Reading through this thread there does seem to be a lot of different advice about the pop top roof raising. Some of us have been told to raise the roof one end at a time, and never both together, others have been told to raise ends together, and never a single end at a time. Some have been told back end first, others front end first. I've yet to hear the reasons why.
I`ve heard that if your van roof leans more to one end, make sure the van is level and raise the roof at that end first, so gravity forces it back into line.
I know in my van I thought the roof when down, was a little too far forward so I raised the jockey wheel to make the van tilt past level and to the rear. I raised the roof front first so that the weight was transferred to the rear and then when lowering back down the roof was more in line.
Now looking back, I think my problem was because one of my rear gas strut supports was stuffed.
MY PERSONAL OPINION.
I THINK THE ROOF (when possible) SHOULD BE RAISED ALL AT ONCE, BOTH ENDS AT THE SAME TIME.
Obviously you need two people to do this, so it's not always possible. But I think when there are two people, this is the way it should be done.
My reason for this way of thinking is that all gas struts have equal load and all share 25% of the pressure when raising and lowering. When we do one end at a time, the awning is being twisted, the hinge mechanisms are being loaded unevenly at each end, the gas struts are being put under additional pressure, especially the ones at the end being raised last. The roof is lop sided which pushes its weight to one end which I believe can cause the roof to shift and become out of alignment. I also believe that this can damage the gas struts because they are overloaded and twisted.
Raising and lowering all together, gives all hinges, gas struts, awning roller and material equal weight, equal pressure, correct balance and no twisting. Any other way (in my opinion) causes unnecessary strain shortening the life of some or all of the roof components.
Once again, this is just my opinion and if anyone disagrees I'd like to hear their opinions/ reasons why we shouldn't lift the roof this way.