Buy all your VW California Accessories at the Club Shop Visit Shop

Is the roof Rain Proof in T6.1?

T

This is the life

Messages
27
Location
N Wales
Vehicle
T6.1 Ocean 150
Is it safe in that is the inside kept dry when you keep the roof up in the rain?
 
Is it safe in that is the inside kept dry when you keep the roof up in the rain?
Rain infiltration could be an issue if you have an earlier batch of the new poptop material otherwise you are good to go. I would be cautious if the wind is especially gusty and strong. Position the Cali with the sloping roof towards the weather.
 
Be a bit pants if it wasn't. While some may have had issues, most have not. It's fine.
 
Is it safe in that is the inside kept dry when you keep the roof up in the rain?


We bought ours new in Aug ‘21 and the same November spent 3 nights just below the YH at Snowdon in the lashing rain and wind. All fine, if a bit noisy. I hadn’t even figured out how to use the heater at that point, but double-wrapped in a decent duvet up top, all was good.

PS the wind can fairly whip through it, even if the rain doesn’t !
 
Last edited:
In our experience it’s mostly dry up top. We had a few drops on the inside of the canvas in the early days, but we‘ve learned to park with the rear of the van facing the wind/ rain, and drop the top if it’s a howling storm. We also lift the top to dry it out properly if it’s got wet, making sure there’s no water left in the channels around the canvas if we’re not using the van for a while, to guard against possible mould. For us, the more experience we have using the van in all weathers the more confident we are of its abilities.
 
Brilliant thank you all, I will take the advice about parking the van facing the weather.
 
If it's really wet and windy, we use a cover (Calicap Mütze), which allows you to open the window without a gale blowing in. But usually the roof is fine (as long as you park with the back into the wind), though you may get a slight refreshing spray through the little vents if you're sleeping in the top bed
 
Just remember to leave the ‘windows’ zipped up - the rain will come through the mesh!!
 
We went to the new forest for the weekend or so we thought. First time the roof has seen rain, I’ve tried to attach a video with no joy but here’s a screen shot of me wringing the towel out after 30 minutes
It wasn’t even raining or blowing that hard, we got soaked and returned home the same day
IMG_9221.jpegIMG_9221.jpeg
 
We went to the new forest for the weekend or so we thought. First time the roof has seen rain, I’ve tried to attach a video with no joy but here’s a screen shot of me wringing the towel out after 30 minutes
It wasn’t even raining or blowing that hard, we got soaked and returned home the same day
View attachment 111339View attachment 111339
Did all the water come through the lower horizontal seam or through multiple seams. Thats a scary amount of water entering the Cali. What was the month of manufacture?
 
That’s not normal..I never have issues with the rain
 
Did all the water come through the lower horizontal seam or through multiple seams. Thats a scary amount of water entering the Cali. What was the month of manufacture?
Took delivery in January this year so assume late November 22, 80% through that seam as well as the bigger one above, the side canvas was also very wet all over, the photo doesn’t show how bad it really was but can’t upload video, time we got home we were sitting on sodden seats and the top topper is awful
 
Took delivery in January this year so assume late November 22, 80% through that seam as well as the bigger one above, the side canvas was also very wet all over, the photo doesn’t show how bad it really was but can’t upload video, time we got home we were sitting on sodden seats and the top topper is awful
How horrible for you. I hope you can get that fully remedied. Only good point - I guess - is that it was so bad your VW/Dealer can't fob you off as 'within acceptable limits'.
 
We went to the new forest for the weekend or so we thought. First time the roof has seen rain, I’ve tried to attach a video with no joy but here’s a screen shot of me wringing the towel out after 30 minutes
It wasn’t even raining or blowing that hard, we got soaked and returned home the same day
View attachment 111339View attachment 111339
That really isn’t normal. The very worst leakage we’ve experienced is a tiny puddle in the front internal gutter, which 2 sheets of kitchen roll dealt with, and that after a rough night of wind and rain. You need to get it back to the dealer pronto!
 
