Whoa…… Lumber transport seems to be a hot topic, anyway. Need to build a tonneau cover (using marine ply I guess). Anyone ever build one and care to share ideas and experience also what kind of locking mechanism to use. I want to section it in three where the center is fixed but the front and back section would open via piano hinge type system or even strap hinges for that matter. Looking for help.
Thnx, Carpenter5
Replies
I dunno how to build that, my Chevy is a 2002...
I built one for my truck, too. Used strap hinges instead of piano. The non-liftable bit is held down using gate catches (barrel bolts) that slide below the top rail of the truck bed, held in place w/ cotter pins to keep from jiggling out. The liftable bit is held down using horizontal toggle clamps that also slide under the top rail (more convenient than barrel bolts). Wooden stops at the front (near the cab) and back (tailgate) keep it from sliding when I stop/start.
Covered the whole thing (except the hinges, bolts and clamps) with Rhino-liner (that pebbly box liner stuff) to keep it from weathering, has worked well for the last year.
Hey Peter, thanks for the reply I appreciate that............would you perhaps have any pictures of it?
Carpenter5
I'll try to grab a couple over the weekend.
I built a plywood camper shell for my Ford Ranger. The structure is kinda like a boat, but upsidedown. That is, it has plywood ribs running across the bed, and a plywood skin fastened to that. I used waterproof glue, and painted it carefully for weather resistance. It weighs a lot. It turned out to be one of those projects that took five times longer than I thought it would. On the whole, I would have been better off just buying a commercial plastic one -- quicker, more weather resistance, and not that much more expensive all told.
Edited 11/6/2009 3:50 pm ET by James_Buxton
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