Cargo Area Tonneau Cover (hatch back).

[matt_a]

Do any of you with a hatchback actually use your tonneau cover? I personally don't care for the design of the one we get with the Versa. It seems like it's always in the way. The V is my wife's car and she uses the cargo area a lot for her job (back seats down usually). She got tired of moving it around so now it's stashed under the guest bed in our house.

[kc5f]

I often carry musical instruments, so the cover is handy for keeping the sun off of them. I've only had to take it off once, when I had the seats down with lots of luggage and boxes and a bicycle on top.

[ThirstyRoss]

I put all my stuff in the hatch, under the cover, so that no thieves are tempted to break in

[Lenixma]

I use it all the time too!Yesterday we stuffed 4 full size tour (cart) golf bags, and shoes and extra clothes and 4 cases of beer and the cooler all under the cover.

Everything was safe and outta the sun!

I even keep it on when I have one seat down (For my hockey sticks) and my hockey bag in the trunk!

BTW personally i think it is the best design out of the previous covers i have had on cars!

[matt_a]

I guess I should have been a little more clear. It does work nice if you leave the back seats up. I like it to keep things out of sight. But if you frequently have the seats down like we do, it's in the way more than it helps. I drive a Scion xA (little 4-door hatch) and the cargo cover in that car retracts and rolls up like a window blind. I kinda like that design a little better, but it still gets in the way if I put the rear seats down.

[Legacy40k]

I leave mine in with the seats down most of the time. The fact that it drapes down means I can still hide things in the back and out of sight.

[Martin Roy]

I took it off a few weeks ago and never put it back on. It always get in the way: Helping a friend move (lots of boxes), driving my folks to the airport (luggage), ... Since I never leave anything of value in my car for a long period of time, it's not useful for me.

[matttail]

I put the seats down fairly frequently, as well as storing stuff behind it so others can't see it. It's very easy to pop off, and I toss the cover up so it's laying right behind the front seats where it's out of the way while carrying large cargo. Then when I'm going to put the seats back up, I open the side door, pop the seats back and grab the cover and snap it in the back.

It's never been a big deal to me to switch things around and I would not want to be in a situation where I couldn't make a stop of the computer store or something for not having a way to cover up my possessions.

[Ever Victorious]

i usually keep it in for security reasons. my insurance is liable for any customer parts i am carrying... so i like to keep stuff out of sight.

[matt_a]

i usually keep it in for security reasons. my insurance is liable for any customer parts i am carrying... so i like to keep stuff out of sight.

Makes sense. What type of work do you do?I'm actually thinking about getting the rear hatch glass and maybe the small windows to the back doors tinted. I think it would look nice and it would provide some privacy for the cargo area. The thing is, here in PA it's actually illegal to tint the windows of a car. If you have a van or SUV they can be almost black. But a car can't be tinted. How stupid is that?

[Ever Victorious]

Makes sense. What type of work do you do?I'm actually thinking about getting the rear hatch glass and maybe the small windows to the back doors tinted. I think it would look nice and it would provide some privacy for the cargo area. The thing is, here in PA it's actually illegal to tint the windows of a car. If you have a van or SUV they can be almost black. But a car can't be tinted. How stupid is that?

I do field desktop/notebook/printer repair. My customers are usually hospitals or corporations, so the parts tend to be more expensive than what someone from the Geek Squad might be carrying. Also, I tend to carry more parts overall.

According to the info we have (look in the general FAQs in the info center section of the portal page), it's not ILLEGAL to tint in PA... but with a limitation of 70%, and the fact that the LIGHTEST tints are 50%, that kinda nixes everything.

[bikeman]

I take mine in and out all the time depending on what I'm hauling. It only takes a few seconds and I like the Versatility.

David

[matt_a]

That's funny...I'm a buyer for a hospital. So yeah, I know all about our stuff costing more.

There is a very well known (and very busy) tint shop here in town. When I called to get an estimate on tinting the windows, the lady said something like this:"I need to tell you that in the state of Pennsylvania, it's illegal to put aftermarket tint on the windows of any vehicle which is classified as a passanger car. If you have a van, truck, or SUV, it's ok...but not cars. We do tint on dozens of cars every week and most people don't have a problem unless they go too dark, but I need to let you know that up front."

[biggie]

but with a limitation of 70%, and the fact that the LIGHTEST tints are 50%, that kinda nixes everything.

Wow that sucks. I think the 35% limit here is rediculous.

[CopyChief]

I had it on in my car for the first few months I owned it, then I went on a long trip and needed the extra vertical space. I put it in the basement, and it's still there. My back windows are tinted so I'm not really concerned about security. My back seats are up almost all of the time, too. I do wish it was more of a windowshade design: My 1990 Ford Escort, sold many moons ago, had this same cargo cover design. I disliked it then and like it even less now!

[Althalus]

I like it, I use the little dip in the part that velcros to the back seat to hold my umbrella.

[DegnaRed]

It really seems like a hassle to take it in and out, with the straps and the snaps and the velcro and all. But I do it whenever I'm doing enough cargo to warrant it. I'm not sure why. Maybe I'll take it out for a while and see how I like it.

[Ever Victorious]

I find it very easy to remove. Takes me about 3 seconds to remove and 5 seconds to install.

[GoodbyeCavalier]

Ive left mine in, but i have taken the stings off of the hatch hooks, so when i open the hatch it stays flat

[Deke40]

According to the info we have (look in the general FAQs in the info center section of the portal page), it's not ILLEGAL to tint in PA... but with a limitation of 70%, and the fact that the LIGHTEST tints are 50%, that kinda nixes everything.

Be sure and check the classification of the HB as in the state of Texas it is not classified as a car but in the van\sport utility class and therefore I was able to have 20% installed on everthing but the front two doors.

[matt_a]

Be sure and check the classification of the HB as in the state of Texas it is not classified as a car but in the van\sport utility class and therefore I was able to have 20% installed on everthing but the front two doors.

Hmm...I will have to check that out. That would be awesome. Thanks!

[Martin Roy]

I have taken the stings off of the hatch hooks, so when i open the hatch it stays flat

That's actually not a bad idea ! I'll have to try that. Thanks for the tip. But doesn't this affect the maximum weigh the cover can hold on top of it ?

Somewhat of a bad idea here (I guess), who knows what kind of paint would be handy to draw a desing on that cover ? Just another way to customize my ride

[Ever Victorious]

That's actually not a bad idea ! I'll have to try that. Thanks for the tip. But doesn't this affect the maximum weigh the cover can hold on top of it ?

No... if you look at the cover when it's closed it is completely resting on a pair of guide "rails", one on either side of the cargo area cabin. The only weight limit of the cover is however much it takes to either knock the cover off its mount, or cause it to fold and collapse in the middle. Frankly, if you're putting THAT much weight on the cargo cover, you need to rethink how you're carrying cargo.

Quote »Somewhat of a bad idea here (I guess), who knows what kind of paint would be handy to draw a desing on that cover ? Just another way to customize my ride [/quote]The cargo cover is fabric covered. Not sure what kind of fabric, but it shouldn't matter too much as the answer is the same:

It would be far easier, and probably less expensive, to print out an iron-on transfer (like a t-shirt transfer) rather than to paint it.

[idunno22221]

i use mine all the time. i have subs in the hatch and i live in a somewhat shady area so try to keep it hidden to avoid being broken into!