Better way to lower campervan roof to avoid crucifixion!

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CathR

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I'm a newbie
I've got a VW T5 campervan with a lift up roof at the front. I haven't used it for a couple of years to go actual camping but I've made a New Year resolution to get going again this year.
One problem I've got is lowering the roof. I'm a solo lady getting on a bit and I was finding it difficult to get the roof down. The handles are far apart and I have to stand on a plastic step in between the front seats to get anywhere near them. It's a bit like getting crucified each time!
Any ideas for making it easier to pull down? I was thinking of attaching carabiners to the handles and then possibly a bit of rope hanging down? Do you think this would work?
Anybody know if you can get some kind of hydraulic mechanism installed?
Many thanks!
 
CathR said:
I was thinking of attaching carabiners to the handles and then possibly a bit of rope hanging down?
Click to expand...
Never had a pop top so I am not really the person to answer, but what you suggest sounds eminently simple and doable.. Should work just fine :-)
 
CathR said:
I've got a VW T5 campervan with a lift up roof at the front.
Many thanks!
Click to expand...
Same solution as our popup screenhouse, a bugger to pull down but I have a hook that males it less difficult.
 
Last poptop I had was a Mazda Bongo & that had an electric roof, even that was tricky.
It had an automatic stopper & to get the roof back down you had to stand up on the bed to reach the switch, I'm 6ft 2in & struggled.

I think your rope idea would work fine, good luck with your new years resolution.
 
CathR

When I had my self build VW T4, it had straps to pull the elevating roof down so I’m pretty sure that your thoughts of using ropes and carabiners would work ok. You already have a hydraulic mechanism installed, but that’s to help you push the roof up (y)

cheers

Trevor

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Thanks Trevor
Yes, straps might be better. Pity the hydraulic mechanism only works one way :xangry:
 
CathR said:
The handles are far apart and I have to stand on a plastic step in between the front seats to get anywhere near them. It's a bit like getting crucified each time!
Any ideas for making it easier to pull down? I was thinking of attaching carabiners to the handles and then possibly a bit of rope hanging down? Do you think this would work?
Click to expand...
Just one thing to be a little careful of. The handles will be designed to withstand a straight downward pull. If you do what you suggest & have two bits of rope, one from each handle, that will be fine. If you put a strap between the handles & then a single rope down from the centre of the strap, you might find the resultant sideways pull on the handles is more than they will stand.

If you want to avoid the crucifixion pose, even if now a little lower down, you could thread a broom handle between the handles & then pull down on a rope attached to that. So long as you don't keep hitting your head on it when the roof is down, you should be able to leave the broom handle permanently in place.

I loved my T4, but getting the roof down & the canvas properly folded without it beng trapped was never easy & I'm well over 6ft. It was the only time being tall was an advantage in a VW!
 
Two linear actuators fitted with remote control, 12v, cost around two hundred tops including fitting.
Then no more crucification, just sit back, press the button and up or down it goes.
 
Oldbob said:
Two linear actuators fitted with remote control, 12v, cost around two hundred tops including fitting.
Then no more crucification, just sit back, press the button and up or down it goes.
Click to expand...
Can you explain this in a bit more detail please?
We have a pop top but it is a sideways one so no stretching necessary. The roof has straps attached to pull it down.

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I bought a pop top as a temporary measure to decide if I wanted to continue motorhoming on my own after my husband died.I could not manage to pull down the roof easily at all.I searched on line and found the solution much as you have suggested.The trick however is not to have 2 ropes but make a loop with one rope only going from side to side.It must then hang so that you can put your foot in the loop and bring the roof down sufficiently for the gas struts to kick in and finish the job.Hope this helps.
 
Broom handle with a hook on the end was our solution.

Same broom handle also doubled up as a hydraulic support device to ensure the roof stayed up in high winds, as it had a tenancy to slowly collapse in the middle of the night
 
[QUOTE="Brains, post: 3642884,
Same broom handle also doubled up as a hydraulic support device to ensure the roof stayed up in high winds, as it had a tenancy to slowly collapse in the middle of the night
[/QUOTE]

Our pop top did this once, and as we sometimes use a roof bed for the children it was clearly not right. We took the van back in and it was fitted with a hydraulic support which works whenever the roof is raised. Never had the problem again.
 
I have no experience of these roofs or their operations and not being a DIY enthusiast I would make a visit to a camper conversion company, explain the problem and see what they suggest.

I would doubt that there would be a charge for the enquiry and quote, save for the time you spend and fuel.
 
violet you measure the gas struts, then buy the exact length to fit.
The replacements will be motorised, a little fettling with the brackets and all will fit nicely.
I haven't got the pics handy of a pick up lid we did, the owner was having a hard job pulling the rear lid cover down, so we measured the gas struts supplied, ordered new motorised actuators and then wired them in with a remote control, then he could open the lid over the back remotely and with little effort.

