Ragtop cover question

[71BayinOkc]

My '55 has a grafted 58-63 4 round corner ragtop in it. My old canvas top became brittle and ripped so I bought a TMI Stayfast top from JBugs. I've got the assembly completely apart and can't for the life of me get the top to stretch far enough to get the bows into the pre-made slits for them. I can get them in one side but not both sides at the same time. It likes about an inch to inch and half from going in. Any trick to doing this? I've heard leave it out in the sun to get warm so it will stretch. I can't imagine it being able to stretch that much by being left in the sun. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks
_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)

[Bruce MacDonald]

I bought a headliner from TMI that had the same problem. When I contacted them they asked me to stretch it out on the floor beside a tape measure and email them a picture. Turns out it was cut too small so they sent me a new middle section. Give them a call.
_________________
Stop worrying about how much your car will be worth when you are dead and build it to make you happy!

[71BayinOkc]

I've contacted JBugs and sent them pics. They said there's no way the bows should be under that much stress while inserted into the pockets. They have forwarded the pics and info to TMI and I'm waiting to hear back as to what their response is.

Please let me know if there's anything I'm doing wrong or if I have my head in my ***. First time installing a ragtop cover.

Here are some pics.


This is with the bow inserted on one side. This shows how much stretching it takes to get the bow to go in both sides.

Heres what it looked like on the car with both sides in the pockets. A ton of stress on both sides

Pockets are roughly 32" apart. Bows are roughly 34" apart.

_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)

[0nebadbug]

Yeah I had this issue with the first one I purchased from them as well when we did our oval, the cover was an 1-5/8" narrower than it should have been and no way & no how it was slipping over the front bow or the trailing bows.

And yeah, same thing here, they asked for us to send pics showing the measurements & then instructed to let it sit in the sun as well and blah, blah blah (like we didn't already try that)... The max stretch I could get out of letting it sit out in the sun for 4, 5 hours was maybe an eighth of an inch tops, and even once hot I could still only pull about 1/3 of the top over the front bow until it began tearing the stitching apart. It took maybe about three weeks of playing email & phone tag with TMI and in the end they did step up and do right thing and replaced the defective cover and sent a properly made cover which did fit absolutely perfect.

I don't have any terrible things to say about TMI's products considering their prices... But you would think that they would be QC'ing their covers better seeing as this same width problem seems to pop up like the plague time & time again over the years here...
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::: Slowoval ::: LaDawri Sebring ::: '61 Creampuff ::: Dust Storm '66 :::

[57BLITZ]

For sure it looks like the cover was made wrong!

FYI . . . looks like you are missing the straps that are supposed to connect the bows.
_________________
Jesucristo es mi Señor y Salvador!

[71BayinOkc]

I appreciate the info guys. I had a feeling it was an error on TMI's end, but I just wanted to double check. I hope it doesn't take 3 weeks to hear back from them, I have a show in a couple of weeks. Did they just send you another top? or did you have to send the faulty top back? I've already got it glued down the front and rear plates. (I probably should have dry fit it first I know) If I have to send this top back in order to get the new one its probably going to be destroyed from the contact glue.
_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)

[TMI Products]

Looks like i'll do what I do best and apologize.

It looks like a manufacturing error where the stitch went though the lower and upper panel and shouldn't have because it closed the bow pocket. I spoke to the sewing team to inspect the 10 being made now so it doesn't happen again.

The one you have we will field destroy so we don't need it back.

I am going to expedite another one and hope to have it out by Friday.

Please PM me your shipping address.

Mario
_________________
Mario De Leon
1965 Turbo Mustang Fastback
1966 Type 3 Fastback
VW Division Sales Manager
[email protected]

TMI Products
1493 Bentley Dr.
Corona Ca, 92879
1-800-624-7960
951-272-1584 FAX

[71BayinOkc]

Thanks for the response Mario.

PM sent.
_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)

[motofly196]

I think I've said it before, and I'll say it again here... It's great to see a company stand behind their product in an open forum. Good on you Mario! With service like this, I won't hesitate buying both of my rag top covers from you!!

[71BayinOkc]

I agree. I also need to give it up to JBugs for the great communication and forwarding the pics and information to TMI. I've bought numerous products from both companies and I wouldn't hesitate to buy from either one of them again. I work full time and co-own two businesses myself, things happen, I get it. How you respond to issues and your communication is what sets you apart, and both of these companies have done that. Kudos to both.

Hopefully they are able to get that new top expedited out on Friday so I can make DubSplash in Texas next weekend
_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)

[TMI Products]

I can say the issue with yours might have been due to a new hire in the back and we had another color rag top on the shelf that was not sewn the same.

The pattern manager gathered all involved with that part and explained the issue. 4 out of 5 knew immediately what happened.
_________________
Mario De Leon
1965 Turbo Mustang Fastback
1966 Type 3 Fastback
VW Division Sales Manager
[email protected]

TMI Products
1493 Bentley Dr.
Corona Ca, 92879
1-800-624-7960
951-272-1584 FAX

[aa390392]

Im very impressed with Mario and TMI.
Great to see super impressive CS.
Thomas
_________________
.
getting grumpy & less tolerant!


55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet

[tisius]

Good and quick solution
_________________
drive it like you just robbed the bank
you don't have to be crazy to be into VW's, but it sure helps!!
.... if it ain't dutch, it ain't much!

[71BayinOkc]

I messaged Mario on here as well as Emailed him Saturday just to double check that the replacement top indeed did get expedited out to me Friday. I've yet to get a response. With it being the Holiday weekend, I'm sure I'll hear something from him today. Not trying to be a pain in the butt but I need to get a top back on it.
_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)

[TMI Products]

New rag going out today, 2nd day shipping.
_________________
Mario De Leon
1965 Turbo Mustang Fastback
1966 Type 3 Fastback
VW Division Sales Manager
[email protected]

TMI Products
1493 Bentley Dr.
Corona Ca, 92879
1-800-624-7960
951-272-1584 FAX

[71BayinOkc]

Thanks Again Mario!
_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)

[71BayinOkc]

So I've got good news and bad news....

Good News: Received a replacement Ragtop cover yesterday via FedEx 2 Day shipping as Mario said I would.

Bad News: It's a Pinpoint Vinyl Cover as opposed to the higher quality Stayfast cover I initially bought.

::Sigh::

_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)

[tisius]

[71BayinOkc]

I have emailed and PM'd Mario. I'm not sure if it was just an honest mistake on their end or a miscommunication. I can't imagine him sending a pinpoint vinyl top if he knew my initial purchase was for a StayFast Canvas top. Waiting to hear back from him on how we can get this settled...
_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)

[71BayinOkc]

Received replacement. Correct sewing, correct material. All is good! Mario and Kristen at TMI got me taken care of!
_________________
Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

-------------------------------------------------------
1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD)