Home built tonneau cover....

So, after looking at many different tonneau covers, I prefer the tri-fold hard cover. However, I cannot afford nor am I interested in paying $800-1200 for a bed cover. So I am contemplating building my own covered with some sort of vinyl material. I did this on a few different trucks back it the 80's and it always worked out well. However this time I would like to keep it light as possible and still have a tri-fold. Any ideas?

Have any of you done this on your trucks?

 

Or go on eBay and buy the 200$ no name brand bed cover

 

It's your truck, do what you like. I thought about your idea and If I were going to build it as light as possible and make it strong enough, it would cost me $300-$400. By the time I got through with it I would have a $400 home brew cover. I can buy one used for $600.
I would use sheet foam and aluminum tubing.

 

That looks nice. I could go for something like that for sure.

 

Hey I bought one that still looks great after 2 winters for 280 new

https://www.carid.com/2016-toyota-tacoma-tonneau-covers/tonnopro-tonnofold-tonneau-cover-365615816.html?parentsubmodel[]=BED+LENGTH|6'+(73.7")+Bed

 

Can be had off eBay for like 200$

 

Very valid points. I would hope I could build it for less that $300-400. I also enjoy the challenge of the build so buying cheap or building cheap would be ok with me as long as it looks nice.

 

Looking at some of these you guys have posted, that might just be the easiest way to go. I can do $200. However, I sure do like the hard cover with 3 folds.

 

Just cut 3 boards to length, hinge them together and permanently bolt the foremost board to the bed rail. Use adhesive backed foam where needed and spray paint to achieve desired taste easy peasy

 

That is precisely what I was thinking. McMaster Carr has some hinges that would work and not visible from above.