We picked up our new (to us) 2016 Troll 540 yesterday from Highbridge Caravans in Somerset (an official Eriba dealer now) and had the front clips break and the roof pop up at 60mph on the M4. The stress also fractured one of the rear clips, although the back stayed down. After pulling into an emergency pull-off on the hard shoulder, and using some bungee cords to hold the roof down, I drove carefully on to the next services and managed to buy a big trucker tie down strap with which I encircled the caravan and drove home safely to Suffolk.

I had, foolishly, believed the person who set us up, connected us up and showed us round the caravan that they had stowed the roof correctly. However, at the side of the M4 I discovered that the tightening screws hadn't been done up, allowing the roof to lift at motorway speed and break the clips. Neither of our three previous Eribas had had this extra security feature on the roof hold-down clips, so I hadn't been aware that I needed to check this carefully. Luckily the roof mechanism wasn't damaged (nor the fabric), so lesson now learned (the expensive way - £61 for each front clip and £35 for the rear one). Negotiations as to who will pay now underway.

I will carry the strap I bought as a safety measure from now on - others might like to consider doing the same...

They have just called me back and are sending me new clips by priority post. They were very apologetic and said they will ensure that their handover staff are trained to ensure the clips are fully tightened on departure! As a main dealer, I said I should hope they would!! He did try to claim that the clips may have been over-tightened and strained, but I said that was hogwash - both Claire and I had immediately noticed that the black tightening nuts were at the bottom of the threads (i.e. not tightened up) and he agreed that sounded like the reason. I said this was since the roof redesign and that any un-tightened spring "lift" allowed air under that front "beak" area and created strain on the clips. Aged clips may not help - that would be something for Hymer to investigate.

Interesting that they (and Kool Classics, who I also phoned) have replacements in stock...