Tonneau

[MattD]

I'm starting to think about a Tonneau for the Stylus.

I've put a similar post on ClubStylus, but it occurs to me that there's a bigger pool of experiences in Fury & Pheonix owners

Will probably end up going to Jill Judd/Softbits for Sevens, but could be tempted to have a go at making the pattern myself.

The obvious answer is to cover the rear deck & have a centre zip front section attached to the top edge of the dash.
Its the inside edges along the door tops & around the rollbar tubes that I really don't know what to to do with.

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The main intention is to run with the passenger side covered in general use and at sprints & trackdays, plus having the option to cover over if parked up at B&Bs, at Le Mans, etc.
I think it'll be very difficult to keep the water out, so its really just to keep prying eyes away, & a bit of aero drag reduction.

I was also considering whether there is any benefit in being able to keep the front of the drivers side covered when driving - ie wheel & forearms covered, with an opening for neck & head - could have a drop-in curved rod across the doors between wheel & dash to hold the tonneau up.
Might not work in practice, & does add complications in manufacture, plus the issue of opening the door to get in, doing it up when seated, not being able to see the instruments, etc - but not insurmountable - just the "is it worth it" factor ?.

Has anyone been there before... done that ?? Could do with some comments & pics for ideas.

Thanks

Matt

[adithorp]

Jim Giblett has one from Soft-bits and the quality is great ones, but not cheap.

I made my own and it's not too hard to do but the results aren't as good as Jim's.. I gaffer tapped some old curtain material over the cockpit then drew around the edges where I wanted the tonneau and cut it out as a pattern. Then transfered that to some cloth backed vinyl, cut it out with enough for a hem, stiched it and added press-stud fasteners. For the roll bar I've got cut outs that go around and then close with velcro and I've a zip accross behind the drivers seat and it rolls up towards the centre line and press-studs hold it there. I had a hood made by a local trim/upholstry guy and that was a lot cheaper than Soft-bits and I'll probably go and see him for a new tonneau should my current one need replacing.

They do make a difference in the rain, make it a bit cozier generally and keep prying eyes out when parked. I have a cockpit cover I use when at shows, camping, etc, and that really does keep it dry overnight like this one...
http://www.hamiltonclassic.co.uk/acatal ... Cover.html

I don't think you'd get away with the "poncho" idea, though it has crossed my mind in the past.

[MattD]

Cheers Adi, good feedback.

How does yours drain when it gets wet ?
I'll need to make sure mine slopes to the rear, want to avoid draining into dashboard electrics.

I think I'll "have a go"myself, probably keeping it simple initially, but putting some proper thought into rain gutters & run-off..
I can play around with the poncho idea once I have a basic template - having had another look, don't think it'll work.

[adithorp]

I didn't do a lot with gutters/drains. When driving it tends not to get a lot on it due to the airflow and what there is blows off the back. If standing it pools on the top and eventually would have run off the edge down the wings. Now I've fitted side screens it will run into the footwells and without a complete redesign there'sno way around that. I did used to have a support bar that went between the dash and roll bar to support it but this just ensured it ran into th footwells sooner. I try and tip the puddle over the edge when opening it up. If it's being left in the rain then I tend to throw the cover over and that keeps it completely dry.
At somepoint I will be getting another as my rollbar has been changed and the holes don'tmatch up (some use of gaffer tape) and will see if the upholstry guy I used for the hood can do one in double duck and form dams around the roll bar holes and inside the side screens.