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roof problems

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 5:19 pm
by Graham
Just returned from Ulswater in the lake district FANTASTIC.However we seem to have a little problem with the elevating roof as it took forever and a day to raise, and to get it to the fully extended position we had to drop it back a little and try again several times no problem going down. ANY IDEAS

Re: roof problems

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 6:04 pm
by francophile1947
Having to lower and raise again is quite common - it helps if you have the roof tent zips undone.
I assume you had the engine running when trying to raise it :? Is so, the runners and struts may need cleaning/lubricating.

Re: roof problems

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:37 am
by nickd101
I'm also having similar roof problems - have searched the forum but not found an answer yet...

The roof goes up and appears to be all the way up (or very nearly - difficult to tell). But the bleeping noise carries on indicating the Bongo thinks it's not fully raised.

This is the first time we've put the roof up since last Autumn (I know, I know... but circumstances have meant no camping yet this year).

Any ideas? Just keep trying taking it down and up to see if it clears itself? Does having the engine running (as opposed to just the ignition on) make a difference?

And if I clean/lubricate the runners and struts what should I use?

Thanks
Nick

Re: roof problems

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:13 am
by droodle
I also have the same prob as well goes up v slowly and stops but still beeping .. have been getting the missis to assist by giving a little push when near the top.

Re: roof problems

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:19 am
by bongomadness
I'm also having similar roof problems - have searched the forum but not found an answer yet...

The roof goes up and appears to be all the way up (or very nearly - difficult to tell). But the bleeping noise carries on indicating the Bongo thinks it's not fully raised
I to have been having problemsidentical to yours. From what some people are saying to unzip the tent first would that mean leaving it unzipped all the time?? Would this make a difference when opening and closing the roof??? would it go back under the roof ok. Lots of questions and i know most of the know it alls are at the bash but there is not i agree a lot of advice about our roofs is there.

Re: roof problems

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:28 am
by dunslair
I second Franco... Always put it up with the engine running, well greased and zips open :oops: :oops: :lol: And remember you don't have to be on a camp site to get it up and check it over :wink: Use silicon lube, spray on veg oil or 'white' greece. And give the runners a good clean and polish your jack struts :D :D :D

Re: roof problems

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:32 am
by TechnoTurkey
I'm sure that it also makes the roof's life a lot easier if you leave the hatch open when you close/open the roof as it would greatly help with the airflow.

I've dremelled the pin out of the hinge so I can remove it totally when no one need to sleep up top.

Re: roof problems

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:51 am
by Wicker Man
bongomadness wrote:... From what some people are saying to unzip the tent first would that mean leaving it unzipped all the time?? Would this make a difference when opening and closing the roof??? would it goe back under the roof ok....
I always open the zip (but only all the way along the front, not down the sides) before I lower the roof, and leave it that way so it is still open next time I raise it. It always folds in fine, and as already said, must help with the airflow when lowering; and helps reduce the strain when raising.

Re: roof problems

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:43 pm
by bigdaddycain
I use an aerosol PTFE lithium spray on grease on the runners, and jockey wheels. When i spray i hold a scrap piece of card against the roof tent to avoid any over-spray. My tent is usually left open this time of year. I have the engine running to open the roof, engine off to close it (gravity does most of the job). If you have ever parked on a beach with the freetop open it's worth cleaning the runners/jockey wheels properly before re-greasing them, sand isn't exactly a good promoter of friction free smooth roof operation!

VERY occasionally i have to give the freetop a gentle persuasion to travel the last half inch of it's travel, ( a slight shove with my hand) I seem to only have to do this if on a noticeable incline with the front of the bongo heading DOWN the incline... :?

Re: roof problems

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 1:28 pm
by mikeonb4c
Mine was perky until recently a motor went and a 2nd hand one was put in as a repair. Its less agile now and I've decided I should try and help it up from inside from now on. These AFTs are not as young as they used to be so a helping hand might help avoid trouble. Unzipping tent etc. as suggested may also help. 8)

Re: roof problems

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:45 pm
by nickd101
Thanks all for the replies to my original question.

I tried putting the roof up and down a few times, undid the zips and kept the engine running - success!

Roof will now go up and down fine (with zips done up) with engine running. I'm going to grease the runners etc just to be on the safe side, but I think I'm sorted.

Thanks again for your help.

Re: roof problems

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:25 pm
by dave_aber
Mine used to do the "looks all the way up, but still beeps" trick. 2 or 3 attempts dropping it a couple of inches and trying again eventually got it to hit the switch and lock up. It was also a bit of a groaner on the way up - the middle section of the travel would be in steps rather than a smooth action.

