Skyline Aurora Pop-Top opening on motorway?
- Thread starter Creamytash
- Start date
Mutineer
Member
Under warranty they shipped me the new, improved design for the roof bars, replacement cams and fixings and offered an inspection. Easy to fit. Much better cam engagement and less chance of error on closure. Excellent communication. Nice people.
I noticed my pop top had a little play on one side when closed. A closer inspection I could see one latch had bent up a bit. It’s about 4 years old and I’ve owned for 3 years.
My diagnosis, a firend that had used my van for a week and possibly didn’t take as much care pulling the canvas in when locking the roof down caused excess pressure on the latch.
We were in Devon and about to depart for Scotland. Searching the internet I came across this thread and dreaded driving it at all, let alone 500 miles M5/M6/M74 so we stayed an extra day and dropped in on Skyline Roofs in Somerset first thing Monday.
I know the warranty is not transferable and you could see the place was busy from opening and I had no expectations for them doing much but at least wanted to buy the part.
Once it was confirmed I was not booked in, I feared the worst although a chap named Sam came to take a look.
He replaced the latches AND the locking bars and took a look around the roof and called over a couple of other guys too to help with maintaining the scissor, pointed out corrosion on the struts and gave me replacements.
Because I was not the original owner, the staff gave me some great advice that you’d get on installation and talked me through the updated parts.
Things wear down and break with time and use and there’s human error. The new bars are designed to reduce the human error side of things and like any other part of your vehicle you should check for issues periodically.
Skyline went way beyond and exceeded any expectations I had. The company look like they are doing great and the staff are a great reflection on that.
I understand if anyone has had a big bill from having a damaged roof would be upset but I can’t believe skyline don’t “give a f@&£”.
If I’m to get another roof, it’ll be from these guys.
My diagnosis, a firend that had used my van for a week and possibly didn’t take as much care pulling the canvas in when locking the roof down caused excess pressure on the latch.
We were in Devon and about to depart for Scotland. Searching the internet I came across this thread and dreaded driving it at all, let alone 500 miles M5/M6/M74 so we stayed an extra day and dropped in on Skyline Roofs in Somerset first thing Monday.
I know the warranty is not transferable and you could see the place was busy from opening and I had no expectations for them doing much but at least wanted to buy the part.
Once it was confirmed I was not booked in, I feared the worst although a chap named Sam came to take a look.
He replaced the latches AND the locking bars and took a look around the roof and called over a couple of other guys too to help with maintaining the scissor, pointed out corrosion on the struts and gave me replacements.
Because I was not the original owner, the staff gave me some great advice that you’d get on installation and talked me through the updated parts.
Things wear down and break with time and use and there’s human error. The new bars are designed to reduce the human error side of things and like any other part of your vehicle you should check for issues periodically.
Skyline went way beyond and exceeded any expectations I had. The company look like they are doing great and the staff are a great reflection on that.
I understand if anyone has had a big bill from having a damaged roof would be upset but I can’t believe skyline don’t “give a f@&£”.
If I’m to get another roof, it’ll be from these guys.
Mutineer
Member
I said in an earlier post that the cams were too bendy, but now, with the better engagement on the improved bars and more care in locking them down I don't think there is a problem. If the cams do get bent, replace them. Use loctite on the thread. Just email Skyline for advice. Very helpful.
Blueandgold
Member
Keep away from skyline at all costs , pictures coming soon
Had a Skyline fitting for a year now on my LWB, not had a problem at all... i'm doing exactly as the installer advised for opening & closing with drafts (windows /door open/side 'curtain' straps etc) when it was fitted. I've driven it some good trips 70mph + on times & it's absolutely fine.. long may it continue 
Pleased for you.Had a Skyline fitting for a year now on my LWB, not had a problem at all... i'm doing exactly as the installer advised for opening & closing with drafts (windows /door open/side 'curtain' straps etc) when it was fitted. I've driven it some good trips 70mph + on times & it's absolutely fine.. long may it continue
Dropped into Skyline near Bristol. I’m nearing the end of my 5-year warranty and I wanted them to have a look at my hinges and brackets. A few takeaways I thought I’d share.
