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MG TD TF 1500 - Damper for half tonneau flapping problem

When a full tonneau is used in the half way mode, as everyone knows, the unsupported center fold begins to flap at speed. This design will put tension on that area keeping that from happening. As seen in the photos, I used a 1-1/8 inch dowel 16 inches long, with a eye screw attached in the center, placed behind the tonneau fold and centered on the zipper. A flat nylon strap with a clip was attached to the eye screw and passed under the seat back and clipped to the tonneau bar. My strap has a buckle tension adjustment and can be stowed behind the parking brake under the seat back when not in use. When tension is applied to the dowel, it will prevent the center fold of the tonneau from flapping due to aerodynamic forces without being very noticeable. As usual, everyone can make variations to this idea based on the materials available to them. Hope this helps you guys who expressed the same problem in the many threads I’ve read.
Mike
TD15250


Mike I

Additional photo added.
Mike

Mike I

One more photo showing back of seat attachment.
Mike

Mike I

Good idea, but I never had such a problem with my tonneau cover. Maybe I'm driving too slowly!
C.M. groucho

Pick up the pace.... you're holding up traffic :-)

Might have to do something like that. I had the flaps come up and over both me and my daughter one day when running about 65 or so. Not much fun
L E D LaVerne

Without a passenger I attach the right side to dashboard. No flapping either way for me. 65 - that's pushing it.
efh Haskell

On mine I got the trimmer who made the tonneau to install a Velcro loop which tensions around the centre of the tonneau bar. It is sewn in under the rear of the zip and cannot be seen. Easy access and I have the same loops on the inside of the hood of my Morris Minor convertible.
No tonneau flapping or buffeting.
At high(er) speeds on warm summer evenings my wife could always hear crickets / grass hoppers -nature pure! I really must clean out the car before winter sets in.
She was very disappointed to learn it was the zip that rattles with a tingling sound.

Regards
Declan


Declan Burns

Centre of tonneau tensioned with Velcro

Declan Burns

Same principle on the inside of the hood of my Morris Minor-no more buffeting. The pipe lagging was just to add tension as the hood was not taught enough.
It also saves tall passengers' heads on bumpy roads!

Regards
Declan

Declan Burns

Velcro open

Declan Burns

Inside of hood

Declan Burns

I have just taken a photo of the Velcro tensioning loop for reference. Easily retro-fitted to most tonneau
I might just add another Velcro strip over the pull tab to keep out the "high speed grasshoppers"
covers.

Regards
Declan

Declan Burns

I wonder if this flapping tonneau cover is dependant on where the seat back is. Mine is set to the second closest position and I have never experienced this flapping any cover ever, with my 50 years of ownership and the 15 my father had the car before me.



Christopher Couper

Chris, I think it has more to do with speed than seat position. Usually manifests itself at 60 mph +.
Declan, nice job, but I still can't figure where velcro straps are attached to your tonneau. It would have to be on the underside, is it sewn along the zipper?
Mike
Mike I

Mike,
Here's a photo with the tonneau folded back. It is sewn onto the base of the zipper.

Regards
Declan

Declan Burns

Declan, Thanks for the followup. I see now why I would have a problem with that design. On the Moss tonneau, the apex of the zipper is much further aft, making a central tie in for the velcro not possible for me. Maybe one on each side of the open zipper might work.
Mike
Mike I

Ive never had that problem at any speed,,, question,, is the zipper zipped all the way conmecting both sides??

Steve
SPW Wincze

I looked at your pic, and realized that the zipper is not zipped,, try it with out your dowel, but zip up the zipper,,, i believeif it is un zipped, air can getunder the cover, possibly causing the flapping.

Steve
SPW Wincze

When I try it Steve's way, the wind unzips the zipper and the tonneau flaps and pulls out.
Al Parker

I do it Steve's way, but I only have to zip it up about 6 or 8 inches or so. Bud
Bud Krueger

OK.....The zipper is open to allow, in my case, the connection to the dowel and in Declan's case to allow the velcro strap on the underside to connect to the tonneau bar. If I close the zipper all the way, the excess tonneau fabric doesn't pull out from underneath as LaVerne and Al Parker experienced, but the unsupported edge of the fold along the seat will flap against the seat back. BTW, my tonneau is stretched really taught side to side (Gene Krupa can play the drums on it!) So far the dowel has worked for me.
Mike
Mike I

Sl,
How can the wind unzipthe zippre,,, the end is a few feet down inside the boot ????
SPW Wincze

This thread was discussed between 26/09/2017 and 01/10/2017

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