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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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12/01/2002
21:24:17
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 Subject: Tonneau covers
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Dan, how do you like your Saddleman tonneau? The wife wants to take a left coast trip next summer, but the only vehicle that we're going to have available is the Dak...can't take the Rodeo...it's leased and would be too many miles. I'm starting to think about a soft cover that'll keep some suitcases dry. I don't want to have to drill into my truck, though. I've never paid much attention to tonneaus. Any suggestions? Anyone?
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DakotaDan
*GenIII*
 
12/01/2002
21:44:58
|  RE: Tonneau covers
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Hey Pistol
You and your wife will enjoy the Dak on vacation, I had mine to FL 3 times and the wife loves driving it on the highway.
I've had my cover just a little over a year now, it is holding up good I didn't want anything taking away from the beauty of the truck that is why I went with the Low profile one it doesn't sit on top of the box rails. The only problem I've had with it is on the back cross rail at the tailgate the aluminum rivets popped out that hold the 2 pieces together, No biggie I just used steel pop rivets to put it back together and haven't had any problems with since. I ordered it at AutoZone it was about $175.
I have some photos of it, I'll try to post them at my TruckWorld Gallery this week.
http://www.saddleman.com/tonneaus/rail_tonneau/lowpro.html
Dan
Next Time You Think You're Perfect
~~~~~Try Walking On Water~~~~~
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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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12/01/2002
22:55:20
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Message:
Dan, thanks for the info! I've been looking at them on the net for the last hour or so. Have you seen an Extang tonneau? I was wondering how they compared to the Saddleman. They seem to be a bit more expensive. I haven't decided whether I like the top mount or the low profile one best...I'll probably stop by a truck place this week to take a look.
Have a great week...P
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custman
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2002
07:22:17
| RE: Tonneau covers
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I have the soft Mopar cover that you can order with truck. I have gone through rain and snow in the 6 weeks of truck ownership. No water problem it stays VERY dry in the bed. Removal is easy as well.
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Dakota39M
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2002
11:56:33
|  RE: Tonneau covers
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I have a tool box and a tonneau cover on my truck. Extang was the only one I found that makes a tonno that can be used with a tool box. No drilling, riveting for the installation. Took all of 20 minutes to put it on the truck. Keeps stuff pretty dry but I do get a bit of moisture in the bed because of the seal against the diamond plate of the tool box. One of the better features the Extang has I had to put to use this weekend. I went to my folks home in PA for the holiday and my Dad gave me some things to bring home. I had to unsnap the cover to get it in the bed and with it being so cold, I couldn't get the snaps secured. The Extang snaps are offset from center so all I had to do was slide them off, turn them around and slide them back on to give me the slack I needed to snap it down. All in all, I really like it, and I would buy another Extang for my next truck. You have to shop around for the best price for your truck, I ordered mine from the internet and if you like I'll try to find the web site addy for you.
Ray
Dover, DE
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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2002
13:53:29
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Ray, how are the rails held onto the bed with the Extang? Can you lower the tailgate with the tonneau on there? I looked at Extang's website, but couldn't tell how they attach their rails. I did see the offset snaps, though. That seems to be a nice feature. Thanks a lot!...P
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Dakota39M
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2002
14:16:07
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Pistolero,
The rails are attached with clamps that have a allen head screw in the middle of them. It's been a while since I put mine on so I can't remember if the clamps are rubber padded but I think they are. One half of the clamp goes under the bed rail and the other goes above it, and the screw goes thru the top half and is threaded into the bottom half. Yes, you can open the tailgate with the cover installed and without unsnapping anything. The tail rail has a ball and socket that holds it in place and is easily removed if you need to carry larger cargo. I made a roll up tube for mine so when I roll it up to carry larger items, I don't crease the cover causing cracks. I just used a piece of PCV and put 2 collars and caps on it so it breaks down into 3 pieces and fits in my tool box. The only thing I feel is a draw back is the velcro straps you are supposed to use to secure the cover when it's rolled up are a little short on the top. I think that's only an issue with me because of the tool box though. Did you want the web site I bought mine from? I'll look and try to post it back here in a few cause I'm getting ready to leave work for home in a few minutes. Otherwise, I'll have to find it tomorrow.
HTH,
Ray
Dover,DE
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evil r/t
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2002
18:44:34
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Dakotadan, are those side pipes i see on your truck in the profile pic? pretty wild.
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djdusaf
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2002
18:50:28
| RE: Tonneau covers
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does anyone have a hard tonneau cover and if so any good ideas for where to order one. and how do you like it.
dave
2002 QC 4.7 4X4
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DakotaDan
*GenIII*
12/02/2002
20:18:31
|  RE: Tonneau covers
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evil r/t :
The side pipes are the work of J. C. Whitney, PhotoShop & Boredom In other words I don't really have them on my truck but I have thought about it after messing with the photo.
