Made some tonneau cover rails

Only been welding a couple of months so go easy on me lol! Couldn't get the flux core settings right so I just sticked it.
I wanted to have a way to tie some stuff down on my oem tonneau cover and also use it as a flatbed so I still can have things locked inside the bed. I was previously using straps hanging out the sides and I didn't want the bolt on hooks on the bed drilled in. I made this so I can open the cover anytime. Has a mini headache bar. Still gotta clean up the welds but I live in an apartment complex so I just bolted it on for now.

 

I like this. How far have your pushed the carrying capacity of the cover (how much weight have you put on it)?

And the real question... what is the with access hole on the cover...?

 

I can stand on the cover no problem. I do a lot of hunting and camping and some things like my big storage tubs or coolers don't allow the cover to close because it's too high so I put it on top and strap it down. As for the access hole thing, I had a bike in the back on its side and the cover was open one fold. The wind blew the cover closed and the bike handlebar poked a hole right through the plastic. Might try fiberglass it later instead of that sheet metal fix. Lol it happened twice. You can see some black duct tape in another spot. I make sure to strap the cover open now. Now when I go get drywall or plywood, I don't have to take everything out of the bed. I just throw it on top and strap it.

 

That’s actual pretty cool. I’m surprised I’ve never seen any mod like that before. If I had a use for it I’d do it for my cover!

 

Thanks! Can't wait to put it to use.

 

The cover comes with a bunch of warnings not to put stuff on it, but I’ve always thought it looked strong enough to hold some weight. Your post seems to confirm this. Anywhere to get something like this commercially?

 

Next week on Tacoma world .... my cover is bent and won’t open ..

 

Yes I weigh 170 and I stand on it all the time while hunting and glassing. Mine is the oem cover that I got used from another owner. I just had to trim the plastic rails to fit the latches since my truck didn't come with one. I also had to bend the latch bars on the sides up a little so the cover would lock since the rail tabs raised it some. The aftermarket covers are probably better and stronger.

 

Nice man! U might get a lil hate in here, but if it works for you, fuck em! I like people that make their own shit in a way that works for them and their needs.

 

Yeah thank you. I couldn't find any aftermarket rails except those huge bar ones that wouldn't let me keep the cover on since it bolted to the whole top rail. Also I didn't want to drill tie downs in my truck sides.