Rain soaking through to inner tent in pop roof

[heidiboy]

Hi,

First weekend away in our 2025 T7 Cali Ocean. Just had rain and it has soaked through to the beige inner tent. Is this supposed to happen?

See pics

 

[Lambeth Cali]

You can either go through a laborious warranty claim or go buy a big can of Fabsil.

 

[Alexlex85]

I’m not aware of the construction of t7 however I’d suggest u check if the drain holes are actually draining and excess water isn’t puddling up to your canvass.

 

[dspuk]

Use search.

 

[heidiboy]

Do you u

Use search.

Do you have a T7?

 

[dspuk]

Do you u

Do you have a T7?

No. But the roof is the same as the late 6.1 and the leaks have been discussed ad infinitum.

It would help your research to read the saga and action these points with VW rather than restart the same conversation on a new thread.

Search results for query: Bellows leak

vwcaliforniaclub.com

If you have a pertinent question then, you can use those threads to gather useful feedback.

TLDR? Buckle up. It’s a warranty concern. Go to your dealer, they know the issue.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I can imagine your disappointment @heidiboy and can empathise. As others have posted, this problem is well recorded here and the different solutions (to the extent they exist) discussed here at great length. Buckle up and read, as @dspuk posted is your best route. With VIP membership the search facility can be enhanced along with the other benefits (plus you support the forum).

 

[SusiBus]

Your avatar states you've sold your Cali ?

 

[CaliforniaPhil]

When the T6.1 bellows leaked, water would constantly drip along a seem, puddle in the front and overflow over the edge into the control panel.

Yours looks like it's wicking from the bottom. You need to look outside to what's happening along that edge, was it leaning that way, are the drain holes clear etc.

As Lambeth Cali says, try warrant, VW were rejecting claims saying don't use them in the rain. Or Fabsil, which people say is undetectable. If you try it never admit to vw you used it as it, will void your warrant.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi,

First weekend away in our 2025 T7 Cali Ocean. Just had rain and it has soaked through to the beige inner tent. Is this supposed to happen?

See pics

View attachment 147215

View attachment 147216

View attachment 147217

1. In the Handbook it states that the Bellows are Water Resistant not Waterproof.
2. Your problem is totally different to the T6.1 bellows saga in which water actually entered the cabin via the seams.
3. According to your pictures you have dampness at the rubber seam/canvas stich line, caused by the stich line and now that the stich threads have been wetted they expand seal the stich holes and you are unlikely to ever have the problem again.

I presume the dampness was only on the side exposed to the weather/wind/rain so check that the roof gully, exposed when the roof is up, is clear and the drains front and back are clear.

VW warranty won't be interested unless you have puddles of water inside the vehicle.

 

[heidiboy]

I’m not aware of the construction of t7 however I’d suggest u check if the drain holes are actually draining and excess water isn’t puddling up to your canvass.

Thanks, I’ll try that

 

[heidiboy]

Thanks all, apologies for incorrect avatar message. Yes, this is our new van , sold old one and not updated. I did do a search prior to posting but didn’t see relevant discussion. Also didn’t realise that the t7 roof was the same as the late t6.1. You’re taking no prisoners on here (some of you ).

Problem is worse, it’s not just the lower part of the roof, it’s underneath the roof itself as well. New pics attached.

We only picked the van up from dealership on the 18th of April this year so have sent a rejection of vehicle letter to dealership today.

We’ll see.

Thanks for all your messages, I’ll try and be more forum savvy going forwards to avoid annoying some of you (DSPUK) .

I do value this forum as it’s a great source of knowledge for us dullards.

 

[CaliforniaPhil]

Thanks all, apologies for incorrect avatar message. Yes, this is our new van , sold old one and not updated. I did do a search prior to posting but didn’t see relevant discussion. Also didn’t realise that the t7 roof was the same as the late t6.1. You’re taking no prisoners on here (some of you ).

Problem is worse, it’s not just the lower part of the roof, it’s underneath the roof itself as well. New pics attached.

We only picked the van up from dealership on the 18th of April this year so have sent a rejection of vehicle letter to dealership today.

We’ll see.

Thanks for all your messages, I’ll try and be more forum savvy going forwards to avoid annoying some of you (DSPUK) .

I do value this forum as it’s a great source of knowledge for us dullards. View attachment 147271View attachment 147272View attachment 147272View attachment 147274View attachment 147273View attachment 147276

View attachment 147275

That doesn't look good. None of the T6.1 were leaking in the ceiling of the pop top. Definitely a trip to the dealer. Be prepared for a fight, you will need to talk to vw customer services if you get no joy from the dealer.

Was that leaking on the top from rain overnight or wet coming in when driving. Unless the rails are faulty or it was pushed in when driving, I can't see how its got wet up there.

 

[CaliforniaSeb]

Good luck getting it sorted. On a slightly tangential note ,we swear by our pop top topper. If it is forcast to rain heavily we always put it on. As welshgas said...its water resistant. The pop top cover keeps all the rain out. It also means we can camp out when its really cold. If its going to be windy we also put it on to take the buffeting.

 

[Meoncoast]

Having read all the posts over the years about water ingress and having used a Cali since 2012 in all weathers, {without any topper} that amount of water ingress would really concern me.
We have all seen some tents with water coming in at the corners, but your flood on the top of the ceiling must be something more; it's like it is coming from the top of the roof, or where the seal at the top front of the tent is fixed. It is not fit for purpose with that water coming in.

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks all, apologies for incorrect avatar message. Yes, this is our new van , sold old one and not updated. I did do a search prior to posting but didn’t see relevant discussion. Also didn’t realise that the t7 roof was the same as the late t6.1. You’re taking no prisoners on here (some of you ).

Problem is worse, it’s not just the lower part of the roof, it’s underneath the roof itself as well. New pics attached.

We only picked the van up from dealership on the 18th of April this year so have sent a rejection of vehicle letter to dealership today.

We’ll see.

Thanks for all your messages, I’ll try and be more forum savvy going forwards to avoid annoying some of you (DSPUK) .

I do value this forum as it’s a great source of knowledge for us dullards. View attachment 147271View attachment 147272View attachment 147272View attachment 147274View attachment 147273View attachment 147276

View attachment 147275

Are you sure that was not caused by rain being blown through the ventilation vent? Was it just on one side facing the weather?

 

[stoobthealien]

Are you sure that was not caused by rain being blown through the ventilation vent? Was it just on one side facing the weather?

I was thinking that, I'm not sure how it could get through the roof like that given it's a solid piece of plastic. We had our T7 pop top up this weekend in quite a bit of rain and had no issues

 

[WelshGas]

I was thinking that, I'm not sure how it could get through the roof like that given it's a solid piece of plastic. We had our T7 pop top up this weekend in quite a bit of rain and had no issues

If you are parked side on to the wind and rain and its almost horizontal rain then you can get rain through the vent and overwhelm the drains of the roof gutter which would account for the water ingress in those pictures.

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

The headlining issue is odd. Think you are spot-on issuing a rejection. VW Customer Services are the absolute pits and the warranty barely worth the paper it's written on.

There was a post here with a T6.1 issue with wet headlining but unfortunately we never heard the resolution. I'll bump that thread...

Have a look.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/drivers-cab-headlining.60242/#post-765176

 

[DevonGuy]

I have a T7 Ocean and we had very similar issues over the weekend during heavy rain. Zip joins in the canvas gave very slight water ingress which didn’t amount to much and moisture around aluminium frame and on plastic roof (above drivers seat) was definitely condensation. We woke one morning with no overnight rain and it was there again.
I suspect it’s all pretty normal tbh.