Mushroom roof securing clasp has play, advice needed
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:00 pm
This is my first post so I hope I'm doing it right 
My wife and I have just bought a nice 2004 2 litre petrol Aero with a 2011 JAL side conversion and super mushroom elevating roof. Some of the conversion is a little tired, understandably at nearly years old, but I think we need to give some serious attention to the roof securing clasps because although they both lock into position there is a lot of play in the vehicle's now fatigued metal roof panel that the pins are bolted into. The rear pin is the worst one - I can lift the roof at the back an inch or two even when it is locked shut. This play results in the roof moving up and down when we are driving, making quite a knocking sound and probably not helping with keeping the Bongo stable on the road.
Phil from JAL has offered to take a look but we live quite a long way from him and he's not sure what he can do until he inspects it.
I'm wondering if reinforcing the vehicle's roof panel is feasible, or perhaps fitting new securing clasps in different locations would be better?
The 'Aerocatches' installed by JAL are commonly considered to be quite fiddly to lock, judging by the relevant posts I've managed to find on here, and I'm no expert on metal science but it seems to me that the eventual fatiguing of the (thin) metal roof can be expected with the significant constant forces applied on a relatively small pin holding a heavy poptop bolted into it.
I'd really appreciate any advice anyone wants to offer.
Many thanks in anticipation
Andy
My wife and I have just bought a nice 2004 2 litre petrol Aero with a 2011 JAL side conversion and super mushroom elevating roof. Some of the conversion is a little tired, understandably at nearly years old, but I think we need to give some serious attention to the roof securing clasps because although they both lock into position there is a lot of play in the vehicle's now fatigued metal roof panel that the pins are bolted into. The rear pin is the worst one - I can lift the roof at the back an inch or two even when it is locked shut. This play results in the roof moving up and down when we are driving, making quite a knocking sound and probably not helping with keeping the Bongo stable on the road.
Phil from JAL has offered to take a look but we live quite a long way from him and he's not sure what he can do until he inspects it.
I'm wondering if reinforcing the vehicle's roof panel is feasible, or perhaps fitting new securing clasps in different locations would be better?
The 'Aerocatches' installed by JAL are commonly considered to be quite fiddly to lock, judging by the relevant posts I've managed to find on here, and I'm no expert on metal science but it seems to me that the eventual fatiguing of the (thin) metal roof can be expected with the significant constant forces applied on a relatively small pin holding a heavy poptop bolted into it.
I'd really appreciate any advice anyone wants to offer.
Many thanks in anticipation
Andy
