Parachuting effect and cause/fix?

[camarocruzer]

Hi all,

So I have seen the posts about the parachuting effect on our vert tops when retracted and no tonneau cover on.

For those who don't know what I am speaking of, when your top is down, and no cover is on, you're driving at highway speeds and see in your rearview mirror that the top is flapping.

I saw one post and I will paste what he said:

IMO the parachuting effect isn't a result of airflow from the front of the top edge (closest to the rear seats) but rather a result of the turbulance caused by the air whipping under the side edges. If it was the front, then the air restrictors should break up the airflow and stop it.. but instead they redirect the flow to the left and right and increase the flap in the top.

So my question is this -- has anyone else solved this issue with a personal DIY fix and can share the insight? I hate having to see this, and what I have personally done is raise my rear quarter windows and it helps somewhat.

I would like to see what others have to say.

Thanks!

[Indydriver]

Use the tonneau cover.

[Chevy_cowboy]

Originally Posted by Indydriver

Use the tonneau cover.

agreed, only time I don't use mine is when I'm just doing a quick errand around town and don't expect to see speeds above 35 or so... even then the flapping is annoying and disconcerting. The tonneau looks so much better and really isn't that difficult to install after you've done it a few times. I've got the older version with clips, can't speak for the new bungee version.

[Indydriver]

This is the reason I have developed a system utilizing an interior cover so that I can leave the top down and tonneau on for extended periods of time. I do not drive the car with top down and no tonneau. It's not only the movement of the top (which can't be good for it), it debris getting in there. As I've said before, if it was a complete garage queen, I would remove the top from the car permanently.

[Chevy_cowboy]

Thinking about getting one of those just to keep the dust out of the interior in the garage. If the car lived by itself, it probably would be a problem but the other half of the garage is dirt bikes and lawn mowers.

[camarocruzer]

yeah I get what all of you are saying.....I have the tonneau cover with the bungees and it's really good -- doesn't allow for any movement at all, and i've had it at high speeds as well.

just a pain in the ass to put it on and off all the time.....

[OrangeVert]

Have the interior cover, it's awesome! $110 or so well spent.

[Angrybird 12]

Try rolling the windows up when your are driving on the interstate, it will stop that completely. It will also prevent the tonneaus from blowing off at speed.

[Chevy_cowboy]

Originally Posted by OrangeVert

Have the interior cover, it's awesome! $110 or so well spent.

I thought it was kinda silly when I first saw it, but now I'm ready to order one.

Did you get yours from carcoversdirect? Which material option did you go with?

[Indydriver]

Mine in the pic above is Noah. There are four or five different fabric choices, each rated for various performance characteristics. I don't really use mine for rain although the fabric is highly rated for that. If I intended to cover it outside in rain, I'd just go ahead and get a full cover.

[Chevy_cowboy]

Originally Posted by Indydriver

Mine in the pic above is Noah. There are four or five different fabric choices, each rated for various performance characteristics. I don't really use mine for rain although the fabric is highly rated for that. If I intended to cover it outside in rain, I'd just go ahead and get a full cover.

Noah looks like a good choice, was thinking about getting the next higher priced one just because its available in black and would probably look better on our car, but it'd make the car hot in direct sun too.

I mostly want it for inside the garage to keep dust out of the interior, might use it when I leave the car in the driveway or visit family also just to avoid bird crap and pets from getting in. Even if the material is waterproof I'd think in rain it would pool on the cover and probably end up finding a way into the car unless it was just sprinkling.

How does it attach in the back around the trunk area? I see the door handle and mirror loops in the front.

[theragtopguy]

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

Try rolling the windows up when your are driving on the interstate, it will stop that completely. It will also prevent the tonneaus from blowing off at speed.

No offense meant, but I always thought ragtops look kind of goofy with the windows up and the top down......

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by theragtopguy

No offense meant, but I always thought ragtops look kind of goofy with the windows up and the top down......

I think they also look goofy with those windscreens many like.
Only time I put my windows up with the top down is either when talking on the phone, or the wind is too cold and I need to put the heat on. Last time I did it is when I noticed the flapping of the top stopped when I put the windows up.

[kevinw]

i agree, my top flaps alot too. i drove the car once without the tonneau, and that was the last time. i ended up looking at my rearview mirror more than concentrating on driving the car for fear the top was going to come out. plus the flapping cannot be good on the top itself. you would think the way it tucks down in the well, that flapping wouldnt happen. my gf has a sebring vert with no tonneau cover, and she goes on highway with no flapping at all. what gives?