Hood Recommendations.

I'm looking for recommendations for a hood with side windows for a Series 3 88.

The attached image gives you an idea of what I'm hoping to purchase.

I'm pretty sure this is from All Wheel Trim, the price is good and I like the size of the windows. The Exmoore Trim hood seems to have quite small rear and side windows.

I've heard both good and bad things about hoods from both companies, on the one pictured above the fit in the corner seems a bit suspect.

While at Newbury for the spares day a showed the image to Undercover Covers, they can replicate the window size for me but they are significantly more expensive.

Anyone have first hand experience of hoods from these companies, both good and bad.

Undercover customs done both series 1
Truck cab( plus rear cover with spare wheel)
Full canvas.
Our full canvas leaked twice but we complained & they swapped straight away no quibble.

Apart from the leak, how do you rate the fit and quality? Have you had any shrinkage issues.

Citizen Kane said:

While at Newbury for the spares day a showed the image to Undercover Covers,

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How much were they quoting? with side windows or not?

I got mine off of ebay brand new , for £200 5 years ago, no manufacturers name given. I think it is still shrinking, but then it has put up with a lot of abuse, One mistake I made was putting fabsil on it a couple of years ago , I reckon that has deteriorated the stitching.

I too have wondered why exmoor have those strange sized windows , seems odd to look at.

Cheers

£390 from Undercover Covers WSW, £320 from All Wheel trim WSW. Mine lives outdoors, canvas will only be fitted for the summer.

Citizen Kane said:

canvas will only be fitted for the summer.

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LOL. generally opposite to mine where the canvas comes off in the Summer and if necessary it gets the bikini top fitted.

Is a big price difference, wonder what the material used is like in comparison. I see exmoor say it is special canvas and they are £330 ish.

Cheers

Citizen Kane said:

Apart from the leak, how do you rate the fit and quality? Have you had any shrinkage issues.

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Not really shrank. Tightened up as they said it would. The truck cab on all year and lives under a carport so can still have the odd bit of wet on it
Unsure if the series full canvas are the same but ours looked a bit short where it folds round rear.
I think undercover do the side windows removable with big zips?
Leak came through the stitches.

Hope this helps

I got an undercover covers full hood no side windows for my series 3. Did a lot or research and they seemed to have very few bad reviews, which the other companies had plenty of. I though they were a great company with very good customer service and the quality of the hood is very good. The first one was a little tight across the windscreen rail causing the front corners to lift and after a quick phone call and some pictures they replaced it with no questions. The second fitted perfectly. Mine lives outside all year round and has been on for 18 months and is still perfect with no leaks or shrinkage. It has all tightened down onto the frame as they should but still fits well. If I was to get another one I would not bother shopping around and would just go back to them.

dag019, do you have any pictures of your hood fitted, especially from the back, interested in seeing what size the rear window is.

Seems like Undercover Covers might be the answer.

Thanks.

Citizen Kane said:

dag019, do you have any pictures of your hood fitted, especially from the back, interested in seeing what size the rear window is.

Seems like Undercover Covers might be the answer.

Thanks.

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I cannot find any specifically showing the back so let me know exactly what you want pictures of and I will take some for you.
I do not have side windows in mine, but I know they offered different sized rear windows so would have thought the saem was true for the sides. They make them themselves so can be completly bespoke if you wanted something specific. There is a small/medium and large rear windows. Mine is medium which I believe is the original size but apparently most people want the large so they can see more in the rear view mirror. Unless it is raining the back of mine is rolled up when driving so this is not a problem for me, and in my opinion the only thing the rear view should be used for is to check the trailer is still attached.

dag019 said:

I cannot find any specifically showing the back so let me know exactly what you want pictures of and I will take some for you.
I do not have side windows in mine, but I know they offered different sized rear windows so would have thought the saem was true for the sides. They make them themselves so can be completly bespoke if you wanted something specific. There is a small/medium and large rear windows. Mine is medium which I believe is the original size but apparently most people want the large so they can see more in the rear view mirror. Unless it is raining the back of mine is rolled up when driving so this is not a problem for me, and in my opinion the only thing the rear view should be used for is to check the trailer is still attached.

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Would be really nice to see a picture from the back so I can see the rear window. Any other pictures showing the general fit would be good as well. Many thanks.

Citizen Kane said:

Would be really nice to see a picture from the back so I can see the rear window. Any other pictures showing the general fit would be good as well. Many thanks.

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Please see the below. If you want any more photos let me know. I can try and get one with the back rolled up so you can show see the rear side fitting in more detail if needed. It is a much better fit than the blue one shown in your first post and fully wraps around and encloses the rear. Please ignore the wedding ribbons on the one showing the front, I forgot to take a front view.

Many thanks for the pictures. I see what you mean about the fit at the rear and I like the size of the rear window.

A better pic of the rear with the hood rolled up after enjoying today’s sunshine:


I think the rear window I have is the factory standard size for a series 3 and is the medium size offered by under cover covers. The small size is from series 1 and early series 2. There is then a large size which I think looks silly. But apparently is the most popular.

+1 on undercover covers, very good reputation. heard many moans about Exmoor non about undercover

Many thanks for all the replies. Went with Undercover Covers in the end.
I had custom size windows done in the end, 3" deeper than their standard small size.
Fitted today and very happy with the results.

Looks really nice! You've done a great job. I recently completed the same using the Exmoor product and am very happy with the result. I'm really enjoying the shade from the top while being able to motor with the side and rear curtains rolled up. Got a lot of compliments from the other horse racing fans at our local Steeplechase event last weekend.

offshoretitan said:

Looks really nice! You've done a great job. I recently completed the same using the Exmoor product and am very happy with the result. I'm really enjoying the shade from the top while being able to motor with the side and rear curtains rolled up. Got a lot of compliments from the other horse racing fans at our local Steeplechase event last weekend.

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Where did you get the pioneer tool kit for the rear tail gate from? I was thinking of fitting a set to my series 3 and seeing yours (same colour) has confirmed that it will look great.

It was all in place when I purchased the vehicle. I've seen the tailgate parts at Rover North. https://www.roversnorth.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=RNK011&type=3
They also sell the shovel but not the pick axe handle and head. I think the shovel, pick axe handle and head, are made in the U.K. by Richard Carter. The shovel originally had a chrome section above the blade into which handle is inserted. It was rusty when I acquired the vehicle and the wood in need of some attention. I redid the wood on both pieces and painted all the metal finishes black. Carters still sell the shovel but you won't find it in all black as pictured.

offshoretitan said:

It was all in place when I purchased the vehicle. I've seen the tailgate parts at Rover North. https://www.roversnorth.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=RNK011&type=3
They also sell the shovel but not the pick axe handle and head. I think the shovel, pick axe handle and head, are made in the U.K. by Richard Carter. The shovel originally had a chrome section above the blade into which handle is inserted. It was rusty when I acquired the vehicle and the wood in need of some attention. I redid the wood on both pieces and painted all the metal finishes black. Carters still sell the shovel but you won't find it in all black as pictured.

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Many thanks, I have seen the rovers north set but that is a long long way out of my price range.