Not a drop with the old style roof even on the top of glencoe in lashing rain and a decent blow. Or in lake Garda when thunderstorms came through.
 
Are you being serious?
Yep! We left the panoramic window unzipped about a third of the way and we came in to find a small pool of water resting under the window and sitting in the folded down fabric of the window. Admittedly the rain was driving in that direction.
 
We went to the new forest for the weekend or so we thought. First time the roof has seen rain, I’ve tried to attach a video with no joy but here’s a screen shot of me wringing the towel out after 30 minutes
It wasn’t even raining or blowing that hard, we got soaked and returned home the same day
View attachment 111339View attachment 111339
Was also in the new forest last week, the rain on Friday was torrential and did think about coming home early it stayed on, where strong winds followed the rain. I have a My23 Cali, but the old style canvas and no noticeable leaks through the canvas material, thought I was missing out not getting the new canvas but having seen some of the leaks people are experiencing, perhaps glad I now have the old style, would complain to the dealer about it as others have commented that there seems to be issues with early MY23 new style canvas. However I do appear to have a small leak around the rear of the van, not sure if canvas or boot seal is the cause, need to further investigat.

Apart from the weather the New Forest is a great place, which site were you at.
 
Was also in the new forest last week, the rain on Friday was torrential and did think about coming home early it stayed on, where strong winds followed the rain. I have a My23 Cali, but the old style canvas and no noticeable leaks through the canvas material, thought I was missing out not getting the new canvas but having seen some of the leaks people are experiencing, perhaps glad I now have the old style, would complain to the dealer about it as others have commented that there seems to be issues with early MY23 new style canvas. However I do appear to have a small leak around the rear of the van, not sure if canvas or boot seal is the cause, need to further investigat.

Apart from the weather the New Forest is a great place, which site were you at.
Where do you see the water droplets? Something like this?leak.jpg

My research points to rear tailgate/body seal. Some users have fixed the problem to by installing a secondary rubber seal to close the gap at the roof. Also keeps leaves etc out of the channel. No problems after the mod.
 
Where do you see the water droplets? Something like this?View attachment 111374

My research points to rear tailgate/body seal. Some users have fixed the problem to by installing a secondary rubber seal to close the gap at the roof. Also keeps leaves etc out of the channel. No problems after the mod.
Thanks Corradobrit, yes looks very similar to my leak. Does anybody have any details on type of seal or pictures of where to install. Many thanks.
 
Was also in the new forest last week, the rain on Friday was torrential and did think about coming home early it stayed on, where strong winds followed the rain. I have a My23 Cali, but the old style canvas and no noticeable leaks through the canvas material, thought I was missing out not getting the new canvas but having seen some of the leaks people are experiencing, perhaps glad I now have the old style, would complain to the dealer about it as others have commented that there seems to be issues with early MY23 new style canvas. However I do appear to have a small leak around the rear of the van, not sure if canvas or boot seal is the cause, need to further investigat.

Apart from the weather the New Forest is a great place, which site were you at.
Beaulieu pop up
 
Thanks Corradobrit, yes looks very similar to my leak. Does anybody have any details on type of seal or pictures of where to install. Many thanks.
We had this issue, three trips to the dealer to investigate. Rear high level brake light was replaced on first visit which didn’t fix the issue. Second visit I believe they refitted the rubber seal which also didn’t fix it. Third visit they removed, refitted and resealed the rear window. No leaks since then but we have yet to experience a heavy downpour since. Hoping they have sorted ours. Good luck.
 
We had this issue, three trips to the dealer to investigate. Rear high level brake light was replaced on first visit which didn’t fix the issue. Second visit I believe they refitted the rubber seal which also didn’t fix it. Third visit they removed, refitted and resealed the rear window. No leaks since then but we have yet to experience a heavy downpour since. Hoping they have sorted ours. Good luck.
Thanks, have first service coming up shortly and will mention it then and see what response I get.
 
Back
Top