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Creaking roof

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 7:17 pm
by cobbdu1
Is it normal for the roof to make a creaking noise when being raised? Our Bongo is new to us so not sure if this is to be expected. If not, could you suggest a solution please?

Thank you.

Re: Creaking roof

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 7:25 pm
by Bob
Can't normally hear if the roof creaks as it goes up as it's usual to run the engine while raising to assist with power.

Re: Creaking roof

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 7:29 pm
by cobbdu1
The engine was running and I could still hear it. Can’t discern where the creaking is coming from.

Re: Creaking roof

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 8:07 pm
by g8dhe
Yes its quite common, just give the rams a good polish with a clean dry cloth. It is more common to occur when the tent starts swaying either due to a breeze or being on uneven ground as the two gas struts move unevenly, it sounds worse inside as the fabric amplifies the sound inside the tent!

Re: Creaking roof

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 12:29 am
by Bob
Thanks Geoff. =D>

Re: Creaking roof

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:55 am
by BongoBongo123
Ours does slightly. it has a slight.. left right, left right wobble on.. especially in the winter when cold. Seems smoother in summer whentemps are more close to 20C daily. I may clean those rods myself on the next "winter raise" due in 2 weeks.

Common knowledge on here is you are not supposed to oil them cause it will attract all manner of dirt and grime and scratch
all the rods up making them even less smooth.

Coffee filters are "lint free" and can be used for things where you don't want bits of fluff stuck in the gubbins, I will use old T Shirt rag cotton cloth first to get any dust and deposits off gently then go over with the coffee filter once that is off. Coffeee filter may make any existing dust/deposits scratch the shiny surface. Go gentle on them.

Re: Creaking roof

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:55 pm
by teenmal
BongoBongo123 wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:55 am Ours does slightly. it has a slight.. left right, left right wobble on.. especially in the winter when cold. Seems smoother in summer whentemps are more close to 20C daily. I may clean those rods myself on the next "winter raise" due in 2 weeks.

Common knowledge on here is you are not supposed to oil them cause it will attract all manner of dirt and grime and scratch
all the rods up making them even less smooth.

Coffee filters are "lint free" and can be used for things where you don't want bits of fluff stuck in the gubbins, I will use old T Shirt rag cotton cloth first to get any dust and deposits off gently then go over with the coffee filter once that is off. Coffeee filter may make any existing dust/deposits scratch the shiny surface. Go gentle on them.




I would not recommend Coffee filters, they are porous and will trap grit etc , we have been servicing this type of component for many years now and would recommend polishing with "Printer Paper" .You polish the component until no signs of colour (black) residue shows on the paper.


Take Care.

Re: Creaking roof

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:18 pm
by cobbdu1
I don’t mean to sound dumb but is “printer paper” just paper you put in a printer?

Re: Creaking roof

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 5:01 pm
by teenmal
cobbdu1 wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:18 pm I don’t mean to sound dumb but is “printer paper” just paper you put in a printer?
Yes just normal run of the mill printer paper that you would use for a ink jet printer etc ,if you do use it you will see what I mean by the colour/black residue,you need to keep polishing untill the paper looks clear/clean.No shortcut for perfection. :lol: :lol:


Take Care.