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I would have to figure out a way to live with the torneau on most of the time. At night, I guess I could just throw the car cover on if its garaged. And in the daytime, I could put the dust cover on if I am parked for a length of time. Hmmmmmm...........
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“THE EDGE,
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The removable storage rack we're working on will hold our 'Roadster Style' tonneau cover in the 'backwards' position. That is, with the waterfall drop hanging over the rear of the car. Now I can just hear some owners saying "yeah, but what happens if you get rear-ended?" Well if you get rear-ended with or without our tonneau cover stored, you've probably got bigger problems than any damage to the tonneau! Frankly, I worry a lot more about a 'rollover' accident. Hard to believe that windshield frame will hold up if the car goes upside down.
For most occasions, the 'Interior Cover' John Bakos showed a photo of will protect the interior in case of rain if you have our tonneau installed.
It seems to me that most T-Bird owners interested in a tonneau cover are too hung up on being able to store it in the trunk. Sure, it's the easiest way to stow the thing and use your soft top, but look at the sacrifice you make in styling - no 'waterfall' drop, and headrest 'bumps' that look like an afterthought, and not level with the height of the seat headrests.
After selling hundreds of our tonneau covers over the past three plus years, I have only heard from one owner that got caught in the rain with nowhere to find cover. Based on the driving habits of most new T-Bird owners, it is unlikely you'd be caught in the rain. Heck most owners don't even consider taking their 'birds out if rain is closer than a week away. And then, most don't travel far from home. You'd have to be in the middle of the Mojave desert to be unable to find some covered shelter while a brief shower passed.
Thanks for the feedback Phil. Your tonneau is very sharp looking. Theres no doubt about that. I guess if I was to purchase yours, I would need to be ok with just leaving it on for most of the summer. And use the dust cover that I have when parked and/or garaged. I can not see myself taking it on and off and putting it somewhere. The more I look at it, the more I like how it butts up to the headrest. And the waterfall effect is obviously attractive.
L.A. Phil,
Am I to assume that the rack your coming up with will resemble a luggage rack and break down to fit in the trunk? How far away are you from making this available?
I don't have a tonneau cover, but if I were to get one, it would be the ''round'' type like the one on Jim Heath's red car!!! !!
As for ''Kustomotive 2000'', I have their fender skirts and really like the look they give...even if they were a pain in the to first install them...Once I found the way to make them fit without having their bracketry touch the tire ( ! )...( I ended up making my own) I never took them off again again!!!
John,
No, I haven't made up my mind yet except for the fact that I want the rounded version. I like bits of all the tops so, I keep changing my mind. My order won't go in until April or May so, I have plenty of time to reseach it more.
I do have a question for the manufacturers and owners of hard tonneaus. Does the top limit the movement of your seat? My husband drives with the back of his seat tilted back as far as it can go, will this still be possible with the hard tonneau?
Can someone help me out on the seat movement question? I need to know if the seat and seat back can be moved with the hard tonneau on. My husband tilts the back as far as it will go - will this still be possible. I especially want to know on the tops from LA Phil and tbird concepts. I'd really appreciate your input.
Joanne, my design will let the seat move all the way back against the rear deck behind the seats. You may have asked me and know this about mine, I've shown this to several people
at some of the shows, but I thought I would mention it here.
Here is a link to my personal ideal tonneau for this car. At this link you will find a Gary Kimmell tonneau on the left and on the right is my concept for a customized version of his tonneau. I am considering purchasing and unpainted version and having someone make the modifications. This also will include surrounding the seat and filling the waterfall area with a removable padded leather/foam mod. Has anyone out there had fiberglass experience on something like this or know of anyone who might be interested working with me?
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