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Oldbob said:
violet you measure the gas struts, then buy the exact length to fit.
The replacements will be motorised, a little fettling with the brackets and all will fit nicely.
I haven't got the pics handy of a pick up lid we did, the owner was having a hard job pulling the rear lid cover down, so we measured the gas struts supplied, ordered new motorised actuators and then wired them in with a remote control, then he could open the lid over the back remotely and with little effort.
Click to expand...
Many thanks Oldbob, we could look into this when and if we start to find the roof getting too difficult for us. At the moment we pull on the straps then when the roof is coming down we ensure the roof material is all folded in properly, then bring the roof all the way down and secure it. We sometimes do it with two of us but often my husband does it by himself.
 
violet said:
[QUOTE="Brains, post: 3642884,
Same broom handle also doubled up as a hydraulic support device to ensure the roof stayed up in high winds, as it had a tenancy to slowly collapse in the middle of the night
Click to expand...

Our pop top did this once, and as we sometimes use a roof bed for the children it was clearly not right. We took the van back in and it was fitted with a hydraulic support which works whenever the roof is raised. Never had the problem again.
[/QUOTE]
Oh Violet! Thoughts of squashed children! Will investigate the broom handle idea, thanks very much.

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Thanks Koppersbeat. So pleased that it's not just me having problems with the roof. Like the foot idea, did not think of that one.
 
CathR said:
Oh Violet! Thoughts of squashed children! Will investigate the broom handle idea, thanks very much.
Click to expand...
Our thoughts exactly! I should have said that the new hydraulic strut that was fitted has a mechanism that locks the strut so it cannot come down until the 'lock' is manually disabled.
 
TheCaller said:
Just one thing to be a little careful of. The handles will be designed to withstand a straight downward pull. If you do what you suggest & have two bits of rope, one from each handle, that will be fine. If you put a strap between the handles & then a single rope down from the centre of the strap, you might find the resultant sideways pull on the handles is more than they will stand.

If you want to avoid the crucifixion pose, even if now a little lower down, you could thread a broom handle between the handles & then pull down on a rope attached to that. So long as you don't keep hitting your head on it when the roof is down, you should be able to leave the broom handle permanently in place.

I loved my T4, but getting the roof down & the canvas properly folded without it beng trapped was never easy & I'm well over 6ft. It was the only time being tall was an advantage in a VW!
Click to expand...

Thanks TheCaller. I will definitely investigate the broom handle idea - I think that might be a very good solution.
 
Oldbob said:
Two linear actuators fitted with remote control, 12v, cost around two hundred tops including fitting.
Then no more crucification, just sit back, press the button and up or down it goes.
Click to expand...
That would be the ideal solution Oldbob. I'm still in touch with the man who converted the van, so I'll see what he says.
 
Do you have a link to the electric camper roof conversion? Thanks
 
CathR said:
I've got a VW T5 campervan with a lift up roof at the front. I haven't used it for a couple of years to go actual camping but I've made a New Year resolution to get going again this year.
One problem I've got is lowering the roof. I'm a solo lady getting on a bit and I was finding it difficult to get the roof down. The handles are far apart and I have to stand on a plastic step in between the front seats to get anywhere near them. It's a bit like getting crucified each time!
Any ideas for making it easier to pull down? I was thinking of attaching carabiners to the handles and then possibly a bit of rope hanging down? Do you think this would work?
Anybody know if you can get some kind of hydraulic mechanism installed?
Many thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi CathR do you still have the campervan with problems pulling down the roof?? I have just joined on here and only recently purchased my Vivaro with a soft top, only to find I also could not pull it down. The pop top installers were very kind in sending me a courtesy pair of lower strength gas struts but unfortunately I could still not pull it down. However an engineering friend of mine has created and installed in my van a marvellous adjustment to the pull down straps and now it is no problem whatsoever. For anyone with this problem with pull down straps I now have the key to end the struggle. I am approx 5'3 and weight about 8.5 stone. So, ladies, there is now hope for all female camper vanners out there.
 
LouiseCR said:
Hi CathR do you still have the campervan with problems pulling down the roof?? I have just joined on here and only recently purchased my Vivaro with a soft top, only to find I also could not pull it down. The pop top installers were very kind in sending me a courtesy pair of lower strength gas struts but unfortunately I could still not pull it down. However an engineering friend of mine has created and installed in my van a marvellous adjustment to the pull down straps and now it is no problem whatsoever. For anyone with this problem with pull down straps I now have the key to end the struggle. I am approx 5'3 and weight about 8.5 stone. So, ladies, there is now hope for all female camper vanners out there.
Click to expand...
Hi Louise, i am same ‘spec’ as yourself and also struggle a lot in lowering pop top roof, could you share what your engineering friend came up with, thanks! 😊
 
Flora100 said:
Hi Louise, i am same ‘spec’ as yourself and also struggle a lot in lowering pop top roof, could you share what your engineering friend came up with, thanks! 😊
Click to expand...
Hi Flora 100 if you are struggling please give me a call save putting the info on site, Louise 07717 313 957
 
I have the same problem and am despairing as just bought vw camper and now find I cant get pop up roof down, even with straps attached to handles. I'm 5 ft and weigh 8 stone. Also aged 67 with poor upper body strength! Spoke to the conversion company who said an electric one would cost me £6000, so I am really despairing. Would appreciate any suggestions please. Thanks. Jackie

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