DIY hard tonneau

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Shorebound

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Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi
I didn't want to drop 800+ on a hard cover, but my wife and best friend told me I should because it's a 50k truck...
So I made one.
In retrospect it might have been better to use 1/4 aluminum for the panels but that stuff if really expensive.
I didn't set out to post this as a project so there's no build pics. However, thru trial and error I ended up with this: a tri fold locking cover that sits flush with the bed rails. It's not complete yet as the weather strip I ordered was shipped to the wingw address and I haven't installed the lid struts yet. Also still trying to figure out the best eat to fold up the back panel, which folds down...
General Materials list:
1x2 strips to frame the panels
1/4 hardboard
Heavy galvanized sheet metal
1 large piano hinge
4 offset hinges
2" cabinet locks
Marine cam locks
Marine vinyl
A ton of contact cement
Leftover insulation panels
Auto carpet
Angle iron for bed rail and panel brace
Rail clamps
 
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Shorebound

Shorebound

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I don't know what's going on with the pics but from my phone it looks like I'm posting duplicate images.
 

ExpressRules

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Quite an endeavor. One issue I see is it looks like the seams will leak badly during a rain.
 
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Shorebound

Shorebound

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Quite an endeavor. One issue I see is it looks like the seams will leak badly during a rain.
I have seals on order for the bakflip. Hopefully that will do it. If not, I'll figure something out. I'm in Arizona so I'm not really worries about rain (for that reason anyway!)
 
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Shorebound

Shorebound

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Total maybe 400. A fair amount was trial and error and hardware. I ordered hinges and weather strip I didn't use, and went thru a lot of contact decent as I decided in the covering. I also tried hammered texture paint and canvas before going back to the vinyl.. I'm concerned about how easy it is to scratch.
Had I paid full price for the steel plate I'd be in it a lot more.
 

huntergreen

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Built not bought ! Looks outstanding to me.
 
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Shorebound

Shorebound

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Built not bought ! Looks outstanding to me.
That's right. Haven't wrenched since I sold my rock crawler so this was kinda fun.
Thanks for the compliment.
The Bak flip seal worked for the cab and the sides. Won't work for these two areas tho so back to home depot I go...

20180702_202345.jpg

20180702_202354.jpg
 
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