Surrey Top Tips
Discussion
I'll be over at Dave the Trimmer's place today taking the first look at my newly delivered Surrey Top from Roger Morris.
I'd be grateful for any fitting and other general tips from those that have the lived with one of these folding roofs for a while now.
Ie does the roof allow you to dial in tension for the best fit to each car?
As we know TVR dimensions often differ slightly from car to car.
Thanks in advance, Dave.
I'd be grateful for any fitting and other general tips from those that have the lived with one of these folding roofs for a while now.
Ie does the roof allow you to dial in tension for the best fit to each car?
As we know TVR dimensions often differ slightly from car to car.
Thanks in advance, Dave.
You tension the roof up tight after you have fitted it loosely.
So the process is:
1. Open the roof panel out and slide the ferrules over the joints.
2. Fit the front of the panel to the windscreen surround exactly as you would with the original panel.
3. Put the rear section up, lock the rear struts into position, secure the velcro etc <---- all this exactly as it was the original roof
4. Then twist the Surrey Roof's locking bars to extend them until the roof is solidly fitted. No need to overtighten, in fact you should stop as soon as they begin to get tight.
I find taking the roof off is easier if I simply reverse the above procedure, but there is no reason why you cannot remove the Surrey Roof without detensioning it should that be easier for you.
BTW - Roger's roof is by far the best £500 I spent on my car.
So the process is:
1. Open the roof panel out and slide the ferrules over the joints.
2. Fit the front of the panel to the windscreen surround exactly as you would with the original panel.
3. Put the rear section up, lock the rear struts into position, secure the velcro etc <---- all this exactly as it was the original roof
4. Then twist the Surrey Roof's locking bars to extend them until the roof is solidly fitted. No need to overtighten, in fact you should stop as soon as they begin to get tight.
I find taking the roof off is easier if I simply reverse the above procedure, but there is no reason why you cannot remove the Surrey Roof without detensioning it should that be easier for you.
BTW - Roger's roof is by far the best £500 I spent on my car.
sgrimshaw said:
You tension the roof up tight after you have fitted it loosely.
So the process is:
1. Open the roof panel out and slide the ferrules over the joints.
2. Fit the front of the panel to the windscreen surround exactly as you would with the original panel.
3. Put the rear section up, lock the rear struts into position, secure the velcro etc <---- all this exactly as it was the original roof
4. Then twist the Surrey Roof's locking bars to extend them until the roof is solidly fitted. No need to overtighten, in fact you should stop as soon as they begin to get tight.
I find taking the roof off is easier if I simply reverse the above procedure, but there is no reason why you cannot remove the Surrey Roof without detensioning it should that be easier for you.
BTW - Roger's roof is by far the best £500 I spent on my car.
Excellent Simon, very helpful.So the process is:
1. Open the roof panel out and slide the ferrules over the joints.
2. Fit the front of the panel to the windscreen surround exactly as you would with the original panel.
3. Put the rear section up, lock the rear struts into position, secure the velcro etc <---- all this exactly as it was the original roof
4. Then twist the Surrey Roof's locking bars to extend them until the roof is solidly fitted. No need to overtighten, in fact you should stop as soon as they begin to get tight.
I find taking the roof off is easier if I simply reverse the above procedure, but there is no reason why you cannot remove the Surrey Roof without detensioning it should that be easier for you.
BTW - Roger's roof is by far the best £500 I spent on my car.
I see the Surrey Top as my occasional summer touring roof, I dont expect it to offer the same levels of refinement as the original hard panel which is why I'm having that trimmed too.
I bought a considerable amount of the very best quality German Sonnenland mohair so the new rear section, Surrey Top & existing hard panel can all be trimmed from the same roll.
The idea is all the sections will all match perfectly, Dave the Trimmer & Roger's trimmer have discussed the project so are on the same page with the direction of weave ect.
I've gone for a slightly smaller rear window but following the same contour and shape as the original so the change should be very hard to spot, it's the second rear window Dave has done like this, here's the first on Linley's 530hp monster.
In theory the benefits will be a rear section that folds down a little further and a rear window that doesn't crease like the original.
I'm dropping the car off with Dave the Trimmer this afternoon and collecting it on what is foretasted to be a very rainy Saturday so it should get a good test from day one.
I'll post some snaps of the completed roof here soon.
Regards, Dave.
ChilliWhizz said:
ChimpOnGas said:
QBee said:
Shows what a warped mind I have - saw "Surrey Top Tips" .....
