New Rain Cover. (Half Hood)

[Ian Littlewood]

Finally fitted my rain cover. Had to fit the press studs to it. I would imagine you need to take it steady when it's on, as it's  not held on with much.

 

 

[kenton]

Soft bits one?

I drove from Austria to home some 800 miles in one day with mine on due to some very heavy showers. No problem at all on the German motorways, didnt quite get into tripple figures though.

[Ian Littlewood]

5 minutes ago, kenton said:

Soft bits one?

I drove from Austria to home some 800 miles in one day with mine on due to some very heavy showers. No problem at all on the German motorways, didnt quite get into tripple figures though.

Yes, 2 press studs at the front and 2 on the rear straps. I have the RAC roll bar fitted. It's a westfield cover.

[Greenstreak-Andy D]

You may want think about roof bar, windscreen to RAC bar as I found they flap on your head which tends to loosen the rear straps. 

I did this on my Westfield, to the MSA bar

[ianali]

5 minutes ago, Greenstreak-Andy D said:

You may want think about roof bar, windscreen to RAC bar as I found they flap on your head which tends to loosen the rear straps. 

I did this on my Westfield, to the MSA bar

Do those bars not get in the way of the channel but that clips over the screen? Also, my soft bits hood has a centre stud as well as each side.

[Greenstreak-Andy D]

The first photo shows the rail prior to flattening the end and putting a curve to it to sit on top of the screen. 
the bar sits on top of the plastic’U’ channel and the hood material. 
Just stops it flapping and I find keeps the rear straps taught.

Did same on my last Westfield which had a RAC bar. Works surprisingly well. 

Andy

[Steve Smith - Joint Hampshire & IOW AO]

Please can I ask if you have a picture of how the bar fits on top of the U channel and hood material.

Thanks

[Greenstreak-Andy D]

I just zoomed in and adjusted the contrast to the third photo. Not sure if that helps?

 

Here’s the bar I made. Anti-squeak tape on the end to protect the hood and plastic channel. 
 

 

If you’re wondering what I used, the chrome part is a wardrobe clothes rail!

Andy

[Ewan]

I have the same Westfield rain cover and an RAC roll bar. Used the cover once, it flapped about, sat on my head, loosened the rear straps and was generally annoying. So, I definitely need to follow your example of supporting roof bars. You’d think Westfield would make and sell something appropriate, for those of us somewhat time/tools/skills poor.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

1 hour ago, Ewan said:

You’d think Westfield would make and sell something appropriate, for those of us somewhat time/tools/skills poor.

Soft Bits for Sevens tried to but in the end it was just too problematic. And they kept discontinuing them, for ages while they tried to solve the issue. Westfields are just not consistent enough, dimensionally. I’ve had my half hood on two different Westfields now, and had to remake the roof bars as they no longer fit properly, between cars. But as the materials are fairly cheap, and can be very straightforward to make, especially with the chromed wardrobe rail types, as shown in Andy’s post earlier.

 

 

[kenton]

Ah, I see now why I didnt have any issues with my hood. I have a full cage and the half hood has a velcro ended strap that goes around the mid rail. No flapping 🙂

[Ewan]

Thanks for the advice Dave. I've now ordered two suitable oval clothes rails from EBAY, so have little job lined up for Monday evening. Which means I might have to start the car tax running from March🙂

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

First time I did any distance in mine with the half hood on I ended up with double vission due to the hood hammering off the top of my head. I made some supports before using again. I used the white plumming pipe with trimmed down tee pieces. 

If I'm going to do any sort of jouney that's mainly motorway or similar I tend to use the half hood and doors and it's a much better environment and I think also more economical.

 

[Nic Chase (NICO) - Shropshire & Mid-Wales AO]

I did the same as Rhett but used black plastic electrical conduit pipe and cut down t-pieces. Cheap enough from Screwfix. 

[JamesGN]

I have one on order but have had the zips added so I can get in and out easier. Might look into having a single rail down the middle