Exmoor trim hood life expectancy

[Ken]

Regarding weight of material. My partner grew up on a farm and both her and her father ran series.
She came on the Exmoor trim tour too and was also surprised at the light weight of the canvas. She remembered how heavy the original material was.

[geoff]

Some while back I bought an original used tilt for my 86" and when I picked it up from the sellers house I thought they must have two tilts packed up for me by mistake !!

The UCC one it replaced fitted ok and looked good but only lasted 5 yrs - it died in 2015

I recently said on Forum " Given the way modern canvas rots, from all suppliers, the tin roof will be a la mode "

I should have gone further and predicted a big price surge coming for tin tops and a price tank for rag top frames ...

Sharks teeth So thats what's killing off our canvas   

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

Look what we do, not what we say we do.

My brother has a passion for Swedish rag-tops. His Saab is 22 years old and whilst the canvas has faded - it's not proper black anymore - it's still more than serviceable. But then it was never cheap. The problem Exmoor will always have is LR owners. Face it, we are legendary for being tight, with A-Levels in entitlement, with degrees in they-shouldism.

I am sure it's possible to produce Saab-grade stuff, but... more so on short-runs, with labour; proofing etc etc it'd be double, maybe triple the price - and minded to the constant carping seen on forums - would the bulk of us pay it?

Yes, yes, some of us would, true enough. Even then, only in hindsight. Exmoor sell what sells and the truth is rude. For an ornament, something you pretend with, yet never truly use?

The bulk won't pay.

[Alan Drover]

Many years ago I bought a pair of Exmoor Trim high back seats for my Series 3. They're in need of a clean but there's no sign of any wear and tear on them and they're very comfortable.

[geoff]

Canvas quality goes way beyond restrictions on chemicals and processes ...

The crux of it for me is the continual drive by companies to make their cheaper to make and subsequently boost profits ...

We have now reached a tipping point with quality combined with the classic car movement being at shrinking point ...

With a potentential influx of tilts from Kenya ( Diffwhine ) we could see the existing companies go to the wall where they deserve to be and then and only then we might see a premium quality tilt being UK manufactured once again.

Ok we ( I ) can dream a little but seriously though something is going to have to change !!


A good friend and near neighbour has a new tilt on his SWB .... ( I won't say who supplied it so don't ask )

His tilt is 2 years old now and after living outside all that time - proofed twice a year as well - it is at the point of being crusty and my friend is afraid to take it off for the summer in case it won't go back on in one piece !

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

I'm Exmoor seats too. They're not factory quality then again, not factory price. Good enough.

The crux of it for me is the continual drive by companies to make their cheaper to make and subsequently boost profits ...

When customers won't pay more or buy in lesser numbers, other than put everybody out of work; go bust - what would you do, and how would you pay for it?

[geoff]

I'm a customer so not my problem   .... I'd put them out of work .... stupid question 

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

I can see how you're right. It's happening - classic car parts and supply businesses are going to the wall. I know of four I would use - all with unique skill-sets, knowledge and rare stock. Gone.

I suppose fewer suppliers is not our problem, yet can't help feeling - sooner or later - it is.

[jonhutchings]

I have just swapped my Exmoor trim bought in 2007, for a new one. In the last year it has started to leak and the straps had started to break due to rot. My LR lives (and always has) outside 24x7, 365 days a year so I guess I'll see what difference I get in lifetime. My immediate observation would be that it is better made, with better quality fittings and fits better than the old one, but the fabric is different.

[Richard]

Maybe use a protection agent from the outset? A Canvas Impregnation Agent like this one? Apply at least once every three months, they say... Zeilwasserij are a specialist in maritime maintenance
Richard

[gatekrash]

In the marine industry if sail covers, stack packs, sprayhoods ect only lasted 2-4 years there'd be multiple lawsuits and angry mobs with pitch forks decending on sail lofts. As an example our sail cover is at least 20 years old(used for 8 months out of the year) so fabrics are out there that will last. Sunbrella is one make I'm aware of.

100% this. We have just ordered a new cratch cover (the front canopy) for our narrowboat. The old one is 10 years old this year, but other than it's gone very green and we can't get it clean, plus some of the stitching is rotting out, the actual "canvas" - which is a PVC blend - is fine. And that's outdoors all year around, has been pushed through trees and undergrowth etc. the peopple making the new one said they'll give it a clean and fix the stitching for us once we've got the new one on the boat and it'll probably be ok as a winter spare for a few years.

However to put this in perspective, that new cover is nearly £1000. And it's a lot smaller than a Landy hood, albeit that it's having to be bespoke measured and made as no narrowboat has the same dimensions at the front.

I guess we get what we pay for.

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

I guess we get what we pay for.

Yup, the truth is rude, the issue is with us. Suppliers know us well.

[Boris60]

Wow food for thought reading through all the comments on the subject. Was quite looking forward to talking off the tin roof and plodding around with a nice new canvas. Had no idea re such a short life span, I personally would pay extra for a better product but the longevity of the product must be substantially greater than the price increase.
In the meantime may possibly wait for Diffwhines Kenyan suppliers to come on stream. 🤔

[Peter Holden]

Mohair hoods have a good life expectancy

Peter

[Gareth]

I've been thinking about this. I never expected this thread to generate as much response!

It seems that the flaw in the design of the Land Rover hood/tilt is that it forms natural creases in the top section in between the horizontal hood hoops.

These creases fill with water and detritus, which just sits there. Most people can't see this because like me, they are too short!

It's in these creases where my hood has rotted. The panels on the sides, front and rear are all fine apart from the small tear in my first photo (which could have been caused by a branch)

If a supporting panel was attached to the tops of the hoops, to form a smooth curved section which sat under the hood, it would help water run off.

I reckon this would need to be a perforated panel to allow breathing, and would need to be strong enough to support the hood in between hoops.

I've no idea what it could be made of, sheet of aluminium (expensive) sheet of ply (maybe too thick to bend around the curve) Perspex, plastic, not sure. Glue it to the hood hoops so no sharp edges presented.

What do you think?