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djdusaf :
I looked into hard covers at one time, most of your RV places can get them and truck accessories shops also. They will set you back about $7-800. and they do come painted to match your factory color.
Here are a couple of the popular makers
http://www.4are.com/
http://www.swisscaps.cc/index.html
Dan
Next Time You Think You're Perfect
~~~~~Try Walking On Water~~~~~
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Dakota39M
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
08:10:13
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Pistolero,
Sorry I wasn't able to get back to you earlier yesterday, but I got a bit tied up before quitting time. I found the address of the site where I bought my Extang tonno cover.
http://www.accessconnect.com/extang.htm
These folks did right by me on price and delivery, better then my "local Extang dealer" would have anyway. Extang also recommends you use their tonno tonic to keep the tonno looking new. I have used nothing but soap, water and 303 Protectant on it and it looks great. As far as the mounting goes, I couldn't find a pic or decent description of the rail mounts, but if you go to the Extang website and click on the details of the cargo cleats, you'll see a description of the cleats and how they mount to the bed side rails. The tonno mounts are similar just the bolts are vertical instead of horizontal.
HTH,
Ray Irons
Dover, DE
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GreyDak
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
12:08:26
| RE: Tonneau covers
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A little different look on the tonneau covers... I had one on my old ranger pickup, and it really couldn't hold up to the harsh winters here in North Dakota. The heavy snows would get on it and stretch it out, then our drenching rain would pool up in the little divets and stretch it out even more. Somebody also ended up flicking a cigarette butt on it and burnt a hole in it. I eventually just ended up taking it off.
One thing that has held up through the North Dakota winters would be my Pace Edwards roll-top cover. It's pretty slick, and lockable, so all you need is a tailgate lock and you can completely lock up your bed. It's also really handy because if you pick up something at the store unexpectedly you can just unlock the cover and let it slide up into it's little box in front of the bed, not go through the whole snapping/unsnapping routine some other covers require.
I've always had them installed right after the trucks came from the factory, we have a dealer in town that does them. I did notice on the Pace-Edwards site that there are self installation instructions, if you wanted to save some money. I hear for the techs it's about a 4 to 5 hour job. Pace-Edwards has a site about the cover at http://www.paceedwards.com/rolltop.asp
Good luck on your choice!
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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
13:51:32
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Message:
Ray, thanks for all the info. I was just looking on the web some more, and I came across the accessconnect site. They had the Black Max cover, which I think will be the one that I go with...for $179.95 and free shipping...best price I've found by about $20. I like the idea of the reinforced corners and turnaround snaps. Thanks again, and have a great day!...P
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Dakota39M
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
14:13:33
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Pistolero, I hope you like yours as much as I like mine. I heard through the grape vine, so I don't know how true it is, the Extang Tonno Tonic is the made by 303 Aero Protectant and bottled for Extang. 303 is less expensive then their tonno tonic and I would rather use it than armorall, son-of-a-gun or similar products. Also, one other important tip. When you remove, or partially remove the cover, make sure you do not fold it. Folding will cause creases, creases cause cracks, cracks cause leaks. A piece of PVC pipe, inch to inch and a half in diameter, a little shorter than the bed of the truck is wide does nicely as a guide tube to roll the cover. If you want to store the tube behind the seat, just cut it in half and use a collar to join the 2 halves together when you go to use it. Make sure you roll the cover tightly and if the Black Max has the velcro straps to secure it when rolled up, get them as tight as possible. Let us know when you get it installed and how you like it. If I'm not mistaken, the Black Max is the same as the Platinum, just the frame and bows are black, right? Good luck with it.
Ray
Dover, DE
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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
15:09:20
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Ray, I think that's right...the gist I get from the Extang website is that the Platinum and the Black Max are the same except for the black rails and bows on the Max. I figured that they'd look better on my Graphite Sport, with the black bumper steps and fascia.
Thanks for the tip on the PVC...that's a great idea. I probably wouldn't have thought about that. I saw on a website for Sportmaster tonneaus that they recommended 303 Protectant exclusively, so I'll try to pick up some of that, too. You've been a great help, thanks again...P
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macman37
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
15:32:28
| RE: Tonneau covers
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I'm a little late to the thread...
I got a "Freedom by Extang" tonneau cover. I like it a lot, only problem is: The weather stripping. I have had the tonneau for less than a year and when I went to take it off for what will amount to the winter months ( have some hauling to do... Bad timing for it, I admit!) in October and wonders what? The weather stripping stuck to the bed rail protectors I have on the truck. Nothing got ruined or anything but I'm glad that mess wasn't on my paint!
