Is Tonneau Cover Idiot Proof? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

SpeedRacer350 · 09-02-2016, 09:55 AM

Every time I put on the tonneau cover, I'm afraid my wife (who has no idea what it is, where it is, or that it even exists) will drive to the salon and just put the top up. Will this break it or something else? Or is it designed to handle this situation and pop off neatly, fold itself up, hop into the back and put on a seat belt?

Baba · 09-02-2016, 10:36 AM

It's happened to me a couple of times over the years where I'd forgotten that I had the tonneau on and attempted to raise the top. The tonneau cover will not pop off, from my experience.

It can definitely damage parts of the frame, top fabric and or the tonneau cover itself. The manual does specifically state to ensure the tonneau is removed to avoid damaging these components.

SpeedRacer350 · 09-02-2016, 11:19 AM

Yikes, that's what I was afraid of. Thanks for the info.

flipstyledsm22 · 09-02-2016, 02:16 PM

I've feared trying to put my top up with the tonneau cover on, especially if it starts to rain on you and 'in-the-moment' you forget there is something back there restricting the top from coming up. Hope no one actually damages their top in any way because of this mistake.

Good question though!

SpeedRacer350 · 09-02-2016, 03:27 PM

yeah, these things are like $300-400!

Smokin19 · 09-03-2016, 06:56 AM

I don't even want to think about doing this, it would be a VERY costly mistake.

vegas girl · 09-04-2016, 12:18 PM

I'm a bad vert owner...I admit it....the tonneau cover and windscreen have never even left my trunk,,,,EVER in 3 years!!!

flipstyledsm22 · 09-06-2016, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegas girl

I'm a bad vert owner...I admit it....the tonneau cover and windscreen have never even left my trunk,,,,EVER in 3 years!!!

Well, it's never tooooo late

The tonneau cover makes it look 100x's better!

NYCamOwner · 09-07-2016, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegas girl

I'm a bad vert owner...I admit it....the tonneau cover and windscreen have never even left my trunk,,,,EVER in 3 years!!!

I leave my wind deflector on all the time, even when I do not have the top down. I love the look of it, and how it cuts down the wind from behind. The tonneau cover just gives the car a cleaner look over the well, I try to use it all the time but the only thing that bothers me is what the OP mentioned, or someone did, about the pop up rain shower....

vegas girl · 09-07-2016, 08:40 AM

The rain shower...would happen to me for sure.
Left work other day....sun was shining....my drive to home is 10 minutes. On the way it starts POURING!!!!!!!! Had to pull over on shoulder of freeway to put top up. It rained for a total of 90 seconds but it came down!!!!!!

SpeedRacer350 · 09-12-2016, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegas girl

I'm a bad vert owner...I admit it....the tonneau cover and windscreen have never even left my trunk,,,,EVER in 3 years!!!

I don't recommend leaving the cover in the trunk. I left mine in there for a couple months, and the heat caused the vinyl to separate from the plastic.

vegas girl · 09-13-2016, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedRacer350

I don't recommend leaving the cover in the trunk. I left mine in there for a couple months, and the heat caused the vinyl to separate from the plastic.

Maybe I should look at it....it's been in the trunk for over 3 years....and temps here in summer are 115+

samman11 · 09-22-2016, 01:11 PM

Here's a great idea. If you're going to let your wife drive the car, why don't you actually show her how to put the cover on and take it off. Explain how it must be removed if she decides to put the top up. Or, if you believe she would forget, simply make sure that the Tonneau cover IS NOT ON when she drives it. Simple.

TOO.BAD · 09-27-2016, 01:02 PM

I hate to admit it but i was recently at a car show with the top down and all of a sudden it was about to start raining. I frantically tried to put the top up and it wouldn't go up. I tried several times with no luck. As I was pulling my manual out to see what the problem could be one of my friends at the show yelled over to me and told me my toneau was on. I felt like a real jerk! Luckily no damage was done. The car must sense when there is to much of a load and shuts off electric motor. I put the top down at the beginning of summer and don't usually put it back up until fall. I try real hard not to drive in the rain!

09-02-2016, 09:55 AM	#1
SpeedRacer350 3rd Gen Camaro Aficionado Drives: '14 Camaro RS/SS Convertible Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Sonoma Valley, CA Posts: 46 View My Garage	Is Tonneau Cover Idiot Proof? Every time I put on the tonneau cover, I'm afraid my wife (who has no idea what it is, where it is, or that it even exists) will drive to the salon and just put the top up. Will this break it or something else? Or is it designed to handle this situation and pop off neatly, fold itself up, hop into the back and put on a seat belt? __________________ -Mike '14 Camaro RS/2SS L99 convertible - wine country cruiser '13 GMC 3500 SLE CC Dually Duramax - tow pig '87 Camaro - 10 second drag car that runs 11s

09-02-2016, 10:36 AM	#2
Baba Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT RS Convertible Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: USAREUR, CONUS/DOD-A, VA Posts: 1,745	It's happened to me a couple of times over the years where I'd forgotten that I had the tonneau on and attempted to raise the top. The tonneau cover will not pop off, from my experience. It can definitely damage parts of the frame, top fabric and or the tonneau cover itself. The manual does specifically state to ensure the tonneau is removed to avoid damaging these components. __________________ 2011 Camaro 2LT RS Convertible Summit White Black Leather 3 Pedals Build Date: 06/27/2011 Purchased: 07/30/2011 Title Received: 08/15/2011 1984 Camaro (3rd Gen.): Traded: 1987 "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss." Last edited by Baba; 09-02-2016 at 12:45 PM.

