On the AL website the catches cost £43.64 each.

Quote: Pepé Le Pew wrote in post #14

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Quote: chezmart wrote in post #13

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Yes it's a newish van but it was a rear catch in the blog that broke.

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Ah.


I was in the middle of crocheting an egg cosy. Best I get back to it, I reckon.

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I received a new front roof tie-down from Jandi just last week and the cost was £33.93 before tax.

Quote: SteveH wrote in post #19

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I received a new front roof tie-down from Jandi just last week and the cost was £33.93 before tax.

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Quote: Pepé Le Pew wrote in post #17

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Quote: chezmart wrote in post #15

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Thanks Pete. The message you replied to was a reply to SDA. No offence meant

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None taken whatsoever.

I hope you get it sorted out

Just out of curiosity, does your roof have a grab handle at the front? I realise it isn't an ideal solution, but I wondered, assuming it has, if you could have lashed it to something inside with a length of rope or a spare guyline just to keep the roof from lifting while you limped home.

Never mind. I'll go away now...

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2 new catches now delivered from Jandi
They didn't quite make it in time for the spring meet so I had to make some temporary hooks. Some 3mm thick steel in the vice and a big hammer and then cut the end off the broken catches. Drilled a hole through the new metal hook and fixed with the original locking nut.
I will keep these in the cupboard as back up if the new ones ever fail.

We have a 99 420 that has had little use, it was dry stored by the previous owner so is in very good condition, however I have been busy with minor failures - wardrobe and locher catch's, taps....minor things really - but.......it shows that the plastics do deteriate with time.
On that I will replace the roof clips with new spares as I would not like to be caught out as the original poster "Chezmart".
Its not going to break the bank.
Mike.

I thought I would fit the new catches today. Only problem is that when bolted on they seem slightly too long so do not clamp the roof down allowing about 5mm of lift on the pop top. Surely this is not right.
Has anyone with a 2012 ish van at home able to check their front catches to make sure that they clamp tightly.
I had not noticed this before they broke but am now wondering if this is why they broke if there was some lift allowing the wind under.

Thanks

I wonder if the catches come in different lengths for different models. How long are your catches and I will check mine tomorrow. I know you have to pull the catches down against a spring to release them so the tension in the spring must hold down the last few millimetres.

Thanks that would be great.
I've just measured 65mm. That's just the white plastic bit.

I got mine as the same length. I also tried pushing the roof up with the catches engaged and it wouldn't budge. I seem to remember that you can adjust the tension on the springs. Can you feel the pull against the springs when engaging the catches.

Thanks for that.

There is loads of tension in the springs as they are new. It's just that when hooked on there is a gap allowing the roof to lift.
Somethings not right then with our roof so now wondering if that's why they broke. I will need to investigate deeper I think

That gap will be putting the catches under more stress than normal then. The only thing I can think of is the scissor lift mechanism. If the gap is only at one end you could compare the two (assuming you've got two like my Puck).

I've have just checked the roof inside and out and can see no evidence of any damage or irregularities. I'm wondering if the rubber seal has compressed over time and harsh winter letting the roof settle lower than normal. Either that or the catch receiver fixed to the aluminium rail inside the van was fixed in the wrong place when it was built.
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