Tonneau
 

Does anyone have any pictures of the Sportster tonneau? I just received mine from Marlin and there doesn't seem to be any cut-out at the back to take into account the roll bar. I could just be being a bit thick but there are no instructions for fitting which doesn't help.

Also the centre zip is fitted at an angle so that it starts at the centre at the back and then angles towards the drivers side. By the time it reaches the front the panel is only about 12 inches wide. (I will post a picture later) I am sure there is a reason for this but I can't think what at the moment.

On the plus side it looks well made and is supplied with good fixings (lift-the-dot rather than the cheaper press stud things you sometimes get)

Robin

Just a thought, if the vehicle needs to go through IVA the lift-the-dot fasteners will be a big fail point!

Patrick has a couple on his website under Kit Car shows..

http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/st07-089.jpg
http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/st07-039.jpg
http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/st07-040.jpg

Not sure if these are Marlin supplied?
I guess the angle is to keep as much covered as possible.
I expect you have to cut your own roll bar holes to suit.
I've got some pictures of another car but it has the zip straight down the middle so suspect it's not a Marlin one.
...peter

Thanks Peter

The Marlin Tonneau looks like the one on the red car. It's in three parts with the centre zip offset towards the driver at the front. (Mine doesn't have the headrest pods) I spoke to Terry and she confirmed it should have cutouts for the roll bar. Marlin have the covers made by a 3rd party so it's not really their fault other than perhaps they should have checked it before it was sent out.

Apparently Marlin are now away for two weeks so they have given me the name of a contact at their supplier so I can try and get it sorted.

Life is never simple.....

Robin

Would be keen to hear your results - I bought one over the winter from Marlin not thinking that it needs to be warm when fitting else it will sag.

I asked about the cutout and Mark told me I need to cut the tonneau around the roll bar myself.

I haven't figured out how to put the fastenings onto the tonneau yet....

Andy

Personally I wouldn't want to make the roll bar cutouts myself. The material has to be reinforced by being doubled up and stitched - not really a DIY job. I spoke directly to the manufacturer and they said to send it back directly to them - which I have done. It will be interesting to see the results....

When I spoke to Lang & Potter (who make the Tonneau) they told me that they had the pattern for the cutouts - but their seemed to be some confusion between them and Marlin as to if they were standard.

Hmmmm.......

Robin

PS - I beleive that there is a tool that you can buy to fit the bits to the tonneaue - but it is expensive.

What are their details? ;)

excellent thanks :)

Hows the tonneau going Robin?

Still at L & P having the roll bar cut-outs made. Supposed to get it back by tomorrow but I am not holding my breath. Fortunately I haven't paid for it yet....

I will post up some pictures once it has returned.

Robin

Actually, they were pretty fast getting me my right size hood so you may be surprised! :smile:

A question for Peter....
 

A question for Peter....

When fitting the "Lift the dot" fixings on your hood did you use the special tool - or did you improvise?

Robin

Pictures of tonneau. Hopefully will be fitted this weekend (assuming everything is in the right place)

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/martinclan/images/ton1.jpg

Detail of the cutout for the roll bar. Not really a DIY job this unless you happen to have an industrial sewing machine and a supply of the material.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/martinclan/images/ton2.jpg

Robin

Robin

What colour is your tonneau?
It would go very well with the paint scheme I have in mind (assuming I ever get that far!!)
Rgds
Mike

I tried to find someone with the tool to borrow but no luck.
I used a hollow ground hole punch for the holes (you get some pretty cheap sets off ebay) and then I sacrificed one of the fixings. If you put a block of wood behind and hit it with a small hammer the tabs will pierce the material. Use the end grain of the block of wood as its softer. Then replace with a new one and bend the tabs over with a pair of long nose pliers. A bit time consuming but quite easy once you get going. I've got some spare fixings if you need any extra.

...peter

It's actually black - pictures are a bit misleading.

Robin

Great idea! Fitting has come to a halt at the moment though. I don't know why - but the cut outs for the roll bar are - err - in the wrong place. Hmm....

Robin

:doh: How frustrating!

After a number of delays (long story) I now have a tonneau that I can fit.

Can anyone tell me which way up the base of the lift-the-dot fastner goes? (I mean the fastener that fits to the material - not the stud) It is slightly concave and has four little pressed out areas. I assumed that the pressed out bits are positioned towards the material thus offering more grip. But now I have fitted a couple I am not so sure. Does anyone know?

Cheers

Robin

Hi Robin, glad you got your new tonneau. I think I fiitted mine the other way round with the concave side towards the material. No idea which is correct as i've never seen any instructions for these. It just seemed neater that way to me.
...peter