Sprayed the runners, tracks, rollers, etc with silicon lubricant - and it is much smoother now. Helps if you stand outside, with your head at the level of the roof opening to see what is going on as someone else raises the roof for you so you can get an idea of what to lube.

I always have the hatch open, and a door or window when raising / lowering. Not tried it with zips open though.

Re: roof problems

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:35 pm
by terminallybewildered
My daughter had a 'can't get roof down problem' today. In Cornwall. Used her mobile phone to tell me and I searched this and other places for a solution. Managed to call back with the manual closing instructions - allen key to take the motors off and cord to pull it down. After a while I got a call saying they'd got it down and all OK. BUT, having arrived home they need to open the roof to dry off the tent. They don't know how to do it and I can't find the answer. So can anyone help and tell me how to raise the roof with no motors after manually closing it? How do you release the latch etc.? It's probably obvious, but I'm getting old and tired !!!
Many thanks.

Re: roof problems

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:31 pm
by terminallybewildered
Further to my last post, I've tried asking people/garages who might know, but no-one could provide specific help. All said probably an electrical problem, but nearly impossible to check with the roof latched down! I did eliminate the handbrake microswitch - that was working properly.

Just to reiterate, the roof on the passenger side was latched down after lowering the roof manually (motors off and pull roof down with a rope, after a 'won't come down' problem).

I did try to gently wedge the roof front up to try and get a gap big enough to poke a screwdriver through. Just when it was looking promising there was a slight cracking noise - oops, oh dear. Luckily although there was a crack in the roof front corner it was only an inch long. I quickly made sure the crack was going nowhere by blunting it with a drilled hole at the very tip of the crack. So small a problem that I sealed it easily with clear silicone rubber sealant !

So I walked away and left it for a couple of days to try and exorcise my jinx.

I'm pleased to say that my son-in-law has now solved the problem, also after him thinking about it for a couple of days! This is what he did.

With the roof still down, he could raise the small square internal roof opening about 6 inches and wedge it open. Then from the inside he was able to get the tent zip open to expose the mesh (he has long arms, now covered in a bruise and some scratches!). The driver's side of the roof was unlatched so he could see a bit of the mechanism that side. He lowered that side of the roof to bring the runners nearly to the closed position to see what the closed passenger side runners would look like and what he had to do to release that side. Then he went back inside to the roof passenger side, poked a screwdriver through the mesh, lined it up on the 'release runner' jockey wheel position and gave it a whack with a lump hammer. Third time lucky it sprung open!!!

I wasn't there so I didn't witness his struggle but it must have been quite entertaining and some people would probably have covered their ears.

Anyway it's open. I have now checked and cleaned everything and lubricated the runners etc. with a silicone spray. As far as I could I poked the microswitches on the upper runners/rails and all seemed to click satisfactorily. I also sprayed them with WD40.

What caused the roof NOT to come down in the first place?? No idea, as everything seemed to work once the front was released ( and, coincidentally, had had time to dry out). I suspect it could have been the weather. The night before not being able to lower the roof, there was a big storm. Rain driving horizontally and everything pretty soaked. Maybe water got into the electrics somewhere. Certainly if you'd wanted to soak the electrics you couldn't have chosen a better night!

Having been cleaned and lubricated the roof operates smoothly now. Phew. I reckon son-in-law deserves a medal. Certainly an entry in the Guiness Book of Records, Perseverence section. Oh and possibly the following sections too:

* Longest arms,
* Greatest damage to upper arms while retaining the ability to continue using them,
* Ability to see round corners through a white obscuring mesh,
* Nonchalance concerning the possible wrath of father-in-law,
* Dedication to the Cause (he wants to be able to use the Bongo again, many many times!).

Re: roof problems

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 3:08 pm
by mikexgough
terminallybewildered wrote: I suspect it could have been the weather. The night before not being able to lower the roof, there was a big storm. Rain driving horizontally and everything pretty soaked. Maybe water got into the electrics somewhere. Certainly if you'd wanted to soak the electrics you couldn't have chosen a better night!
Having been cleaned and lubricated the roof operates smoothly now. Phew. I reckon son-in-law deserves a medal.
=D> =D> well done and I second that thought with the electrics, they could have been damp........

I guess that could why there was an AFT cover as an accessory which covers the whole roof and tent keeping it dry..... a recent thread has been running about them, sadly these factory covers are few and far between....but there may be some made soon if a cover maker go with it.

I am not saying a cover is a must have but may be worth it if you camp all year and if your camping in an area where there is often heavy rain. Some members have the Factory covers but very very few of them.......