C15 Hylo roof raising

[aggsandrog]

Hi Ant .... Since I have had the year 2000 van (last October), I have raised the roof by brute strength with my shoulder/head just behind the forward strip light fitting. This is about a third of the way back from the front, is not therefore very efficient to raise the front only, and is sometimes a bit tough on me! The roof also bows and creaks rather worryingly.

Is it the case that the gas filled struts are effective in helping when new, but loose their lifting power with age?

With the 2 of us at home, it is fairly easy to push up the front of the roof from outside the van, although one side is noticeably heavier than the other. Should I consider replacing the struts, or must I take Aggie camping with me?

...Roger.

[ant]

Hi Roger.
Try giving the sides of the open roof a good polish, you'll be amazed what a difference that can make. The struts rarely give trouble.
Ant

[aggsandrog]

Thanks a million Ant. Polish certainly did make a difference.

And surprisingly, if I now push the lighter side of the roof up on my own standing outside (it happens to be the nearside), the whole roof now pops up most of the way. I can't help thinking this is much kinder to the roof than pushing up the centre of the roof from inside the van. Strange that the handbook is silent on the matter.

Off to Snowdon tomorrow, first stop Clent Hills... on my own ...Roger

(Aggie wishes me well, on her way to work )