From time to time, you’d see some news report on TV about recreational vans (RV) having to stop on the road and deal with the damage they caused because the pop top roofs on top of their RVs have gone off and dropped on the road.

It doesn’t commonly happen, but it happens often enough. While you may think that it won’t happen to your pop top roof because it still looks sturdy, it’s probably the same thing in the thoughts of those who experienced these incidents before they happened.

If you have a pop top or hybrid camper, you need to start checking the latches that keep it on top of your RV. Most of the time, RVs are equipped with four over-centre latches that secure the pop top roof. However, this type of design comes with some risks that can cause problems, which should be a cause for worry, especially because most Australian RVs use this type of design.

If you want to know how secure the latches on your roof are, the problems you may have to prepare for, and what you can do to prevent them, this article will provide you with what you need.

Why latches can detach during travel

There are two main reasons why latches can detach from the camper during travel. First, it can be due to a wrong installation that results in the latches not being correctly secured into the over centre position. It can also be because the contents of your camper have subsided during travel, leading to the weight distribution being off and causing the latches to detach.

Having latches detaching during travel can be extremely dangerous. Not only will it cause damage to your camper, but it can also be dangerous for other vehicles around you. They can hit it or even run over it, which can lead them to lose control and have an accident.

Furthermore, having them detach can be financially crippling because you have to pay for the repairs, not only for your damages but for other people, too. You would also have to pay for hospital bills if the incident leads to injuries.

The risk of latch failure and corrosion

As written earlier, the design of the over-centre latches can come with a variety of risks when it comes to latching failure and corrosion. The problems that can be caused by these risks include:

  • The wall thickness of thin pop rivets used as pivot pins in latches is too thin, and the diameter size is also too small. They are also not that strong, which is why they often fail when too much force or weight is put upon them.
  • The latch can be stiff to operate due to the use of pop rivets, leading to the potential for injury, especially when the latch handle is protruding at a 90-degree angle to the direction of the van.
  • When the latch becomes damaged, corroded, or rusty, it can result in the latch becoming inoperable. These things can be from different causes, such as too much moisture and tightening the latch too much.

A latch failure or a protruding latch can cause many injuries and damage. When unlucky, it can be detached, and the latch ‘T’ bar can hit someone on the side of the road. Be careful with this, especially when your latch is installed at eye level.

Most latches in RVs are made of weak material to prioritize affordability over durability. The material in these latches can easily be damaged and are prone to corrosion. To prevent these types of problems from happening with your RV, try looking for latches made of stainless steel or other strong material.

Yes, they may be a bit more expensive, but it would keep you and your camper safe and prevent you from having pop top roof-related troubles on the road.

A latch failure can damage the lifting cable mechanism

Most of the damage caused by latch failures to the lifting cable mechanism is due to the pop top being opened when some of the over-centre latches are still attached. Without the lifting table mechanism, the pop top will be rendered unusable.

This is such a simple failure, but it can lead to so much hassle, especially when it happens during the middle of a trip. It’s also not that easy to repair and often needs you to have it professionally repaired, which can cost you at least $300.

Avoid over centre latch problems with pop top caravans

Most pop top caravans in the market come with these problematic risks. Even if you get one upwards of $40,000, pop tops in this price range still use weak material and are easy to damage. It’s not just due to the material used, as the design itself is flawed and prone to damage.

If you want a better, safer, and more secure alternative solution, the Snap-Flat over-centre latch can help you. Designed with improved safety and manufacturing using more durable and long-lasting materials, it can be a good alternative compared to regular pop tops.

It has a design that prevents the latch from detaching and makes attaching and detaching much easier and effective. It prevents accidents caused by a damaged latch and trying to take it off when a latch is still in place.

It’s tough to have a problem with pop top caravan latches, but with proper precautions and priorities, you can be in your caravan safely without worrying about your pop top roof detaching by itself.