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Tim R.
Dodge Dakota
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8/22/2002
15:36:37
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 Subject: DIY tonneau?
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Has anyone made their own tonneau cover? I can't afford a real one and am tossing around some ideas to make my own on the cheap. Something like a piece of plywood cut to fit the outsides of the bed and using the rail holes with anchors to hold it on. Maybe even warp it on purpose so it'll shed water.
Lemme know if you made one or know someone who has. I'd be interested in hearing how it was done.
Tim
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Fred
Dodge Dakota
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8/22/2002
23:23:40
|  RE: DIY tonneau?
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i would also like to know
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dan
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2002
08:15:26
| RE: DIY tonneau?
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I have a good idea for you. You could buy just the clamps that usually hold down the rails on tonneau systems. I have the Sportmasters on mine and you could fashion a wood one by using the hold down clamps. on the top of the clamps is where the screw is to tighten it to the bed. you could always drill holes into your plywood and set the plywood where all of the drilled holes line up with the screw holes on top of the clamps. Then just tighten down the actual screws from on top of the plywood pieces. Only thing is, when you want to take the cover off, you would have to unscrew it at 4 points. You could always paint or stain your piece of wood to make it look nicer and even use a router to put a decorative edge on it. Make sure you get some kind of foam padding between the clamp and your bedrail. Wouldn't want metal on metal. Could also attach weather stripping or the like around the perimeter of your piece of wood so that it provides a better water barrier and that it too doesn't contact and scratch your bedrails. Hope this helps.
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Tim R.
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2002
08:22:01
|  RE: DIY tonneau?
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Dan,
Sounds like a good idea although I have an over-the-rail bedliner. That's why I thought using the rail holes at each corner since they're already there. Would those clamps you mention work on this type of bedliner? Where would I get clamps like that? I may try a quick&dirty tonneau this weekend just as a proof-of-concept. Heck, if it works I may just keep it there; paint it red&pewtew and paint a big Buccaneer attach flag on it!!! Kewl!
Tim
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dan
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2002
12:47:40
| RE: DIY tonneau?
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Hmmm. Let's see. Over the rail. Well you would have to do a little cutting then (maybe). You would have no problem with the top part of the clamp that sits on top of the rail. However, the piece that clamps up underneath the metal lip that runs on the inside of your bed may pose a problem. If you bedliner goes up underneath that lip and then wraps back over it so that you have a space (read "hollow") underneath your bedrail, then you can use the clamp since there would be space underneath the rail for the clamp to adhere to. if your bedliner on the other hand goes straight up and is away from the side wall of your bed, then there's nothing for the clamp to attach to so you would have to cut a small hole in the side of the bedliner in order to slide the clamp in. picture this. hold your right hand to form a "C". pretend you are standing facing the tailgate of your Dak. Reach your right hand across to the left side of your body and thus to the bedrail on the left (driver's) side of the truck. Can your thumb hook underneath the lip and up under the bedrail? and can your pointer finger clamp down on top of the bedrail? If so then no problem. If not then you'd have to cut. Does this make sense to you? Hard to put into words. Clamps you can buy from dealers that sell tonneau covers. I think you can just order these parts separate. Go to the SportMasters website and send them an email or find a shop in your town that sells SportMasters and see if they can just order you the clamps. If I get a chance, I'll take a pic of my clamps and email it to you. That might help. Don't have the Dak with me at work today so I can't snap off a pic right now. The Buc logo sounds cool actually. I still have to put my Steelers window clings up. ;-)
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Fred
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2002
14:08:36
| RE: DIY tonneau?
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how come you want another cover if you already have an over the rail one? what brand is that and why dont you like it? just wanted to know some information so i can get an idea of what to buy if i wanted to buy a cover
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yates-in-DE
GenIII
8/23/2002
14:21:21
| RE: DIY tonneau?
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hey Fred he has an Over the rail BED LINER not COVER.
Later,
MyVW Killer
Lynn
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Fred
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2002
14:24:15
| RE: DIY tonneau?
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hehehe sorry, i misread
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yates-in-DE
GenIII
8/23/2002
14:31:47
| RE: DIY tonneau?
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Cool, happens sometimes
later,
MyVW Killer
Lynn
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Tim R.
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2002
14:43:19
| RE: DIY tonneau?
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Dan,
I understand the clamp mechanics. Good explanation! My bedliner doesn't wrap so I'd have to cut. I think I'd rather use the rack holes then. Should work similarly. If I get it done this weekend I'll post pics. I'm also working up ideas for reinforcing the plywood so it doesn't go concave making a tonneau swimming pool, knowwhatimean? Another idea I have is to cut the plywood into 3 equal sections and use piano hinges to rejoin them. That way I have a poor man's retractable tonneau! Ideas are just flowing now! :)
Tim
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dan
Dodge Dakota
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8/26/2002
08:02:08
| RE: DIY tonneau?
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Tim,
Man o man. By the time you get done, you might as well just buy a tonneau! LOL
By the way, check your email, I am sending you clamp pics.
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