Ripped My Roof : (

[andys]

I would speak to the supplier of the roof,ask for a m2 of matching fabric.. then cut to shape,so that it goes round window from the top.. this will help prevent water ingress from above. Then double stitch it or get someone like mrs @BiTurbo to stitch..
If the thread is the correct type then the wetter it gets the more it swells and seals thread hole..
Not very technical but will help with looks and sealing.

Yes, it’s a Westfalia and is apparently their own roof fitted by them in Germany. I was sort of trying to avoid contacting the dealer (there are only 3 in the UK) to tell them of the damage as I had an idea that them knowing about the repair what reduce what they offered me if I came to sell it back to them at any point. Maybe a bit of a strange thought I know, but their dealers always offer the best prices for them as they know they have a ready market to off them to. I think I’m going to have to bite the bullet though, I’m ok with doing a temporary repair but I don’t want to be sewing patches on, I’d rather leave that to someone who really knows what they’re doing.

 

[andys]

So 7 months later, and though I haven’t been looking constantly, I’ve run out of places to approach. Basically the answer is no, or yes but not with the roof in situ, you have to remove it and bring it to us. If I do that then there are any number of places willing to repair it, even replacing the whole canvas to different design/colour seems to be quite a reasonable price.

But how the hell? I’ve watched all the videos on YouTube and spent hours and hours on google and there is scant information out there for modern T6 roofs, but what there is suggests that the bottom of the roof is held onto the frame by a screwed on rail sealed underneath by silicone, and looking at mine that seems to be the case. The top though, from the tiny bit of information I can find, supposedly is slotted into a channel on the roof and will pull out if worked along this channel, then just slotted back in again and pulled round again on refitting.

Does anyone have any idea if this is true in all cases though? If it is then it may be feasible for me to get it repaired and then refit it myself, but if I take the bottom rail off and scrape the sealant off and then can’t get the top off then I’m stuck.
I’ve looked at loads of photos of installers at work, including many from members on here, but they’re always fitted as complete assemblies so that didn’t reveal anything.

 

[Phil_G]

Andy, try Austops, 01757 600406, not too far away, maybe they might have some pointers... my youngest recently had them fit a poptop to his T5,
brilliant lads, superb job and very reasonable. Surely they will know about repair options?
Cheers
Phil

 

[andys]

Andy, try Austops, 01757 600406, not too far away, maybe they might have some pointers... my youngest recently had them fit a poptop to his T5,
brilliant lads, superb job and very reasonable. Surely they will know about repair options?
Cheers
Phil

Thanks Phil, that’s not on my list of places I’ve tried, I’ll give them a call

 

[Jono]

Out of interest how did the sail tape hold up on holiday? Did you need to re do it?

 

[andys]

Out of interest how did the sail tape hold up on holiday? Did you need to re do it?

By the time I got back from holiday it was peeling away a bit at the edges where it had lost its stickiness a bit, I think due to the creasing forces on it when it folds. My stitching held fine though, and is still intact now, I've just covered it up with a fresh length of sail tape for now.

 

[andys]

Andy, try Austops, 01757 600406, not too far away, maybe they might have some pointers... my youngest recently had them fit a poptop to his T5,
brilliant lads, superb job and very reasonable. Surely they will know about repair options?
Cheers
Phil

Finally getting somewhere with this, hopefully, thanks to this suggestion. Austops themselves weren't interested, but gave me the number of a trimmer who they use so I went to see them today.
The old guy that runs it turned out to be very knowledgeable about poptop roofs, having been in them most of his working life and showed me how to remove and replace the canvas. Apparently I struck lucky for once, the German made roofs such as Reimo and Westfalia (he said looking at it he's 99% certain that the Westfalia roof is actually a Reimo) have a different way of fitting the canvas to the roof, and as a result are easier ro repair. They actually have tubes a bit like kadar (sp?) strips sewn into the bottom and top of the canvas edges that slide into channels, so that when you unscrew the aluminium covers from either end, the roof slides out much like an awning. Many UK built roofs apparently glue or silicone the bottom of the canvas which makes removing and refitting when a repair is necessary a much more involved and longer job. He reckons that's why the canvas repair places that I've tried wouldn't entertain removing or refitting themselves.