1. Keep an eye on the nylock nuts at the back. A couple of mine loosen over time. Then I tightened them too much and found I had noisy brackets which didn’t lower fully. The fix, feedback from skyline: don’t tighten too much and lubricate the washers every 10 lifts or so.
2. Skyline have updated the design on the rear brackets. They swapped in a slightly modified short piece. Didn’t fully catch why…
3. My outside strut brackets at top and bottom had bent inwards. Apparently this happens with installation upon first close. The struts are too stiff in the first compression. They said they typically find they bend on first use but immediately swap them out. The fix: they swapped mine and they haven’t bent.
4. I asked about reports of roofs lifting and asked that they check my cams. They did so, and reported all good. They replaced the bracket at the front of the roof. See photo. This one makes it nearly impossible to not notice if you’ve missed latching the bracket with the cam. The roof would sit ridiculously high. Seems a good idea.
My roof is lifting and closing beautifully. Still fully confident with my cam system. Just Fabsiled the canvas ready for a rainy Busfest!
Anyhow, thought Aurora owners might find this interesting.
Final mention: Skyline Bristol have been really great in my experience. While I suggest you book ahead, I didn’t. I emailed on the Friday and they had me in on the Tuesday after the bank holiday. I’m not at all local and I was in the area. Really great guys. Super friendly and helpful.
1. Keep an eye on the nylock nuts at the back. A couple of mine loosen over time. Then I tightened them too much and found I had noisy brackets which didn’t lower fully. The fix, feedback from skyline: don’t tighten too much and lubricate the washers every 10 lifts or so.
2. Skyline have updated the design on the rear brackets. They swapped in a slightly modified short piece. Didn’t fully catch why…
3. My outside strut brackets at top and bottom had bent inwards. Apparently this happens with installation upon first close. The struts are too stiff in the first compression. They said they typically find they bend on first use but immediately swap them out. The fix: they swapped mine and they haven’t bent.
4. I asked about reports of roofs lifting and asked that they check my cams. They did so, and reported all good. They replaced the bracket at the front of the roof. See photo. This one makes it nearly impossible to not notice if you’ve missed latching the bracket with the cam. The roof would sit ridiculously high. Seems a good idea.
My roof is lifting and closing beautifully. Still fully confident with my cam system. Just Fabsiled the canvas ready for a rainy Busfest!
Anyhow, thought Aurora owners might find this interesting.
Final mention: Skyline Bristol have been really great in my experience. While I suggest you book ahead, I didn’t. I emailed on the Friday and they had me in on the Tuesday after the bank holiday. I’m not at all local and I was in the area. Really great guys. Super friendly and helpful.
I have this roof and only had my camper two months now! This roof has popped up twice since owning it and the catches don’t lock into place or pull the pop top down to the roof of my van,there is a slight gap between and I always make sure catches are in the locked position before I make any journey!
Hopefully you are not waiting for it to happen again. I’d put a small ratchet strap around it through the cab windows and get the van off for a permanent repair from one of the businesses that other owners have mentioned earlier in this discussion.
Skyline are 'ignorant' to this ongoing defect and insist on blaming the converter for incorectly fitting the roof catches or they blame the owner for incorrectly fastening the the catches thus allowing them to fly up during travel at motorway speeds. I have challenged skyline in person about this issue and that was when Skyline placed the blame. I remain gratefull to my converter who phoned me the week before I was to have my skyline pop top roof fitted and said they were no longer prepared to fit Skyline roofs. They fitted an alternative choice of roof for me of which I have been very satisfied. People in the campervan world know very well that this problem exists with Skyline roofs but still try to play it down - there are plenty of stories out there about skyline roof fastening failures.
