[LILRED66]

Tim:

I made a custom tonneau cover myself. I used 3/4" marine-grade plywood and covered it with 1" foam and black vinyl, stapled on the underside. I hinged it at the front of the bed to the front panel and installed gas shocks for a hatchback car, available at your favorite local auto parts store (FLAPS).

All of the materials/parts are available from your local FLAPS, material store and hardware store and for a fraction of the cost of a fiberglass unit and more secure than a soft tonneau.

I suggest installing the foam around all edges of the plywood to eliminate any sharp edges and secure it with 3M, Super 90 contact adhesive. You don't need to staple it on the back because when you install the vinyl, it will be stapled over the foam and into the plywood.

I also suggest apply the Super 90 to the foam and vinyl when installing the foam, to keep it from sliding around and puckering up in the center. For visual effect, I installed vinyl covered buttons to give it some dimension, however this was on a lwb fleetside bed that had a lot more area. With a stepside bed, you may not need to have buttons to break up the area.

The other thing I really liked about the hard top was that I cound sit on it without fear of damage. For a more substantial look you can double the thickness of the cover by doubling up the plywood.

I hope this information is helpful and helps you get your band gear safe and secure.