To boot or not to boot

[ewclement]

I'm planning a trip out west this summer and I'm afraid I'll need to make room for lugage. I'm thinking of leaving the soft top boot home. Is that a wise idea or will the sun and road dirt be a problem with the underneth of the top being exposed when the top is down?
Ed

[Treken]

Re: To boot or not to boot

No problems here not booting, and I rarely use my boot when the top is down...

The main reason is that when I park the car, the roof goes up 99.9% of the time. Always afraid of someone throwing something in the car when parked. I'll never forget the day my Dad parked his 1976 Eldorado on the main street here and left the top down, half an hour later coming back to the car, someone through a half full milkshake container inside all over the leather seats.

[berogersjr]

Re: To boot or not to boot

I have the same issue on trips. On short ones (either in town or just riding around), it is a hassle to put the top down, put the boot on, drive for a few, stop, take the boot off, put the top up, and do the whole thing over again. So usually, unless we are driving longer distances, when the top is going to be down for a while, we don't use the boot.

We do put the top up almost everytime we stop, with few exceptions. For instance, our company has a secured parking lot, which is visible from my office window, so I leave the top down sometimes there all day if the weather's nice. I usually put the boot on for those cases, because it looks nicer, and to protect the top from the occasional bird (not T-bird!) flying overhead. I figure bird poop will generally clean off of leather, but might be harder to get out of the cloth top!

My 2 cents worth....

bobby

[Ski]

Re: To boot or not to boot

I'm thinking about storing the boot in the convertable top well when the top is up. Anyone ever do that? I like the boot on when the top's down - or the hard tonneau which is not practical on a long trip IMO.

[SixPac]

Re: To boot or not to boot

John, there's plenty of room for the boot in the top well when traveling with the soft top up. In our case, Margaret is one of those that has to have her pillow.....it also goes in the top well. We put any thing light in the top well with no damage.

[My T]

Re: To boot or not to boot

My two cents. I only use the boot for car shows, parades, cruises, and special events. Otherwise it is too much of a nuisance, since I refuse to park the car and leave it with the top down - - way too many possibilities of vandalism, pranks, mishaps, sudden rain shower, and on and on. Even if I run into the bank or post office for a couple of minutes, I put the top back up. No exceptions.

Yes, you can safely stow the boot in the top well. Just pack it in carefully. Also, it fits snugly in the compartment in the back of the trunk, if you don't mind sacrificing that space when your trunk is full. Otherwise, leave it at home.

Happy travelling.

[5bird7]

Re: To boot or not to boot

The only problem I see with storing the boot in the soft top well is forgetting that it's there when you put the top down. Then you risk damage to either the well liner or the glass of the softtop.

[Leroy]

Re: To boot or not to boot

I'm guilty of driving my car on short trips without using the boot, but since I have a black top, I don't worry too much about it. But if I had a sand colored top, I would always use the boot to keep road grim out of the folds and keep the well clean. Leroy

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[JAB02LHS]

Re: To boot or not to boot

My '92 LeBaron I never used the boot and left the top down where ever I parked it, dinner, shopping, or restaurants. 12 years and no vandals or Bird poop. It also seemed to look ok without the boot and the boot was a pain to install.
HAILBIRD however, just does not look good without the boot. It takes less than a minute to put in on or take it off so I use it all the time. I do leave it parked for short stops with the top down but at work I put the top up to protect the interior from the sun all day and in case it starts to rain.

[Ediron]

Re: To boot or not to boot

In S.Florida it's very common to be driving with your sunglasses on and the wipers on. Sudden rain downpours are common so the boot stays off most of the time as the top has to go up fast.

[02-T-Bird]

Re: To boot or not to boot

We have the cover that folds in half and it is a pain to travel long distances with a lot of lugage. Therefore on long trips we leave it at home. I am thinking of getting one of the covers that fold up smaller and fit into the well in the back of the trunk.

So, sometime it come's with us and sometime it stays back at home.

[04birdman]

Re: To boot or not to boot

top down....no boot.....our boots are a pain in the butt......i just vacume the top with it down the best i can

[Dizzbe]

Re: To boot or not to boot

Ed - what color is your soft top? The sand ones take a beating without the boot cover. But I would think you'd be fine if you have the black top.

[Ediron]

Re: To boot or not to boot

Vickie it's sand and it does take a beating not so much from riding but from my car cover.I see a dirt? from the cover were it blows around from the wind.Cleaning every week with a lot of soap and bleach/water every so often (Fl.mildew)

[jerrym3]

Re: To boot or not to boot

Unless it's a really, really short ride, I always put the boot on in my TBird (and my Galaxie).

Both cars have an unfinished look with the boot off and the top mechanism exposed.

Just my opinion.