Bungee for bellows, do you think still needed on 6.1 ocean ?

[Bumble The Van]

I have ordered my dream vehicle cali ocean 6.1 and wondered if the new bellows have been designed any better and do i still need to get bellows bungee rope? many many thanks any advice gratefully received!

 

[Alan Andrews]

You are still advised to use a bungee.

The bungee is unobstrusive and will ensure that the canvas will always retreat inwards when you are collapsing the roof.

 

[B J G]

Bungee is a case of 'belt and braces' fitment.

ie You should always check folding is correct by doing a visual check when partly closed. Bungee will help prevent any wind popping a corner out after that check.
Bungee shouldn't be regarded as a method to ignore visual checks.

End of the day a personal choice whether to have one or not.

 

[Mr T]

I don’t use one. Had one on my T5.1 SE but find the later T6 roof bellows much better at folding in on their own and don’t feel the need for one now. As with all these things, it’s personal choice, it’s not expensive so if you’re concerned fit one, although as @B J G said above it won’t eliminate the need for visual checks.

 

[subthree]

Never owned a T5 or a T6 but wet have had our T6.1 from last July. There are stiffeners on the sides of our bellows which naturally push the fabric inwards. If you had a bungee then it would be across the opening when you unzip it. I keep a careful eye on the fabric when closing the roof and haven't had an issue so far.

As with many accessories perhaps wait until the van arrives.

 

[SusiBus]

The T6.1 fabric fold in very well, as infact does the T6. A little more care is required helping the front to fold neatly because of the zip out panel.
Don't rely on bungee. Always be vigilant.
We never use a bungee.

 

[GrannyJen]

The only time I trapped the canvas was when I used a bungee

It was a still day and I complacently thought "no need to check", probably about the only time in over 500 nights that I've not relied on Mk1 eyeball.

I have not had a bungee for around 4 years. I do find the T6 folds better than the T5 but shifting my butt out of the seat to have a 20 second walk around is still my method of avoiding a lot of tears, both pronunciations.

Nothing against them, a useful fitment, but not an essential.

 

[Meoncoast]

I used bungee on our 1st van but have not used it for many years now. When new with all the threads of accidental trappings maybe something to use on your 6.1 until you have confidence in the procedure. However, in my view, since the T6 bellows are stiffer it may not be needed provided you close the roof by the book.

 

[California_Ocean]

Another vote for no bungee ... T6.1 22MY Ocean, mine folds in fine on its own.

 

[Wrongford]

You are still advised to use a bungee.

The bungee is unobstrusive and will ensure that the canvas will always retreat inwards when you are collapsing the roof.

I disagree. T6’s and newer have a clever folding system that stops snags. Bungees mark the bellows.

 

[The Tall Luthier]

I used one for a short while. The roof never liked to shut flat and even. I removed it and all worked well again.

 

[66tim99]

I’ve never felt the need for a bungee. In fact I wonder whether the extra tension on the canvas is desirable, for waterproofing and sealing reasons.

 

[ivan & jill]

I used a bungee on our T6 for the extra peace of mind but have left it off our T6.1. The stiffer canvas does fold inwards reliably apart from the front panoramic window which does not have the strengthening straps. So I do give that a tug inwards as I begin to lower the roof. Like #GrannyJen I also lift my bum off the seat but am too lazy to walk around the outside and only poke my head into the open hatch while pressing the button until past halfway down.

I guess that as a retired surveyor I am used to poking my head through loft hatches

 

[Ch1pbutty]

(T.5.1) Removed ours when we fitted the ISOTOP, as you can't see the internal roof canvas once fitted, so we perform a quick external check just to be sure ( even if it raining sideways!).

Without an ISOTOP would say its worth having on a T.51 as you can see the fabric folding from inside the van - the bungee just pulls the sides in initially slightly making it fold in the correct place, it then loses tension and drops onto the roof frame as you close the roof. If required (ie - when windy) just quickly tug any fabric into place from inside the van, so no need to get out to perform a further visual check. T6 seems to have a thicker canvas so tends to fold itself into the correct place.

You only need one trap in the scissor mech to damage the canvas, the cost of the bungee is cheaper than a fabric repair kit. Mistake that some make is to over-tension the bungee which will cause a rub on the fabric.

