Luggage Cover

[mrumbongo]

I want to fit a luggage cover into my 2003 Tdi Ghia but have no clips to do this. How do I get hold of the parts to fit one of these? None of the covers on e-bay come with any kind of fixing kit.

[Dave-G]

:lol: unless you are very adept with tools such as a stanley knife / hacksaw / jigsaw etc you dont ^_^

 

This is something to be considered when buying the car, IE if a large part of its use is intended to be as a large estate car / load lugger.....or large family / passenger vehicle - which is why they are sometimes called people carriers.

 

B) Although they are officially described as estate cars (and most estates have covers) I think that if you did a survey,most would be sold as people carriers,with only a small minority wanting to remove the rear seats for load space.

 

It does however seem a shame that the manufacturers did'nt put the holders in place to fit optional extra covers though :lol:

 

This is best done as a factory fit option when ordering a new car

[Guest nimrod]

Its not just the outer brackets that need to be fitted! under the rear quarter panels are two metal support brackets riveted in place, as Dave states you would have to quite precise in your measurements before you go cutting holes in the quarter panels and further still you would have to remove the quarter panels in order to fit the inner support brackets!

there is however a company that sells aftermarket load covers! will dig out the company's details later for you

[Guest nimrod]

companies details are..........

CLIMAIR UK

1 Station Parade

Station Road Sidcup

Kent

DA15 7DB

Tel: 0181 309 7744 Fax: 0181 309 5177

[mrumbongo]

Thanks very much. I'll give that company a call. I don't think I'm up to advanced car surgery just yet. It does seem a real pain that if you can't afford a brand new Galaxy and you buy used that you can't buy something that comes as an option on new models.

[Denis]

Would be interested to hear how you get on m8, I'd like one of those for my own Galaxy.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Try using the "search" feature - it's been covered before, with photos too IIRC.

[italiastar]

Are Ford having a laugh - the luggage cover an option on the Ghia !!!!! - It doesn't even get the auto dipping mirror - I admit I like the ford for looks, but you real VFM - you know what I'm going to say - just don't try fitting mudflaps to one.

 

Do you really need the luggage cover - I took mine out when I bought the car and it's been cluttering up the halway ever since. The problem is that it can't be fitted behind the two rearmost seats (unlike my previous Spacewagon) so unless you are using you Galaxy in 4/5 seat mode, it just introduces a storage problem. If you want to buy one try ebay - theres one currently advertised.

[sh55123]

I contacted my local VW dealer (I have a 96 VR6 Sharan carat), and they supplied me all the parts I needed to fit it.

 

The only problem is that there are no instructions, and it doesn't look very easy at all - has anybody ever fitted the brackets to a car without them, and if so, do they have any details/photos? I have had a look at the inside of the rear interior panels where the main brackets are supposed to go, and there appear to be indented markings on the insode of the panel that look to be the correct shape for the supplied brackets. The problem is how to fit the metal brackets that go underneath, and actually hold the weight of the cover/tonneau.

 

Any help gratefully received! :P

[Ivor_E_Tower]

No, but coming soon in the "customising" section will be some photos of my home-made luggage cover. It consists of a nice grey travel rug from Halfords (which almost matches the grey interior of my Gal - I couldn't find anything suitable in black), some lengths of wood, bolts/nuts/washers, velcro and an expanding net curtain track. It fits over the rearmost seats when they are folded forward.

[sh55123]

Successfully managed to fit a genuine 2003 sharan load cover to my 1996 vr6 carat! Useful info to know that the covers do not appear to have changed even thouugh the 'new' shalaxy has undergone quite a number of changes.

 

If anybody wants more information about how to do it and what parts to get, then add a reply to this messaage thread.

 

I would like to point out that the process does involve removal of both rear side trim panels, cutting them (although template marks are provided on the inside of the panels) and about 4-6 free hours!!

 

:(

[andyr75]

I am very interested to find out how you managed to fit the cover.

I have one standing in my hallway I got off ebay a couple of weeks ago but havn't ventured into the car yet!!

I need to go to the dealer to order the parts yet - what parts did you require??

I realise that the panels need to come off and be cut but it is interesting that you say they are marked behind??

Look forward to your reply.

Andy

[sh55123]

The parts required are as follows:

 

2x metal brackets that you actually 'rivet' to the inside of the rear wings. These are black painted angular metal brackets that have three holes punched in them for the rivets. The corresponding rivet holes on the bodywork are already present.

 

2x Large plastic tonneau 'carriers'. It is these that the tonneau actually fits in to. Ensure that they also supply 4x large philips head screws that fit these fittings to the metal brackets listed above.

 

2x Small plastic catches for the rear (for the tonneau to clip in to once fully extended). NOTE - VW will also need to supply the self tapping 'nuts' (in fact they are more like clips with a hex head pressed in to them) to retain these plastic fittings to the rear panel from behind.

 

My VW garage even supplied a bag of rivets, which was excellent, as I have no idea what size they are (but thet were fairly large with thick stems that were a bugger to fit!!)

 

That should be all you need in the way of parts.

 

Now on to the fitting... (I will do my best to explain this from memory!)

 

The main aim is to remove the rear side panels. These are secured by a couple of those nasty plastic retainers (as fitted to the door trim panels) along the edge next to the rear doors. To safetly 'pop' these off, remove the door seal rubber along the edge that meets the rear trim panels and pop them off by levering them with as screwdriver.

 

Remove the plastic retaining screws along the bottom of the panels (1 long one on the near side, 2 shorter ones on the offside).

 

Remove rear and middle row seatbelt anchor points.

 

Remove rear pillar trims either side of the tailgate, as there are rear panel retaining screws that need to be removed. There are also another pair of retaining screws nearer the bottom of the panel, but I cannot picture exactly where they were located - they are fairly obvioud though.

