T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
+4
Roopert
Dave 418
Gray B
mdavesimon
8 posters
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T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Hi all,
New member here, loving our T4 Trident.
Although not leaking (yet) the join where the fibreglass hi-top joins the windscreen is in a sorry state.
Now that I've taken some pics for here I will attempt to slow the decay but it is in desperate need of expert TLC.
Does anyone know of a body shop which specializes in this kind of work? Or at least has some experience of it?
Thanks in anticipation
Dave
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
New member here, loving our T4 Trident.
Although not leaking (yet) the join where the fibreglass hi-top joins the windscreen is in a sorry state.
Now that I've taken some pics for here I will attempt to slow the decay but it is in desperate need of expert TLC.
Does anyone know of a body shop which specializes in this kind of work? Or at least has some experience of it?
Thanks in anticipation
Dave
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
mdavesimon- Member
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Posts : 17
Joined : 2018-08-14
Location : Bournemouth
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trident
Vehicle Year : 1993
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Basically Dave any decent bodyshop should mange this ...
Windscreen out attend to rust and repaint windscreen back in with new seal !
Good luck Gray
Windscreen out attend to rust and repaint windscreen back in with new seal !
Good luck Gray
Gray B- Member
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Posts : 25
Joined : 2014-10-08
Member Age : 74
Location : Evesham
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trooper
Vehicle Year : 2007
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Hi Gray B and thanks for the reply.
I just wondered if anyone had any experience of having this fairly major work done by a specialist in this type of work.
It seems that maybe I am unlucky that mine has started to go seeing as I can find no mention of anything similar on the site.
As it happens I live in Bournemouth and there is an excellent body shop between Poole and Wareham, TrickettWeldingLtd.co.uk.
I have used them before and found them to be absolutely first class. I plan to take it there.
Dave
I just wondered if anyone had any experience of having this fairly major work done by a specialist in this type of work.
It seems that maybe I am unlucky that mine has started to go seeing as I can find no mention of anything similar on the site.
As it happens I live in Bournemouth and there is an excellent body shop between Poole and Wareham, TrickettWeldingLtd.co.uk.
I have used them before and found them to be absolutely first class. I plan to take it there.
Dave
mdavesimon- Member
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Posts : 17
Joined : 2018-08-14
Location : Bournemouth
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trident
Vehicle Year : 1993
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
I had the screen surround rot away on our Duetto along the bottom and the near side. The biggest issue was the time taken to strip the interior before starting work. Had it been at cill or a wing to repair it would have been a quarter the price.
Being a motorhome there’s a lot more to remove on the inside like insulation, trim or furniture.
A friend of mine that’s a welder showed me a camper van that some one had tried to weld on the cheap and nearly burn it out by not stripping the interior properly. My friend was asked to finish the job. The owner nearly fell over when it was explained what needed removing from the interior.
Sorry to spread gloom and doom but I thought it best to say something. I hope you get it sorted.
Being a motorhome there’s a lot more to remove on the inside like insulation, trim or furniture.
A friend of mine that’s a welder showed me a camper van that some one had tried to weld on the cheap and nearly burn it out by not stripping the interior properly. My friend was asked to finish the job. The owner nearly fell over when it was explained what needed removing from the interior.
Sorry to spread gloom and doom but I thought it best to say something. I hope you get it sorted.
Dave 418- Donator
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Posts : 3942
Joined : 2012-10-17
Member Age : 69
Location : N/E Lincolnshire
Auto-Sleeper Model : Rienza
Vehicle Year : 2005
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
I'm fairly certain that there was a thread here a few years back in which someone described a similar problem, and how they fixed it - including photos. It was probably in the "Classic Models" section, and a forum search may find it.
Essentially, for a high-top van, it divides into two cases: If the rust has damaged the screen recess but has not yet gone under the join with the high-top, it should be possible to remove the windscreen, treat the rust (which may involve chopping out and welding back metal), spray and then put the screen back.
If the rust has crept up under the joint with the high-top and you want a longer-term solution rather than a short-term bodge, then you really have no choice but to remove the high-top - which is what was done in the thread I refer to.
Essentially, for a high-top van, it divides into two cases: If the rust has damaged the screen recess but has not yet gone under the join with the high-top, it should be possible to remove the windscreen, treat the rust (which may involve chopping out and welding back metal), spray and then put the screen back.
If the rust has crept up under the joint with the high-top and you want a longer-term solution rather than a short-term bodge, then you really have no choice but to remove the high-top - which is what was done in the thread I refer to.
Roopert- Member
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Posts : 3766
Joined : 2019-03-10
Location : South East
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trooper
Vehicle Year : 2005
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Thanks Dave & Roopert,
I have found searching the forum using different filter words very enlightening, I hadn't appreciated quite how much is on here.
I'll post my progress.
I have found searching the forum using different filter words very enlightening, I hadn't appreciated quite how much is on here.
I'll post my progress.
mdavesimon- Member
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Posts : 17
Joined : 2018-08-14
Location : Bournemouth
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trident
Vehicle Year : 1993
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Hi all.
Since Feb we have taken the plunge and had this significant leak attended to by [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] of Poole.
True to form the problem was greater than originally feared, mainly due to an earlier "repair" involving the use of body filler and expanding builder's foam. The latter which had soaked up and held water and ensured the total rotting of about 6" of the original steel roof where it disappears under the glass top and essentially forming the floor of the over-cab locker.