 

[barry]

(T.5.1) Removed ours when we fitted the ISOTOP, as you can't see the internal roof canvas once fitted, so we perform a quick external check just to be sure ( even if it raining sideways!).

Without an ISOTOP would say its worth having on a T.51 as you can see the fabric folding from inside the van - the bungee just pulls the sides in initially slightly making it fold in the correct place, it then loses tension and drops onto the roof frame as you close the roof. If required (ie - when windy) just quickly tug any fabric into place from inside the van, so no need to get out to perform a further visual check. T6 seems to have a thicker canvas so tends to fold itself into the correct place.

You only need one trap in the scissor mech to damage the canvas, the cost of the bungee is cheaper than a fabric repair kit. Mistake that some make is to over-tension the bungee which will cause a rub on the fabric.

I'd have to say that I've found the bungee very useful indeed (with a first generation ISOTOP and a new bellows a couple of years old). Prior to putting up the bungee I think I kept the stick-on-patch firm in business. Like Ch1pbutty I found the bungee dropped down onto the roof frame as the roof got lower so I tightened it up and it's stopped doing that. I suspect tightening it up will reduce its elestic life - but we'll see.

 

[Georgeo]

You are still advised to use a bungee.

The bungee is unobstrusive and will ensure that the canvas will always retreat inwards when you are collapsing the roof.

Who is advising that?

 

[Trudi]

I was advised not to use a bungee. It can rub and damage the fabric and told that if I needed a warranty claim for damage my canvas it could invalidate the claim
We have a 2021 coast and to be fair, never had a problem with the canvas folding in. Just be careful.

 

[RonB]

Who is advising that?

Having a T5.1, I have used a bungee for many years, based on the occasional problem with high winds and the odd ‘near miss’ with scissoring, combined with ‘best practice’ advice on the forum. It was somewhat reassuring to visit Campercenteum in Amersfoot in Netherlands a few times in recent years and see every Cali on display in the showroom with a bungee around every raised roof... and they are acknowledged Cali specialists. I don’t have personal experience of T6 bellows.

 

[calibusje]

Not when you have the stiffeners on the side of the bellows, like yours will have. I see often the bungee leaving a mark on the canvas. I do think it is usefull when you don't have the pieces who help the canvas fold in.

 

[RonB]

Not when you have the stiffeners on the side of the bellows, like yours will have. I see often the bungee leaving a mark on the canvas. I do think it is usefull when you don't have the pieces who help the canvas fold in.

I do have the stiffeners in the side, as bellows were replaced under warranty long time ago. The canvas can still fold outwards occasionally, even with them, and as mentioned by others, don’t just rely on the bungee, always do a visual check.

 

[westfalia]

Who is advising that?

The manufacturer of the elastic band.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Have a T5 and never used a bungee. Just careful. Very careful when windy.

 

[calibusje]

I do have the stiffeners in the side, as bellows were replaced under warranty long time ago. The canvas can still fold outwards occasionally, even with them, and as mentioned by others, don’t just rely on the bungee, always do a visual check.

Cool, I don't have a bungee. I only have my -sorry- coast for 5 months now and did I guess, fast calculate: about 20 nights in it and folded the roof about double that and find it working perfect. No need for a bungee. But maybe I must learn a lot more with our new one. I only travelled for more than 10 years with a T4 westfalia california (with manual roof) and never had an issue with that canvas either becaus indeed, you just have to pay attention when folding it down.

 

[RonB]

Cool, I don't have a bungee. I only have my -sorry- coast for 5 months now and did I guess, fast calculate: about 20 nights in it and folded the roof about double that and find it working perfect. No need for a bungee. But maybe I must learn a lot more with our new one. I only travelled for more than 10 years with a T4 westfalia california (with manual roof) and never had an issue with that canvas either becaus indeed, you just have to pay attention when folding it down.

Agree that you probably don’t need bungee with a manual roof. Having spent around a total of 4 years out of 9 living in a T5.1 with electric roof in all types of weather, I like the security it offers.

 

[calibusje]

Agree that you probably don’t need bungee with a manual roof. Having spent around a total of 4 years out of 9 living in a T5.1 with electric roof in all types of weather, I like the security it offers.

I also agree; but don’t think of us ‘Sunday travellers’ although we didn’t live in it, we had our share of very bad weather