[924s]

I usualy drive without the boot on the roof when it is down. But this weekend it was extra nice - no rain in the forcast - so I decided to put the boot on.



F*!% that dammn thing and who ever designed it. I'm not about to go pushing down on my retracted top - but that thing was on so snug and still didn't reach some of the snaps.



The fustrating part was how the hell this thing is supposed to connect under the drop down "seats" in the trunk. The cover didn't quite meet the velcro - and in parts that it was able to stretcccccchhhhhh and meet the velcro it just tore loose.



So I just closed the rear seats over the cloth of the boot and off I went. Once I hit about 50mph on the highway - air caught the f'ing part where the velcro should hold and up tht front flap went. I had my GF holding the cover down until I got off on the next exit and back in the trunk that thing went. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Any tips out there from fellow cab owners?



When I bought the car the guy said "the cover is in the trunk, but it is a pain in the ass to get on.. so I just leave it off"



Now I see why.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Darryl]

[quote name='924s' post='41870' date='Sep 30 2007, 04:20 PM']I usualy drive without the boot on the roof when it is down. But this weekend it was extra nice - no rain in the forcast - so I decided to put the boot on.



F*!% that dammn thing and who ever designed it. I'm not about to go pushing down on my retracted top - but that thing was on so snug and still didn't reach some of the snaps.



The fustrating part was how the hell this thing is supposed to connect under the drop down "seats" in the trunk. The cover didn't quite meet the velcro - and in parts that it was able to stretcccccchhhhhh and meet the velcro it just tore loose.



So I just closed the rear seats over the cloth of the boot and off I went. Once I hit about 50mph on the highway - air caught the f'ing part where the velcro should hold and up tht front flap went. I had my GF holding the cover down until I got off on the next exit and back in the trunk that thing went. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Any tips out there from fellow cab owners?



When I bought the car the guy said "the cover is in the trunk, but it is a pain in the ass to get on.. so I just leave it off"



Now I see why.[/quote]



I've had similar conversations with myself and I believe that all of the boots must shrink over time. They are, however, designed to fit tight. One would think too tight based on experiences like yours. I purchased a used but never used boot to try to solve the tight fit issues since mine was missing a snap for the back and some of the tenax fasteners had started to "pull" at the fabric. When it arrived, it was just as tight or maybe even tighter!! BUT, after I used it a couple of times, it appears to have stretched out a little and fits much better to the extent that I can put it on myself without my wife helping to mash the roof down. May not help that I put a towel in the fold of the rear window which takes up a little space too!



Bottom line, as big of a pain it is, you shouldn't run with the boot cover off. Not to mention dirt and debris entering into the roof mechanisms, bad things can happen should you have a small hole or tear and the wind gets a hold of it. One of our fellow car owners on here went to an upholstry shop and had new pieces of fabric sewn in with new tenax fasteners in a better, "farther apart" position and it came out very nice. Hopefully, she'll chime in here or can maybe pist a pic of what she had done.



The only "tips" I think I can offer is that it seems to go on better if you start at one of the rear corners and work your way around. I usually do the velcro stuff last, and yes, the seat backs can help hold it should the velcro not hold.



- Darryl

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Mark]

Now that my wife uses hers all the time it has definitely stretched and is easier for her. Mine is still a PITA but I never unhook it from the inside snaps, when is not in use it just sits in the back shelf area hooked into the trunk and snapped to the inside snaps.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Kim]

I have never had a problem. I start with the two snaps that are on the back deck, then the two near the seat belts, then the rest. I have rear seats so I always make sure that they are down before I even start. Fits perfectly, just tight enough. Maybe your roof closure mechanism is not bringing the top down enough and that is why it is too tight. Try to lower the top manually once and see if it makes a difference.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

a couple of things are probably happening:



first, you have to make sure that there are no kinks in the window - this may take some doing, but this is the only way to insure that it goes down all the way



second, the boot cover goes BEHIND the shoulder belt mounting point, NOT over it - this is a very common mistake - the swivel of the shoulder mount should be fully exposed



third, it is canvas - canvas shrinks over time

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[924s]

[quote name='flash' post='41883' date='Sep 30 2007, 07:33 PM']second, the boot cover goes BEHIND the shoulder belt mounting point, NOT over it - this is a very common mistake - the swivel of the shoulder mount should be fully exposed[/quote]



Thanks for the pointer - I was trying to put it over the shoulder mounts. I'll try it again next weekend.



I put the car into the shop - I think the starter is going.



Please keep the pointers comming - the book does not do a good job showing how to put this dammn thing on.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

yeah - it also does not tell you that you really should put a towel down over the window before dropping the top - this will absolutely prevent the scratching and marring of the window - mine is original and looks brand new

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[gryphon]

My 93 Cab came with a sealed in plastic, never installed, boot cover. The first installation was very tight but moistening it with a water from a spray bottle helped a lot. Now it's a snug fit and looks great when installed.



Tom

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ldeprat]

[quote name='flash' post='41896' date='Oct 1 2007, 04:41 PM']yeah - it also does not tell you that you really should put a towel down over the window before dropping the top - this will absolutely prevent the scratching and marring of the window - mine is original and looks brand new[/quote]



I think the real damage that can occur is the "white line" that forms from the inner surface of the plastic window rubbing against the top of the rare seats. This is only prevented by using the tonneau (cover) and tucking the front flap in beneath the folded window with the velcro fasteners, like the manual says.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Coolgrammy]

Darryl said it best. Start at the corners and work your way toward the front. I never attach the two snaps in the very back--just close the trunk over the flap. Then attach the velcro last and simply push the little seat back until it latches. I say simply--it's not all that easy, but it will keep the cover nice and solid. Then when the top is up, I simply unsnap the tonneau and fold it down into the back, leaving it attached with the velcro as that's the most difficult part to reattach. Hope this helps.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[caar]

Make Velcro Extensions

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[rxter]

I got through 1/2 of this before I realized that either 924s solved his problem long ago, doesn't care any longer, or may be dead for all we know. Use the boot, love the boot.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[DayDreamer]

What Kim said... I never have a problem.. drop seat backs, clip on cover at trunk hinge, clip on inside panels and tuck flap behind seats backs and i'm good to go. How low does your roof get when fully open? I've seen car that don't go as low. Mine drops flat.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[tamathumper]

I had my boot repaired with the Tenax fasteners 1/8" lower/further than original to relieve the issue somewhat, but it still is an undertaking to get connected - in fact it keeps me from putting the top down very often because it's a little too much of a pain in the butt.





Someone mentioned soaking it while open - I'd be afraid that would make it shrink even more?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

i've gotten mine very wet before - i wash it fairly regularly - never a shrinking issue



i am working on providing brand new factory units

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Langley968]

Although the Boot Cover is not easy to install, I usually do not mind carefully installing it and removing it. It means that it is dry and I get to experience "topless" driving! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

But... it sure was a PITA to remove "quickly" when it started raining this past Saturday! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

We had just started the bi-weekly Porsche Breakfast Run with 37 P-cars, when it started raining. There was no sign of rain at the "start" point, so I had left the top down. A few minutes out on the open road it started raining and came down strong the whole way to and back from Squamish! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

I pulled over and had to act quickly to get the boot off and the top up before it started coming down hard. A GT2 and a GT3 turned around and drove very slowly back because they had no traction in the wet! "Poor" guys... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.