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Are Bellows Bungies only a Brit thing?

sidepod

sidepod

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Never seen one deployed on a Euro-Cali, only Brits.

Just wandering back from the baguettery this morning, I spotted the roof of a Cali, bungee installed. “Bet that’s a Brit van?” A quick wander past confirmed.

Is it only us that love a gimmic or is there a marketing opportunity in Europe?
 
sidepod said:
Never seen one deployed on a Euro-Cali, only Brits.

Just wandering back from the baguettery this morning, I spotted the roof of a Cali, bungee installed. “Bet that’s a Brit van?” A quick wander past confirmed.

Is it only us that love a gimmic or is there a marketing opportunity in Europe?
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I've seen the occasional Euro Cali with one on.
 
Always seemed a bit pointless to me but our 6.1 has the arms that fold in when the roof comes down that mainly negates the need as they does the same job. Can imagine on the older bellows they have some utility. As others say - always do a quick check anyway which also helps to double check the solar curly cable is out the way. Never is in the way though.
 
We had a bungee on our van for 7 years and the canvas still got destroyed by VW service centre. Now we have a brand new panoramic canvas the last thing we want is a bungee spoiling the 100% view plus the fact we are anal about 2 people watching inside and outside the van with all doors fully open regardless of the weather. Won’t get caught again.....
 
sidepod said:
Never seen one deployed on a Euro-Cali, only Brits.

Just wandering back from the baguettery this morning, I spotted the roof of a Cali, bungee installed. “Bet that’s a Brit van?” A quick wander past confirmed.

Is it only us that love a gimmic or is there a marketing opportunity in Europe?
Click to expand...
I have them here in NL. I know others have them as well. Do also know that some say that they serve no purpose and can sometimes cause problems of their own. For me, I like having them in place.
 
Azteccamper said:
Fell for buying one. Pointless really if you just take your time to close roof carefully.
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I never had any damage until I fitted one. They just make you complacent.
I never had one on my second Cali, and roof bellows were pristine when I sold it.
 
It's just added Insurance. It doesn't mean you take less care when closing the roof. No different to any other form of insurance. You don't need it until you do need it.
 
We’ve had our van 4 years and always take care when closing the roof, one outside watching as it comes down. That said, there may on occasions only be one of us out in the van, so we thought it’s only a wee bit of elastic, it’s relatively cheap and easy to fit and doesn’t do any damage, so there you have it… it’s on and so far so good.
I can understand those with the panoramic window might think “nah”,
I always find threads on ‘possible accessories’ very informative, even if only opinions. We’re all free to choose what’s right for us…. keep em coming.
 
Azteccamper said:
Fell for buying one. Pointless really if you just take your time to close roof carefully.
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We took ours off as it was starting to leave a grubby line on the bellows and also it seemed to be altering the crease/fold lines at the thin end of the bellows so they weren’t folding as intended. We just watch ours from inside and ensure that it’s all folding correctly.
 
ThomasHJ said:
I have them here in NL. I know others have them as well. Do also know that some say that they serve no purpose and can sometimes cause problems of their own. For me, I like having them in place.
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Me too. Not a gimmick.
 
Anthony1 said:
Me too. Not a gimmick.
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Agree with that, especially on the older 5.1 canvas. Was in Campercentrum in Netherlands a few years ago and every single Cali on display - new or second hand - had one on.
 
T6.1 Cali doesn't need bungie due to its specific design, as long as a window is open when you close the roof.I am aware of at least one person that messed up their canvas by having a bunji too tight.... It pulled the canvas out of the roof in one corner. Expensive repair for something they did not need to do.
 
markheathcote said:
T6.1 Cali doesn't need bungie due to its specific design, as long as a window is open when you close the roof.I am aware of at least one person that messed up their canvas by having a bunji too tight.... It pulled the canvas out of the roof in one corner. Expensive repair for something they did not need to do.
Click to expand...
Plenty of 6.1 canvass are popping out without the help of an overtightened bungee.
 
I have avoided getting one on my T6 as it would give people who are less careful than myself a false sense of security to close the roof in one go. I always do it in 2 or 3 instalments with walk arounds.
 
The only issue I can see with the roof bellows is when you close it without having to windows or door open that stops it being inflated when closing....do the door/windows open and you will be fine..
 
It depends on what Cali you have. Certainly for T6 2019- onwards, like mine not needed, as the design of the bellow is different.
So the answer is YES and NO, depending on your model. it is mainly a Brit thing because this "Brit" Cali forum is also the biggest.
 
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