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Tonneau covers, yea /nay, and where best to get

hillhill
I've just gotten an IM roadster and find that the PO did not opt for a tonneau cover.

I've had two Triumphs years ago, a TR3 and a TR4, and did enjoy using a tonneau when driving by myself. I liked the ease of closing the car but more than that I remember that the car's heat would be retained under the passenger side cover to give a little relief on cold nights to the frostbit driver. (well, not really frostbit but feeling that way).

But.........in viewing Sppedsters/roadsters in utube vids I've seen more than one tonneau cover in use and they all seem to beat or flap up and down a lot as their happy drivers go down the road. In one tape taken from an adjacent car I could actually hear the cover flapping on the video and thought to wonder if this flapping might be a characteristic of the top down airflow of the cars?

Do they all do that, and isn't it irritating, to say the least? Or were the two I saw simply loose, or stretched vinyl, or something else not characteristic of a good one?

The IM option of tonneau cover runs some $500. or more. It seems like that price could be beat, so are there places to buy those covers that people here like to use?

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hillhill
I've just gotten an IM roadster and find that the PO did not opt for a tonneau cover.

I've had two Triumphs years ago, a TR3 and a TR4, and did enjoy using a tonneau when driving by myself. I liked the ease of closing the car but more than that I remember that the car's heat would be retained under the passenger side cover to give a little relief on cold nights to the frostbit driver. (well, not really frostbit but feeling that way).

But.........in viewing Sppedsters/roadsters in utube vids I've seen more than one tonneau cover in use and they all seem to beat or flap up and down a lot as their happy drivers go down the road. In one tape taken from an adjacent car I could actually hear the cover flapping on the video and thought to wonder if this flapping might be a characteristic of the top down airflow of the cars?

Do they all do that, and isn't it irritating, to say the least? Or were the two I saw simply loose, or stretched vinyl, or something else not characteristic of a good one?

The IM option of tonneau cover runs some $500. or more. It seems like that price could be beat, so are there places to buy those covers that people here like to use?
hillhill
Thanks Tom.

Your "slight chance of rain" made me smile as there's no such thing here. ANY chance of rain and it will rain.

A good thing about a tonneau cover was it's prevention of idiots tossing their slurpees or beercans into the car. In too many places it seems like people see a convertible or open sportscar as a trashcan, and I once came back to my '71 Alpha to find that some jerk had tossed his cigar butt still lit on my driver seat, burning a crummy 2" track in the leather..that cost more to repair than any tonneau cover would.

I'm thinking to talk to Henry about having one made out of the canvas top material he uses. Maybe some kind of tensioner can be built into it.
Terry NuckelsTerry Nuckels'04 JPS Speedster NorCal
Ken,
I had a TR-4 in a past life as well. Loved it...except the time I went out to take a spin and the wiring harness had burned up overnight.
You need the tonneau cover. Yeah, they flap a bit but you really don't notice. And you've already mentioned several reasons to have one. They also have a coolness factor in that the car looks more "speedy" like.
Unless you're going to take it up to Henry, you'll have to have it shipped without the fasteners attached as each car is unique in their placement. If your car never had a tonneau then it will need the tenax posts installed. Again, worth a call to Henry.
Certainly, you can "beat" the price but why skimp on something if you want it perfect?
Have Henry do it and it will be. Perfect, that is.
Willy PWilly P
I'm a former TR-3 owner, and know well the benefits of a Tonneau, especially in a damp, cold area. I am a cheap SOB, but if I were you I would talk to Henry, and get one made by him. Since your car is a Roadster, the top does not go down below the body like a Speedster top. This may make fitting a Tonneau difficult. Henry knows best!
hillhill
Troy,

I'm guessing because I haven't tried it on my car, but I've been able to make good straight holes in tight places by using an angle air drill and a cut down drill bit. Either way you're right - it's a tough one if the tenax posts have to be right up tight to the windshield.

Tom,
Battens were the first thing I thought of - sailors think alike, eh?

Will, I was first thinking to buy a nice TR-6. I'vealways liked that body and the sound of the TR-250 six. What hung me up about them is the small footwell and my diabetic enlarged legs and feet. This car has all kinds of room, or at least enough to drive safely and comfortably. Don't particularly enjoy getting in the car with the top up though...it's not graceful yet, LOL!
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