ERA Tonneau Cover - Page 2

Got the Bug · #21 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

I keep a white sheet in the trunk for that -- it works great.

They actually look pretty cool.

I may have to give the soft top a try...it's supposed to be 30 degrees here tomorrow morning.

Well, maybe not since it will be 65 by the afternoon.

patrickt · #22 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

I may have to give the soft top a try...it's supposed to be 30 degrees here tomorrow.

Put your top up before cold weather hits. Even a chilly top is a bear to put up. At a minimum, have your top inside the house at a nice 70 degrees before you try -- it's a small PITA, but a PITA nonetheless.

ERA Chas · #23 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 06:19 PM

Pat-the tonneau does not have a felt backing.

The soft top is the same as it just wants to tear off the car above maybe 60. It's a shame how many guys spend 700 to 800 bucks (I met a Backdraft guy that spent $1200) for them and keep them in the house. The only way they're tolerable to drive with is with the curtains in place but that's a rickety setup.

I love the look of the car with top up but I prefer to drive fast. It too is good for sun shade and limited protection only.

ERA Chas · #24 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

I may have to give the soft top a try...it's supposed to be 30 degrees here tomorrow morning.

-And then we get back to the 'too cold oil thread'.

patrickt · #25 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Pat-the tonneau does not have a felt backing.

I've dispensed with the tonneau idea. I think my soft top and tarp in the trunk is about the best I'm going to do.

ERA Chas · #26 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 06:46 PM

Good-you won't waste $$.

tkb289 · #27 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 11:21 PM

To digress just a bit ... and I don't have any Cobra tonneau cover experience just yet ( need the car to be finished first

) ... but I can pass on one interesting feature from the tonneau cover on my TR6. It has a strap attached near the zipper area, on passenger half of the cover, that hangs down near the hand brake. There is a post on the side of the transmission tunnel that the strap snaps onto (provided the post has not been removed of fallen off). This puts some tension on the cover to keep it from moving around quite so much.

The end result is that the passenger side cover does not flap around as much at freeway speed, but that's 60 to 65 mph in a TR ... which with skinny tires and wimpy brakes is fast enough ... but Cobra freeway cruising speeds would be somewhat higher ...

!

Not sure how well it would work in a Cobra, but it could make the passenger side cover flap less. The nice thing is, at lower speeds on a cold day with the passenger side tonneau cover on and the heater going, it does help to keep the chill off of the legs.

- Tim

RodKnock · #28 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

I keep a white sheet in the trunk for that -- it works great.

Huh? White sheet in the trunk? I wonder, does that have any other nefarious uses?

cscobra · #29 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 12:40 PM

I've never had problems with the tonneau cover for my '52 MG TD, even at 75+ (yes, it tops out just over 80). The top and side curtains work well, too--if rain comes in, it does so under the gasket under the windshield.

patrickt · #30 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 01:25 PM

Really all I was looking for was something that I could quickly put on the car if I was caught in a thunderstorm that would still allow me to drive home. I guess a Gore-Tex tonneau wouldn't make any sense, huh?

dcdoug · #31 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Really all I was looking for was something that I could quickly put on the car if I was caught in a thunderstorm that would still allow me to drive home. I guess a Gore-Tex tonneau wouldn't make any sense, huh?

I assume you have considered the snapless tonneau that Phil Deal does? I think I am going to go that route, so I have something that I can very quickly put on if it looks like it might rain and I will be away from the car for awhile. But you can't drive with it. Installs in less than a min (supposedly).

Gunner · #32 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 03:29 PM

What we need is a tonneau with magnets all around the edges, like a shower curtain.

That would work, right?

patrickt · #33 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcdoug

I assume you have considered the snapless tonneau that Phil Deal does? I think I am going to go that route, so I have something that I can very quickly put on if it looks like it might rain and I will be away from the car for awhile. But you can't drive with it. Installs in less than a min (supposedly).

I have a light canvas tarp that folds up in to a little ziplock bag in my trunk. I can get that out and over the open part of the car in two shakes -- but obviously can't drive with it.

I don't think there exists anything that does what I want.

Got the Bug · #34 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunner

What we need is a tonneau with magnets all around the edges, like a shower curtain.

That would work, right?

I like that.

Or how about something that rolls up like a window shade.

patrickt · #35 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Or how about something that rolls up like a window shade.

That wouldn't work. But what would work is a combination hooded, rain slicker and plastic tonneau in one. You'd put it on like a rain slicker, get in the car, and then snap the plastic lift-a-dots on around the perimeter of the open part of the car and you're good to go. That would be quick, clean, and keep most of the rain out of the car while driving. I'm not sure how to get around the steering wheel issue though.

Got the Bug · #36 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 04:06 PM

One the guys down in Southern California had a half top made. It probably keeps out about the same amount of rain as a soft top or a tonneau.

patrickt · #37 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

One the guys down in Southern California had a half top made. It probably keeps out about the same amount of rain as a soft top or a tonneau.

That's dumber than my rain slicker idea.

Got the Bug · #38 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

That's dumber than my rain slicker idea.

Just trying to keep the ideas flowing.

DonC · #39 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 04:24 PM

That top that's pictured is referred to as a "Bimini Top". One of the members of the Mile High Cobra Club has one on his car and it's used not to keep the rain off but to keep the sun out. I made a run with them a couple of years ago and the temps were well into the 90's and he and his wife stayed reasonably cool without the sun beating down on their heads while the rest of us were getting our brains fried.
DonC

patrickt · #40 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonC

That top that's pictured is referred to as a "Bimini Top".

Don, did you hit the 'm' key instead of the 'k' key?