 

Remove the plastic panel that runs left to right along the floor where the tailgate latch is. Remove the left & right tailgate latches.

 

The panels themselves are best removed by pushing them upwards, as the top edge at the bottom of the rear windows is clipped to the bodywork just like the door panels. Once the panel is removed, you will see the cutout marks indented into the rear of the panels where you would expect to find the (large) front tonneau holder (right near the small rear speaker, if fitted), and the (small) rear tonneau retaining clips. I used a drill to mark out a coarse outline of this shape, drilling right through the panel in about 15 places (ouch!!). Be assured that as long as you stay exactly within the markings, the hole will NOT be too large. Once the outline was marked, I used a sharp stanley knife to cut throught the top surface trim (velour in my case). The rest of the hole can be cut out using a jigsaw etc.

 

Once the holes have been cut, rivet the metal brackets in place using 3 rivets a side (believe it or not, these strange shaped brackets marry up perfectly with the holes on the inside of the wing).

 

Fit the small plastic tonneau retainer clips to the rear of the panels while they are off, and don't forget to drill the 2 holes needed for the plastic legs these fittings have on them to pass throught the trim panel, allowing you to screw on the strange self tapping nut/clip things (this description will be far clearer when you have the parts in your hand!)

 

With the rear plastic tonneau retainers securely fitted, refit the rear panels, again by clipping them in to the top edge of the inner wing first at the bottom of the rear windows, and then clipping/screwing them back into position . The large hole you have cut for the metal brackets should leave the brackets clearly visible through the hole, and should accommodate the large plastic tonneau holders. These can now be inserted into the hole and screwed to the newly fitted metal brackets underneath (using the large philips screws mentioned earlier), thus providing the strength to hold the tonneau in place.

 

Next, spend ages tidying/refitting little bits of trim throughout the inside of your cherished vehicle - there will be sawdust and bits of velour (or leather!)everywhere from where you cut the holes etc.

 

The satisfying bit comes when your tonneau clips securely into the perfectly fitted large plastic carriers, and clips neatly into the small rear plastic retainers. If the trim is all refitted carefully, and the holes cut accurately, you shouldn't be able to distinguish the end result from a factory fitted option.

 

Best of luck to anybody who attempts this, although it is not as daunting as it looks if you are fairly handy and into a bit of DIY!! If anybody wants more clarification, just post another message. One thing I will say is that a copy of the ford TIS cd (look on EBAY) is invaluable when it comes to removing/refitting the panels, although there is no documentation on how to actually fit a tonneau!!

 

:huh:

[andyr75]

Thanks for the long description.

I have been to the dealers and ordered all the parts you described - the dealer was most helpful and identified all the components you listed.

The parts will arrive wed or thurs next week and I am going to tackle it the following weekend.

I will let you know how I get on.

Andy

[PopDorset]

Encouraged by newbie's post, I printed off the instructions and armed with more confidence went and did two rash things...

 

*Bid for a secondhand tonneau on e-bay. (won it! there were 4 at the time incredibly... all went for about

[Another?Maybe!]

Just discovered this thread as new post added.

 

When I bought my current Galaxy I asked for tonneau cover as part of the deal as I was unhappy to have exposed luggage... my previous car, Ford Maverick 4x4, came with one.

 

So dealer agreed. When I collected I was told: 'if we had realised it would take all day to fit we wouldn't have done it, or we would have charged you for it'! Mind you, my current Ford dealer doesn't see many Galaxys so the mechanics tend to learn on the ones they do see! Anyway, I'm glad they fitted it as am very pleased with it.

 

I understand the load cover is now a standard fitment on Alhambras but still an extra on the Ford version. Something to bear in mind.

 

PeteR

[Guest nimrod]

I just spent a couple of hours in a breakers yard stripping out several Galaxy's, Alhambra's and a Sharan in order to collect all the parts needed to fit the tonneau cover, all in I got all the parts needed,the seat belt retaining clips, a drinks holder,several door card clips, a set of darkened side repeaters and a few other clips, bulbs and screws that slipped into my pockets :o all I need now is the cover, now wheres the link to Ebay :lol:

[Guest nimrod]

Well I just bought a load cover off Ebay :D was in a bit of a bidding war with a couple of other people so the price shot up near the end :D and I lost :D

never mind there's a couple more up for grabs! and thats what I did, grabbed one by hitting buy now button and got it cheaper than the guy who just out bidded me :lol: now all I need to do is go pick it up! I can feel the company fuel getting a hammering! all those Nectar points I'l be getting this week end :o

[Guest nimrod]

Well the brackets are fitted :angry: only took 2hrs plus! but most of that time was due to having to eat ice cream and watch Bob the builder on the DVD with the youngest :angry:

strange that his dad is called Bob as well and is a builder! talk about nepotism :angry: and the speed the guy works at is incredible!

[Another?Maybe!]

What's a 'door card clip' ?

 

PS. Must get one of those pictures to accompany my name! How do you do it?

 

PeteR

[Guest nimrod]

What's a 'door card clip' ?

 

 

It's the plastic clip that holds the door card to the door, also used on a few other panels as well, best way to describe it......it looks like an Xmas tree! the base slots into a slot on the door card and the branches are pushed through a hole in the door panel locking it in place

 

 

 

PS. Must get one of those pictures to accompany my name! How do you do it?

 

Hit the MY CONTROL button near the top of the page, then hit the Edit Avatar Settings button anf follow the instructions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

[Another?Maybe!]

Nimrod

 

1. Gotcha!

 

2. Thanks (guess I need to get a picture first, bit like cherished numbers, ones you see look good and you think 'why didn't I think of that', but how do you do/get some original thinking!!)

 

PeteR