Can you trailer with a tonneau cover?

leadfoot · #1 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 08:53 AM

I know car covers are a BIG NO NO for trailering... but can you hace a tonneau cover on the car to keep the wet out, or will if flap around gradually loosinging the snaps?

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 10:20 AM

Leadfoot,

That is a hard one to answer for certain. I know of two people who have did it and one had no problems and the other had his tonneau cover torn up. I think the one that had no problems had a brand new one and the snaps were really tight. He also stopped every few miles or at each rest stop and checked it. The other one was an older one and I think the snaps weren't quite as tight, but he paid no attention until he saw something fly off and up into the air. So if your snaps are tight and you check it every so often you could probably get by ok.

Ron

jim snyder · #3 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 12:11 PM

Yes, I have towed at least 4 different cars with tonneau covers. Check all snaps, and the cover should fit tight, a loose fitting cover will snap free . jim

zimmy · #4 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 01:26 PM

I towed with a tight tonneau. It stayed on fine but be careful. Mine had enough loose fabric at the top of the doors that it flapped a bit for the whole trip and left major marks in the paint at the top of my doors. Just check to be sure.

leadfoot · #5 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 02:29 PM

Thanks...

I gues the answer is if caought in bad weather, tonneau is OK, but if planning on going through bad weather, the soft top is the answer...

Tony Radford · #6 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 02:36 PM

I trailered my car from Nashville to Atlanta with the cover installed. I had the snaps fitted days before the trip so it was really tight. Weather was really nasty with a steady rain for over half the trip. The good news is that the interior did stay dry. Without the cover, my interior would have certainly been a mess. The downside, I did get a couple of blemishes in the clear coat in the back from rubbing where the snaps ride high on the body, on both sides of my stripes. Also, since there is such a long distance between snaps on either sides of the doors, air would get trapped up underneath (the steering wheel pocket would bellow like a sail) which would cause snaps to detach from the posts.

Great Asp · #7 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 06:49 PM

Yeah, you can, use duct tape to seal it.

Then use WD-40 to get the Duct Tape glue off. This keeps the tonneau cover from "vibrating" on the paint, and rubbing a hole in it. Also seals it from rain.

Eric

leejleej · #8 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 07:24 PM

I trailered mine from CT to NJ with the following precautions:
- used small plastic ties on top of the fittings so that the cover wouldnt come off
- tightened screws on wind wings to prevent them from flapping loose
Unless you use mover blankets or other soft layer, I would not transport with car cover.
Cheers,
Jong