To cut a long story short Tricketts were a one-stop shop, remaking the hardtop/windscreen join as well as all of the intricate welding work. We took advantage of their open invitation to drop in at any time to see the work in progress.
A couple of months down the line and we are out and about in the van as God intended and no longer worry when the heavens open.
Enjoy a small selection of the photos!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Since Feb we have taken the plunge and had this significant leak attended to by [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] of Poole.
True to form the problem was greater than originally feared, mainly due to an earlier "repair" involving the use of body filler and expanding builder's foam. The latter which had soaked up and held water and ensured the total rotting of about 6" of the original steel roof where it disappears under the glass top and essentially forming the floor of the over-cab locker.
To cut a long story short Tricketts were a one-stop shop, remaking the hardtop/windscreen join as well as all of the intricate welding work. We took advantage of their open invitation to drop in at any time to see the work in progress.
A couple of months down the line and we are out and about in the van as God intended and no longer worry when the heavens open.
Enjoy a small selection of the photos!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
mdavesimon- Member
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Posts : 17
Joined : 2018-08-14
Location : Bournemouth
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trident
Vehicle Year : 1993
ecoates and MichaelP like this post
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Wow - it must take some nerve to chop into a high top like that! In my opinion worth it on a T4-based conversion though - base vehicle build quality was good and parts should be available for a long time yet, so it should have many more years on the road, hopefully.
Roopert- Member
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Posts : 3766
Joined : 2019-03-10
Location : South East
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trooper
Vehicle Year : 2005
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
We were lucky with our Duetto only having rotten meatal on the door pillars and the scuttle. Having said that the rest of the rotten metal made up for that.
Enjoy youre travels, it ill be worth the wait.
Enjoy youre travels, it ill be worth the wait.
Dave 418- Donator
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Posts : 3942
Joined : 2012-10-17
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Location : N/E Lincolnshire
Auto-Sleeper Model : Rienza
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Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
I do hope it'll be worth it but I'm still reeling at the realisation that what rust can't destroy, phasing out of E5 petrol in 5 years might! I live in hope that E5 will in fact be available for longer than 5 years, or additives will become available, or kits of replacements for the incompatible components will be available.
mdavesimon- Member
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Posts : 17
Joined : 2018-08-14
Location : Bournemouth
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trident
Vehicle Year : 1993
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
A very helpful thread, thank you all. I have a similar problem with our T4 Trophy, which now lets water in above the windscreen when driving in heavy rain. I had expected to be able to leave it with Junction 21 later this month, but they've gone bust. I was just wondering if anyone has any body repair recommendations up North, ideally Sheffield to Leeds sort of area.
Thanks for any suggestions, Richard
Thanks for any suggestions, Richard
rccraven- New Member
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Posts : 3
Joined : 2020-07-25
Location : Sheffield
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trophy
Vehicle Year : 1994
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
The work on our Duetto was done by DMR between Doncaster and Bawtry. They were very thorough and kept me informed with what they had found and progress of repairs. Considering the amount they did I thought the price was reasonable and gave us another three years travels without any leaks.
Dave 418- Donator
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Posts : 3942
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rccraven likes this post
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Thanks very much for that, I'll give them a call
rccraven- New Member
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Posts : 3
Joined : 2020-07-25
Location : Sheffield
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trophy
Vehicle Year : 1994
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Thanks for this! Our T4 Trident (2002) is starting to rust in exactly the same place, I will take it into a body shop this winter!
Nigelbs- Member
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Posts : 42
Joined : 2021-05-04
Location : Stroud
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trident
Vehicle Year : 2002
rccraven likes this post
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Hello. We have just noticed our 1993 Trident has started to leak through the winscreen join to the roof section. Could you give an idea of how much it cost to fix yours please? Looks like a good job. Thanks.
Jima007- New Member
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Posts : 3
Joined : 2022-08-06
Location : Exeter
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trident
Vehicle Year : 1993
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
According to this and other E10 will do it no harm....You will, however use more of it......mdavesimon wrote:I do hope it'll be worth it but I'm still reeling at the realisation that what rust can't destroy, phasing out of E5 petrol in 5 years might! I live in hope that E5 will in fact be available for longer than 5 years, or additives will become available, or kits of replacements for the incompatible components will be available.
E 10 petrol - VW T4 Forum
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[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... › General T4 Chat
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28 Jun 2021 — It'll be fine. E10 has been in use in other countries for years. There are very few engines that are incompatible and curiously they tend to be ..
IanH- Donator
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Posts : 8316
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Auto-Sleeper Model : Executive
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Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Thanks @mdavesimon for the reply. Have taken it to a local restorer who reckons he can fix the rust round the windscreen. We will need to arrange to have it removed and he said it might crack… Will get it done as dont want a leaky van. Will post on forum how it goes. Taking in it mid feb. Cheers.
Jima007- New Member
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Posts : 3
Joined : 2022-08-06
Location : Exeter
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trident
Vehicle Year : 1993
Re: T4 Trident hi-top/windscreen joint is failing
Good luck jima007. Our screen already had a bad chip so we had it replaced as part of the job. We had a tinted screen fitted which is more comfortable in the sun than a clear glass one.
mdavesimon- Member
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Posts : 17
Joined : 2018-08-14
Location : Bournemouth
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trident
Vehicle Year : 1993
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