t too happy with the experience like

 

[RichieNufc]

That looks like an extremely poor quality buckle, it’s got a hollow press rivet which is going to be very weak. IMO not up to the job.

Will take a look at ours as this is a Google image search and see if we have a hollow press rivet that you mention.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Cheers mate I’ll take a look, we were in your neck of the woods when it happened yesterday. Opening up on the 1st bit of dual carriageway on the A1 past Berwick up to Edinburgh Royal Highland Centre for the dog show. Dogs weren’t too happy with the experience like

My dogs and myself had an equally distressing time lately when my vans bonnet opened at 70mph on the motorway and smashed my windscreen

 

[Ayjay]

I'm full of sympathy as the thought of that happening sends shivers down my spine but TBH it sounds like there might be a bit of user error in the mix. By user error, I include NOT inspecting the cam straps and replacing them occasionally whether they need it or not My personal regime is a regular check for any signs of wear (ie. fraying) and replacing them every couple of years (indeed, I fitted some new ones about three weeks ago). I also keep a couple of spares in the van just ion case and the costs are negligible in the wider scheme of things.

 

[Sackmycook]

Police issue Velcro Restraint straps. Man ,they are awesome..

https://ebay.us/m/1rbTfH

 

[BuzzT6]

That looks like an extremely poor quality buckle, it’s got a hollow press rivet which is going to be very weak. IMO not up to the job.

That’s just a stock image he has posted as an example is it not as opposed to his actual strap?

 

[BuzzT6]

Richie - what brand of roof do you have and what is the mechanism that failed? Although I’ve added the extra thing I showed to my SCA I just couldnt see it failing in reality as the wind deflector stops wind trying to lift the roof and the way the strap is gripped (similar to the photo you posted) seems robust.

The post above about an SCA failing twice though makes me think I need to keep going with the belts and braces approach and maybe add one of “quick pop” straps the flying Scotsman linked to

 

[DXX]

I would advise that if you think you have an issue with the security of the pop top when driving it is going to be much better to improve the security so that it stays shut than trying to stop if part way elevated. If it does lift part way at motorway speeds it’s still likely to be damaged even if it’s a few inches.

 

[BuzzT6]

Not sure if that was to me but agreed. Mine is just to give me some (possibly false) piece of mind

 

[Davenjo]

We had our Birchover for 9 years plus - no problems whatsoever with the roof - SCA194 with clam shell clasps.

 

[RichieNufc]

I'm full of sympathy as the thought of that happening sends shivers down my spine but TBH it sounds like there might be a bit of user error in the mix. By user error, I include NOT inspecting the cam straps and replacing them occasionally whether they need it or not My personal regime is a regular check for any signs of wear (ie. fraying) and replacing them every couple of years (indeed, I fitted some new ones about three weeks ago). I also keep a couple of spares in the van just ion case and the costs are negligible in the wider scheme of things

I'm full of sympathy as the thought of that happening sends shivers down my spine but TBH it sounds like there might be a bit of user error in the mix. By user error, I include NOT inspecting the cam straps and replacing them occasionally whether they need it or not My personal regime is a regular check for any signs of wear (ie. fraying) and replacing them every couple of years (indeed, I fitted some new ones about three weeks ago). I also keep a couple of spares in the van just ion case and the costs are negligible in the wider scheme of things.

Aye you could be right as the van is new to us and only used the pop top a couple of times so may have thread the webbing through the wrong way around.

 

[Ayjay]

Get yourself a set of these
They are brilliant and so quick and easy to use

QuickPop

QuickPop is a simple and affordable quick release Pop Top strap designed to cut down the time spent releasing or tying down your pop top to a mere 4 seconds so you can spend your holiday time doing the important things.

www.sjb.design

@The Flying Scotsman. I think they must have changed the design since the last time that I looked at them which was a few years ago - at the time, they couldn't be used with my roof as the 'staples' were too close together. Having now looked the their website, I see that they say 40mm as the minimum distance between the outer edges and mine is about 50mm which should be good enough. We're away from tomorrow so an order will have to wait until we get home now. That said, I really want to get hands on some them before I use in anger as I'll have to build up a bit of confidence - when I tighten the cam straps that I currently use, I get them as tight as possible which includes hanging a lot of my lardy arsed 77Kg off the end before I tidy away the excess!

 

[BuzzT6]

I really like the idea of those quick pop fasteners (as an addition to my sca cam buckles) but as far as I can make out I’d have to drill 4 holes through my pop top roof which is making me nervous in terms of getting them sealed so they don’t leak. What have others done? Lots of sika?

Edit - would be 2 holes actually as I’d want to add a single one to the centre of the roof at the front and keep the standard ones at the sides

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

@The Flying Scotsman. I think they must have changed the design since the last time that I looked at them which was a few years ago - at the time, they couldn't be used with my roof as the 'staples' were too close together. Having now looked the their website, I see that they say 40mm as the minimum distance between the outer edges and mine is about 50mm which should be good enough. We're away from tomorrow so an order will have to wait until we get home now. That said, I really want to get hands on some them before I use in anger as I'll have to build up a bit of confidence - when I tighten the cam straps that I currently use, I get them as tight as possible which includes hanging a lot of my lardy arsed 77Kg off the end before I tidy away the excess!

They do work very well and are miles quicker and easier to use than the straps

 

[Ayjay]

@The Flying Scotsman, Certainly looks that way - I emailed them this mornng and had a very quick response confirmng the the design had changed since I last looked at them and they will now suit my roof. Shame I didn't know a week ago as I could have ordered someone time for our trip to France and maybe Spain / Portugal which starts tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up anyway.