Factory Tonneau cover security

I saw on the local news where thieves were doing the same thing with garage doors. Using a clothes hanger (or similar) to crab the lever, that the rope hangs by and release it. The suggested fix was to install a 2x4 or angel iron at the top of the door frame to deflect the device being used. I don't have a Tonneau cover but I don't see why the same concept can't be use and I don't mean using using a 2x4 or angel iron. Obviously a smaller version.

 

cover keeps it out of sight, which is best security for the honest.
if someone wants in doesn't matter what you do they're going to find a way in.
Hey for a lot of us on here with a power tailgate lock, its as easy as smash a window and press unlock. could even do it with a coat hanger probably.

 

and out of sight
job I was on two guys trucks got broken into cause they had a bag in the back. Just a gym bag so all that was taken was gym clothes and change in the cup holder.

Meanwhile go behind my seats and theres a compressor, under the seats are tool and plenty of other shit.

 

Thats a cheap quick fix. I only have some moving blankets and straps in the bed right now but for those times I need the "extra" security of my bed, that would work also. Got some good ideas on the cheap! Its nice to have a forum to share ideas. May or may not work for everybody, but if you help just 1 other person with your ideas, then the world will be a better place!

 

When I bought my '14 Sport, it had an Undercover tonneau on it. The locking system must be different on these. I took it off and had a new ARE topper put on. It has one handle in the middle of the door (I like these better than a handle at each end). I noticed that when the door was latched, you could pull on the center handle, and the door would bow a little. Hmmm...would the door bow enough to eventually open? There is a handle on the inside so that you can open it from the inside. I took it off and turned it so that when the latch is closed, the inside handle faces down, behind the tailgate. Now the door won't bow when you pull on the outside handle.

 

Most men carry pocket knives. If I knew you had something in the back that I wanted I would just cut the cover and take it. Really the only thing you are doing is not letting people know what is in the back.

 

these covers are hard though. you cant cut them.

 

maybe a sawzall lol.

the lot I park in I back into the spot and right up to the wall so you can barely get behind it to do anything anyways lol.

 

Thanks didn't think of putting a nut on the other side of the retention bolt

 

I park mine in my driveway with the rear bumper about 1" from touching my garage door, so my home is fine. Also, I have security cameras pointing in multiple directions toward my truck, but its when I am out an about that concerns me.

 

I stand corrected. I had a cover on my 1992 Dodge and you could have cut it. Glad to see they are tougher now.

 

You probably had the canvass or vinyl cover that would roll up or fold? These are fiberglass. The one that was on my truck could have 6 or 7 people standing on it.

 

I did! I forgot the factory one is hard shell. Never seen one in person.

 

I noticed in the pic of the OP that he's pulling the cover up pretty far. If you press after the gate is closed, the second click is much more secure. More like a trunk. Plus more water tight. My golf clubs and fishing gear are in there 90% of the time. The hanger idea is still possible but much more difficult. Plus I agree with other posts. If a thief wants in it that'll happen. Locks deter only opportunistic thieves.

 

Yeah, I didn't do the double click in my picture. I was trying to do it with one hand holding it open and snapping the pic with the other. If I use 2 hands after the double click, I can get a pretty good gap between the tailgate and cover, which is what a real thief would do cause they won't care if they mess up your cover.

 

I don't think a hanger is strong enough. the handle release takes a fair amount of force, usually taking the grip from all four fingers to grasp enough to pull. hanger maybe too maliable (sp?) to pull the handle. not to mention they would have to bend the hanger to get it into the right place which would already have weakened the hanger. also as others have said, they have to know exactly where the handle is...cant just sweep from side to side as the handle is protected by a "barrier" on all sides. while it wouldn't be impossible, the chances of it working quickly are slim, and I doubt a simple hanger would be enough.

 

Any video of anyone actually opening the factory tonneau without opening the tailgate? I mean is it actually possible? In any case I've got the swing cases in my bed, they're lockable, just plastic I guess but who would take the time to break into the tonneau and then break into the cases? It's not like there's anything too valuable in there anyway. I've also got the locking tuffy cover over the recess behind the rear seats, seems fairly secure, it would take some effort to break open. All my windows are tinted too, a little bit tougher to break. Hate thieves.

 

I'm not by my truck right now to look but could you screw a piece of aluminum angle iron to the bed cover in between the handle and the tailgate? That way you couldn't push a hanger straight into the handle nor have a straight pull back to open it

 

So even if you took out the bolt how would you get the cover off?