Fix for flapping tonneau cover
#1
Fix for flapping tonneau cover
The tonneau cover for my convertible top tends to flap about after 50mph. Gusts of air find their way underneath and literally pull open the cover (a little disconcerting while on the highway), with only the corner anchors holding down the cover.
To fix this, I placed a ten inch strip (felt side) of velcro behind the middle of the rear seats and the adjoining strip (hook side) on the matching position on the cover. I experimented a bit with different positions and different types of velcro. The best result thus far is to stick the felt side on the rear seats and the hook side onto the cover using regular strength velcro.
The felt side was placed behind the seat so it won't hook onto the ceiling liner when the top is raised or lowered; the liner brushes the back of the seats when the top goes up or down.
Also, at least for me, just a strip in the middle was sufficient; wasn't necessary to have strips along the entire length of the rear seats.
I had started with heavy duty velcro (much higher density of hooks), but then switched to just general purpose velcro. The heavy duty was too sticky making it harder to pull the cover off, taxing the stickiness of the adhesive, and also risked damage to the seats or the cover.
I got the velcro at Michael's. The package says the adhesive won't work well on flexible material like leather, but it's worked fine thus far for over a month.
Where the strips are placed, you cannot tell the velcro is there. And no more problems with a flapping tonneau cover :-)
To fix this, I placed a ten inch strip (felt side) of velcro behind the middle of the rear seats and the adjoining strip (hook side) on the matching position on the cover. I experimented a bit with different positions and different types of velcro. The best result thus far is to stick the felt side on the rear seats and the hook side onto the cover using regular strength velcro.
The felt side was placed behind the seat so it won't hook onto the ceiling liner when the top is raised or lowered; the liner brushes the back of the seats when the top goes up or down.
Also, at least for me, just a strip in the middle was sufficient; wasn't necessary to have strips along the entire length of the rear seats.
I had started with heavy duty velcro (much higher density of hooks), but then switched to just general purpose velcro. The heavy duty was too sticky making it harder to pull the cover off, taxing the stickiness of the adhesive, and also risked damage to the seats or the cover.
I got the velcro at Michael's. The package says the adhesive won't work well on flexible material like leather, but it's worked fine thus far for over a month.
Where the strips are placed, you cannot tell the velcro is there. And no more problems with a flapping tonneau cover :-)
#3
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#8
#11
W'oh, thanks for the photos, I never knew about the tuck underneath the corners. I'll be sure to look for those the next time the XK8 comes out the garage (it's been raining a lot). But I don't think the corner tuck will fix my issue, because air is getting in from the front of the middle of the cover. But I'll look at those corners, nonetheless.
#12
#13
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I was looking for something else and came across this post. I have a 2004 with the original tonneau and one day it began to flap in the wind. Don't know why, it just started doing it. Possible not as elegant but I put a 2 foot length of 2 inch PVC pipe down between the the tonneau and the back of the rear seat and it appears to work quite well, at least to 110 mph. I put end caps on the PVC pipe to keep from scuffing the tonneau when pushing it in and pulling it out. This way the car remains unaltered. I have bee thinking about trying a couple of large Nerf ***** in place of the plastic pipe as they would be easier to store when not in use. Should you desire you can paint the pipe what ever color you want.
#15
Funny thing is the first time I put mine on, I also thought the sides should sit on the body and installed it that way. Then I looked at a brochure with photos of the top down and saw that it was tucked on the sides (also the owner's manual states to do so). Looks-wise it almost looks better on the outside versus tucked.
Doug
Doug
#16
I'm heading to the British Bash tomorrow. I'll see how others install their convertible covers. Tucked or untucked. Maybe there's a consensus. I think I'm an untucked.
here's a link: http://britishbash.com/
here's a link: http://britishbash.com/
#17
Not strictly on-thread but my mind always looks for ironies or quirks in any situation. So I was imagining some arbitrary non-Jaguar owner browsing around the web and stumbling on a thread that is now 2 pages debating on whether or not a tonneau cover should be tucked in or not. It cracks me up even though I am part of the discussion.
Doug
Doug
#19
I'm glad I can add to an atypical thread. Don't be surprised if more come from my direction :-)
Anywho, about the tucked or untucked, I think I may found the difference. So I was at the British Bash in Louisville on Saturday (neat show, but that's another thread), and looked at other XK8 convertibles to see how their tonneaus were attached. Some were able to be tucked about a quarter inch into the body and some barely came to the edge the sheetmetal. I believe there are two reasons:
1. During the install, the cover is not fully stretched out leaving wrinkles that decreases the surface area the cover covers, and/or
2. The top is not as fully compressed as much as it possibly could be so the folded aluminum beams at the corners remain perhaps half an inch or so taller. This may be due to how the top is crimped when it folds. On my convertible, I did notice two little worn marks on the middle of my top which may be due to such a crimp. I try to flatten out the folds as the top come down with my arm, doesn't really help all that much as I only have one arm to use. I think there will always be crimping, just some tops folds cleaner than others. I suspect the cleaner the folds, the more compressed the top comes down, and then the lower profile, which leads to more tonneau cover tucking. So at speed, higher pressure underneath the cover will billow the cover up a bit, without a good tonneau cover seal against the sheetmetal, gaps will be made, permitting wind to gush in, flap the cover about, and ruining the contour of the cover against the car.
There... that's my story. Shall this go onto page 3?
Anywho, about the tucked or untucked, I think I may found the difference. So I was at the British Bash in Louisville on Saturday (neat show, but that's another thread), and looked at other XK8 convertibles to see how their tonneaus were attached. Some were able to be tucked about a quarter inch into the body and some barely came to the edge the sheetmetal. I believe there are two reasons:
1. During the install, the cover is not fully stretched out leaving wrinkles that decreases the surface area the cover covers, and/or
2. The top is not as fully compressed as much as it possibly could be so the folded aluminum beams at the corners remain perhaps half an inch or so taller. This may be due to how the top is crimped when it folds. On my convertible, I did notice two little worn marks on the middle of my top which may be due to such a crimp. I try to flatten out the folds as the top come down with my arm, doesn't really help all that much as I only have one arm to use. I think there will always be crimping, just some tops folds cleaner than others. I suspect the cleaner the folds, the more compressed the top comes down, and then the lower profile, which leads to more tonneau cover tucking. So at speed, higher pressure underneath the cover will billow the cover up a bit, without a good tonneau cover seal against the sheetmetal, gaps will be made, permitting wind to gush in, flap the cover about, and ruining the contour of the cover against the car.
There... that's my story. Shall this go onto page 3?
Last edited by Montauke; 06-07-2009 at 08:52 AM.
#20
I now recall, when I saw your first few pictures of your car with the top down (the set where you're wife looked pretty happy behind the wheel), I thought to myself...the top looked like it wasn't folded down entirely, like it stuck up higher on the ends. I figured I was just tired or making stuff up. It could very well be the reason why your cover isn't securing as tightly as ours. That also could be an adjustment item also the dealer could confirm for you. Perhaps it isn't calibrated correctly and stopping the open function prematurely. I hate prematurely...