1960-1966 Clam shells and Tonneau Covers

[Hantke]

So right now I have a 1966 C20, im debating between using either a clam shell (some people call them camper shells) or a tonneau cover styles bed cover. The tonneau would be great as i can put a tool box under it, but since the tailgate doesn't lock i would prefer a tri-fold cover (I can make my own if needed). On the other hand, I'm going to use this truck for construction work, and a clam shell would be awesome! but i've seen almost no pictures with them, and out of the few I have seen, most are odd.
Anyways, post some pictures and show off your truck!

[Clyde65]

here is my dads crew cab with a Gaylords lid on it.

[Hantke]

Now that's an interesting truck! Actually very similar color to what i considered painting my C20!

[markeb01]

I also have a Gaylord hard cover on my 1960 stepside:

[Clyde65]

Dad paid probably around $1500 for this "special" made beast, 8' long and for our truck which isn't "normal" size. It had to be trucked in. I have looked at Gaylord's is a very good brand, probably the only one out there that will make a hard cover for our trucks.

Oh and the color is Gunmetal gray

[Hantke]

Isn't 8' the standard size for a long bed? Haha. I like the hard covers, but how are they for getting to a tool box? I'm thinking about getting one of those in-bed boxes and I'd be in and out of it a lot. That's where the canopy idea came from

[Clyde65]

Not good for easy access, it is extremely heavy and the shocks go out too stinking often IMO. I think dad has replaced his 4 or 5 times in as many years.

8' is "standard" however our truck beds are not like any other, they are different than any other years.

[Hantke]

Oh okay, maybe the Gaylord lid isn't for me then, do you know if anybody makes a trifold tonneau cover for our trucks? Otherwise I'm back to looking for a canopy.

I also thought about making my own trifold cover, 3/4" PT plywood and covering. Seems easy enough.

[Cooper197]

I did a soft Extang cover for mine. I love it with one complaint, I didn't spring the extra $80 for the full tilt one, and I really should have. The full tilt functions like a hard cover, where the whole thing tilts up, or you can unsnap/roll back the cover.
I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal, but it'd sure be nice to be able to move the whole thing without unsnapping a ton of little snaps. Seems to be good quality though

[Hantke]

Originally Posted by Cooper197

I did a soft Extang cover for mine. I love it with one complaint, I didn't spring the extra $80 for the full tilt one, and I really should have. The full tilt functions like a hard cover, where the whole thing tilts up, or you can unsnap/roll back the cover.
I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal, but it'd sure be nice to be able to move the whole thing without unsnapping a ton of little snaps. Seems to be good quality though

is that the one that pops up to a soft-top canopy as well? or just the tonneau cover?

[Cooper197]

Originally Posted by Hantke

is that the one that pops up to a soft-top canopy as well? or just the tonneau cover?

Just the tonneau. I didn't actually know there was one that pops up to a canopy!

[Hantke]

Originally Posted by Cooper197

Just the tonneau. I didn't actually know there was one that pops up to a canopy!

I was wrong, the pop up canopy and the tonneau are two different things (damn, it seemed like a good one!). but they claim to make an aluminum solid / hard top 3 piece tonneau cover, but their website says a '66 C20 Longbed is a 6' bed, and the short bed is a 6' bed. So i need to get ahold of them and verify they can actually make what i need.

[ol_skool_chevy]

Here's what I did. It was a trail but i liked it enough that i will built it better next time this summer after its cut down to a short bed.

[Hantke]

That's awesome! how did you build that? i was thinking just a sheet of 3/4" PT plywood and some hinges + blocking, but that looks really good!

[ol_skool_chevy]

I used 3/4 marine grade plywood and foam carpet pad covered in vinyl and then the stainless stripes.
I would caution using the plywood...it molds if wet underside..and the foam pad soaked up the water where is screwed down the stainless. I would use playwood next time and i most likely wont use the stripes... but I did have a lot of compliments though the summer

[ol_skool_chevy]

it would open from either side