Westy Hood - Can You Drive With Part On Or Folded Back?

[DAN_B]

Hello all,

This may seem a silly question but, can you drive a Westfield with the hood part up - I mean with it clipped to the car all around the back, with the frame up, but just the section from the top of the windscreen unclipped and folded back?

And can you leave it clipped to the rear of the car and fold it down? So if it rained you cold just pull the frame and hood up and over?

Advice please :-)

Cheers, Dan.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

No.

The hood isn't fixed to the frame in any way, so if the uncliped the hood from the screen the hood would flap in th breeze and the frame at the back would do it's bet to fold itself inside out.

You also have to remove the hood fully to fold the frame down.

For airflow i sometimes unclip the sides of my hood to encourage a bit of air into the car.

You may also like to looks at half hoods as an alternative

[DAN_B]

Oh right, so is I simply on or off? And when I say off, that's totally unclipped and removed, with e frame folded flat?

Do people just carry the hood in the passenger foot well if its 50/50 weather?

Thank you.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Yes, on or off is the only choice with it totally unclipped and removed. I carry my hood rolled up in the boot box most of the time, or if the boot is full i made a tube to store it so i can clip it to the roll bar.

[DAN_B]

How do you roll a Westfield hood up and fit it into such a small tube?! That's great thou, really good idea.

Does that damage your rear screens being rolled like that? And do you know if you can buy those bags anywhere, I want one :-)

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Soft bits and Caterham both sell something similar (but more expensive than mine cost me)

http://www.softbitsshop.co.uk/full-hood-bag-521-p.asp

http://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=4077

To fold the hood lay it upside down on the bonnet or some grass.

First Fold the rear part inwards with the fold roughly a couple of inches above the window. You find a position where you can do this without creasing any of the windows.

Then Fold both sides inwards along their seams taking care not to fold the windows

Then roll from the screen end.

[DAN_B]

I'll give that a try, thanks a lot for your advice, it's been really helpful.

I see what you mean about making one, spending £70 on something that doesn't involve much material seems abit high, I'll look into it, but definitely going to go down that route :-)

Thanks again.

[Meakin]

Funny that, I made my own frame and it allows it to fold down with the hood. I then belt it up using dog collars (I kid you not ). It is then fastened at the rear and all I do is pull it up attach at the front and sides and off I go. I belt it as a round so that the weight stops it opening up and becoming a parachute. I'll try and get photos if it will help

Paul

[Tyson]

Soft bits and Caterham both sell something similar (but more expensive than mine cost me)

http://www.softbitss...d-bag-521-p.asp

http://www.caterhamp...id_product=4077

To fold the hood lay it upside down on the bonnet or some grass.

First Fold the rear part inwards with the fold roughly a couple of inches above the window. You find a position where you can do this without creasing any of the windows.

Then Fold both sides inwards along their seams taking care not to fold the windows

Then roll from the screen end.

Mark, so tell me, when did you complete your Origami course??

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Mark, so tell me, when did you complete your Origami course??

It's all practice you should see what i've had in (and on) a Westfield in the past

[DAN_B]

Mark you fancy going into business making some more and selling them to your wscc friends ;-)

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Mark you fancy going into business making some more and selling them to your wscc friends ;-)

Thanks but I'm not sure my cheep Argos sewing machine would be up to the abuse

[robo1968]

Hello all,

This may seem a silly question but, can you drive a Westfield with the hood part up - I mean with it clipped to the car all around the back, with the frame up, but just the section from the top of the windscreen unclipped and folded back?

And can you leave it clipped to the rear of the car and fold it down? So if it rained you cold just pull the frame and hood up and over?

Advice please :-)

Cheers, Dan.

Get a 'half hood' from softbitsforsevens, much easier to get on and off and folds into a small tube. Besides, if you leave the frame up it would look like a pram, or else maybe a 'very' iffy roll cage...

[KugaWestie]

Soft bits website says they are "currently on hold" for RAC type rollbars

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

Yeah, waited for that to change since April, didn't manage to get through on the 'phone, so went for a factory full hood in the end.

A factory half hood option is something I've pestered Simon about though, so the more people that ask the more chance we have of seeing something happen....