New campervan roof wet inside

[Joe85]

Hi everyone, I recently bought a Renault traffic with a new conversion and took it out yesterday for the first time. We got hit with some heavy rain and bad winds this morning and the inside of the pop up was wet. Is this normal?

 

[Joe85]

Hi everyone, I recently bought a Renault traffic with a new conversion and took it out yesterday for the first time. We got hit with some heavy rain and bad winds this morning and the inside of the pop up was wet. Is this normal?View attachment 1017811

 

[CazPaul]

Certainly not normal there’s a leak somewhere, with pop top down is there a good seal, you need to lift the pop top and check thoroughly or are there any holes/leaks in the actual roof top itself where a roof light is?

Take it back immediately if it’s a new conversion to those who did it.

 

[Joe85]

Certainly not normal there’s a leak somewhere, with pop top down is there a good seal, you need to lift the pop top and check thoroughly or are there any holes/leaks in the actual roof top itself where a roof light is?

Take it back immediately if it’s a new conversion to those who did it.

I got it from Bradford and the roof was leaking into the van without the roof even being up. We sent it back and they repaired it and sent it back on Friday. That was with an hour of rain this morning

 

[buzz1]

Sorry I’m not being funny
But are you sure that’s not condensation,
I know you said there was heavy rain ,
But did you cook or boil a few kettle etc .
Or was it just a drive out . ?
I’ve never had a pop up top but would imagine that that condensation would form quite a bit with out very good ventilation.

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[CazPaul]

I got it from Bradford and the roof was leaking into the van without the roof even being up. We sent it back and they repaired it and sent it back on Friday. That was with an hour of rain this morning

What did they do to repair it, have they told you?

 

[CazPaul]

I got it from Bradford and the roof was leaking into the van without the roof even being up. We sent it back and they repaired it and sent it back on Friday. That was with an hour of rain this morning

Sorry I’m not being funny
But are you sure that’s not condensation,
I know you said there was heavy rain ,
But did you cook or boil a few kettle etc .
Or was it just a drive out . ?
I’ve never had a pop up top but would imagine that that condensation would form quite a bit with out very good ventilation.

That is certainly not condensation after 1 drive out in heavy rain, that’s a serious leak and needs fixing fast.

 

[buzz1]

I’m sure your right,

 

[Joe85]

They said the seal had came away at a point above the window. It was first thing this morning and we were all up. The inside was absolutely fine until the rain started then all the water marks started showing all over

 

[CazPaul]

Take it back as soon as possible or get someone else to have a look to diagnose the issue before taking it back, because they’ve not done a good job so far.

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[Joe85]

Take it back as soon as possible or get someone else to have a look to diagnose the issue before taking it back, because they’ve not done a good job so far.

Thanks he's phoning me again tomorrow, when I spoke with him today he said it's totally normal and people all buy a rain cover for the pop ups??

 

[pappajohn]

he said it's totally normal and people all buy a rain cover for the pop ups??

What a load of cobbler's.
Get it repaired again and tell them to turn a hose pipe on it for at least 15 minutes.

 

[CazPaul]

Thanks he's phoning me again tomorrow, when I spoke with him today he said it's totally normal and people all buy a rain cover for the pop ups??

Absolute rubbish that how can you have a rain cover on it when driving at 60-70 mph
I would look at the rest of the conversion because that sounds like your being totally fobbed off.

 

[CAB96]

Yes.



If that roof has been up in heavy, driving rain, and you have slept and cooked in it, then yes, the canvas will be wet outside and in.

Get a roof cover for 3-season use (Autumn /Winter /Spring).

Not only will it keep it (mostly) dry, it will improve thermal insulation and cut down the condensation, cut out draughts in strong winds, and cuts down noise.

We use a Pucer cover.

All-Weather Thermal Roof Screens for Campers & Caravans | UK & Europe

Upgrade your camper or caravan with high-quality, all-weather thermal roof screens from Pucer Screens. Designed for superior insulation and protection, our screens help regulate temperature in day vans, pop-tops, and motorhomes across the UK & Europe. Get in touch today!

www.darenpucerscreens.co.uk

 

[Bill-H]

If it's over several places on the canvas, has the canvas had a proper waterproof treatment applied by the makers?

