Tonneau cover update: (another long post).
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From: Big Box suburb, IL
Tonneau cover update: (another long post).
I have just started getting back active with S2ki and S2kca since last Aug/Sept. I had such a busy period in my life that I couldn't keep up with everything going on in my life. And contrary to belief, I have not gotten married yet (but it sure feels like I am 
)
Just last night I picked up the progress of the toneau cover....I was blockaded by the last upholsterer's unprofessionalism and had to get a lawyer involved. That aside this is where I am with the last version of the cover:
I have a working prototype that's made out of a lighter material canvas (and should change to something heavier material once a design is finalized...I will let Rick decide upon what material to use). The prototype, unfortunately, doesn't allow the use of the factory windscreen. I was trying to work with the last upholsterer to figure out a newer mounting method that would either allow for an easy removal of the windscreen, or a mount that works around the windscreen.
As a point of information, the leading edge of the tonneau cover (windshield side) requires no hardware to mount and is mounted by tabs of velcro (there is no wind turbulence to pull at that mounting location). The sided of the cover are mounted into the window crack, allowing for use of the cover with the windows up or down and/or the convertible top up or down. There is no mounting hardware that needs to be installed, it will all be sewn into the cover.....the issue is trying to find the hardware and enough supply. The trailing side edge and the rear edge are secured down using tension around the roll hoops (but the mounting is hidden inside the convertible top well). The passenger and driver side halves are connected by either a zipper or velcro (I haven't decided yet, but favor the velcro. Zippers and the zipper chain can scratch our leather and vinyl interiors if one isn't careful, and depending on the zipper used, failure can be experienced. Velcro is not only waterproof but there are no worries to it rubbing up against the seat and scratching it. Velcro on the other hand can be a bit clumsy to use and can't be locked down with a mini lock and chain like a zipper can (think suitcase zipper lock).
When I tested on my car there were only three issues that I faced....the lack of use of my expensive wind screen (and the buffeting of wind into the cabin it caused), the "bubble-up" effect on the tonneau when I drove at speed (the center of the cover would want to fly up due to air pressure and was resolved when I put the windows up, and the fact the my torso was very warm but my ears got so gawd dam cold and I didn't have ear muffs. The first and last issue can be fixed and I just started working on it again. The second issue requires a little more thought though.
Addressed in another thread was the idea of water could be left standing if the top was left down but the tonneau on. I think that is a valid concern but may be addressed with the second issue as stated earlier. Also I would recommend that the top be put up if it looks like it will rain when you park the car. As far as protecting the electronics, I would think everything is pretty much safe because it's all housed in their own plastic casings, with the exception of the radio (which has a door to protect the radio from falling water).
One thing that I admired about the cover when I had it on my car was the fact of how well integrated it looked with the boot cover on. There was no material that was "fraying" out of the lines of the interior of the car. To that, I also had started the design of the integrated boot cover....it would tie in with the tonneau and would alleviate those problems that some owners have had with mounting the boot cover.
Also for storing the cover, since it would be made out of a fabric and not plastic or anything of the sorts, it allows for folding. After folding it can be toted into a bag (that I hope to include) and tossed into the trunk, or if folded properly, hopefully it'd fit in either the convertible top well (with the top up), behind the passenger side seat, or under the driver's side seat.
What my next step is to find a way to re-do the mounting so the aero screen can be used, start communicating with Rick and James again, and find an honest upholsterer out there. If I can't I will just send the plans to Rick to have his "guys" make this thing.
Any questions, comments, suggestions?
PS. Is there any interest in me reviving the rear window issue for '00/'01 owners. I had drawn some plans to make a removable, re-usable plastic "zip in". The idea was to buy a set of 3 rear plastic windows. Install one, and when it starts to haze and crease, zip it out and zip the other in. Now you can either re-finish the "damaged" one by using a solvent to remove the hazing and hot water to remove the crease. When the newly installed one begins experiencing the same fate, zip it out and zip in the re-finished one. And for the truely non-do it-yourselfers, just by a "re-fill" pack to zip right back in. Keep in mind with this idea there'd be some initial cutting of the OEM plastic rear window. Still interest in this?
)Just last night I picked up the progress of the toneau cover....I was blockaded by the last upholsterer's unprofessionalism and had to get a lawyer involved. That aside this is where I am with the last version of the cover:
I have a working prototype that's made out of a lighter material canvas (and should change to something heavier material once a design is finalized...I will let Rick decide upon what material to use). The prototype, unfortunately, doesn't allow the use of the factory windscreen. I was trying to work with the last upholsterer to figure out a newer mounting method that would either allow for an easy removal of the windscreen, or a mount that works around the windscreen.
As a point of information, the leading edge of the tonneau cover (windshield side) requires no hardware to mount and is mounted by tabs of velcro (there is no wind turbulence to pull at that mounting location). The sided of the cover are mounted into the window crack, allowing for use of the cover with the windows up or down and/or the convertible top up or down. There is no mounting hardware that needs to be installed, it will all be sewn into the cover.....the issue is trying to find the hardware and enough supply. The trailing side edge and the rear edge are secured down using tension around the roll hoops (but the mounting is hidden inside the convertible top well). The passenger and driver side halves are connected by either a zipper or velcro (I haven't decided yet, but favor the velcro. Zippers and the zipper chain can scratch our leather and vinyl interiors if one isn't careful, and depending on the zipper used, failure can be experienced. Velcro is not only waterproof but there are no worries to it rubbing up against the seat and scratching it. Velcro on the other hand can be a bit clumsy to use and can't be locked down with a mini lock and chain like a zipper can (think suitcase zipper lock).