09-02-2016, 11:19 AM	#3
SpeedRacer350 3rd Gen Camaro Aficionado Drives: '14 Camaro RS/SS Convertible Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Sonoma Valley, CA Posts: 46 View My Garage	Yikes, that's what I was afraid of. Thanks for the info. __________________ -Mike '14 Camaro RS/2SS L99 convertible - wine country cruiser '13 GMC 3500 SLE CC Dually Duramax - tow pig '87 Camaro - 10 second drag car that runs 11s

09-02-2016, 02:16 PM	#4
flipstyledsm22 Let's go fishing! Drives: a car with 8 cylinders Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Seabrook, Texas Posts: 1,129 View My Garage	I've feared trying to put my top up with the tonneau cover on, especially if it starts to rain on you and 'in-the-moment' you forget there is something back there restricting the top from coming up. Hope no one actually damages their top in any way because of this mistake. Good question though! __________________ "When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I’ve never tried before." Mae West 1892-1980

09-02-2016, 03:27 PM	#5
SpeedRacer350 3rd Gen Camaro Aficionado Drives: '14 Camaro RS/SS Convertible Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Sonoma Valley, CA Posts: 46 View My Garage	yeah, these things are like $300-400! __________________ -Mike '14 Camaro RS/2SS L99 convertible - wine country cruiser '13 GMC 3500 SLE CC Dually Duramax - tow pig '87 Camaro - 10 second drag car that runs 11s

09-03-2016, 06:56 AM	#6
Smokin19 Drives: 19' ZL1 A10, w/pdr Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: S.W. ohio Posts: 1,584	I don't even want to think about doing this, it would be a VERY costly mistake. __________________ BTR Stg II cam w/ 38% fuel lobe, ARH 2" headers into 3" w/cats, Kong X port, Weapon X triple ht exchangers, NW 103, Rotofab big gulp, DSX lowside, TCM tune, BMR Lockout, Mustang dyno 720 rwhp, 634 rwtq on 93 pump.

09-04-2016, 12:18 PM	#7
vegas girl Drives: 2013 2LT/RS BRM convertible Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sin City Posts: 352 View My Garage	I'm a bad vert owner...I admit it....the tonneau cover and windscreen have never even left my trunk,,,,EVER in 3 years!!! __________________ 2013 2LT/RS BRM Convertible

09-07-2016, 08:40 AM	#10
vegas girl Drives: 2013 2LT/RS BRM convertible Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sin City Posts: 352 View My Garage	The rain shower...would happen to me for sure. Left work other day....sun was shining....my drive to home is 10 minutes. On the way it starts POURING!!!!!!!! Had to pull over on shoulder of freeway to put top up. It rained for a total of 90 seconds but it came down!!!!!! __________________ 2013 2LT/RS BRM Convertible

09-22-2016, 01:11 PM	#13
samman11 Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Convertible Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 671	Here's a great idea. If you're going to let your wife drive the car, why don't you actually show her how to put the cover on and take it off. Explain how it must be removed if she decides to put the top up. Or, if you believe she would forget, simply make sure that the Tonneau cover IS NOT ON when she drives it. Simple.

09-27-2016, 01:02 PM	#14
TOO.BAD Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Convertible Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 260 View My Garage	I hate to admit it but i was recently at a car show with the top down and all of a sudden it was about to start raining. I frantically tried to put the top up and it wouldn't go up. I tried several times with no luck. As I was pulling my manual out to see what the problem could be one of my friends at the show yelled over to me and told me my toneau was on. I felt like a real jerk! Luckily no damage was done. The car must sense when there is to much of a load and shuts off electric motor. I put the top down at the beginning of summer and don't usually put it back up until fall. I try real hard not to drive in the rain! __________________ Mild to Wild Switch, Roto Fab CAI, Big Gulp, Washer Relocation, Ported Throttle Body, Rough Idle Road Race Cam, Supporting Valve Train Upgrade, Dynatech Long Tube Headers Ceramic Coated and High Flow Converters, Injector Dynamics 1025 cc, 22.5%Overdrive Balancer Pulley, Fuel Pump Voltage Booster, Moroso Catch Can. Jannetty Installed and Tuned. 675 RWHP 630 RWTQ 11.325 1/4 Mile Time @ 124.53 MPH