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[CazPaul]

Yes.



If that roof has been up in heavy, driving rain, and you have slept and cooked in it, then yes, the canvas will be wet outside and in.

Get a roof cover for 3-season use (Autumn /Winter /Spring).

Not only will it keep it (mostly) dry, it will improve thermal insulation and cut down the condensation, cut out draughts in strong winds, and cuts down noise.

We use a Pucer cover.

All-Weather Thermal Roof Screens for Campers & Caravans | UK & Europe

Upgrade your camper or caravan with high-quality, all-weather thermal roof screens from Pucer Screens. Designed for superior insulation and protection, our screens help regulate temperature in day vans, pop-tops, and motorhomes across the UK & Europe. Get in touch today!

www.darenpucerscreens.co.uk

It leaked he said, went back for repairs then he took it out again once in heavy rain and this was the result, a roof cover surely no good, it needs a proper repair?

 

[stevewagner]

It’s not fit for purpose. There is either a design fault or material fault, or both! Either way it should be returned and if they can’t get it right, it should be rejected.

 

[rolosroller]

 

[CAB96]

It leaked he said, went back for repairs then he took it out again once in heavy rain and this was the result, a roof cover surely no good, it needs a proper repair?

It's not waterproof.

If it were, it wouldn't be breathable.

If it were driving rain then you expect some leakage at the stitching.

 

[CazPaul]

It's not waterproof.

If it were, it wouldn't be breathable.

If it were driving rain then you expect some leakage at the stitching.

So when driving in the rain is it normal for the canvas to get wet, I never knew that?

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[Lenny HB]

It's not waterproof.

If it were, it wouldn't be breathable.

If it were driving rain then you expect some leakage at the stitching.

With the roof down there won't be any exposed material to get wet, well there shouldn't be.

 

[CAB96]

So when driving in the rain is it normal for the canvas to get wet, I never knew that?

No. Shouldn't be leaking when the roof is down. I presume that was the fix?

I'm assuming the wet in the pictures was from having the roof up and occupying the van overnight, in driving rain (as opposed to driving 'in' rain).

Difficult to tell from the original post exactly what has occurred.

 

[Odd-no-more]

I had a pop top for a couple of years, up or down, not a drop of water came in

 

[Grummyb]

it doesnt say Driving rain in the original post it just says heavy rain beut whatever sort of rain it was surely it shouldne get wet my Bongo didnt and we had some some horrendous weather when we had that

 

[Tonks]

Get a roof cover for 3-season use (Autumn /Winter /Spring).

Not only will it keep it (mostly) dry, it will improve thermal insulation and cut down the condensation, cut out draughts in strong winds, and cuts down noise.

We use a Pucer cover.

All-Weather Thermal Roof Screens for Campers & Caravans | UK & Europe

Upgrade your camper or caravan with high-quality, all-weather thermal roof screens from Pucer Screens. Designed for superior insulation and protection, our screens help regulate temperature in day vans, pop-tops, and motorhomes across the UK & Europe. Get in touch today!

www.darenpucerscreens.co.uk

Yes, I'd always recommend a pop top thermal wrap. I've used one for at least the last six years. BUT, the pop top should still be fit for purpose, just as it is. A thermal wrap should be an extra, not something you have to use to keep the van dry! My first van also had a pop top and on that one I never used an external wrap, and in 18 months never had any issue with using the pop top. My current van (which was a pop top until a fortnight ago) never leaked in over a decade of ownership and year round regular use.

So when driving in the rain is it normal for the canvas to get wet, I never knew that?

It isn't. There shouldn't be any canvas exposed when driving.

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[Guigsy]

It's not waterproof.

If it were, it wouldn't be breathable.

If it were driving rain then you expect some leakage at the stitching.

There are plenty of materials that are breathable and very waterproof. The con is that they aren't breathable when they are covered in water.