Which is better: full or half hood?

[Chris71]

What do you do if it rains? I've got a Soft Bits For Sevens half hood on the way and I've got the basis of a full hood (just need a few fixings) in the boot.

[ewenm]

Better for what purpose?

For keeping you dry and warm - full hood.
For keeping the worst of the weather off but still being easy to put up and get in - half hood.
For keeping the car dry when parked in the rain - full hood.
For staying comfortable enough in the rain when doing over 50mph - jacket.

Personally, in >70,000 Caterham miles I've never experienced the issues others have with the full hood. Mine keeps me dry, fits in under a minute, isn't too difficult to get in and out of the car with it on.

[buzzer]

where is the " I only drive it when its sunny" option

[Chris71]

buzzer said:

where is the " I only drive it when its sunny" option

There ya go buzzer... (edited!)

To be honest I intend to fit into this category as much as possible, but I was just looking back at my blog and some of the road trips I did in my last car. It would be good to head off to places like Wales and the Ring, but I'd need some sort of weather protection to do so comfortably I reckon.

On the subject of hoods, I have the canvas part (apparently ready to go) and I have the poles, but the hoops are just open ended tubes at the moment - I need to get hold of or fabricate the fixings that go on the end. After that will I need antyhing else to make the hood work? (The basic poppers are there for the tonneau/doors, I presume they're all you need for the hood?)

[JeffC]

numpty question but what is a half hood im struggling to imagine what half a roof is !

[Noger]

Like Half Doors, only on the Roof

http://www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk/page47aa.html

[Chris71]

Can anyone tell me about the fixings for the end of the hood poles? As mentioned above my hood sticks (hood frame?) are just open-ended tubes at the moment, but I think it's ready to go apart from that.

[ewenm]

Chris71 said:

Can anyone tell me about the fixings for the end of the hood poles? As mentioned above my hood sticks (hood frame?) are just open-ended tubes at the moment, but I think it's ready to go apart from that.

I can take some pictures tonight if you want.

[JeffC]

Noger said:

Like Half Doors, only on the Roof

http://www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk/page47aa.html

thanks for that, not sure I see the benifit of one of those mind!

[ewenm]

JeffC said:

Noger said:

Like Half Doors, only on the Roof

http://www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk/page47aa.html

thanks for that, not sure I see the benifit of one of those mind!

Keeps most of the rain off. Keeps a good airflow through the car. Easier to put up than the full hood. Can keep the sun off if you're touring somewhere hot (Mojave Desert 2005 for example ).