I would like to buy a soft removable tonneau cover for a ute that is good quality and does not leak in the rain, it will be going on a VSIII ute with a bar in the centre of the tray to stop pooling of water, I see that the current one on the car I'm going to buy has the tonneau cover attached near the rear window that looks like the closest first hook is the area where the water gets in because of the design of the low point of the pillar and the covers corner, are they all like this or are some better than others? The guy I'm buying this car from said the cover leaks a little in the rain.
I don't think any of them are totally water proof especially in heavy rain around the rear window area. It's probably more of a water resistant situation that these covers provide.
I am not familiar with the attachment behind the rear window, but my Crewman tonneau just has some magnetic strip. I now have a hard lid. You could ask a motor trimmer to make an extension, with a rope, insert to your tonneau to fit some sail track which you can attach to the front of the tub, somehow ?. This would make it water-tight at that point, but the problem area is at the corners. Those loop/tiedown tonneaus are never going to be as water-tight as the later zip-on VZ/VE type. Fitting an additional bar behind the current one across the tub will also stop water pooling …. a bit.
Yeah I have considered fitting an extra bar on my ute to stop it pooling. I have seen bar mounts that rivet on, which I think would work.
Ah Losh, you should've yelled out as I have a genuine bar sitting here spare that you could've taken with you when you were over. I don't want to cut it up to use for other stuff.
I never really thought about it until I saw a late model Commodore ute that had two bars. Then I saw Nissans have the plastic mounts that rivet on. So it got me thinking.
I got a new cover a few years back, but it still collects water in heavy rain. So I carry a couple of orange traffic cones (44 cm high) to prop up the cover.
yes the later utes had the 2 bars that stretch the cover tightly and distribute the water loss more evenly and quicker with no pooling over 3 sections, just a lil issue though, stretching the cover is okay in summer but much less stretch in winter due to colder temps and a struggle to put on if your doing it a lot on a daily basis, that's why the taps/sticking rip off a lot on the later covers with 2 bars plus the wear with time and over use hence why many go to hard lids who also get sick of the flapping drone noise at high speed and the shitty looking dirty dusty black not secure plastic. Also as figjam said the vu tarps use a magnet sewn in the front lip and seal really well on the rear glass body sill, no leaks whatsoever in the corners, so maybe that could be a idea to do to the earlier vg/vs ute covers.
I'd prefer a hard top but it kinda defeats the purpose of having a quick removable cover and the need for a ute. Ok if it's for tools but for carrying the dog I think it would be annoying. Plus my carry racks would get in the way. I had wondered if the cover would stretch over the extra bar. Mine is not soft like a gen one and doesn't have the same level of material stretch like my old one did. Even in the summer it remains relatively stiff. If I suspect rain I park it backwards. I do get annoyed that at 100kph it sags in at the tailgate.
Most of the hardtops are ugly & awkward to store somewhere if need to put something big in tray....nicer looking slimline version eventually bow or buckle. Thought about adding 2nd bar on my ute after heavy rain big pool of water stretches the hell out of elastic tiedowns now they're RS....would buy a new one but it'd only happen again although like flat aftermarket tonneau covers that clip on flush to top of the tray.
Soft top is super practical honestly, especially if you want something sitting out the corner (doing that a fair bit with handlebars on a bike). Have a hard top on a VZ and although security wise its great, the practicality isn't the best depending on whats inside the tub. And if you open it when its raining you get everything either wet, or if its lifted and there is water on it, it can still get in the tub. Have 2 bars in the VS though that aren't super high (just the tuff tonneau ones) and they work well, Although im unsure where to find the 2 bars again. (1 is about 50mm longer than the other) And they work fine with a tubliner inplace aswell. honestly for the cost id buy just another tufftonneaus soft one that fits the factory set up. They are pretty much water tight, and if you wanted a bit more protection just add a rubber strip up the front and have a tonneaulock system up there. Keep on top of the care of them in regards to applying waterproofing stuff and they stay good (I got lazy and as such it has cracked, so am looking at a replacement myself).
Some thing else to think about, is that a ute will 'suck' water in past the tailgate seal, so that seal needs to be in good nick. Plus some DIY high density foam (Clarke Rubber) inserts vertically on both sides between tail gate and tray.
Hey mate do you have a link for the bars? I see a pic of them on the site but I can't look them up for some reason. For some reason I can't select Holden, or anything that follows.
I'm going to have to redo mine soon.... soon as in next year. I'm thinking of getting one custom done so it clips in on the sides and just have alloy for it to clip on at the front. Water pooling just means go for a drive to "un pool" it in a side ways fashion.
No pics or info sorry. I can get some length measurements for you later and can probably figure out where they were from. They do have a leather bit wrapped around the bar very similar in material to the tonneau, which may be some guide. Have a good feeling they are from Tuff Tonneaus, but it came with the car, and that was a long time ago. Very much the same as the adjustable one, but just a solid version Its strange, the tubliner for the VS has 2 spots for the bars (splitting it up into thirds), which are flat for screwing the plastic bits to. And also has a bit that goes over the old factory steel square bit for that bar. Ill get some more info later.
1 front 1 was 1475 the back one was 1460. would love to give you more info but that's as much as I have (bought the car like that). Standard cover goes over it, but has the 2 supports. sometimes will sit down a bit right at the back when really windy or at highway speeds. Just seems to be the same as those tuff tonneaus adjustable ones but as a solid rod. Hope that helps to some degree. Just uses those standard bar brackets you can either screw in or rivet in.
Was punting a vr , then vs s pack , then a vs maloo as a daily from October 02 to October 18. Vr had a sports bar on it ( which I transferred onto the vs ) . At some point I spent coin on a decent ( motor trimmer made tonneau cover = in I guess around 2008). = ( when , = still vr, tonneau needed replacing) not any where near as expensive as a hsv one though!!! = it also went onto the vs s pack. Never really had issues with more than a real small amount ( = bugger all ) of water getting into the tray. I'll add that from 02 untill about ( again I need to guess ) around 2010 = utes lived outside = never under cover = not in garage or carport!!