When I tested on my car there were only three issues that I faced....the lack of use of my expensive wind screen (and the buffeting of wind into the cabin it caused), the "bubble-up" effect on the tonneau when I drove at speed (the center of the cover would want to fly up due to air pressure and was resolved when I put the windows up, and the fact the my torso was very warm but my ears got so gawd dam cold and I didn't have ear muffs. The first and last issue can be fixed and I just started working on it again. The second issue requires a little more thought though.
Addressed in another thread was the idea of water could be left standing if the top was left down but the tonneau on. I think that is a valid concern but may be addressed with the second issue as stated earlier. Also I would recommend that the top be put up if it looks like it will rain when you park the car. As far as protecting the electronics, I would think everything is pretty much safe because it's all housed in their own plastic casings, with the exception of the radio (which has a door to protect the radio from falling water).
One thing that I admired about the cover when I had it on my car was the fact of how well integrated it looked with the boot cover on. There was no material that was "fraying" out of the lines of the interior of the car. To that, I also had started the design of the integrated boot cover....it would tie in with the tonneau and would alleviate those problems that some owners have had with mounting the boot cover.
Also for storing the cover, since it would be made out of a fabric and not plastic or anything of the sorts, it allows for folding. After folding it can be toted into a bag (that I hope to include) and tossed into the trunk, or if folded properly, hopefully it'd fit in either the convertible top well (with the top up), behind the passenger side seat, or under the driver's side seat.
What my next step is to find a way to re-do the mounting so the aero screen can be used, start communicating with Rick and James again, and find an honest upholsterer out there. If I can't I will just send the plans to Rick to have his "guys" make this thing.
Any questions, comments, suggestions?
PS. Is there any interest in me reviving the rear window issue for '00/'01 owners. I had drawn some plans to make a removable, re-usable plastic "zip in". The idea was to buy a set of 3 rear plastic windows. Install one, and when it starts to haze and crease, zip it out and zip the other in. Now you can either re-finish the "damaged" one by using a solvent to remove the hazing and hot water to remove the crease. When the newly installed one begins experiencing the same fate, zip it out and zip in the re-finished one. And for the truely non-do it-yourselfers, just by a "re-fill" pack to zip right back in. Keep in mind with this idea there'd be some initial cutting of the OEM plastic rear window. Still interest in this?
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From: Big Box suburb, IL
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From: Mish-she-gan
One of the advantages 
of the old British car's was having nothing mechanical or electrical in the doors other than a pull cable for the door release. They had removable side curtains (plastic side windows that store in the trunk). Assuming I'm visualizing this correctly it would hook into the side window separation, thus directing water into the door and power window mechanics [assuming you did not forecast the weather properly and didn't realize it was raining outside] unless some type of overhang was incorporated into the design to overcome this.
of the old British car's was having nothing mechanical or electrical in the doors other than a pull cable for the door release. They had removable side curtains (plastic side windows that store in the trunk). Assuming I'm visualizing this correctly it would hook into the side window separation, thus directing water into the door and power window mechanics [assuming you did not forecast the weather properly and didn't realize it was raining outside] unless some type of overhang was incorporated into the design to overcome this.
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From: Bay Area
quote:
PS. Is there any interest in me reviving the rear window issue for '00/'01 owners. I had drawn some plans to make a removable, re-usable plastic "zip in". The idea was to buy a set of 3 rear plastic windows. Install one, and when it starts to haze and crease, zip it out and zip the other in. Now you can either re-finish the "damaged" one by using a solvent to remove the hazing and hot water to remove the crease. When the newly installed one begins experiencing the same fate, zip it out and zip in the re-finished one. And for the truely non-do it-yourselfers, just by a "re-fill" pack to zip right back in. Keep in mind with this idea there'd be some initial cutting of the OEM plastic rear window. Still interest in this? [/B][/QUOTE]
i would be very interested in this project. i think the plastic window portion cost like 100 dollars from HONDA, so its not too bad.
gimme a status on your progress..
PS. Is there any interest in me reviving the rear window issue for '00/'01 owners. I had drawn some plans to make a removable, re-usable plastic "zip in". The idea was to buy a set of 3 rear plastic windows. Install one, and when it starts to haze and crease, zip it out and zip the other in. Now you can either re-finish the "damaged" one by using a solvent to remove the hazing and hot water to remove the crease. When the newly installed one begins experiencing the same fate, zip it out and zip in the re-finished one. And for the truely non-do it-yourselfers, just by a "re-fill" pack to zip right back in. Keep in mind with this idea there'd be some initial cutting of the OEM plastic rear window. Still interest in this? [/B][/QUOTE]
i would be very interested in this project. i think the plastic window portion cost like 100 dollars from HONDA, so its not too bad.
gimme a status on your progress..
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: DC
What is the purpose of a tonneau cover?
Why would you want one on when you are driving?
Why would you want one on when you are parked? Isnt it easier to just put the top up and down with the flip of a switch than to mess with some type of cover?
Why would you want one on when you are driving?
Why would you want one on when you are parked? Isnt it easier to just put the top up and down with the flip of a switch than to mess with some type of cover?
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From: Gunma Prefecture,
Luder,
Welcome back. I am quite interested in the toneau cover concept. I would be one of your first customers (or Rick's, whatever) as I have much use for this item. I would be able to park the car at work, zip or stick the cover closed and not worry that when I step away from the window some clown will be jabbing the starter button until his finger is blue (this has happened). Please keep us informed. However, I really think that use of the wind deflector is critical to us all, please do your best to keep this piece intact.
Welcome back. I am quite interested in the toneau cover concept. I would be one of your first customers (or Rick's, whatever) as I have much use for this item. I would be able to park the car at work, zip or stick the cover closed and not worry that when I step away from the window some clown will be jabbing the starter button until his finger is blue (this has happened). Please keep us informed. However, I really think that use of the wind deflector is critical to us all, please do your best to keep this piece intact.
