Is it possible/easy to remove roof tent from AFT?

[sfinnie]

Hello all,

We have a gaping hole in the mozzie net in the roof tent. Attempts to repair (even with tenacious tape) have failed, and there's a section of net missing.

Have spoken to a local tent repairer who is confident he can replace mesh. However, would need to remove canvas + mesh from vehicle & leave with them. So:

- Is is possible to remove? If so, is it an easy job? Any specialist tools required?
- Any pitfalls / gotchas to be aware of? Is it even a good idea to think about removing?

Thanks.

- S.

[mikeonb4c]

Hello all,

We have a gaping hole in the mozzie net in the roof tent. Attempts to repair (even with tenacious tape) have failed, and there's a section of net missing.

Have spoken to a local tent repairer who is confident he can replace mesh. However, would need to remove canvas + mesh from vehicle & leave with them. So:

- Is is possible to remove? If so, is it an easy job? Any specialist tools required?
- Any pitfalls / gotchas to be aware of? Is it even a good idea to think about removing?

Thanks.

- S.

It could be a pain to do as the screws that hold it to the AFT are very tight and a pain to get undone. That was my experience anway. But people have (I believe) done it so it should be do-able. Many people just get rid of the mossie net as not being essential. Alternatively, might you be able to make up a new netting and use velcro strip to hold it in place (I got 25 metres of the stuff on ebay some while back at a v. cheap price, though its self-adhesive tape properties weren't that good so I used the adhesive properties just to hold it in place before stitching).

Lets see what others say +have a search on here for old threads as its been discussed before.

[dvisor]

You may find this link to Allans Vehicle services useful http://www.allansvehicleservices.co.uk/32132.html - about halfway down the page in the section "How to remove and repair a Mazda Bongo sleeping compartment"

[PixieAndTheMoon]

I would be up in the AFT with a needle and thread with my bum on cushion....

Jo

I am Mrs Mend and make do...when we can't afford new

Sorry

[mikeonb4c]

I would be up in the AFT with a needle and thread with my bum on cushion....

Jo

I am Mrs Mend and make do...when we can't afford new

Sorry

I agree. I've not read the thread referred to above but I do know that getting those screws undone can be v. tricky for the inexperienced (although the likes of Adrian in Bury have told me how it can be done, I still could not do it!). Personally, I would be thinking hard about how I could get a result without having to remove the tent

[321Away]

If you do (its not that hard, dont have the roof fully up,cos the tent is under tension when fully extended, and use a P3 (BIG philips) screwdriver to go round the top or you'll round more heads than you remove, also you'll find that some of the thread inserts will come away with the roof, grab these with pliers and unscrew them, and reglue them back into the roof using araldite or similar epoxy.

Undo the lower screws/inserts first, there are 2 springs behind the tent at the very rear end that need to be undone to remove it from the vehicle.

Julian

[mikeonb4c]

If you do (its not that hard, dont have the roof fully up,cos the tent is under tension when fully extended, and use a P3 (BIG philips) screwdriver to go round the top or you'll round more heads than you remove, also you'll find that some of the thread inserts will come away with the roof, grab these with pliers and unscrew them, and reglue them back into the roof using araldite or similar epoxy.

Undo the lower screws/inserts first, there are 2 springs behind the tent at the very rear end that need to be undone to remove it from the vehicle.

Julian

Crikey! That's the exact advice I was given. But I couldn't get the (aluminium?) screws to turn without stripping and/or if they did (perhaps because the inserts had come loose) I couldn't get sufficient grip on the inserts with my pliers (esp. without risk of crushing them). I think it''s one of those knacks that the professionals master because they get to practice but, for us ageing stiff-backed amateurs its too much like hard work!

[sfinnie]

Thanks for all the replies folks.

The sun is shining so, filled with the optimism of spring, I'm off to see if I can get the screws undone!

Will see how it goes... needle and thread in reserve

- S.

[vanvliet]

''I used the adhesive properties just to hold it in place before stitching.''

The glue on self adhesive velcro (especially the heavy duty version) can stick to the sewing needle clogging it up so be aware of this

[sfinnie]

Dunno if it was luck, sunshine or just bongo brilliance... but it all came off without a problem.

Off to the tent repairer's. Thanks for all help and suggestions.

- S.

[mikeonb4c]

''I used the adhesive properties just to hold it in place before stitching.''

The glue on self adhesive velcro (especially the heavy duty version) can stick to the sewing needle clogging it up so be aware of this

Indeed - I kept a good supply of needles as they broke regularly.

Anyway, the jammy git managed to get his tent removed with no problems. That'll teach me to issue premature warnings (though I know several on here have - like me - had real problems trying to remove those screws)

Glad you got it sorted sfinnie. There should be many on here who will be very interested to hear how you get on with having a new mesh fitted. So keep us posted if you can & thanks.

Mike

[sfinnie]

Anyway, the jammy git managed to get his tent removed with no problems. That'll teach me to issue premature warnings (though I know several on here have - like me - had real problems trying to remove those screws)

Under no illusions about how fortunate I was to have such an easy time of it (Lest there be any doubt, the "bongo brilliance" I mentioned was referring to our beloved Bella, not mine!)

There should be many on here who will be very interested to hear how you get on with having a new mesh fitted. So keep us posted if you can & thanks.

Will do. Will be a couple of weeks to get back from repairer's but will post back with the result.

- S.

[Allans]

Dunno if it was luck, sunshine or just bongo brilliance... but it all came off without a problem.

Good to hear. Some go without a hitch, some are more trouble. There's often loctite on the screw threads. You'll find a pair of molegrips handy for removing them. When you refit, araldite helps to hold the screws back in place.

[sfinnie]

When you refit, araldite helps to hold the screws back in place.

Thanks. Do you mean to araldite the screws into the threads, or the threads into the roof?

Had been wondering about that. Some of the threads came out their housings in the roof so was going to araldite those back in.

The screws themselves had remnants of a red-coloured substance on them. I assumed it was threadlock. Was going to ask for recommendations on refitting anyway, so you've prompted the question.

So any specific recommendations for the screws? Threadlock / Araldite / something else?

Thanks.

[Doone]

I asked Al, he glues the housing into the roof and once the glue has set, he refits the screw into the housing. His have always screwed back into the housing sucessfully.