.......and thought "flatten Croydon".
.......and thought "flatten Croydon".
Top Tip that Anthony
Mind you it was rather a long time ago....
QBee said:
ChilliWhizz said:
ChimpOnGas said:
QBee said:
Shows what a warped mind I have - saw "Surrey Top Tips" .....
.......and thought "flatten Croydon".
.......and thought "flatten Croydon".
Top Tip that Anthony
Mind you it was rather a long time ago....
Well here it is folks...
Dave The Trimmer folding rear section with his slightly reduced rear window design that follows the same contours as the original.
And the folding Surrey top from Roger Morris.
All made from the same roll of Sonnenland mohair.
It was torrential rain on the one hour drive home back from Dave's workshop, the roof got a proper test and passed with flying colours.
TBH I never ventured over 60mph as the conditions were absolutely dreadful but at this speed wind noise was no better or worse than factory hard top, it was also 100% totally leak free.
I was a bit skeptical of the Surrey top idea, I bought it to be an accompaniment to the factory hard panel to be used as an occasional touring roof, but honestly it's that good I can easily see it becoming my everyday roof.
Dave The Trimmer folding rear section with his slightly reduced rear window design that follows the same contours as the original.
And the folding Surrey top from Roger Morris.
All made from the same roll of Sonnenland mohair.
It was torrential rain on the one hour drive home back from Dave's workshop, the roof got a proper test and passed with flying colours.
TBH I never ventured over 60mph as the conditions were absolutely dreadful but at this speed wind noise was no better or worse than factory hard top, it was also 100% totally leak free.
I was a bit skeptical of the Surrey top idea, I bought it to be an accompaniment to the factory hard panel to be used as an occasional touring roof, but honestly it's that good I can easily see it becoming my everyday roof.
Edited by ChimpOnGas on Saturday 7th June 12:22
Edited by ChimpOnGas on Tuesday 17th June 09:53
ChimpOnGas said:
sgrimshaw said:
You tension the roof up tight after you have fitted it loosely.
So the process is:
1. Open the roof panel out and slide the ferrules over the joints.
2. Fit the front of the panel to the windscreen surround exactly as you would with the original panel.
3. Put the rear section up, lock the rear struts into position, secure the velcro etc <---- all this exactly as it was the original roof
4. Then twist the Surrey Roof's locking bars to extend them until the roof is solidly fitted. No need to overtighten, in fact you should stop as soon as they begin to get tight.
I find taking the roof off is easier if I simply reverse the above procedure, but there is no reason why you cannot remove the Surrey Roof without detensioning it should that be easier for you.
BTW - Roger's roof is by far the best £500 I spent on my car.
Excellent Simon, very helpful.So the process is:
1. Open the roof panel out and slide the ferrules over the joints.
2. Fit the front of the panel to the windscreen surround exactly as you would with the original panel.
3. Put the rear section up, lock the rear struts into position, secure the velcro etc <---- all this exactly as it was the original roof
4. Then twist the Surrey Roof's locking bars to extend them until the roof is solidly fitted. No need to overtighten, in fact you should stop as soon as they begin to get tight.
I find taking the roof off is easier if I simply reverse the above procedure, but there is no reason why you cannot remove the Surrey Roof without detensioning it should that be easier for you.
BTW - Roger's roof is by far the best £500 I spent on my car.
I see the Surrey Top as my occasional summer touring roof, I dont expect it to offer the same levels of refinement as the original hard panel which is why I'm having that trimmed too.
I bought a considerable amount of the very best quality German Sonnenland mohair so the new rear section, Surrey Top & existing hard panel can all be trimmed from the same roll.
The idea is all the sections will all match perfectly, Dave the Trimmer & Roger's trimmer have discussed the project so are on the same page with the direction of weave ect.
I've gone for a slightly smaller rear window but following the same contour and shape as the original so the change should be very hard to spot, it's the second rear window Dave has done like this, here's the first on Linley's 530hp monster.
In theory the benefits will be a rear section that folds down a little further and a rear window that doesn't crease like the original.
I'm dropping the car off with Dave the Trimmer this afternoon and collecting it on what is foretasted to be a very rainy Saturday so it should get a good test from day one.
I'll post some snaps of the completed roof here soon.
Regards, Dave.
Looks really nice! Does it fit behind the seats? Definitely on the list of things to get. Like you said it would make trips so much easier not having to take the tools bag/spares out the boot all the time to make way for the hood.
How much do you think original hoods are worth second hand?
