kit car weather gear
Discussion
We are constantly subjected to inclement weather and yet many kits cars don't have any form of wet weather protection. I am guilty of that too. With a little imagination however, a screen and a soft top then the whole concept of hoping to get there and back in a changeable forecast becomes far less daunting. On my car it is easy to cut some polycarbonate sheet to fill in the sides. Apart from a hat and coat, any other wet weather gear options out there?
I think the best options are the "half hood" style roofs with open sides and back as used by some seven owners. I have full weather gear on my seven but in poor visibility I find it almost impossible to see anything in the rear view mirrors. In heavy rain I usually end up pulling over, putting the roof on, and then sitting there steaming until the rain abates a little.
I've got a full soft top for the Fury but it's only really used as a car cover if it's left out over-night. It's got a zip across the middle (side to side) as even with the doors open, the hole is too small to climb in through. On mine I've fitted lift out hinges on the screen surround which can either be fitted with small deflectors, or full size side screens, the deflectors & hood are adequate for rain, with the full side screens only required for the full-fat "deluge" (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHjouhVmlGU)
I have a Seven with side screens, so light rain goes over the top if you keep moving.
I've also done long distances in very heavy rain (South coast to Edinburgh in a day during a storm anyone?
) with the full hood which kept me and my luggage very dry but is stuffy and does tend to mist up.
I now have a half hood which (when used with side screens) keeps most of the rain out even in really bad weather as long as you're going forwards.
Fine spray does come in over my left shoulder, so a rag to wipe things down is a good idea.
The really big advantage of a half hood over a full one is that when the rain stops, you only have a small amount of wet material to deal with and it can be rolled up on top of the boot cover when wet too
With the full hood, I'd have to drive along in the sun with the hood up to try and dry the damned thing out!
I've also done long distances in very heavy rain (South coast to Edinburgh in a day during a storm anyone?
) with the full hood which kept me and my luggage very dry but is stuffy and does tend to mist up.I now have a half hood which (when used with side screens) keeps most of the rain out even in really bad weather as long as you're going forwards.
Fine spray does come in over my left shoulder, so a rag to wipe things down is a good idea.
The really big advantage of a half hood over a full one is that when the rain stops, you only have a small amount of wet material to deal with and it can be rolled up on top of the boot cover when wet too
With the full hood, I'd have to drive along in the sun with the hood up to try and dry the damned thing out!
Years ago (I refuse to use the much used phrase) when I had a Dutton Melos, it has to be said the simple hood and side screens did the job very well - the only time there was a problem was if I left the car in the rain without tucking the sidescreen under the hood edge pocket...... I then found out why they are called 'bucket seats'
weather gear?
decent coat and gotetex trousers and a crash hat on the passenger seat in case it really tips it down.....tonneau to keep the seats dry after the run.
Managed about 50k miles over the past 7 years like that and the day i want a roof and windscreen will be the day that i sell the kit and get a mainstream car.
decent coat and gotetex trousers and a crash hat on the passenger seat in case it really tips it down.....tonneau to keep the seats dry after the run.
Managed about 50k miles over the past 7 years like that and the day i want a roof and windscreen will be the day that i sell the kit and get a mainstream car.
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