Closing the Roof

JuanVecino2023 · Mar 5, 2024

Having rented Californias previously which had bungees around the bellows and coming from the antiquated manual pop tops of Splits/Bays, I thought I would solicit advice from owners as I now own an Ocean.

Do you check externally every time you close the roof?

Do you trust in the system?

I am not one to drive home to check I turned the iron off, by way of a glimmer into my mindset.

That said, I’d rather avoid an expensive day at the dealer.

To protect the innocent, I have chosen not to display results publicly.

ThomasHJ · Mar 5, 2024

Used to ask my wife to check on the outside while I was checking on the inside and operation the control panel, but after a while the outside check seemed useless. Have been checking only from inside for quite a few years now without any problems. Must say we do have a bellows bungee in place. Only when it'd really windy I might consider asking her to look from the outside.

Justinitus1972 · Mar 5, 2024

I start by checking nothing is on the bed, then stand up between the front seats to start the closing process whilst checking the folding internally, then when almost closed I sit down, arrange the front panel so it folds neatly and finish the close. Always done with one downwind facing door open. Then I have a quick walk around outside to check the roof is sat properly all sides.

RockinNRollin · Mar 5, 2024

I stick my head inside and look. I can visually see if all the sides are coming in - that's good enough for me. If it's very gusty, I sometimes get my wife to check for me as it comes down. I think the 6.1 bellows have more supportive braces though that force the folding a bit more than the old ones. No bungee here.

WelshGas · Mar 5, 2024

On the T5/6 the Control Panel stops on the way down and asks you to check before completing the lowering of the roof. Does that for a reason. Don't know if the T6.1 does that.

ThomasHJ · Mar 5, 2024

Justinitus1972 said:
I start by checking nothing is on the bed, then stand up between the front seats to start the closing process whilst checking the folding internally, then when almost closed I sit down, arrange the front panel so it folds neatly and finish the close. Always done with one downwind facing door open. Then I have a quick walk around outside to check the roof is sat properly all sides.

This. And dont forget to close any windows/mesh.

JuanVecino2023 · Mar 5, 2024

WelshGas said:
On the T5/6 the Control Panel stops on the way down and asks you to check before completing the lowering of the roof. Does that for a reason. Don't know if the T6.1 does that.

It does flash up a warning.

JuanVecino2023 · Mar 5, 2024

RockinNRollin said:
I stick my head inside and look. I can visually see if all the sides are coming in - that's good enough for me. If it's very gusty, I sometimes get my wife to check for me as it comes down. I think the 6.1 bellows have more supportive braces though that force the folding a bit more than the old ones. No bungee here.

This was my instinct - the structure seems quite rigid. It seems like it would need a healthy gust to stop them folding in correctly.

I haven’t bothered ordering a bungee, as I read it can compromise any claims for roof defects. No idea if this is the case or otherwise, but if they aren’t needed, I shall leave them.

Meoncoast · Mar 5, 2024

JuanVecino2023 said:
It does flash up a warning.

dong dong dong and message on top screen. do not know re 6.1

Ch1pbutty · Mar 5, 2024

We used the bungee, but had an internal isotop fitted as you couldn't see the vans canvas folding from the inside when closing, as it was obscured by the isotop. Seemed like a good investment given the low cost.

willwander · Mar 8, 2024

My 5.1 always, my T6 canvas is better, so not so much.

Konstantin@NL · Mar 8, 2024

Btw is it ok that both sides of the roof going down with the different speed? Right side is lower than left one, but roof closes well though.

OllieCollieCali · Mar 8, 2024

I have an Isotop fitted as well so its harder to see the canvas coming in, so always had the bungee fitted as well. Even with this occasionally the canvas will almost get trapped so I always pop the canvas in from inside, and then walk around and check from outside when almost closed.
I have an old T5 2006 ish canvas though, and am going to be replacing with new bellows in a couple of months once im sure the new ones dont leak any more.

I have been considering the remote control for the roof from Kernow Conversions, as seen here -

So then I can watch from outside and control the roof at the same time, but £450 and a long drive to Cornwall and back.

RockinNRollin · Mar 8, 2024

On the topic of opening/closing, anyone else find sometimes when opening/closing it stops and wants you to press the button again? I don't mean the usual pause on the way down to check everything is clear, it's more like an intermittent fault type issue?