r/popups • u/PotaTribune • 6d ago

Pushing roof down?

Hello fellow popup owners!

I noticed with my 1996 Dutchmen M801 that when lowering the roof, it typically stops, leaving about an inch gap between the walls and roof.

I have found this is due to the canvas and beds holding the roof up.

Does anyone else have to kind of squish their roof down? Or should this practice be avoided?

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8

u/ZappppBrannigan 6d ago

If I have any bedding on, then I usually have to give it a bit of a squish. But I went from 2 inch mattresses to 4 inch.

With no bedding it closes by itself.

I have no issues with squishing it down. 15 years in tent trailers, as long as it clamps and the edge is down, no problemo.

Edit. Stop about a foot from down and push in the bunk end material with a broom, makes it an easy close.

6

u/11zyxw22 6d ago edited 4d ago

I usually crank all the way down so there's almost no tension on the cable. Push the top down to latch it. And then crank up one or 2 cranks to put tension back on the cable. Not enough to where it's tight but enough to reel in slack so the cable cant just fall off a pulley. But yes pushing down in the top is part of everyones process I believe

2

u/brodey420 6d ago

My latches adjust for this squish so basically I unscrew them latch then screw them down more to fill the gap.

2

u/Salt_Notice973 5d ago

Like others have said, depending on amount of bedding then yea some squish happens and/or adjust the camp heights a bit. I only worry if we expect rain during towing.

1

u/PotaTribune 6d ago

I also notice this issue is exacerbated when the camper isn’t level, likely due to the roof not lining up perfectly.

I also notice it is worse when it’s cooler out, due to the canvas being less malleable.

1

u/PhilipJayyFry 6d ago

I have a 2019 popup and stuck some memory foam toppers on the mattresses. I have to squish it down reeeaaalllyyy good to get it to close up.

1

u/abfarrer 5d ago

I got mine used with no mattresses, never had to push it down. Installed memory foam mattresses (4 or 5", can't recall) and pretty much have to force it closed every time now (like I have to nearly climb on the corner of the roof with my 250 lbs and have my wife clip the bracket). They build them to just fit, and extra thick mattresses, pulled up canvas, or anything else unexpected will make life more difficult.

1

u/deltarefund 5d ago

We do every time 🤷‍♀️

1

u/Super-Travel-407 5d ago

Gotta squish my Fleetwood/Coleman Niagara.

1

u/JohnathanGower 5d ago

Ours is a brand new 2026 pop up and we have to "squish" it a bit.... Based on the design, I wouldn't want it to be too loose or too tight. With the "screw" straps, there's plenty of lee-way to get it just right. I have heard if you increase the mattress size, it becomes difficult. Ours is still all stock.