fixing the hood
Discussion
Hi, I've been a reader of Pistonheads for some years. Mostly the roads section (resulted in a roadtrip to wales and scotland in a vx220). As I just picked up my Roadsport SV yesterday, I thought I might as well try to communicate through ph, starting with a stupid (?) question.
As I have almost as much rain over here in the Netherlands I want to park the car with the roof up. Installing the hood, however, is a real pain. It seems like it's to small and you almost have to tear the car apart before you can click the buttons. Tried everything with adjusting the straps. So the question is, is it possible that the roof has shrunk a bit over time?
Any advice which side to fix first? Front or back of the car?
Hope you can help me out.
As I have almost as much rain over here in the Netherlands I want to park the car with the roof up. Installing the hood, however, is a real pain. It seems like it's to small and you almost have to tear the car apart before you can click the buttons. Tried everything with adjusting the straps. So the question is, is it possible that the roof has shrunk a bit over time?
Any advice which side to fix first? Front or back of the car?
Hope you can help me out.
When fitting the hood, it is much easier if the hood is warm (especially if it has not been fitted for some time). To do this put in a warm place in the house. Airing cupborad is good.
First put up the sticks (frame).
Loosen the straps and slide the straps down the sides of the sticks. This will allow the front sticks to go forward and sticks will both be lower that the roll bar.
I usually start by fitting the hood to the screen and then around the back.
When you have done this, from the inside of the car slide the straps back up the sticks to the normal position and tighten straps.
Once you have the correct length on your straps, do not alter them. When you next put on the hood follow the same procedure of sliding the straps dowm the sticks and when you have fitted the hood, slide back up and they should be at the right tension.
Hope this helps.
First put up the sticks (frame).
Loosen the straps and slide the straps down the sides of the sticks. This will allow the front sticks to go forward and sticks will both be lower that the roll bar.
I usually start by fitting the hood to the screen and then around the back.
When you have done this, from the inside of the car slide the straps back up the sticks to the normal position and tighten straps.
Once you have the correct length on your straps, do not alter them. When you next put on the hood follow the same procedure of sliding the straps dowm the sticks and when you have fitted the hood, slide back up and they should be at the right tension.
Hope this helps.
Mine was a pig to fit so I left it on for a few few months while waiting for SVA. I was hoping that it stretched to match the car. Worked a little but its always an easier fit with it warmed up.I noticed I didn't have an airing cupboard. 
However, I managed to put the hood on almost perfect now. The upper stick is almost at the right place. I'm having absoluut confidence the hood will stretch a bit over time so I think this problem has been solved. Think I'll have to go to work in my tent on wheels today.
However, I managed to put the hood on almost perfect now. The upper stick is almost at the right place. I'm having absoluut confidence the hood will stretch a bit over time so I think this problem has been solved. Think I'll have to go to work in my tent on wheels today.
Hi Allen,
My SV-VHPD is a 2002 model, and in mine the rear window has a zipper all around 3 sides. If you get really caught out and it won't go on, unzip the window (especially helpful when cold!) and it will go on. You take sooooo little mist into the back window you can even leave the window open when driving
and tuck the window / roll it around the black at the bottom where it meets the boot/back of the car...
Or get Jill Judd @ Softbitsforsevens to make you something better
My SV-VHPD is a 2002 model, and in mine the rear window has a zipper all around 3 sides. If you get really caught out and it won't go on, unzip the window (especially helpful when cold!) and it will go on. You take sooooo little mist into the back window you can even leave the window open when driving
and tuck the window / roll it around the black at the bottom where it meets the boot/back of the car...Or get Jill Judd @ Softbitsforsevens to make you something better
At this moment (probably because I put it back on every day) the hood sits fine. I was amazed by the fact I could just drive with the rear window rolled up to the roll bar. It's ideal for short trips to the supermarket.
The left door leaves a small gap at the back, probably because it has sagged a bit. Hopefully, I can fix it this weekend so the car is completely weather proof.
The left door leaves a small gap at the back, probably because it has sagged a bit. Hopefully, I can fix it this weekend so the car is completely weather proof.
put thehood sticks up fully slack
put the straps in their final position, so the rear hood stick is resting on the roll bar sloping tubes.
Hood over, attach the front poppers.
Then the rear quarter ones
Then the sides
Then as many of the rear ones as you can reach.
Get inside and pull the straps tight, do both sides progressivley.
Push the velcro strip under the front hoop and tighten the straps until the velcro is in the middle of the bar, and do up the velcro.
Hey presto, it's up! Easier when warm, but always possible even when cold. Takes about 2 mins when it's p!ssing down. maybe 4 if I'm chatting to an amused bystander...
I do this at least every second day, sometimes twice a day, as the old thing is my daily driver and I don't use a tonneau. Good tip about driving with the rear screen open, you can use your rear view mirror and it steams up less.
BB
put the straps in their final position, so the rear hood stick is resting on the roll bar sloping tubes.
Hood over, attach the front poppers.
Then the rear quarter ones
Then the sides
Then as many of the rear ones as you can reach.
Get inside and pull the straps tight, do both sides progressivley.
Push the velcro strip under the front hoop and tighten the straps until the velcro is in the middle of the bar, and do up the velcro.
Hey presto, it's up! Easier when warm, but always possible even when cold. Takes about 2 mins when it's p!ssing down. maybe 4 if I'm chatting to an amused bystander...
I do this at least every second day, sometimes twice a day, as the old thing is my daily driver and I don't use a tonneau. Good tip about driving with the rear screen open, you can use your rear view mirror and it steams up less.
BB
Ok, colder weather is coming and because I absolutely wanted to get the hood up correctly, I think I've cracked the windscreen whilst trying to get the hood sticks up correctly. Also, the rear boot cover simply won't fit any more . I had to remove the hoodsticks and still it wasn't easy to fix the boot cover at the sides. Luckily I have the halfhood plus, too.
Can anyone confirm that the boot cover and the full hood would nee replacing after a couple of years? Guess mine are 7 years old.
Can anyone confirm that the boot cover and the full hood would nee replacing after a couple of years? Guess mine are 7 years old.
Unless they are worn out (unlikely I reckon!), your hood and bootcover won't need replacing but have simply shrunk/contracted with the cold. Its for this reason that some owners fit their hood in the winter for storage to help stretch and pull the wrinkles out of the fabric. Try to get them warm maybe with a small fan heater to clip them back into place and then leave them fastened.
T
T
Well, the problem is want to keep driving with the hood off the car. Think I'll have to consider to ask Softbits to make me a bootcover using the same fabric as the halfhood. At least these won't shrink. At the moment the sides won't even cover the hood sticks if I leave these on.
I'm wondering how far it will shrink when it gets really cold, as the car sits outside all year.
I'm wondering how far it will shrink when it gets really cold, as the car sits outside all year.
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