DIY tonneau cover

I think it's a solid solution. Keep us updated on how you finish it, I might have to make one of these. It would be a great surface to mount other stuff without concern about drilling into an expensive cover.

 

I have the same type of thing on my '02. I couldn't find my decent one for the step side bed so I had my grandpa who is a wood worker help me make one. To seal mine I used 5 coats of behr weather proofing in a black color. You can't even see the wood grain under it. Though vinyl could give the same effect with less time. How water resistant is the whole thing? The folding idea is cool maybe given a saw and a couple of hinges I could change mine up.

 

I walked out of the dealership and when they called me I talked them into putting a tonneau on for free. Sell your truck and do that.

 

Turnbuckles? Add nuts to lock in place? Vinyl and spray adhesive?

 

Hey, if it works, awesome! Not the most "pretty" cover, but it suits your needs now and super easy to remove.

 

I'm going to remember this thread when third gen owners complain about everybody else being rude to them and how it's unfair and ruining this forum of ours.

OP can afford a tonneau, that isn't the point. Everybody shitting on him for pulling out his balls, instead of his man purse like some of you, and CREATING something that fits his needs and gave him something to do around the house are a bunch of candy asses.

It isn't your truck, it isn't your money, it isn't your time - it isn't your obligation to be an asshole. Not your cup of tea? Sure, feel free to share that opinion, that's what the forum is for. Calling him out like he's broke as shit or telling him to sell his truck and buy another with a "real" tonneau cover is just being a dick.

 

Is this YOUR truck ? if the answer is no, keep your garbage comment for you, this guy wanted to make his own tonneau cover and share it with our community AND save money. He does whatever he want to HIS truck. If you don't like it, say that you don't like but saying that it's garbage...?? Is this fonctionnal? the answer is Yes, so what's wrong? This guy is 23 and have a brand new Tacoma, when i was this young, i've own a rusted 1993 VW Jetta because i was broke. For 90$ insteed of 300-800$, he have a tonneau cover on his truck and he made it by himself. Good work

I don't like the look either but this guy done a good job!

 

I was in no way trying to offend, OP. I hope you didn't take my comment as an insult. I applaud your ingenuity and DIY initiative. I was simply adding my experience to show how I acquired a free cover.

 

By telling him to sell his 2016 and buy the same truck over again and getting a "free" cover for his trouble?

Sounds totally legit, and in no way like you were being a dick because he made a wooden version for himself.

 

You must have absolutely no sense of humor, and I think you are over-reacting...

 

You must be new here.

Hi.

 

Not a fan of the wood. Was it primed and sealed properly from the weather? The edges needs to be sealed because that is where most of the water will be absorbed. I would bevel the edge to a quarter round puddy the top surface with all the knots and paint with multiple coats. I doubt the hinges are water proof... personal preference.

Over all good Idea but I would consider constructed the cover with 1/4" sheets of ABS or Plexi which are strong and durable to the weather. Would have to paint to protect against the UV rays.

FYI: Your 240 lbs is half on the tailgate. In design you have to put a point load in the weakest spot under all conditions to claim a live load. So your 240 lbs feet together in the center of a board with future wear and damage.

SAFETY ISSUE: The eye bolts used to hold down the cover is a very poor design and is a very big safety issue in my book. Say the ties are at a 8 degree angle from grade and you strap them to 20 lbs a tie. The actually force downward would be 5.6 lbs!!! With that amount of surface area a vacuum could easily rip that cover off while driving. If you tighten the ties more than you just over stress the wood and over time with driving the eyes will give from the wood especially if their are any water damage. I would construct the attachment to your bed rails.

 

CANADA......FUCK YEAH!!!!

I agree with this guy. Figured the OP was young, but not that young. Already has a brand new Taco. I have a wood divider in mine, but that's under the factory cover.

Guys, please calm down and not pollute a helpful thread for some who want to go this route by making their own cover for their current needs and requirements.

 

TacoRD16 knows what's he's talking about with the straps like that. I'd go directly with the shortest route from the eyes to the bed tie downs instead of crossing them like that while ditching the bungees in the rear if you're gonna travel with the cover at high speed. With the straps crossed like that, the wood can act like a traditional kite if it catches that air.

Rope with proper tie down techniques would be cost effective and much stronger than the bungees and ratchet tie downs.

That wood cover might just be a temporary thing for the OP though..

 

I didn't do the math, I'm sure you're right with the trigonometry, but I think the risk is much less in the real world. First, there's the weight of the wood counteracting any lift force due to vacuum (below atmospheric pressure due to airflow) x surface area. Second, we all know 3rd gen beds leak so that helps to compensate for any lift. That said, it would certainly make more sense to pull straight down on the eyebolts, as much as possible, so a short turnbuckle on each side rather than spanning the bed with a strap, would accomplish that and be less likely to loosen. That may actually be easier hooking to the bed tiedowns, as he has done, than to the bedrails, unless he makes a bracket rather than using hooks and eyes. I get the impression the OP is planning to continue refining it ... as others have said, hats-off for doing it yourself AND sharing it. It's certainly given me some ideas.

 

I have to agree. This design is an accident (and maybe lawsuit) waiting to happen.

My suggestion would be to either get a front bed rail and do something with T-bolts to physically secure the front of the tonneau, or just use the screw holes the front bed rail mounts into. Get rid of the current design.

 

Keep calm and chive on

 

It looks decent for homemade I guess. No it doesn't, it looks ridiculous. There is a reason roof's have shingles or metal on them. Rain will rot that sucker out. I'm with another poster on here. You spent $30K plus for a nice truck, then put on a wood tonneau, so you can save what, $500? Makes no sense. Put a nice used tonneau on your Christmas list, because that thing won't make it until spring. Unless you live in Arizona.

 

Why do people have to shit on something others have done? If ya don't like it move on.

 

I agree. Aside from the fact that there is no pressure pulling the cover straight down, those straps will work themselves loose over a short period of time. That $500 saved from a tonneau, will be spent on that insurance deductible, or lawsuit, from the soon to be flying Guillotine. No trying to be rude, but there is a reason men get married. We need the wife to let us know when were about to do something stupid, like flip off that guy in the Affliction shirt, or build a tonneau cover out of wood.