View Full Version : MK IV: Premium Soft Top AND Snap-on Tonneau
DaleG
03-27-2013, 02:54 PM
Any interference with tonneau snaps and Premium soft top?
Dale,
I have the premium top and want to add a tonneau. I have not had a chance to mount the top but I think there will be a problem. My plan was to mount the top and see where the roll bars came and then make a tonneau that would fit between the roll bar and back of the top mounting as it rests on the body. I don't think there is going to be much room, maybe not enough. I also wanted to have Rod Tops make my tonneau in the same Stayfast material that the top is made of.
If there is not enough room I'll figure something out. Maybe make a short one that goes just behind the roll bar front hoop.
George
DaleG
03-27-2013, 11:27 PM
George, I wonder if "Maybe make a short one that goes just behind the roll bar front hoop." may not keep water out of the cockpit? Let me know what you come up with.
You are correct, as I will take all this into consideration. I do want mine to be as waterproof as I can make it. It will not be till this summer at the earliest that I'm going to get to it.
George
Jason Lavigne
03-28-2013, 12:52 PM
Hi guys - just to add my two cents - I agree with George's approach and the points you both made. I'd definitely mount the top first, then see if you can mount the tonneau as-is or, in the worst case, modify the tonneau so that it works within the footprint you have available. Good luck!
Jason @ FFR
DaleG
03-28-2013, 01:35 PM
Thanks, Jason.
Coming from you, I think we both are on the right track now.
ZwickFF
03-28-2013, 10:41 PM
I have a Mark 2 roadster with the premium soft top that I installed last summer. About a year earlier I installed a tonneau but I used the english style Tenax fastners instead of the lift-a-dot fastners that it came with. The Tenax pins in the body are little shorter than the lift-a-dot pins. The premium soft top has a three piece rear bow that has a thick rubber bulb seal on the bottom where it contacts the body. The rear bow sits on top of some of the tonneau pins fine and and so far hasn't caused any damage to the rubber bulb seal. I think the lift-a-dot pins would probably be OK under the rubber bulb also. If I was to do it again I would install the top first and then use the location of the rear bow to place the tonneau fasteners to mimimize the amount of them that end up under the bow.
If your not familiar with the premium top it is expensive but very high quality. The top comes in 3 bags. One for the side curtains, one for the top rolled up, and one for all the bow parts. There are even felt bags for all of the bow parts so they don't get scratched up. You only need to drill 2 half inch holes in the body just behind the doors in the body to mount it. It takes about 15 minutes to put put all togther so this is not something you could do quickly in the rain. It fits very well with minimal movement even at high speed while driving. The side curtains zip in along the top and sit on top of the doors. To get in the car unzip just the back part of the zipper so you can flip up the side curtain while still attached. I've actually only had it on the car twice and have never driven in heavy rain with the top but I think it would do very well to keep you dry.
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Jason Lavigne
03-29-2013, 07:28 AM
Thanks for the feedback and the photos - your car looks great!
Silvertop
04-07-2013, 02:40 PM
............If your not familiar with the premium top it is expensive but very high quality. The top comes in 3 bags. One for the side curtains, one for the top rolled up, and one for all the bow parts. There are even felt bags for all of the bow parts so they don't get scratched up. You only need to drill 2 half inch holes in the body just behind the doors in the body to mount it. It takes about 15 minutes to put put all togther so this is not something you could do quickly in the rain. It fits very well with minimal movement even at high speed while driving. The side curtains zip in along the top and sit on top of the doors. To get in the car unzip just the back part of the zipper so you can flip up the side curtain while still attached. I've actually only had it on the car twice and have never driven in heavy rain with the top but I think it would do very well to keep you dry.
1639516396
Based on your description and on other information available, the DTS Premium Tops available for the Roadster and the 33 Hot Rod are designed to be stored on board in bags and mounted on the vehicle when needed. One thing that is NOT clear from the information available is whether or not these tops can be folded down once installed and then driven. A very useful feature on an iffy weather day, or perhaps on a multi-day trip. Can you illuminate?
The reason I ask -- the new 818 is expected to have an optional top made by the same vendor, presumably with the same set of working parameters. My 818 is scheduled to come off the production line next October. I'm just trying to get a feel for how useful the top will be..........
Mustang Man
04-08-2013, 10:08 AM
The Roadster top is not designed to "fold down" on the body, that I know for sure, as I just helped a friend install his on his Mk 3.1 finished car. I can't speak for the '33 top. I do know that at least one owner has had the top company modify their top to act in this manner on a Roadster, but couldn't tell you their screen name or direct you to pictures. Probably best to reach out to the top company directly.
HTH...
Mark
Silvertop
04-08-2013, 03:26 PM
The Roadster top is not designed to "fold down" on the body, that I know for sure, as I just helped a friend install his on his Mk 3.1 finished car. I can't speak for the '33 top. I do know that at least one owner has had the top company modify their top to act in this manner on a Roadster, but couldn't tell you their screen name or direct you to pictures. Probably best to reach out to the top company directly.
HTH...
Mark
Thanks for the input and the suggestion. I did talk to the lead guy at Hot Rod Tops today. He confirmed that neither the Roadster top or the '33 top is designed to fold down. It's either on or off. They do have a boot option which allows the assembly to remain partially in place, but still requires removal of the canvas and disconnection of one side of the top structure on one side of the body (to allow for clearance over the roll bar). Apparently, it shortens and simplifies the up-down process a little bit, but mostly it allows for the top to be stored on the rear deck behind the seats, freeing up limited trunk space for other things.
He could not speak to how this would translate to the 818, however. They are waiting for access to an actual chassis/body to come to them so that they can design the top. He did say that due to the 818's significantly different shape, its top is likely to be an entirely different animal. So I guess I'll just have to wait and see............