Hey Vic - I know it is a stupid question but did you clean the tracks?? 

I only mention this because I have difficulty getting my pop top roof up and my father got up on his ladder and told me the tracks need cleaning 'cos they're full of rubbish.  I thought it was because I have a crook shoulder - which reminds me I need to go and do my physio exercises

Helen

measure each corner see if its square if its not , square it up

Thanks for the replies everyone, I had used silicone on it previously and have checked/cleaned the tracks, will give it another spray and see if that makes a difference. 

Yogi, when you say measure the corners, what exactly do you mean?

Thanks

Vic

Hey Vic,I had the same problem once,easily fixed though.................just remember to let the hold down clips off before trying to push the locked down roof up.

Forgot to mention, measurement should be the same each way it it is square.

Hi Vic,I know how you feel and I have lubricated mine a couple of times since being on the road.

The biggest problem that I currently have is that I have to go round the drivers side to re seat the top before it can be clamped from inside, a residue from the blow up of the top whilst crossing the  bridge at Port Augusta.

John

Thanks for the feedback everyone, will give that a go, it may have been caused by the driving a short distance with it up as said by Joe and John, and out of whack will have to check. 

 

He wrote a fascinating story about it in the "What is it about free-camping" thread started by Cupie a week or 2 ago Granny. Brave man Vic, I wouldnt have stayed as long as he did!

Gerty Dancer wrote:

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He wrote a fascinating story about it in the "What is it about free-camping" thread started by Cupie a week or 2 ago Granny. Brave man Vic, I wouldnt have stayed as long as he did!

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 This is an extract CG, I reported it online to Crimestoppers and when submitted they gave a reference number, but I didn't write it down and have not heard anything from them or the local police etc;

"Then the scary one, after Yeo and I went our own ways and I was returning from Denmark, I stopped at an overnight rest stop on the Albany Highway north of Kojanup, picnic tables, shade and rubbish bins only nearest the roadway, no other facilities.There was a huge bush area with tracks at the rear of the main area with cleared camping spots off the bush tracks at various points.As I was the only one there, I thought it was best not to be seen from the road, so drove a good way in where I was not visible from the highway and parked the campervan for a quick getaway with a couple of escape routes through parts of the bush if needed in an emergency in a nice quiet spot.Then I went for a walk further along the track.In one camping spot there was discarded clothing including underwear which I thought was a bit strange.Further along the track was a disused gravel pit and just near it was a bumper bar for a car (plastic type) which appeared to be in excellent condition and and not damaged.Just near that were two long mounds of gravel in the shape of graves I have seen in country cemeteries, one adult size and one alongside it small adult or child size.

 

By now it was getting dark and I was feeling a bit uneasy, remembering the movie Wolf Creek with John Jarrad in it.Back to the campervan and went to bed, however around midnight I was woken by a loud metallic bang at the rear of the campervan, there was no metal or rubbish bins near where I was camped.Lay there listening for a bit, couldnt hear any further noises but wasntgoing outside to investigate, so crawled through the middle of my two front seats , started the vehicle and drove out of the camping area, my pop top roof still up.When I drove onto the highway I found a suitable spot to pull over and secured the roof of the van then continued at slow speed (night/roos etc) to Williams, where I stopped in a lay by opposite the road house where I slept the rest of the night until dawn and the road house opened.In retrospect, I wonder if the clang I heard may have been an animal under my van colliding with the exhaust pipe, but I certainly wasnt hanging around to find out.Later I reported the two mounds I saw to Crimestoppers in case they wanted to check them out. "

Ok, won't be hanging by my fingernails then.....the main thing is I have reported it, now the ball is in their court, not too concerned if I don't hear from them.  Unrestrained child.......his name wasn't Jonathon was it  

Cruising Granny wrote:

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What sort of scare would prompt you to drive off with the top still up?

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 things always sound scarier when your alone an it is dark

-- Edited by dogbox on Thursday 1st of December 2011 07:46:39 PM

OMGoodness Vic.......fancy finding something like that, if I was driving that Van I wouldn't have to worry about a pop top not working, so you did very well! Mind you Doug and I were in a park at dusk once and had really weird people in black gowns flitting in and out...was so spooky till we found out it was a local shoot for a movie.
good luck with your top pop...

xxxx

thankyou vic

Just an update, put my pop top up, gave it a gentle push forward from outside (just in case it had been forced backwards a bit with the wind etc).

Cleaned running tracks top and bottom to two side and one rear lifting springs, and sprayed silicone on the tracks (top and bottom tracks), springs, wheels, cross arms etc.  

Now working ok and easy to lift close.

Thank you for all your help and advice, it was most appreciated.