Tonneau Cover

I'm a newbie when it comes to buying a car. I rode my Tacoma for 18 years (great great car!) until it got wrecked--I haven't bought a new car until now.

A dealer got a 2017 TRD Sport with Tonneau Cover. Except the Tonneau cover, everything else is what I am looking for. I told them that I don't need it as I want a canopy installed. Based on their comments, "it will take a long time to remove it", so they can't remove it. When I was watching how Tonneau cover is installed (it doesn't look like it takes a long time), they drilled a small hole in the truck bed for drainage. Don't I need to fill the hole when I remove Tonneau cover? I'm putting off to make an offer to the car.

 

Toyota's tonneau cover requires some modifications to the bed of the truck--it's not like they could just take it off and the truck would be the same as a stock truck that never had a tonneau cover.

As far as the drain hole--why would a drain hole have to be drilled in the bed for drainage if the bed is being covered with a tonneau? The only thing I can think of is that the drilling was done for the bolt in the front pass. side that secures the tonneau cover. What's the link to the video you watched?

 

Some aftermarket tonneaus have a drain tube to drain the channels the tonneau panels mount to. I think Bakflip G4 is one such like that.

OEM has no drain tube. Which is it the truck has, aftermarket or OEM? Look for TACOMA molded into the top of the rearmost panel.

 

The bed of the truck has drain holes in it, to drain, when it rains....I'm not sure what the objection is for one or two more.

 

if its an OEM cover your top bed rails will be cut for the pegs that stick out that the cover latches to, and on the passenger side front of the bed will have a part sticking out for a bolt that the cover bolts down with.

They can't just take it off because putting one on means cutitng said rails. If its the OEM they likely just don't want to pay to get you new bed rails.

If they are throwing in the cover for free take it and then just sell it and when you do sell it get the person you sell to, to swap rails with you.

 

When I ordered my truck I had essentially the reverse of the OP's situation. Dealer found a truck in the queue that was exactly my order except for the OEM tonneau I wanted. With my agreement they got it, swapped all the parts with a truck on their lot, and updated the Monroney sticker.

Even if it's OEM (which I doubt due to the mention of drain holes) there's not really a reason the dealer can't swap it or remove it. (IMHO)

 

I was told by the dealer the 16s and some 17s had a lot of issues with them though.
Like the older model cover. Supposedly the clips were failing or something? I don't remember the whole detail, they were just surprised I had an OEM one on my 17 when I went in to get it warrantied because one of the retaining clips broke. They're still trying to source out the part.

 

*shrug* Mine's been fine for the five months I've had the truck. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll sort out the parts availability before (if) I should have an issue.

 

If it's OEM and the truck is priced well, take it, sell it, and swap bed rails w someone.

There are plenty of people looking for an OEM cover.

Edit: if they drilled anything it's not OEM and, unless it's a steal of a deal, I would find another truck. That's just me though...

 

Thank you for the great advice here--I really appreciate it. It is OEM so sounds like I don't need to worry about the hole or anything to the bed. It is great to know!! I'm just not sure what to believe about car sales person's comments.

 

Umm....

 

This is what I watched on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRXFhy0mgqA

It made me nervous.

 

yea, that's not a toyota tonneau so has nothing to do with your situation.

 

That AutoCustoms video is very old, the rails don't install this way anymore on the 16-17 Tacomas. However, I can confirm aftermarket hard folding covers like the one in the video (Bakflip) will require drilling for the drain tubes. Or if you are like me when I installed mine you can just leave the drain tubes out and live with whatever water gets in.