Opinions on my box cover idea......

[Nova_Cobra64]

Well, basically I am a penny pincher, and at the same time wanted to do something about the hideous box cover the PO put on my truck. I also don't want to drill holes.

So I got to measuring the tonneau cover that I had on my 1980 beater and found that it is nearly 4" wider and 2" longer than my 69's box. My first thought was taking it to an upholstery shop and having velcro stiched on, but then I considered that it would sag like it did on the 80 with the snaps.

So here is my current idea:

Put two sheets of plywood together and cut them so I it will leave 1" of the top of the box exposed all the way around. Router the edges, and then cover it with the tonneau cover from the 80 and attach it with hinges and shocks like for hoods and hatches.

Do you guys think this would be a decent idea or will it look dumb.

I'll see if I can find a pic of the PO's "conCRAPtion".

[Nova_Cobra64]

Can't really see much in the pic, but it is made of some kind of plexi glass. It sits about 1" lower than the top of the box, and hinges about 2/3 of the way down for access. The plexi glass is warped and the whole thing looks ugly.........when I had it appraised the guy said in his opinion, it was almost borderline to bringing the value down..........

[useRc10]

i saw a truck at a show where he made a tonneau from plywood and covered it in vinyl...looked good and i couldnt tell that it was handmade til he opened it and saw the plywood. It was at Bill Athey's (pickupman) show...he might have pics.
-Nick

[Adam12]

I would like to see some pics of that also, I have been thinking of how to do one for mine.

[Lippyp]

Your idea sounds good, I would just say make sure you put something like closed cell foam between the ply and the bedsides or any vibration may wear through your paint quite quickly. How about a sheet of that very thin aluminium treadplate on top of the ply,vinyl to finish it off, as the ply will take the strain it doesn't have to be thick. You will probably need to brace the ply underneath with something like 2"x" or over time it may sag.

I managed to lay my hands on some free 2" aluminium angle, enoght to go around the top of my box, so I'm going to build a frame that bolts down via the stake holes and then get a local company that makes/repairs the fabric sides for truck trailers to make a soft cover that snaps onto the frame including a hump for my spare wheel that sits up at the side of the inside of the bed. I'm going to use strips cut from a closed cell foam camping mat to insulate between the body and frame so no paint damage. Hey presto, totally reversible, no drilling the body for studs or hooks. I may also build some bows out of (probably) some steel electrical conduit I have laying around to help it shed rain.

[68racer]

Rain? Lancashire, surely not Lippyp.

[Lippyp]

We usually refer to it as liquid sunshine!! (and the sun has sure been shining today!)

[NSANE68!!!]

I built one for my Toyota about 8 yrs ago.

I used L brackets to counter sink it into the bed, the cover was solid to the rear wheel wells then it was piano hinged so only the back 2.5' would swing up and open. I covered it with hight density foam then black vinyl. Total cost was aroun $65.
It looked great and worked awsome, BUT if you live in an area with moisture that wood will eventually warp. Mine survived 2 yrs through Kansa winters.

[rambler]

use marine grade plywood, little more expensive but will last longer..... would love to see pics when you are done...

[dubie]

I had a home made cover on my 88 F150. The upper lip of the box had 3/4" angle iron bolted to the box so the cover would sit flush to the top of the box. THe cover itself was made from 3/4" plywood and was cut into 3 equal pieces. At both joints, it has hinged with regular door entry hinges so each section could be folded up. Then it was covered with some padding and topped with black vinyl. It looked pretty sharp but was fairly heavy if you ever had to remove it. I say go for it, it's your ride buds

[Eddie H.]

Another option is to just use plain old exterior grade plywood and saturate it with several coats of marine epoxy: http://www.raka.com./epoxypri.htm
( it's thin like water, and soaks into the wood fibers )
After it cures, the plywood is much stronger and completely waterproof. Then you can cover it with vinyl or whatever material you choose.

[Nova_Cobra64]

This cover will end up sitting on top of the bed and won't be sitting flush. This cover the PO made has pretty much ruined the paint under it on the hinged back half, so I want to cover that up.

I think I am gonna go for it. For what it will cost me, I might as well try.

[Blue Beard]

sounds like a good idea............

[Chevelle454]

This is totally off topic but...

Nova_Cobra64 - are you B-Man on the dirtbike.com message board?

[Nova_Cobra64]

Yeah, that would be me.
I think I remember who you are by the vehicles in your sig, but can't remember your name.

[Chevelle454]

My name is Rumpelstiltzkinon db.com.

I recognized your truck the second I saw it. You also had that old black chevy truck and a CR125 if I remember correctly. I'm getting more into trucks now that dirtbikes. I have a '72 chev that I'm doing a frame off restoration on...

[Smooth68]

I had a local camper shop make me a light weight aluminum frame from some measurements I provided for him. Welded up and out the door was about $40 - then bought a sheet of 1/8" fiberglass and covered that with foam and vinyl. Doesn't cost much and will last forever.

[MMGOODIE]

what do you think of this cover?

[darcane]

That's a nice looking tonnaeu cover. Who makes it?

The biggest problem I have with mine (standard solid flip-up type from Gaylord) is that half the time I put anything in the bed, it sticks up too high so I have to pull off the cover. With a sliding cover like that, I wouldn't have to keep pulling it off.

[71sub]

MMGoodie .... is the a Roll-n-Lock that's been modified for our trucks ? http://www.rollinlock.com/applic.html

[MMGOODIE]

i work for these guys so lets not talk about this anymore so nobody thinks i am soliciting. just keep looking in your LMC cats.

i just wanted to see if everybody else thought the same thing that i do and that's why i had one on my 71 LB.


btw that was a long bed that was converted by our maintenance guy. he did a great job