Do you have a half hood for your Caterham?

[Saudio]

I need to open trailer my car next week and the weather is looking iffy.  I have a full and a half hood, neither of which has ever been on the car.  

 

Would a half hood and doors keep the interior sort of dry?  Or should I go to the trouble of installing the full hood?  I presume a Caterham was built for some occasional rain to get in the cockpit.  

[Austin David]

I drove about 4 hours through various rain at highway speed with the half hood, then back a day later with full hood. 

 

The half is better at lower speeds, but it's liveable.  You get a little blowing around the sides behind the door, but not terrible.  Your boot gets wet but not a LOT lot.  If you are just talking about trailering I'd probably go with the full hood, tbh.  Neither of them are much fun to drive with, so if the question is really "which hood do I install while it's on the trailer" maybe just go for the full monte.  Attachment is about the same.  If you're asking whether to install just the straps for the half, or the frame for the full, I'd leave the frame off

[CBuff]

I just drove thru some pretty heavy rain Sunday with half hood and doors. Pretty much stayed dry. Some blowing rain. 
 

soft bits makes a storm cap (like shower cap) that is specifically designed for towing. just watch the sizing and where your mirrors are etc when ordering 

https://www.softbitsshop.co.uk/slr-storm-cap-1032-p.asp

 

[Saudio]

13 hours ago, Austin David said:

I drove about 4 hours through various rain at highway speed with the half hood, then back a day later with full hood. 

 

The half is better at lower speeds, but it's liveable.  You get a little blowing around the sides behind the door, but not terrible.  Your boot gets wet but not a LOT lot.  If you are just talking about trailering I'd probably go with the full hood, tbh.  Neither of them are much fun to drive with, so if the question is really "which hood do I install while it's on the trailer" maybe just go for the full monte.  Attachment is about the same.  If you're asking whether to install just the straps for the half, or the frame for the full, I'd leave the frame off

Thanks for this, exactly what I need.  My frame is already installed on the car so I guess I'll use it.  I'll just need to trailer it before I put the hood on because I can't get in the car with it on. ;-) 

 

[Saudio]

11 hours ago, CBuff said:

I just drove thru some pretty heavy rain Sunday with half hood and doors. Pretty much stayed dry. Some blowing rain. 
 

soft bits makes a storm cap (like shower cap) that is specifically designed for towing. just watch the sizing and where your mirrors are etc when ordering 

https://www.softbitsshop.co.uk/slr-storm-cap-1032-p.asp

 

Thanks, this is a great idea and I might end up with one, but it's too late to order for this trip.  

[CBuff]

https://www.softbitsshop.co.uk/bespoke-half-hoods-56-p.asp

 

[Saudio]

_{That's the one I wish I would have gotten instead of the Caterham one.  That clever escape hatch would make it possible for me to actually drive with a roof.}  

[Vovchandr]

I like what these guys advertise

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHFeGoYlYqS/?hl=en

 

[slowdude]

I just bought a used one from 7s and classics for 100GBP (vs the 375 GBP new).

 

Super easy to set up, and takes up significantly less space in the trunk of a regular S3. Once it gets colder (late sept), I'll switch back over to the full hood.

 

I am impressed by the quality and how much easier it is than the whole hood.

 

Edit: I'm not sure if I'd pay the full amount for one. It almost covers next to your head but not quite. Once I get it through some rainstorms I'll let you know how much I like it over the full roof.

Edited July 16, 2024 by slowdude

[Lancefitzgiben]

I too have a half hood from soft bits and it's on the car 90% of the time. I also have a shower cap from soft bits that I've used when the vehicle is parked outside with weather potential. If I were towing with an open trailer and rain was a concern, I'd use the full hood. It will seal the best and flap the least. I'd worry about the shower cap flapping around and wearing the paint.

[Grady]

On a trailer I would do the full hood. You will have more turbulence sitting on a trailer and more likely to have water swirl around and get inside. 

[pethier]

I have the full hood with the zip-open rear window.  My Irish skin likes shade, so I like to have the top on when it is sunny. With this setup, I have no need of a half-hood. 

 

I do have to roll the rear window, since the roll bar prevents the window from just lying down as i did in my Stag and my Miata.

 

I have discovered that the folding doors that came to me with the car can be put into and out of the boot through the back window.  The FIA roll bar does not prevent this. I carry each door in a huge pillowcase.  Of course I have removed the mirrors from the doors.

 

A loop of cable-tie through the tiny zipper tab makes it much easier to operate the rear window if rain threatens.

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 2024 by pethier

[pethier]

On 7/1/2024 at 5:10 PM, Saudio said:

II presume a Caterham was built for some occasional rain to get in the cockpit.  

The way I prepared for some occasional rain to get in the cockpit is to remove all the cockpit carpet except for over the transmission tunnel.  

[slowdude]

6 hours ago, pethier said:

I have the full hood with the zip-open rear window.  My Irish skin likes shade, so I like to have the top on when it is sunny. With this setup, I have no need of a half-hood. 

 

I do have to roll the rear window, since the roll bar prevents the window from just lying down as i did in my Stag and my Miata.

 

I have discovered that the folding doors that came to me with the car can be put into and out of the boot through the back window.  The FIA roll bar does not prevent this. I carry each door in a huge pillowcase.  Of course I have removed the mirrors from the doors.

 

A loop of cable-tie through the tiny zipper tab makes it much easier to operate the rear window if rain threatens.

 

 

Full hood when fitted properly holds off the water extremely well. Went through some all day rainstorms with minimal water ingress and it was only by the door hinge.

[pethier]

13 minutes ago, slowdude said:

Full hood when fitted properly holds off the water extremely well. Went through some all day rainstorms with minimal water ingress and it was only by the door hinge.

The trick for me is to see the coming and have enough time to get the doors out of the boot and zip the rear window closed.

 

When I had a 1979 Caterham 1600 crossflow, I discovered it was easier to get in the car and then put on the door.  Those doors didn't fold, and I have not yet tried this with the foldable doors.

 

I have found that it is easier to mount the doors quickly if one has shortened the upper hinge pins by about 1/4 inch.  This allows one to align the upper hinge after the lower hinge is already started.  Aligning both hinges at once is difficult enough when I am standing outside, but doing it when I am already seated makes makes me entirely too  much fun to watch.