Does everybody else have pop-up roof securing straps?

[parxuk]

Having had my California for nearly 12 months I have finally become a VIP member of this wonderful forum. One of the main reasons is because my Cali didnt come with the California supplement manual.

Having just read it, I see it mentions a kit that you need to use in the unfortunate event that your pop-up roof malfunctions and needs to be secured manually.

I've searched the vehicle and dont think I have this kit. I assume it's something I need to get? Do i go to VW or can you recommend somewhere else to buy from please?

Thanks

 

[WelshGas]

Having had my California for nearly 12 months I have finally become a VIP member of this wonderful forum. One of the main reasons is because my Cali didnt come with the California supplement manual.

Having just read it, I see it mentions a kit that you need to use in the unfortunate event that your pop-up roof malfunctions and needs to be secured manually.

I've searched the vehicle and dont think I have this kit. I assume it's something I need to get? Do i go to VW or can you recommend somewhere else to buy from please?

Thanks

Yes you need it. VW can supply and I believe the Forum shop sell them.

 

[WelshGas]

Having had my California for nearly 12 months I have finally become a VIP member of this wonderful forum. One of the main reasons is because my Cali didnt come with the California supplement manual.

Having just read it, I see it mentions a kit that you need to use in the unfortunate event that your pop-up roof malfunctions and needs to be secured manually.

I've searched the vehicle and dont think I have this kit. I assume it's something I need to get? Do i go to VW or can you recommend somewhere else to buy from please?

Thanks

Here you go. You need x 2.

VW California Emergency Roof Tie Down Kit - Single

If this is missing from your California it is an essntial bit of kit to keep in the van in the event of roof failure. Original VOLKSWAGEN Product

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[swfblade]

I got mine as approved used from VW and it didn't have these straps at pick up. A couple of email exchanges later, including the references to the brochure online for my specific model year, and they have ordered in the missing straps (along with the table strap and child safety net, all were missing, but as it was approved used, should have been there). If yours was approved used, I'd suggest contacting VW, if not, so be it.

 

[parxuk]

Thanks for the replies. I will put an order in with the shop.

 

[Daffus]

These are no longer part of the ‘extra bits’ now as we were told they are no longer needed and therefore not supplied. This is what we were told picking ours up in May 26? Not convinced that’s the case but maybe other new Cali owners can confirm this!

 

[Flower Power]

Vans with a manual roof, like my Coast, do not need that? Correct?

 

[swfblade]

Correct as far as I am aware.

 

[swfblade]

These are no longer part of the ‘extra bits’ now as we were told they are no longer needed and therefore not supplied. This is what we were told picking ours up in May 26? Not convinced that’s the case but maybe other new Cali owners can confirm this!

The user manual for the T7 Ocean suggests that there should be a tie down kit.

 

[swfblade]

 

[TripleBee]

Yes.

 

[WelshGas]

Vans with a manual roof, like my Coast, do not need that? Correct?

Unless the catch/catches fail.

 

[Chriskend]

Got one strap with the van on pickup

 

[kpttnuts-beach]

Unless the catch/catches fail.

With our manual pop-up roof (California Beach Coast MY24) there are the main catches and also the "saftey" latches and loops...not sure if the electric roofs also have those?

 

[TripleBee]

With our manual pop-up roof (California Beach Coast MY24) there are the main catches and also the "saftey" latches and loops...not sure if the electric roofs also have those?
View attachment 150166

No.
Everything is locked into place on hydraulic pressure. Either roof up or roof down.
That is why we (eh roof) have the emergency straps.
If you can get the roof lowered, the roof isn't held in place on hydraulic pressure anymore, so can open while driving.

 

[jakubklapka]

Just a nitpick (but I find it interesting) - the roof is not held only by the hydraulic pressure, but there is mechanical catch which locks the roof down by sliding the hydraulic actuator mechanism over it (very hard to describe, but you can see that catch on the underside of the roof when it's up.)
So i believe that even if you lost hydraulic pressure, the roof should remain locked down.

Doesn't really change anything of what was said, as when you do the manual lowering procedure, there is no way to securely engage that thing and you definitely need the straps...

 

[TripleBee]

Just a nitpick (but I find it interesting) - the roof is not held only by the hydraulic pressure, but there is mechanical catch which locks the roof down by sliding the hydraulic actuator mechanism over it (very hard to describe, but you can see that catch on the underside of the roof when it's up.)
So i believe that even if you lost hydraulic pressure, the roof should remain locked down.

Doesn't really change anything of what was said, as when you do the manual lowering procedure, there is no way to securely engage that thing and you definitely need the straps...

Yes, once the roof is lowered, the hydraulic ram pulls the mechanism to the back to lock it in place. But then it is still held in place under hydraulic pressure. If the hydraulic pressure should get lost, there is a chance of the mechanism to unlock physically, making it possible to open the roof while driving.
If you can't lower the roof with the electrohydraulic pump, you have to release the pressure through the emergency screw. That way you can lower the roof, but then it is impossible to lock the roof mechanically, making it necessary to have the emergency straps.
On the other hand, if you can't lower the roof through the panel, there might still be a chance to lower the roof electrohydraulically if you bypass the panel and actuate the electric motor with 12V one way or the other, going through the sequence of releasing the hydraulic pressure on the push side, and once the roof is down, then the hydraulic rams will pull the roof mechanically closed.
Excuse my bad English explanation (and grammatical errors) because English isn't my first language.

 

[jakubklapka]

Yes, once the roof is lowered, the hydraulic ram pulls the mechanism to the back to lock it in place. But then it is still held in place under hydraulic pressure. If the hydraulic pressure should get lost, there is a chance of the mechanism to unlock physically, making it possible to open the roof while driving.
If you can't lower the roof with the electrohydraulic pump, you have to release the pressure through the emergency screw. That way you can lower the roof, but then it is impossible to lock the roof mechanically, making it necessary to have the emergency straps.
On the other hand, if you can't lower the roof through the panel, there might still be a chance to lower the roof electrohydraulically if you bypass the panel and actuate the electric motor with 12V one way or the other, going through the sequence of releasing the hydraulic pressure on the push side, and once the roof is down, then the hydraulic rams will pull the roof mechanically closed.
Excuse my bad English explanation (and grammatical errors) because English isn't my first language.

Interesting. Btw, does anybody know, if there is at least any indication or alert on the lost pressure in the system than? Because if it is, like you said, it becomes pretty serious safety risk. Just the thought of roof unlatching at highway speed is terrifying me.

 

[TripleBee]

Interesting. Btw, does anybody know, if there is at least any indication or alert on the lost pressure in the system than? Because if it is, like you said, it becomes pretty serious safety risk. Just the thought of roof unlatching at highway speed is terrifying me.

With the roof up there is more chance of pressure loss than with the roof down.
With the roof up, the roof keeps pushing on the pressure side of the hydraulic rams. With the roof down, there is hardly any direct influence of the sun/heat and nothing pressing on one or the other side of the rams.
Once the roof is closed, there is zero chance of anything releasing the roof lock mechanism.