DIY temporary tonneau / bed cover?

[krockett]

Fits like the previous ones, this item also includes a strip of weather seal which may come in handy at the front or tail-gate depending on your alignment.

Cross bars fit, but are tight. Keep in mind that you can’t really lift the tri-fold cover if the bars are there.

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[Keysh2oboy]

Here's my attempt.

I picked up some 1 x 10 x 6' quality pine boards from the local big box.

Made a jig for my circular saw that I used to cut male a male v-groove (like an edge banding router bit would) on one edge and female on the other to allow each board to lock into the next.

Cut each board to 54 3/4" long, then used the power plane to take the bottom side of each end (about 1 1/2" in) down to .55" thick.

Lastly, cut the first board the long way, taking about 3" off, then put everything in the tonneau slot and measured for the last board and ripped it down to about 4".

Everything fits really well and the v-groove does a great job aligning the boards.

Everything will get a couple coats of primer, then a couple/few coats of black paint, and then the top (after masking the ends for the tonneau slots) is going to get some spray on bedliner to give it extra durability.

In for something like $140 with a quart of paint and two cans of bedliner. Weighs in about 44 lbs. Easily removable, will most of the time will live in the garage, but can be stuck in the bed or gear tunnel if I need to remove while out and about.

How has it been in the rain? Any leakage? Or did you use some weather stripping somewhere?

 

[wildcattdw]

How has it been in the rain? Any leakage? Or did you use some weather stripping somewhere?

I didn't do any weather proofing. It leaks a little bit, but not too bad. I didn't need to keep anything dry in there, just prefer the look and security for the occational haulling.

 

[Mfurman]

What is the length of the bungy cords used?

 

[strykerwsu]

Fits like the previous ones, this item also includes a strip of weather seal which may come in handy at the front or tail-gate depending on your alignment.

Cross bars fit, but are tight. Keep in mind that you can’t really lift the tri-fold cover if the bars are there.

Thanks for update. Any pictures near tailgate and back glass?

 

[deathernater]

Here's the build, cellular PVC. Sorry for the night pictures.

If you alternate the hinges front side and back side the cover should be able to fully vertically fold / stack?

 

[kozak79]

If you alternate the hinges front side and back side the cover should be able to fully vertically fold / stack?

It would, but the hinges a not very attractive. Didn't want to have them exposed.

 

[krockett]

Thanks for update. Any pictures near tailgate and back glass?

Been raining quite a bit here in sunny SoCal. Happy with the weatherproofing thus far from this tonneau. Water drops in bed resulted from the gate being opened for the photo and was not there prior.

 

[mini2nut]

Like the upcoming OEM 20” spare tire offering I am going to be patient and wait for the factory bed panels. I am hoping both will drop sometime in Q1.

 

[krockett]

Hoping as well, but my guide, who has generally very good information, could give nothing other than it should be available sometime first part of this year (which could mean early summer). I couldn’t wait anymore, and needed a temporary solution, especially at only ~$180.

 

[strykerwsu]

Been raining quite a bit here in sunny SoCal. Happy with the weatherproofing thus far from this tonneau. Water drops in bed resulted from the gate being opened for the photo and was not there prior.

Perfect. Thank you

 

[deathernater]

It would, but the hinges a not very attractive. Didn't want to have them exposed.

I plan on replicating this design, nice engineering man! Did you look into other hinges? Is the one you picked weather resistant like won't rust after a few weeks?

 

[kozak79]

It’s brass plated, should last long enough until an official cover is released.

 

[GreenOptimist]

Fits like the previous ones, this item also includes a strip of weather seal which may come in handy at the front or tail-gate depending on your alignment.

Cross bars fit, but are tight. Keep in mind that you can’t really lift the tri-fold cover if the bars are there.

Just ordered this same one. Thanks for the rec!

 

[SamDoe1]

My plan for a temporary manual cover will be to use Veranda Cellular PVC Fascia boards, 1/2" x 12" and 48" continuous hinges. Here's the design, which folds up for gear tunnel storage. My truck is white, so no need to paint.

I'm definitely going to do this.

Looks like Veranda also sells a full 4x8ft sheet of this stuff for $100 so that's a cheaper option than buying individual boards. What weather stripping or seals did you use and how's the strength with a load on top? Would it be worthwhile to add some aluminum c channel on the underside to help carry weight on top?

I think I'm going to make it in two piece panels so it all folds up nicely and keeps the hinges on the inside.

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