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Cockpit Covers

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79MGB16

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Anyone have any experience with the cockpit covers moss sells? here is the link: https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=37105
If so what are your opinions?? GOOD, BAD???
It looks like it would be useful in Texas as I could leave the top down all the time and it would still be protected. Also looks like it would keep the black seats a little cooler.
Thanks
 
I prefer a tonneau, but I've been considering finding or making a waterproof cockpit cover for the semi-wet months when it may rain unexpectedly and I want to leave the top down. If it were a Miata I'd just put up the top when I park, but when the top is stored in teh trunk it's a bit of a pain! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I'm with Steve, I prefer the full tonneau, which you just leave snapped on the car and folded back (and snapped) whenever the top is down. Because it's got a zipper down the middle, you can drive around with the passenger side all fastened, then when you park it, just pull the driver's side up over the steering wheel, zip it up, fastened two snaps, and you're ready to walk away. The full tonneau keeps the seats cool and keeps rain, leaves, passersby out. (Well, if you get a torrential rain, you might get some leakage through the zipper. A tonneau bar helps.)

A cockpit cover would probably do a better job for keeping rain out and be useful when you park it at home. Although still seems like a pain to have to throw it over the car and fasten it. (It hooks under the wheel wells or something, doesn't it?)
 
Moss says "without the bulk of a full tonneau or car cover."

Looks like the cover is bulkier than any tonneau I have ever seen.

Bruce
 
I agree with those mentioning the tonneau is better. I have both. As I thot the cockpit cover would be easier to deal with but it really is not. As someone mentioned the way it hooks up to the car is mickeymouse and I had to do som changing just to get to stay on. do not have an MG I have a TR3 but think the result would be the same.
 
Bought one of the Cockpit covers from LBC. I really like the cover for when I drive the car to work and want to protect it from the sun and dirt. It is NOT waterproof and has holes in it for air circulation I guess. Everybody who sees it likes it. Takes only about 20 seconds to put on. I added velcro straps to the back straps as they get clamped by the lid. With the velcro I just strap it to the Luggage rack. I like it but it doesn't replace the tonneau cover.
 
I have one for my Miata. A friend gave it to me right after I bought the car (he had just sold his Miata). I have never bothered to use it on the Miata because the top is so easy to put up. Our street Spridget has a tonneau cover but that car has an easy-to-fold up top too (like the Miata), so the tonneau isn't used often (although I like the way it looks).
If I had a car with an "erector set" top (like a TR3 or MGA), I might be more inclined to use a cockpit cover or tonneau.
As stated already, the cockpit cover's not waterproof, so it has limited use. Mostly, I throw mine over the race car to keep dust out of it in the garage.
 
So it seems the opinion is that the tonneau cover is better, just trying figure out which would be best for me. Thanks all for your input, It was very helpful
 
Looks like for the money I will purchase the cockpit cover and try to fix the tonneau cover I have(the snaps are all worn out) Any Tips On Fixing The Tonneau Snaps?? Mainly the button in the front??
thanks
 
I,ve had both and found the cockpit cover much easier to mess with than the taoneau. Rain still found it's way into my car with the tonneau, especially around the dash area. After any decent shower, I'd have water dripping off the bottom edge of my dash onto the carpet. Not a problem with the cockpit cover
 
I had a tonneau years ago on my 68 B. It leaked along the zipper and rain would bounce off of it onto the windshield and drip down to the dash.

I've also lived in El Paso, TX (without a B)and it seems that the wind and dust would easily get up under a tonneau's edges.
 
The cockpit covers Moss sells aren't waterproof at all - although a light misty rain probably will be "ok". Instead - shop around and look for a cockpit cover made by Cover Craft made from "Weathershield" material. It is waterproof to the point that you can make a birdbath from the stuff, but is like a very lightweight nylon material.

I know I've found them on-line somewhere for the Miata and S2000, haven't looked for the MGB yet - you can check with covercraft directly.

UPDATE: They don't have a listing for the MG (still would be worth a try). I have one of the lightweight non-waterproof material ones for the Miata, when I get a chance I'll put it on the MG and see how it fits. The Miata car-cover fits the MGB really nicely, maybe the interior cover does too!
 
Here's what one of the non-waterproof cockpit covers made by CoverCraft looks like on my MGB. The cover is made for the Miata and is a lightweight car-cover material, similar I think to what Moss sells. The "Weathershield" cover by CoverCraft for the Miata should be from the same patterns. You can roll the front edge a little to tighten the middle of the cover, then the wipers hold it in place over the windshield. The two cut-outs for the Miata mirrors don't quite line-up, but the velcro straps are long enough that you can tighten them up pretty well. That, combined with the four hold-down straps keep most of the cover tight. The only problem area I see is the strap that goes under the trunk-lid. The cover is cut wide there for the Miata so there's quite a bit of slack. In a heavy wind it might flap a little, but with the side-straps I think water would (for the most part) run right off the sides.

Incidentally - this weathershield material is incredible stuff. In a heavy rain the water runs right off, to the point that the fabric hardly stays wet. The process is embedded into the fabric unlike something that's scotchguarded.

Something to consider I suppose.

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Robert,
Got a cockpit cover and like it. Folds up pretty small and while tonneaus are a little more convenient and honestly look better, for the money, the cover works great and is better at keeping the rain out. Try rolling up the windows half to 2/3's of the way up and it stretches it out to really make the water run off and keep it from sagging. Grew up in Florida where torrential rains are the norm and I can't tell you how many times I came out to my Sprite or MGA and had to get buddy to help undo tonneau and roll the water back so it didn't dump in the cockpit. Also you can get some leakage through the zipper. Not as much a problem where I am now as we don't get as much rain. When I get all the mechanical work done I will eventually get the tonneau for looks.
 
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