Diy Wet Weather Gear

[Guest ollie chapman]

Hi, I'm contemplating making wet weather gear for my Zero. Does the club or anyone have any patterns/templates/advice on how to tackle such a project and suppliers of material please? I have trawled the forum but to no avail. Thanks.

[fry61]

Couple of pics showing Florin with her roof on.

 

 

 

Made from fibre-glass tent poles & light-weight nylon material --- the poles give it shape & a corset style draw-string tensions the roof -- good for 85mph & also a very good sun-shade.

[Guest whiz]

try this place for material

http://www.profabrics.co.uk

 

Andy

[fry61]

Richard, picture 1 shows the cordage which tensions the roof & makes the material drum-tight.---- works well.

[fry61]

Thanks FMW, the sides of my roof seemed to sag, I'm not sure I got the shape right - do you have flex/tent poles in yours to tension it?

 

Yes, 8mm fibre-glass poles -- sides & middle front to back --- 1 across middle & 1 at back which the tension cord pulls on.

 

The bend in the poles gives headroom --- but our windscreen maybe taller than "standard" any-how.

[Guest ollie chapman]

Some great ideas and information here - loved Richard's road movie! Nice to see Florin close up too! Many thanks to all.

[Guest Gargoil]

I didn't make mine, it is a standard full roof made for the car but I have reworked the way it is connected to the windscreen (influenced by Richards design), so far it has worked well. The design means that there is no drilling of the windscreen surround and gives a neat and tidy finish, in my opinion. If you would like pictures and a brief description of how it was done I will post them.

[Guest ollie chapman]

Great, lets have a look! Thanks

[Guest Gargoil]

Hmm, having trouble getting dropbox to work properly for the pictures. I will have another go over the weekend when I have more time.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Gargoil

[Guest ollie chapman]

try this place for material

http://www.profabrics.co.uk

 

Andy

Brilliant website, much to go for here.

[David S]

The only suggestion would be to make a half hood, they are so much more flexible than a full hood. Best thing I ever bought for mine but I did have it made by Softbitsforsevens so they have a pattern for a standard Zero.

[Guest Gargoil]

https://www.dropbox.....43.45.jpg?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.....24.30.jpg?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.....22.12.jpg?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.....24.39.jpg?dl=0

 

Firstly, sorry for all the links, but it was the easiest way to do it.

 

Started with a metre long aluminium channel. This was cut at both ends to enable it to be bent round a former which I made out of a piece of wood replicating the windscreen. This was then glued on two of the channels sides and fitted to the roof using a few clamps to keep it in place. Once that was set, a silver edge protection strip was used to tidy up the edge of the roof and give a little more strength to the bond. Then the loop side of a strip of Velcro was fitted to the screen surround (self adhesive) and the hook side fitted into the channel. Once these were offered up to each other it formed quite a good fit/bond and was strong enough for it's first test, once the rest of the roof was fitted. At 70mph on a dual carriageway there was no lifting of the roof rail and everything stayed where it should. This was with doors fitted, because of my recent problems, that is the only run I have managed but there is room for improvement if needed, should a run without doors find a weakness. Once I get a photo of the roof fitted I will post, it actually looks quite good from a distance and it means no drilling of the windscreen surround.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Gargoil

[Bob Tucker]

I only ever use the surrey top now.

it (& the occupants) have survived several torrential downpours

where it was unavoidable...usually on the French pilgrimages.

I use the standard roof hoop, and made up a cover using

UVA proof material I got from a sail maker. He uses it to make boat covers.

It doesnt stretch at all & was stitched on a standard sewing mc with HD needles & terylene thread.

I'll try & find some pics

[steve in stockport]

Here's my latest offering

 

 

This is part one, finished it in time for Scotland last weekend, but the weather gods were with us and so it didn't get properly used.

Part two will see an additional piece being made that will make it into a full roof with rear window for overnight or extreme conditions.

[steve in stockport]

Part two is now complete, so I now have a half roof which changes to a full roof by the addition of an extra panel. The panel is zipped on with a couple of strips of velcro to assist and can be fitted in under a minute. The straps attach to the buckles on the half hood to take abit of the strain off the zips.