110 County rear parcel shelf / retractable load cover

... is there such a thing? Has anybody tried to make one or 'adapt' one from another marque, or am I the only person who thinks it might be useful?!

Having sadly lost my Military 110V8 soft top of 15 years to thieving scum last month, I'm about to replace her with a 200Tdi 110 County (apparently I need something more practical, with seats and doors windows and less sharp metal or something – I wasn't really listening).

One thing I will miss with the 'new' one (aside from the V8) is the ability to lob stuff in the back and keep it out of sight, so I wondered if there was some form of retractable cover (or roller-blind!) for those occasions you just don't want everything on show? I know it won't stop anybody getting in, but I don't think it hurts to hide things, even if it's just the shopping or the tent etc when you park up. I've looked at a few 'universal' systems but none of them are big enough for the load area of a 110.

Quite surprised I've not found anything out there yet - has anybody had a go at something similar?

I've not seen anything mate. I have a set of storage boxes which fit in the back which are good for hiding things.

You could tint the rear windows which prevents anyone from seeing inside.

I dont know of any vehicles with a retractable cover that would be long enough to fit.

Would something like a mondeo estate or passat estate do? Dont know lengths but they are pretty long.

Im sure you could adapt up an old projector canvas?

Ello vilguy - tints could be an option, just thought they might look a bit bling on a battered rural landy!

You might be onto something with the projector screen though mattlumley - and I was wondering if something like a passat or volvo estate would be the right width / length. I might even ask one of those custom blind companies that make window blinds to your spec, as it's not the most complicated thing in the world, but i thought that might be harder to mount without permanently fixing it.

I have seen some long retractable covers that had a couple of reinforcing rods going across it to support the fabric so it didnt sag in the middle.

Bear in mind this is a 110 though and all someone needs to open your doors is usually a screwdriver or a 2p!

Yeah, there is always that! I used to open mine with the end of a teaspoon if I was in the workshop without my keys... This is more about trying to reduce the temptation to open aforementioned chocolate-teapot locks - particularly when coming back from Le Mans with a landy full of booze!

110Weasel said:

Yeah, there is always that! I used to open mine with the end of a teaspoon if I was in the workshop without my keys... This is more about trying to reduce the temptation to open aforementioned chocolate-teapot locks - particularly when coming back from Le Mans with a landy full of booze!

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ummm your doing it wrong

you go TOO Le Man's with a landy full of booze and come back with an empty one

I swap at half time - ARRIVE with beer, RETURN with cheese and wine to pacify the missus...

Should be pretty easy to make something with a concertina folding operation - maybe three panels, fixed behind the second row seats. A bit of light ply and piano hinges would do the job. Alternately, a Volvo V70 blind is fairly long, should be available in your local scrapper.

zeaphod said:

Should be pretty easy to make something with a concertina folding operation - maybe three panels, fixed behind the second row seats. A bit of light ply and piano hinges would do the job. Alternately, a Volvo V70 blind is fairly long, should be available in your local scrapper.

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I was thinking on the same lines for mine - it would need to sit on the inner trims just under the windows as I have a lockable box sat on the arch.

I was pondering a blind with rods through, but the panel idea is good too.

Without the box on the arch, I would just go for a couple of loft boards (tongue and groove) to sit on the arches

Not sure I'm talented enough in the carpentry department to make a folding ply shelf but the blind / rods idea might do the job. I'm with you Steveo, I'd want it just beneath the windows ideally, as I have a couple of cages that sit on the wheel arches that I'd probably want to use for ropes / stuff you always have with you.

I wonder if it's actually worth finding a blind shop and asking if they could make something? They don't seem expensive - far cheaper than parcel shelves - although I'm not sure about some of the material options... something nice and flowery perhaps...

Roman blinds - that's what they are called !

That's them! Can you get those on retractable rollers do you think?

I fitted a plywood board in the back of my 110, with a foam mat on top. This provides a flat load bed with a hidden storage area underneath.

I could probably manage one piece of board! I'd just need to add a roof-rack to carry the parcel shelf home if spontaneous loads appear when out and about!

110Weasel said:

I could probably manage one piece of board! I'd just need to add a roof-rack to carry the parcel shelf home if spontaneous loads appear when out and about!

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That's why I used a long loft board, cut in half - slide them out and lay them on the floor turned 90 degrees

I might go the hinged board route on the arches, and fashion something to support one end of the rear most board next to the box - I can then use it as a shelf if I don't want to squish the bottom row of goods!

you could get one of those retractable door type things you get on the back of some modern pickups, office furniture and some fancy (if you like that sort of thing) kitchens.

They are aluminium (for the decent ones) and look pretty swish

That's not a bad idea. Probably not cheap though.

Well if there's no 'off the shelf' route I'll start experimenting a bit - might see if there's a local blind company or a volvo to measure...

Funny, given the amazing amount of weird accessories that exist out there I thought someone might have come up with this one!

In my 90 I have a rather nice blue striped roller blind mounted along under the side window on nearside that i just pull across the rear to give privacy to whats in the back on occasions , I think it was for a kitchen window originally , it is supported at the front by the tub and just relies on a bit of tension at the rear door end

Ooh stripey, I like it! What does it hitch onto when deployed? I'm thinking with cages either side it should be quite well supported - the kitchen blind route is definitely the most appealing at the moment!