Tonneau cover installation

[Tim64]

Hey Guys,
I'm looking into installing a tonneau on my truck. Yeah, I know I'll have to use the snap on kind, which means drilling, but I'm going to have to start hauling my band gear in it, and it needs protected from the weather. Brothers has them. Do any of you guys have and recommendations? Has anyone installed one of these? Any ideas, or tips?
Thanks,
Tim

[mnky30]

you can get one made at a fiberglass company that will coustom make it all you need is to drill holes up by cab. i had one on my 64 gmc long bed it was fiberglass also.

[Tim64]

Man you guys would not believe the trouble I'm having finding someone to install a tonneau cover. Bothers, and Classic Parts both offer one of my truck. I've called damn near every place around Dayton, and most of them say we can't get one. The others say we don't do those kind anymore. I tell them I can get one, and they say sure you can. I'm very leary of doing this myself. I need a way to cover my band gear and that was the only idea (that I could afford) I could think of. A hard custom fiberglass one would be great, but I'm thinking that's gonna be costly.

[jchav62]

When my '62 belonged to my brother in the 80's, he had a tonneau cover made at the local upholstery shop. Made it from scratch and it was nice... I'm sure they can still do it that way. Have you tried the route?

As far as the fiberglass ones, they are costly... Gaylords make them for our old trucks..

[jkaylor68gmc]

I believe Extang may be making one now.

[64c20crewcab]

Gaylords has been making the fiberglass ones. Not sure if they have one for your/our rigs. I'd like one for my LB.

[19GMC63]

Gaylords does list our trucks for 2 out of their 3 types of covers. Here's the first one.

http://www.gaylordslids.com/applic_tl_series.php

It might be worth checking into tim

if you look into prices, let me know.

[Tim64]

Brothers has a nice fiberglass one for $1,200 bucks. I'm just not looking to spend that kind of jack. I'm just a poor old working man. haha

[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.

[Tim64]

Hey Tony,
Yes, it looks like I'm going to have to make it myself. I was thinking of using plywood, but I was afraid with it covered in black vinyl it would get so hot it would warp. Did you have any trouble like that? Thanks for the idea I think it's the way to go.
Tim

[LILRED66]

Originally Posted by Tim64

Hey Tony,
Yes, it looks like I'm going to have to make it myself. I was thinking of using plywood, but I was afraid with it covered in black vinyl it would get so hot it would warp. Did you have any trouble like that? Thanks for the idea I think it's the way to go.
Tim

Tim:

You can use any color you want, but I didn't have any trouble with warpage. Since I made a cover for a lwb fleetside, I used three sheets of 3/4" marine-grade plywood. I figured the overall size and doubled-up the layers at 90 degrees to each other of additional dimensional stability. I used wood glue and 1-1/4" nails or screws to secure the two layers together. You might also apply a good quality wood sealer to the entire core before putting any foam or vinyl on it.

[M1A1TankerTom]

LMC sells a tonneau. Its a black leather snap on one that comes with a frame that clamps to your bed so you dont have to drill into it. They only run around $250. I was looking into running one on my truck.

[joe231]

clamp on for a step side?

[M1A1TankerTom]

oh, the OP didnt say anything about a stepside, now that I look at his avatar I should have guessed. Sorry the LMC one is for a fleetside.

[billysbowties]

Hey Tim:

I built one of these years ago for a truck I had, basically exactly like Tony has made. I used the two pieces of 3/4" marine grade plywood turned 90 degrees and another piece underneath screwed and glued together. I rounded the corners and sanded the edges over on the sides and back. I used treated 2x2's so that when it was on the top of the bed the 2x2's would set right in side the bed sides. I completely soaked all of the wood with deck preservative. I used vinyl top padding and also the vinyl top material which are both wider than regular upholstery material and made for outside usage. Pulled tight all underneath and stapled. The hatchback shocks I got from a salvage and mounted them inside the 2x2's and on the fenderwells. Used a piano hinge up front made from stainless to attach it and rubber seals on the sides and tailgate to seal it. I used spring loaded hasps on the back inside each bed side to keep it pulled down tight and I use a pop&lock (tailgate handle lock) to keep it all locked up. I hope this is pretty easy to understand what I just said, even though I have been doing upholstery work over 30 years anybody should be able to do this.

BB Also Tim, I used a dark chocolate brown material and it didn't warp.