To cap, or not to Cap, that is the question

[Windy Wilson]

I have nothing to add about the cap, but do not get a ribbed bedliner with it. You will have to climb up to the front of the bed to retrieve something and the ribbed liner is pretty rough on the knees.

My brother has a ribbed bedliner, and that is absolutely true. When I got my truck I went to the local marine supplier and bought a boathook (yes, I'm eccentric).

[Precision]

Precision, I'm guessing a 'redneck tonneau" is a tarp?

Nope, I am WAY more [strike]redneck[/strike] creative than that.

two pieces of 5/8ths inch tongue and groove plywood joined running the length of the bed and reinforced with 2x2's across the joint. Then I primed and painted it (more or less) to match the truck color. Then I got 3 hinges and screwed them into the plywood and into the bottom lip of the tool box.

DAMN thing is HEAVY, but that keeps it from bouncing while I drive.

Probably gonna remove the 2x2's and replace with steel straps. I lose too much clearance for my ice chests with the 2x2's.

upside is I average 2 mpg highway better
I spent $72
downside. It is pretty redneck, but so is the truck...

the antler impressions from the suicide buck...
the missing tire well beautification skirt (see above buck)...
the almost matching white paint (see above buck)

[JKosprey]

not bad, not bad. I was thinking a wood frame and some very heavy-duty cloth, given a waterproof treatment. It's not theft-proof but I don't leave too much in the bed.

[Dedicated_Dad]

Precision, I'm guessing a 'redneck tonneau" is a tarp?

Nope, I am WAY more [strike]redneck[/strike] creative than that.

two pieces of 5/8ths inch tongue and groove plywood joined running the length of the bed and reinforced with 2x2's across the joint. Then I primed and painted it (more or less) to match the truck color. Then I got 3 hinges and screwed them into the plywood and into the bottom lip of the tool box.

DAMN thing is HEAVY, but that keeps it from bouncing while I drive.

Probably gonna remove the 2x2's and replace with steel straps. I lose too much clearance for my ice chests with the 2x2's.

upside is I average 2 mpg highway better
I spent $72
downside. It is pretty redneck, but so is the truck...

the antler impressions from the suicide buck...
the missing tire well beautification skirt (see above buck)...
the almost matching white paint (see above buck)

[308Mike]

Does this latest weather stretch help you make up your mind?

[Precision]

pictures in the morning. Its DARK now.

JK

Just make sure you measure the bed before you make the frame. Mine and my buddies is NOTHING close to square.

If I was doing it again, I would mount an "L" bracket aluminum frame just below flush inside the bed and get diamond plate aluminum for a segmented cover. Probably using t bolts to hold the segment closest to the cab down so by turning all 4 corner bolts I could lift it off. then the same with the next one but have that one hinged to the one that butts to the tailgate so i could fold it over for easy access. then have only two bolts to hold it down right at the tailgate.

But that would require custom fitting each panel and reinforcing the panels from below ( I will walk on them).

[308Mike]

If *I* was to get a shell for my truck bed, I'd make an ensolite bed top liner to put between the shell and the bed top rails - something of sufficient thickness and density to make sure its a water-tight seal between the two and won't need constant tightening (a couple of times a year is understandable).

And unless I was going to haul gravel, rocks, sand, etc., I would install an insulated carpet kit with drawers for secure storage (because it's almost impossible to REALLY secure a camper shell on a pickup without going to extensive measures), and perhaps even an air duct between the cab and bed to provide either heat or AC to anyone traveling in the back.

[ButchS1066]

Only time the bedliner comes out of mine is when I need the cap for something, usually a roadtrip. I cut a rubber bed mat to fit inside the bedliner, solves both the issues with knees and stuff sliding around while driving.

[JKosprey]

I'll have to spend some time this weekend and draw up a schematic, now that my rifle projects are all finished with(except the possible glass bedding), I need a new project. Thanks for the advice guys!

[Slash]

I'm just trying to figure out which cap...

So?

Did you figure it out?

Enquiring minds, etc.