I need to buy some new weatherstripping for when I put the rails back on. Other than that, the cover has been great. I put stuff in the back all the time- it works fine for opening the tailgate, and all I do is pop the three middle snaps, slide my hand in, and slightly bend the bow upwards to make room for the tailgate. Then, slam, and re-snap.
HTH.
jim
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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
22:38:22
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Thanks everyone for their helpful comments, I appreciate it. Another thought occurred to me that you might be able to help me with, too. I have an under rail drop in bedliner, and the front of it comes up over the cab side bed rail. It's not a perfect fit, and the driver's side tips up, while the passenger side is pretty much flat. Would this disrupt the fit of the cabside tonneau frame rail? Seems to me like it wouldn't work, since the front of the bedliner wouldn't offer a flat, firm surface, like the metal would. Would I need to trim this portion off of my bedliner? Has anyone else installed one with this kind of bedliner? Thanks again...P
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macman37
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2002
09:58:14
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Message:
I have an under-rail bedliner like yours, that comes up over the lip in front and back. I did however install bed rail caps to protect the rails (had some dings and scratches in the rails of my last truck I wanted to avoid with this one). The tonneau installed just fine over all that. Still water tight too. However, after not too long (9 months or so) I had to take the cover off and the weatherstripping came off with it... So when I reinstall it in the spring I need to put new stripping on.
Long story short, it works. ; )
jim
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dubblbubbl
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2002
12:53:32
| RE: Tonneau covers
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I put the Tuff Tonno III from Extang on my '02 dak about 6 months ago and am pleased with the look and performance. Installation was easy, and the fit was perfect. I've been through some pretty heavy downpours in Florida with nothing under the cover getting the least bit wet.
The only problem I've had with it is getting the sides locked down in freezing weather, but that 'problem' is shared by all tonneau covers and was handled by moving the support bows to the 'winter' notch and having one additional set of hands pulling the cover while I locked it down.
I bought mine from truckxpressions.com who was waaaayyyy cheaper than anyone else on the 'net and shipping was free. I contacted the makers of the 303 protectant with some direct questions about their product and I posted the reply on this site, look around it's here somewhere. I've used the 303 ever since.
One thing I did do was to add an extra strip of weather stripping on the front frame member to help seal the bed. Probably overkill, but after putting the thing on the truck, I noticed about 1/8 of inch of space between the front frame and the top of the bed in the middle foot or so which is due to having side rail caps which raised the side frames about 1/8 inch. I took care of this by adding a strip self adhesive 3/8 X 3/8 weather strip on the bottom of the front frame member. I get no water leaks at all.
I like the fastening mechanism instead of the snaps, it looks cleaner and is easier to unfasten and refasten the top to the frame. You have full access to the bed without having to undo the cover because it doesn't attach to the tail gate, but on the flipside, you can't secure your bed either.
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Dakota39M
Dodge Dakota
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12/06/2002
10:13:45
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Dubblbubbl, I agree with you that Extang makes a great tonno. I looked at truckexpressions.com and they have Extang covers, but they don't show the one I have, the toolbox tonno. The prices they have listed are comparable to accessoryconnect.com I love mine and it does everything I want it to do. I too, have used nothing but 303 on my tonno. Mine doesn't have the seal strips like you have, but I do have the offcenter snaps on the rails. On Thanksgiving day, my Dad and I unsnapped the tonno to load some stuff and we had to turn the snaps around. Made it real easy to resecure the cover even with the bows on the upper position. Why does Extang call that the "performance" position and the other the "appearance" position? Anyone? I do get some water leaking in the bed. After a little searching, I suspect that its coming in from the front of the toolbox and not from anyplace on the cover or the seal between the covers front rail and the toolbox. I think I'm going to wait till spring and take the cover and toolbox off and see if there is some way I can get a decent seal around the front of the toolbox. Anybody else that's done this or has any suggestions on how to do it, comments are welcome.
Ray Irons
Dover, DE
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djdusaf
Dodge Dakota
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12/06/2002
12:00:00
| RE: Tonneau covers
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hey thanks dan i'll check out those sites.
dave
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Dakota39M
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2002
08:46:52
| RE: Tonneau covers
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Pistolero, what did you decide on and did you get it yet?
Ray Irons
Dover, DE
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dak03
Dodge Dakota
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5/30/2003
12:36:56
| RE: Tonneau covers
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looking at buying a sportmaster rolltop soft tonneau cover . the bows roll with it and there's no tailrail! it locks and snaps in place only thing is the price. $360!
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LouNY
Dodge Dakota
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5/31/2003
12:12:57
| RE: Tonneau covers
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installed extang black max yesterday,(yes it has rubber protector on 2 part clip)took about 1/2 hour, little rough streching and snapping new cover but looks great.$179 w/free shipping at truckaddons.com
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