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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 8:57 am Post subject: Ragtop cover question |
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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
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1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD) |
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Bruce MacDonald Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Markham, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:22 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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! |
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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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
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1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD) |
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0nebadbug Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2009 Posts: 1087 Location: Rockford, Illinois
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:58 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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... _________________ ::: Slowoval ::: LaDawri Sebring ::: '61 Creampuff ::: Dust Storm '66 ::: |
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57BLITZ Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012 Posts: 2385 Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 8:16 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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 Seņor y Salvador! |
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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:10 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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
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1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD) |
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TMI Products Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2014 Posts: 744 Location: Corona, Ca
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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 |
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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:53 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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Thanks for the response Mario.
PM sent. _________________ Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow
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1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD) |
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motofly196 Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2008 Posts: 1467 Location: Eastern WA
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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!! |
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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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
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1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD) |
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TMI Products Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2014 Posts: 744 Location: Corona, Ca
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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 |
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aa390392 Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2007 Posts: 3602 Location: So.Cal
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Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 10:23 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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 |
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tisius Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2011 Posts: 1570 Location: Rotterdam,NL (+Chicago,IL)
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:40 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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! |
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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 7:36 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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
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1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD) |
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TMI Products Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2014 Posts: 744 Location: Corona, Ca
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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 |
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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 10:06 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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) |
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Back to top |
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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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) |
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Back to top |
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tisius Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2011 Posts: 1570 Location: Rotterdam,NL (+Chicago,IL)
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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tisius wrote: |
Good and quick solution |
hmmm...... quick and NOT so good 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! |
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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 4:28 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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
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1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD) |
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Back to top |
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71BayinOkc Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 105 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 8:39 am Post subject: Re: Ragtop cover question |
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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
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1963 Beetle Rag
1955 Oval Rag (SOLD)
1963 Single Cab (SOLD)
1963 Beetle (SOLD)
1971 Bay window (SOLD) |
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