Blueandgold
Member
I’m still dealing with skyline as I’ve just had the pop top roof fitted and it was absolutely shocking , they broke things , the roof was shocking and still is , I wish I could turn time back and used someone else , they are awful , people will be shocked when they see the pictures to back up what I’m saying , they broke my screen and tried to hide this , then lied and said it was a stone chip , then there own delivery man told me there was a chip but it wasn’t the chip lower down they just blamed it on that to claim the cost back , any fool one they see the picture can see how they broke it , and the sealer wow , gaps sealed over bird poo and dirt , and some parts was just dabbed on like an old putty window that someone has done who hasn’t got a clue , they put wrong handles on and had to change them whilst doing the demo because the roof wouldn’t shut , the van was covered in sh.t when I was told to collect, a big scratch on the pop top and I had to wait whilst they got someone to polish it out with a buffing tool , didn’t fit the carpeted roof lining properly , it was hanging out the door seals looking at it now it’s not really designed for thick carpet on the roof lining properly, they have made a mess of the plastics dints where they have used a prising tool or screwdriver , black had marks still on the inside of the pop top , they lost a plastic from a captain seat , hammer marks on the pop top trim , I’m not 100 percent and wouldn’t know how to prove but I think staff drive people’s vans and use them because when I got it back the first time there was £7.50 in the cup holder and it wasn’t mine , you couldn’t write this , because I’ve missed loads out how they where with me and knowing I’m struggling with stage 4 cancer they don’t care , never apologised nothing , awful people , anyway they took it back to rectify the things and only re sealed in a fashion, they guy who dropped it off was actually really good and genuine, he said let’s check it so we did and you wouldn’t believe it still gaps in the sealer , everyone check the seal don’t take it for granted it’s fine , some maybe ok but who ever got there hand on my van must be blind, they really messed me about whilst having my van back they kept it nearly two weeks and yet they say they do 3 pop tops a day , so when I asked what is happening with my van , they just ignored me and eventually said I could have it back Wednesday or Thursday I said Wednesday because I go away at the weekend and then he said Tuesday it is being really cocky , awful people , the back end of the roof doesn’t even sit to the original roof and they know this and have said they will send someone to sort it and seal the gaps , I’ve still got to arrange this but feel too deflated with it all at the minute, they have put me through hell and back , I’m going to write everything up on this forum once everything is sorted and upload all the pictures and everyone will be shocked
I am sorry to read what you have been put through by Skyline. I feel very angry for you as I am also fighting through stage 4 cancer that is inoperable and under palliative care. People don't realise cancer depleats your strength that gets you through these sort of conflicts and how easy it can be for you to give in and not fight. Please always feel free to message me even if it is only to vent. Best wishes.
Creamytash.
Blueandgold
Member
Thank you so much , my prayers and thoughts will be with you , keep the fight up please , I was told I’m being on palliative care I told them I’m at work and don’t want it until it’s a must , I was also told I have to many mets and don’t meet whatever it is for them to operate, I said why I’m healthy and only 48 at the time , but after chemo things changed the liver mets had vanished and so they could operate on my bowel , colon was the primary, that operation was successful but the liver nets came straight back , they are calling them colon disappearing liver mets , so now I’m being monitored every three months with the hope of another operation to take half my liver away but at the moment the surgeon said it’s too risky with my weigh, body mass ratio to the amount of liver they can take , they say survival in big people is very low , so I’m on a diet at the moment, no bread is a killer , please don’t give up , 
ill pray for you
Thanks again for the lovely message
ill pray for you Thanks again for the lovely message
On the other hand…
I had an Aurora LWB pop top fitted at Skyline HQ at WSM in 2022 and cannot fault it!
Apart from the struts which got stiff and they replaced under the 5yr warranty!
I had an Aurora LWB pop top fitted at Skyline HQ at WSM in 2022 and cannot fault it!
Apart from the struts which got stiff and they replaced under the 5yr warranty!
