2002 tonneau install?

[justjon]

I took off the hardtop yesterday for the first time and as Click and Clack warned you do need two guys with engineering degrees from Stanford and a gym membership. My wife and I did manage. Now the coveted "hard 02 Tonneau cover is installed, sort of. No directions, I slipped the plastic pieces under the rear deck and snapped the 6 snaps on to the cockpit edge. Is that all there is? the edges don't lie flat and there are wrinkles in the center ugh.. What are the plastic pieces attached to the snaps for? why is there a snap on a leash under the left side? I have seen really nice pictures of this cover installed unlike mine?

[fums6]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

Jon, if you are writing about the cover that came with the Tbird, you may be making the same mistake that many of us made when we first got our birds. The edges of the tonneau go under the edges of the car all the way around. The crease in the middle will flatten out by itself as you drive. Hope this helps.

[justjon]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

ahaa! I will try that, the canvas part goes under the rim, thanks..

[Blue Heaven]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

And the plastic "loops" attached to the snaps are to make it easy to move the snaps around to line them up with the ones attached to the panel.

[5bird7]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

and the snap on a leash is used when you have the cover off the car - for keeping it folded in half (of course, it only "bends" in half instead of a real fold)

[luvbirdz]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

I roll my cover up. put the leash around it and it fits snugly into the cubby hole.

Martin

[Borla Babe]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

I roll my cover up. put the leash around it and it fits snugly into the cubby hole.

Martin

It's impossible to roll up the 2002 cover, you must have a 2003 cover.

[justjon]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

After driving around today and with the advice from fums6, I conclude that this is the BEST tonneau cover made today as to design and who cares about what else.. it looks great. That said they are worth $1 gajillion dollars on Ebay because nothing else looks as good.
Thanks for the installation instruction and those of you with 2003 and beyond tonneaus, you should just buy a 2002 Bird for parts..

[YLO BRD]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

Jon,
Bob or anyone else here will never steer you wrong. I have both the 2002 and the 2003+ covers and still like the looks of the 02 the best. It has the cleanest lines and the snaos are hidden, I use that one for car shows and am very careful with it since it can't be replaced.. The other is definately more convenient to keep in your trunk and I use that for everyday, It's nice to have the option to use either.

[luvbirdz]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

It's impossible to roll up the 2002 cover, you must have a 2003 cover.

Did I do the impossible or is it an 03 cover?

[luvbirdz]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

All I know is that it fits just fine.
What's the verdict?

[5bird7]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

luvirdz, yours is the 03-05 version. No snaps show on the top of the 02 boot cover - and it will not roll up like that.

of course, someone could work with an 02 and force it to roll up but I don't think anyone would like the looks of it after that.

[luvbirdz]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

Well now I know. My build date was Jan 9/02 so they must have been changing them by then or the original owner got a new cover.
Thanks Dot

[Borla Babe]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

Martin,
Many original 2002 owners have purchased the 03 soft boot, not necessarily because they like the look better, but for convenience and practicality sake. The 02 boot snaps are hidden and the boot itself is stiff, firm and is shaped perfectly to fit the car. It is really very nice and adds to the classiness of the car.
It cannot be rolled, it folds in half in such a way that it does not crease in the middle and has a strap that snaps into place to keep it from opening while stored.
But......it is a royal pain in the neck. It's big and it is bulky and almost impossible to take along on a trip, because it takes up a huge amount of space in the trunk when stored. We all know how precious our trunk space is, I am not about to give any of that space up while traveling, so I can store the boot. It can be difficult to install if you don't know a few of the tricks to make installation a bit easier. The fit is very snug and some members have torn the snaps out while trying to install or remove the boot from the car. After hearing about the snap problem, it didn't take long for the 02 owners to learn that we needed to lubricate the snaps with something (some use a bar of soap) to make the snaps join or release easier without having to give them a firm yank, a yank that contributed to the tearing of the snaps. Little tricks like that have made installation a little bit easier for those 02 owners who choose to continue to use the original 02 boot.
I never ever leave the top down on the car when it is parked in a public place, and the pain of having to continuously remove and install this hard boot was and is more that I care to do, especially if I plan to make several different stops during the day. For that reason and probably a few more, I've chosen to store my hard boot PERMANENTLY, and just travel around with no boot at all. Life's much easier when I can put the soft top up and down at will with no hassle. Maybe traveling top down without a boot does not appeal to some, but it doesn't bother me in the least. I want to enjoy my car and not be burdened with the pain of worrying about a boot that needs constant attention. I just don't like the looks of the 03 soft fold up boot, so I've chosen to travel without a boot period. That's just my humble opinion, what appeals to me may not appeal to another 02 owner.

[FritsB]

Re: 2002 tonneau install?

so I've chosen to travel without a boot period. That's just my humble opinion, what appeals to me may not appeal to another 02 owner.

ditto that Julie. I only use it for shows too.