Tonneau Cover Usage

I have my tonneau closed most of the time when not driving.  When driving, I have it half closed unless I have a passenger.  I only use my top when it's cold in and out of storage, on long trips, or if I get caught out in bad weather.  I'm a top down driver.

 

Closing the tonneau keeps the dust out in the garage and the bird crap out when parked out of the garage.  It also keeps the rain out pretty darn good when I drive on the days where there's a 20% chance of rain and I happen to get caught in that 20%.

 

Finally, it keeps the seats cool in the summer.

 

I don't think you ever get over worrying about it a little, but it gets easier :-)

I just got home from a nice little drive with mine half open, I really like having the cover on my car. I'm with Tom on the usage of the top.

I'll add that when there's a nip in the air, driving around with the tonneau half closed and the heat on full is kind of like sitting in a hot tub on a cold day :-)

I just did that.  Had to drive to the upholstery shop today, and did so with the full tonneau on.  Not much warmer than 40F, but I was nice and toasty.

 

It's been nearly 90 here for the past week. Naturally I just pulled the motor and trans.

 

When it's up and running I usually drive with the right side buttoned up, unless SWSBO is in the car.

 

Ted

I use mine all the time.  If I am just going for a drive, I use the Half cover.  All other times it is the full.

 

Like wrote before me, keep the sun/heat out, keeps the bird droppings out, and most of all, keeps the sticky hands out.  I pull mine over and it is like locking your car.  People are not going to walk up and open it.

 

I think I need to go drive the car.....

 

Happy day

I had mine built in 2002.

 

I usually snap along the rear of it up to the roll bar, then drape it down in front of the rear seat area as a "quarter" tonneau.  It has Velcro along the top side that locks to the underside of the windscreen captive in my roll bar.  Looks great that way.

 

I have used it to cover the entire cockpit exactly twice since 2002.

 

It actually takes longer to snap the tonneau in place than it does to put my top up.

I'm with Tom and the boys. Below 60 out and half-tonneau is up. When parked I snap it closed depending on where I am, and how long I'll be there. It makes it WAY warmer with the heat on when it's cool/cold out. My top is folded up in the trunk, so only comes out if I'm caught in the rain.

I guess I'm not like the rest of these guys.  I almost never use mine.  The only time I have used it was when I had a camera bag or something else that I was leaving in the car and didn't want anyone to see.

Your car also has an alarm.  I know people tend to ignore them, but it might make you feel a little better about leaving it open.  I was nervous about it at first, but quickly got over it.  I always leave mine open and I have never had a problem.  Of course there are places I would never take it to and leave it parked in the first place, especially after dark.

I don't have a tonneau yet. Started making one last year and it needs a bit of sewing. Will use it when i get it. BUT

 

I want to reassure you about your fear of leaving the car open to "sticky hands."

 

I live/work in Baltimore City, where street crime is pretty common, and there are a few 10s of thousands of active junkies out and about at any given time, most of them looking to score something to sell to buy their next fix. This is especially true in the upper reaches of downtown--again, where I've spent the majority of the past decade--owing to the homeless services providers and the city's jails being right there.

 

So if anyone is going to have trouble with "sticky fingers," you would think it'd be me.

 

And yet: Never in the many days I have parked Bridget in an unguarded surface parking lot, open to all and any, has anyone ever taken anything out of her.

 

Never lost the half-inch wrench I keep under the seat to adjust the windshield stanchions. Never lost any gloves, or sunscreen, or any change out of the door pockets. Never even lost the nippy flask I keep in the glove box. 

 

Nippy flask! 

 

My theory on this is two-fold, and one of these folds, I think, applies directly to your situation. 

 

The first fold is ****-luck. Truly I've had it, in this aspect of my life at least.

 

The second, and more applicable fold, is respect.

 

Talking to people in all walks of life and in all neighborhoods around Baltimore, it is my experience that even habitual thieves, and even junkies, up to a point, would rather leave a car like mine or yours alone than reach in and grab. There is just something about a car that special that makes even these guys hesitate to mess with it, even if they're perfectly willing to smash the window of the 2011 GTI parked two paces away just to get the 78 cents they guess is in the console. 

 

I know no one is immune, and surely your mileage may vary. But I really think there is something to this. So don't worry.

A flask in your car? I like your style...

 

I ride solo with half closed and I always close it to keep rain/dirt out.

I have to agree with Ed (knock on wood)

Kept full tonneau on most of the time. Closed up when away from car (no need to tempt theft of interior contents). Maintain heat a little better on those cool temp drives...

 

 

Used quarter-tonneau when transporting my board to and from occasional surf sessions...

 

I drive on the freeway solo with half the tonneau closed. It keeps the burger, fries, and drink from being sucked up and out of the car... 

Can't have that now can we? Thanks.

Unless with passenger for a long ride I always use the tonneau. Also I always close it when leaving the car for more than a couple of minutes. With my heat mod it stays pretty toasty. It is already in the 30's at night here at the Lake and I still have the top down. For security I have dashboard mounted moving/flashing red light that simulates a a motion alarm or force field around the car. It comes on when the ignition is switched off so I never have to remember to turn it on. I have parked in some interesting locations and never had the car messed with. 

Thank you guys for all the responses.  Man I can't wait.

Oh,  I forgot to add.....  I carry both with me at all times, along with the emergency top and curtains. 

 

I don't know how you are doing it.  You are going to love it when the day comes that it is in your garage.

Everyday I feel as though I've drank an entire case of Mountain Dew. I've avoided going to my doctor's appointment because my heart has been racing and who knows what that has done to my blood pressure.

ALB: the flask is the special British Coach Works "Gentleman's Emergency Kit" that came standard with all first generation BCWs.

 

Quite, quite.

LOL Ed! The flask was a stress reliever/recovery aid to deal with Lucas electrics....

Koda - Once that bad boy is parked in your garage, you will be spending the entire night sitting in your garage staring at it from all angles! 

 

Flasks with SOC engraved and numbered....hmmm....