So he's going to check he can get hold of the canvas in the right colour and if so remake that side so that it's as good as new. I'll find out Mon full details and how much it'll be. Not counting my chickens after so many dead ends but this will hopefully be the answer, thanks again for the tip @Phil_G

 

[andys]

Still no further on with this, everytime I ring I get the same story that "it should be no problem, I know all the suppliers" and that he's just waiting for them to get back to him with a book of samples, and as soon as that's here he can get the canvas the next day. It didn't come Tues, "it should be here anyday" when I rang on Thurs and "it should hopefully be here Monday" when I rang Friday. I'm not holding my breath for when I ring tomorrow, but I'm having to stick with it cos this is the nearest I've got, and at the moment is the only option

 

[andys]

Ok I've finally given up on this place, he's just a time waster.

So still looking for ideas. Every roof fitter I speak to says "We dont, but a canvas repairer should be able to". The canvas repairers all say "We don't, but a trimmer should be able to". The trimmers say "We don't, you'd be better speaking to a roof fitter, they should be able to do it..."

Everyone thinks someone else "Should" be able to do it, but no one will

 

[Teesix]

Have you considered a local tailor? They'd certainly have the skills to sew it up and might welcome a new challenge. A re-upholsterer would also likely have the sewing skills to do the same. There should be one or two locally. Just a thought.

 

[andys]

Have you considered a local tailor? They'd certainly have the skills to sew it up and might welcome a new challenge. A re-upholsterer would also likely have the sewing skills to do the same. There should be one or two locally. Just a thought.

Yes that was the first sort of places I tried, not interested. "Try a poptop roof fitter/manufacturer, they should be able to do it"

 

[andys]

Yes that was the first sort of places I tried, not interested. "Try a poptop roof fitter/manufacturer, they should be able to do it"

Just to clarify, there are any number of places willing to repair or replace the actual canvas, but no one will have anything to do with removing or refitting it. The trimmer that I was dealing with above who told me he knew and that it would be easy to do, eventually admitted that it wasn't fixed how he thought and didn't actually know how it came off

 

[Teesix]

Ahh, I see.

I guess you must have tried the invisible repair specialists locally too? Short of that it might be down to the self-adhesive rip-stop repair tape or patches then. Bumm3r.

 

[andys]

Ahh, I see.

I guess you must have tried the invisible repair specialists locally too? Short of that it might be down to the self-adhesive rip-stop repair tape or patches then. Bumm3r.

As I say, there's no problem with finding someone to repair the canvas, as long as I bring it in a bag and then take it away and refit it myself. But I can't find anyone who'll remove it or show me how to.

 

[Teesix]

I guess I should have read the thread again before offering advice you've already had.

One thought. I see you're not far from Hull. 8Ball campers did my Austop roof and I found the owners, Colin and Mark, to be really helpful people. It's a long shot but they might be able to help.

 

[Phil_G]

Does it have to be removed Andy? no chance of a repair in situ if you could persuade a trimmer to work in the van?
Another thought, did you try Hillside?

 

[andys]

Does it have to be removed Andy? no chance of a repair in situ if you could persuade a trimmer to work in the van?
Another thought, did you try Hillside?

I tried Hillside, and no, no one will touch it in situ, not even prepared to look at it.

 

[Oldrat]

Are you not covered by insurance?
Van or even accidental damage household insurance?

 

[andys]

Are you not covered by insurance?
Van or even accidental damage household insurance?

I did look into claiming on van insurance, they told me to get a quote for the repair. I probably wouldn't claim, but in any case no one will give me a quote, they can't put the phone down quick enough.

 

[Phil_G]

This is a concern to all of us with pop-tops as sooner or later its going to happen...
I think my next step would be a letter to SCA themselves explaining the whole story and
pointing out that no-one within their own dealer network can supply the necessary aftersales
support, undermining what is otherwise a superb product. Or words to that effect