Tonneau cover-type thing?

vwthingboy · Post by **vwthingboy** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:56 am

I was wondering if anyone has ever made a vinyl cover that would be like an old school roadster kind of setup for the back of a Thing.

What I'm envisioning would be for use on a Thing with no rollbar and the entire top mechanism removed.

The cover would attach to the widgets that hold the top to the body in the back and on the sides.
From there it would cover the luggage area and possibly extend over the back seats, somehow attaching to the rear door beading.
So it would be like a truck bed cover, sort of.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:25 am

Interesting.. never heard of one.. a boat awning place could knock one out quick.. you already have the hardware in place to do the rear part..

vwthingboy · Post by **vwthingboy** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:13 pm

I found some pictures of a Type 3 roadster with a similar thing:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_ ... _id=344067
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_ ... _id=344069

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:14 pm

You could take an old bed sheet and make a pattern and take it to the boat cover place. Sounds really cool. Keep us up to date with your cool idea.

bciesq · Post by **bciesq** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:36 am

I asked the same question about a year ago:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=128940

My inspiration was the boot top on a friend's old MGB.

The best advice I got was to go to a shop that specializes in covers for boats since they are used to custom jobs. I haven't looked into any further, however.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:47 am

any suggestions or side fastners without screwing up the sides of the car?

vwthingboy · Post by **vwthingboy** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:37 pm

Ben,
It does sound like we're talking about similar things.
As far as the door/side attachments, I think one could have separate door top beading which would have snaps affixed to the outside.
I'm not sure where to find a shop that could do it around NYC.
If I make any headway, I'll let everybody know.

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:08 pm

Put eyelets of the cover that fit on the look on the body used for the soft top. Then have tabs that hold it in place. No body mods needed. A rod across the front edge wiht two elastic loops that hooked to the seat belt hooks could hold the top end tight. I want one!!

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:48 pm

Patent it before Thingshop takes it over.

bciesq · Post by **bciesq** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:21 am

I think we all may be talking about two different designs.

The easiest way to design this would be pup tent style. Use the existing rear eyelet clips in the rear and then attach the other end to the top of the windshield. The sides can hang over the doors with a little extra material and be anchored by small "bean bag" pockets or by fiberglass inserts that would hold down the sides. This would easy to raise and lower, and would not require any modification to the car, but I'm concerned that it would stress the windshield over time.

In order to achieve the tonneau cover effect like on the MGB and Type 3 roadster linked above, you would need some method of attaching the cover to the area where the windshield and dash meet. Other than modifying the car for clips a la the MGB, perhaps it would be a simple matter of having enough cover material to slip between the windshield and the body. Just unhook the windshield and pivot it forward, slip the cover in the gap between the windshield and body, then lock the windshield back down. The rubber gaskets on the bottom of the windshield and the body would hold the cover in place. Zip out sections for the driver and front passenger would allow for easy access in 99% of expected uses.

I'm just spitballing here.

Thoughts?

74 Thing · Post by **74 Thing** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:58 pm

The Thing Shop made one many years ago. It attached on the rear to the loops just as the regualr convertible top fit and then up front it went underneath the windshield and there was a zipper for the drivers seat. Downn side is if you have a roll bar you cannot use it. They produced it about the same time they had those pick up truck tops.

bciesq · Post by **bciesq** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:57 am

74 Thing wrote:The Thing Shop made one many years ago. It attached on the rear to the loops just as the regualr convertible top fit and then up front it went underneath the windshield and there was a zipper for the drivers seat. Downn side is if you have a roll bar you cannot use it. They produced it about the same time they had those pick up truck tops.

Wow, sounds like we're on the right path. I'll contact the TS and see if the still have the pattern laying around.

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:52 am

Once we get this dialed in, I bet a bunch of us (including me) will want one. Maybe a group buy would be in order.

Captain Spalding · Post by **Captain Spalding** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:58 am

If it doesnt physically attach to the door, isn't it going to flap mercilously in the wind while driving?

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:05 pm

I would be willing to add a few screw in male snap head to make htis work. I love the idea.