How much do you think original hoods are worth second hand?
brett84 said:
Looks really nice! Does it fit behind the seats? Definitely on the list of things to get. Like you said it would make trips so much easier not having to take the tools bag/spares out the boot all the time to make way for the hood.
How much do you think original hoods are worth second hand?
It will fit behind the seats, but only if your seats aren't all the way back.How much do you think original hoods are worth second hand?
There is a way of folding it so that the front and rear sections lie flat together. It then takes up even less space and will sit very neatly on top of the luggage in the boot.
brett84 said:
Looks really nice! Does it fit behind the seats? Definitely on the list of things to get. Like you said it would make trips so much easier not having to take the tools bag/spares out the boot all the time to make way for the hood.
How much do you think original hoods are worth second hand?
It will fit behind the seats, but only if your seats aren't all the way back.How much do you think original hoods are worth second hand?
There is a way of folding it so that the front and rear sections lie flat together. It then takes up even less space and will sit very neatly on top of the luggage in the boot.
Right, I feel I've given to Surrey top a proper test now.
Took the car to the Le Mans Classic last week, the 1000 mile drive was completed 95% roof down.
Getting the Surrey top in & out of the boot was a revelation compared to the original hard panel.
While parked up at the 1st Tickets camp site for the weekend it rained, then rained some more, then went into monsoon mode
Talk about a test, the rain was persistent all weekend but torrential on Sunday and to my amazement the car remained totally leak free.
What a brilliant idea the Surrey top is
Took the car to the Le Mans Classic last week, the 1000 mile drive was completed 95% roof down.
Getting the Surrey top in & out of the boot was a revelation compared to the original hard panel.
While parked up at the 1st Tickets camp site for the weekend it rained, then rained some more, then went into monsoon mode
Talk about a test, the rain was persistent all weekend but torrential on Sunday and to my amazement the car remained totally leak free.
What a brilliant idea the Surrey top is
ChimpOnGas said:
Right, I feel I've given to Surrey top a proper test now.
Took the car to the Le Mans Classic last week, the 1000 mile drive was completed 95% roof down.
Getting the Surrey top in & out of the boot was a revelation compared to the original hard panel.
While parked up at the 1st Tickets camp site for the weekend it rained, then rained some more, then went into monsoon mode
Talk about a test, the rain was persistent all weekend but torrential on Sunday and to my amazement the car remained totally leak free.
What a brilliant idea the Surrey top is
Do you get wind noise and does it leak ? looks like it seals around the window like an MGB roadster roof ,just a bit of material sitting over the window.Took the car to the Le Mans Classic last week, the 1000 mile drive was completed 95% roof down.
Getting the Surrey top in & out of the boot was a revelation compared to the original hard panel.
While parked up at the 1st Tickets camp site for the weekend it rained, then rained some more, then went into monsoon mode
Talk about a test, the rain was persistent all weekend but torrential on Sunday and to my amazement the car remained totally leak free.
What a brilliant idea the Surrey top is
SILICONEKIDOBHP said:
Do you get wind noise and does it leak ? looks like it seals around the window like an MGB roadster roof ,just a bit of material sitting over the window.
Why are you asking if it leaks when I wrote this?
ChimpOnGas said:
Talk about a test, the rain was persistent all weekend but torrential on Sunday and to my amazement the car remained totally leak free.
As for wind noise, yes there's a little more but it's perfectly acceptable, the header rail is not such a good seal at the screen as the hard panel.The idea behind the Surrey top is it's off more than on when you're driving so a fraction more wind noise is irrelevant.
Since buying it I've not used the had panel once because the Surrey top is so practical, convenient to use and is proven totally watertight.
Come the winter I'll probably go back to the hard panel, but you could easily use the Surrey top all year round. For me it's a brilliant addition to the hard panel which is is still a good design.
Ultimately & having now thoroughly tested it, the Surrey top is absolutely unbeatable.
Especially when touring
ChimpOnGas said:
Ultimately & having now thoroughly tested it, the Surrey top is absolutely unbeatable.
As is Roger's Customer Service.Having had my roof for at least 5 years I can tell you it's had some use.
Recently I noticed that the "ferrules" that you use to tighten up the roof were going out of shape. They still worked, but weren't holding the roof bars as straight as before.
I contacted Roger to ask about some buying some replacements ............
I received a response from Roger almost by return saying that my roof was one of the early one's and that subsequently he had changed the material of the ferrules to make them stronger.
He sent me a replacement set free of charge.
Now that's what I call good service!
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