annexe erection
Submitted: Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 00:17
ThreadID:
44069
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5188
Replies:
8
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meercat
Hi
Forum, I have just purchased a secondhand pop top canvas annexe and was hoping someone may be able to tell me or direct me to an appropriate site on how to erect the blasted thing. My 20 yr old pop top has a track along the top side face with 2 vertical tracks at each end of the van.
Well they look like tracks. The actual annexe has a sewn in rope along the entire length and steel clips spaced at regular intervals below the rope. Is the rope meant to be pulled thru the track? The annexe did come off a pop top. Forgive me if I sound blonde (I'm not). I have searched the internet for instructions and can't seem to find anything.
Reply By: howie - Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 03:16
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 03:16
some brand names of the equipement and annex might help
AnswerID:
232098
Reply By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 06:32
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 06:32
Meerkat (correct spelling... lol)
The rope is meant to be pulled through the top track.
The side tracks are for separate annexe walls.
Cheers
AnswerID:
232100
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:05
Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:05
Thanks Willem
FollowupID:
494666
Reply By: furph - Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 08:12
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 08:12
Some vans have the rope track (like a full length tube with a slot in it), others have a flat metal strip with raised edges.
Sound like your annexe is made to fit both sorts of van attachment, but if like ours, the rope type is a devil of a thing to pull through. It is a two and a half person job!
It may be worth investigating having the metal strip attached to the van which will allow easier fitting using those clips. As pointed out, the vertical tracks are for the end walls, probably the rest of the wall attachments to the roof will be velcro.
furph
AnswerID:
232106
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:08
Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:08
Hi there and thanks for your tip. Even with 2 people we still can't get the rope thru - I think the tupe (half moon shape) is just too small. The alternative of using a metal strip sounds viable - where does this get attached to eg on the van itself or on the actual pop top? Cheers
FollowupID:
494667
Reply By: Member - Franga (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 08:21
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 08:21
Merecat,
The metal clips were the mechanism for attaching annex to van (name of system escapes at the moment) and they are no longer available, the rope was used to pull down and secure each end.
In saying all of that you probably could use the rope to slide into the sail track on top of you pop top, its worth a try.
Franga
AnswerID:
232108
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:09
Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:09
Thanks Franga - there is no way the rope will go thru the sail track - it is just too narrow.
FollowupID:
494668
Reply By: vv4yno - Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 08:43
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 08:43
Hi meerkat,
In addition to what has been said, I have seen the slotted track (and have one on my van) attached to the side of the van and (called a sailtrack I believe) and the clips are to attach to another different system with a flat track with raised edges - these are usually atached to the roof of the van, about 20 mm in from the edge.
sounds like yoiu have a universal annexe.
Slide it into the sailtrack (or the roof track - whichever you have) making sure its centred and them with a helper insert the corner poles and rope down. then put in the centre pole next and rope it down continuing with the other poles.
Unzip the corners to help you insert the front and back walls into their respective tracks at the top if you have them and then insert and rope the front and back poles.
you will then need to go 'round and adjust all the tensions and pole angles to get everything taut and pretty.
Keep in mind if the van is in a dip or on a hump in the ground you will never get it all perfect - the ground needs to be level to get it all spot-on.
you may find it easier to insert the rope into the track with the top down as it's easier to reach and it certainly helps to have a helper "feed" the rope into the track as you pull the annexe along as it always tries to derail itself.
This is the method I used with
mine without problems.
Another thing to watch out for is that the door of the van does not contact the annex walls when open - I discovered this the hard way with a nice tear from the upper corner of the door :)
hope this helps,
Wayne
AnswerID:
232111
Follow Up By: DIO - Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 10:23
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 10:23
If the annex has not been installed and the rope pulled through the track, it can sometimes be very difficult and hard to achieve. I suggest that you get a decent sized piece of steel wool and give the inside of the track a thorough clean (to remove any surface build up), then give it a liberal spray with some Silicon Spray Lubricant. Allow to dry and that should make the job a lot easier.
Good luck with it, hope you are successful.
FollowupID:
493029
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:12
Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:12
Thanks very much for your advice. I think the sail track on the van (purchased annexe separately) is too narrow. Perhaps I should replace the sail track with a larger diameter or install the flat track type and use the clips (this sounds is if it could be easier to install).
FollowupID:
494670
Reply By: disco driver - Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 12:02
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 12:02
Hi Meercat et al,
I had a similar problem with my poptop, rope too hard to pull through the track.
Found a solution with a product called "Sail slugs". They are a hard plastic fitting a bit like a piece of dowelling but with a tag coming out from the side. The tag is fixed to the annexe and the dowell bit slides into the rope track.
Much easier than hauling on an unresponsive rope.
Try searching at www.binksonline.com.au and look for sail slugs. From memory they are less than $1.00ea and are available in a number of diameters. (9.5mm suited my van track)
Hope this helps
Disco
AnswerID:
232129
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:13
Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:13
Thanks Disco, will
check it out. This could be the solution.
FollowupID:
494671
Reply By: landed eagle - Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 17:22
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007 at 17:22
Give the sail track a spray of ezy-glide or some other dry lube before you slide the rope through.Works for me.I also do the lifting posts on my Jayco Eagle camper trailer before I pack it away. Helps keep everything nice and slippery for the next time.
AnswerID:
232151
Follow Up By: meercat - Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:14
Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 16:14
Will try this - I did use some WD40 but this didn't work.
FollowupID:
494672
Reply By: Nifty1 - Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 17:21
Monday, Apr 16, 2007 at 17:21
Had a similar problem. Got a canvas manufacturer to replace the bolt rope with a smaller one. Cheap, easy, logical, and a permanent fix!
AnswerID:
233817