Tonneau on a truck

[zed1]

I have been considering fabricating a tonneau cover for my 520. My requirements are:

Vinyl foldable material, no hard, wood or fiberglass.

No permanent modification to the truck bed, therefore; no snaps or fasteners holes drilled.

No attached header rail (placed at the bed nearest the cab).

No support rails.

 

My thought is to use a bungee loop (http://www.sailrite.com/Shock-Cord-Cover-Clip-Black). This would allow the tonneau to be attached to the factory truck bed loops. I do not know if the header panel of the bed would provide sufficient tension of the fabric when the tonneau is connected to the three sides of the bed.

 

My inspiration for this project is:

https://www.utecoversdirect.com.au/shop-tonneau-cover/soft-covers/custom-bunji-cord-tonneau-cover-suits-alloysteel-ute-trays/

 

Please post your thoughts or experiences on installing a noninvasive tonneau.

Thanks,

Keith

[datzenmike]

You may want hoops or 'stays' across the box to give it a slight pitch so rain sheds to the sides.

[zed1]

Is there a hoop or stay design that has no permanent point attachment to the bed?

[datzenmike]

Don't know. Maybe it could be part of the tonneau cover itself

[flatcat19]

I'm in the planning stages of making a cover too for my 521.

 

I have a few different ways I want to do mine.

 

Sheet aluminum, angle pieces inside against bed rails. Support braces throughout to prevent it from wobbling. Spring clamps to hold it secure. Foam under cover against bed rails. Rhino lined after built.

 

Sheet plywood. 2x4s against bed rails. Water treatment to all wood to seal. Wrap with black vinyl/tarp after.

 

 

I also have a buddy that works at Extund. He is measuring every cover he can for me when he has the time.

[wayno]

I would just unbolt the box from the frame, move it back far enough to attach hooks or snaps on the front rail facing the cab out of sight, then put it back on the frame then have a cover made that uses the hooks, and snaps if used on the front rail, a bungee setup should work great for the rest of it if made properly with stiffer sides/edges, where the bungees come out of the covers on the edges is going to have to be re-enforced otherwise eventually it will start to rip threw the material.

This kind of cover will flap in the wind if not stiff enough, and it will eventually sag if water sets on it, unless it has bows/cross pieces to make the center slightly higher which could be stored behind the 520 bench seat, if the bows were made/sewn into the cover it could likely be rolled up but then would not likely fit behind the bench seat.

[DaBlist]

For looks or keeping contents dry?

[zed1]

Both

[Rhino13]

A buddy of mine made one for his 620, he made an aluminum frame that fit flush with the outer dimensions of the bed, then made a very simple skeleton out of very thin rod that bowed slightly up, then wrapped it in black vinyl tarp. He mounted it with hinges on the front and mounted a standard door lock in each back corner, then cut a slit on the inside of the bed rail for the lock arm. It doesn't lock the tailgate, but it looked good and worked perfect. I think he may have even installed some magnets along the sides.

[Royal Sierra]

A early 00s ford ranger bes cover works perfectly on a 521. Cant be too far off for a 620

[flatcat19]

A early 00s ford ranger bes cover works perfectly on a 521. Cant be too far off for a 620

Source?

[Royal Sierra]

Source?

Carlos with the lina bear 521 ran one for a little while.