How fast can you go with the hardlid up?

[zapher007]

I am thinking of getting a dog and just thinking on holidays etc i'd need to cart the dog to my parents to look after and also would be good to take to the river etc. But not too keen on a big dog inside the ute.

Wondering how fast you can drive with a standard GM hard lid up?

[bigdogdazza]

As fast as you like.....HaHa.

[chillicatqld]

seriously though.... mine blows down at about 40klm/hr.

[zapher007]

Looks like a LOOOONG trip to my parents at 40!! ha ha.

The hard lids look good and i like the idea of the cental locking and safety but far out they are useless. So many times i've been asked to use it for work and can't. I can't even do the mail run at work becase it's too low to get to the post office!!

[VZ_V8]

why not just take the lid off?

Im not sure if it uses the same setup as my Thunder cover, but if it does your only looking at about 5 mins to take on and off....

[zapher007]

Oh really? I had a bit of a look once and looked fairly involved. If it is easy yeah that's what i'd do.

[VZ_V8]

If its the same as the one on my thunder there are two pins at the front which you un hook from a retaining clip and slide out and the struts just have like a very large circlip type arrangement which you just pry with a flat blade screwdriver. Obviously requires two people though.

[bigdogdazza]

Now that it has been said I am really glad I stuck with the povo pack tarp. I use my ute for what it was intended a ute! I was recently contemplating a aftermarket H/lid but I guess now will forget it. My dog loves travelling in the back so much so he whinges when he sees me put on the tarp!:rofl::rofl:

[KCB50L]

Mines the old school flat one that they had from VU to early VZ, I've had it upto 70 with it up, mind you I don't do that regularly, the only reason I did it was I had nowhere to ditch it at the time. Normally I take it off.

[bigdogdazza]

Guess it will just depend on how much the struts will take to compress.

[RICECOOKER]

driving with it up runs the risk of it bouncing and the hinges bending and struts giving way, theres not a chance in hell i would drive with mine up

[CLUBRED]

Probably would create some sort of vacuum effrect and suck in the exhaust fumes anyways - anyone whose driven a car without a rear windscreen will know what i mean.

[seedyrom]

Break out the jig saw?

From the Camera Phone photos thread


http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee19/RARASV8/09102008237.jpg

[vyss2ute]

The easiest thing to do is to go to a hardware shop and buy 2x wooden broom handles or a length of dowel and a pair of cheap ratchet tie down straps. Cut the broom handles or dowel to the height that you want the lid to sit open + the depth of the tray.
Hook one end of the tie down to the factory fitted tab and the other to the plate of the lock (you may have to open up the tie down hook end a little). Stick the 'wooden props' in the tray and close the lid on top of them.
Ratchet up the tie down straps until you have just enough pressure on the props so that they won't move or dislodge easily. (You could even buy 2 U strap clamps at any hardware that has a plumbers section to stop the 'props' from going anywhere).

I've done this many times when transporting things like wheel barrows, chairs, furniture etc and have NEVER had the lid bounce up.

Just make sure your dog can't jump out of the gap!

[zapher007]

driving with it up runs the risk of it bouncing and the hinges bending and struts giving way, theres not a chance in hell i would drive with mine up

Yeah that is my fear. That the wind will get it and bend stuff.

[XUV]

Why do you need it up ??

your dog will be fine with the lid down ,
it'll have as much room as it has in the front passanger side .

and it'll settle better because it's cosy .

[chillicatqld]

Why do you need it up ??

your dog will be fine with the lid down ,
it'll have as much room as it has in the front passanger side .

and it'll settle better because it's cosy .

Oh yer and any exhaust fumes that may enter the canopy will quickly sedate him even more.... maybe even KILL him! :bravo:

[VZ_V8]

Why do you need it up ??

your dog will be fine with the lid down ,
it'll have as much room as it has in the front passanger side .

and it'll settle better because it's cosy .

WORST suggestion or opinion soo far :goodjob:

[darcy]

The easiest thing to do is to go to a hardware shop and buy 2x wooden broom handles or a length of dowel and a pair of cheap ratchet tie down straps. Cut the broom handles or dowel to the height that you want the lid to sit open + the depth of the tray.
Hook one end of the tie down to the factory fitted tab and the other to the plate of the lock (you may have to open up the tie down hook end a little). Stick the 'wooden props' in the tray and close the lid on top of them.
Ratchet up the tie down straps until you have just enough pressure on the props so that they won't move or dislodge easily. (You could even buy 2 U strap clamps at any hardware that has a plumbers section to stop the 'props' from going anywhere).

I've done this many times when transporting things like wheel barrows, chairs, furniture etc and have NEVER had the lid bounce up.

Just make sure your dog can't jump out of the gap!

Followed the same approach here.
Prop up and tie down so it doesn't bounce. :yup:

If you drive with it up, it will close itself, HARD.

[Lofty]

Oh yer and any exhaust fumes that may enter the canopy will quickly sedate him even more.... maybe even KILL him! :bravo:

the dog will be fine.
I used to drive with two dogs in the back of my ute with the lid down no probs at all.
No fumes get in my brother has spent 30 mins in the back.

[MJR-57T]

Break out the jig saw?

From the Camera Phone photos thread
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee19/RARASV8/09102008237.jpg


Thats awesome.

If you could get your hands on a second lid, you could cut a peice out so the dog has room and then have a fiberglass hatch that attaches with buckles underneath so that little people dont enter in the night and flog your gear

[LS1-5.7]

What about having it kept open about 3" to 4" with a rod lengthways and tying it down ? The airflow would be quite good due to the negative pressure area being created around the outside of the opening ... just a thought.

I think in any event you should get some goggles for the pooch :) oh and a mouth guard to keep the insects from drilling through his spine on the way out ! :) Have you considered letting the dog ride in the front and putting the missus in the back...... ? erm erm I think I'll go now sorry :(

[bigdogdazza]

the dog will be fine.
I used to drive with two dogs in the back of my ute with the lid down no probs at all.
No fumes get in my brother has spent 30 mins in the back.

:bravo::rofl::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao: Your brother was the guinea pig I gather? NICE WORK! HaHaHa:yup:

[steve_t]

Have you considered letting the dog ride in the front and putting the missus in the back...... ? erm erm I think I'll go now sorry :(

:rofl: Good idea if you like sleeping on the couch and getting no sex :rofl::rofl:
Put her in the back... good ol' Transformers :goodjob:

[MJR-57T]

Just go get an old sheet and drape it across the whole passenger side, center console, and foot well
Thats what i used to do for my boarder collie in my VT before i got the tonner
What sort of dog is it

[LS1-5.7]

Pffftttt who needs sex when you can own what we do ;) whoops ! is that the missus I hear coming ???

[ATOMIC MALOO R8]

THERE is a girl up here with a new 317 black maloo and has two big dogs in the back all the time she just has a post in the middle with a tyedown
lid SITS up about 10'