Tonneau covers are used for covering the back of pickup trucks. They have a standard design that varies from truck to truck. Moreover, their sizes make them difficult to fit over small-size trucks and toolboxes. But with tips and tricks, you can easily modify tonneau cover for tool box.
You cannot easily use a tonneau cover for a toolbox you have to modify it to adjust it. Try these tips and tricks to modify tonneau cover for tool box fitting.
What is the use of Tonneau Cover?
They are covers that are designed to cover the truck beds. They protect the truck beds. Moreover, they store the supplies and food items in them and protect them from heat. Furthermore, they also increase the fuel efficiency of the truck.
Best Tonneau covers for tool boxes:
As mentioned above, tonneau covers have standard sizes and you cannot simply use them on your toolbox. Modify tonneau cover for tool box and style them according to your need. However, if you are not in the mood to modify the tonneau cover for the toolbox try the ACCESS toolbox edition tonneau cover.
Types of Tonneau covers:
The following mentioned covers are best suited for your toolbox.
Soft Folding Covers:
It’s an aluminum framework with soft layering has 3 to 4 sections covered with flexible vinyl. All the sections are combined with hinges that fold flatly. Moreover, once you close the cover the vinyl layer covers the stretches.
Advantages: Soft folding covers are flexible and light in weight. Moreover, they are very soft and user-friendly.
Hard Folding Covers:
Hard folding covers are easy to modify and they can easily fit your toolboxes. The top of these covers is tough as they are made of aluminum. Moreover, they are strong enough to bear the weight of any tool and equipment.
Advantages: One of the best features of these covers is that they are resistant to serious scratches and bumps. Moreover, they are long-lasting and easy to manage. However, they are not cheap and a little bit costly.
Roll-up covers:
These covers open up at the backside of the truck. Once you open them you gain access to the toolbox and truck bed. The mechanism of these covers is Velcro or snap locking mechanisms it prevents the entry of the inside goods from the outside environment.
Advantages: The good thing about the roll-up cover is that they are user-friendly and cheap. However, they are not solid and long-lasting.
Painted Metal Covers:
Painted metal covers are versatile and they suit every truck bed and toolbox. Moreover, it comes in different colors and you can select one which suits you best with your truck bed or toolbox.
Retractable Covers:
The retractable covers are the most flexible and versatile ones. One of the attractive features of these covers is its small housing unit that easily rolls and holds the cover when you open it. Furthermore, the provides a view as a small window when you fold it.
If you are looking for an alternative to hardcovers as they are costly it should be your choice as they stand still in strong winds.
Heavy-duty covers:
The heavy-duty covers are the strongest ones in the category as they can even bear heavy cargo. Moreover, you will never see a dent, break or rip when they are exposed to the heavy-weight cargos. If you are planning to use your truck bed to carry heavy loads it’s best to use heavy-duty covers.
Advantage: Although they are costly and you have to invest a lot even more than hard duty cover still their durability and versatility speak for their worth.
If you are looking for the companies who offer the best toolboxes you have to most prominent choice in the market Weather guard and UWS.
Modifying Tonneau Cover for Tool Box Fitting:
You can modify any tonneau cover for the toolbox mentioned above. As it is not impossible. However, it’s not that simple either.
If you know the tips and tricks you can smoothly modify tonneau covers for toolbox fit. Let’s discuss the process and its steps one by one.
Essentials Required:
- Sharpie
- Hacksaw
- Razorblade
- Straight edge
- Tape measure
- Tape measure
- Two Bungie cords
- Drill and bits of sizes 11/64
- Local upholstery shop or sewing machine
How long will it take to modify tonneau cover for tool box?
Approximately you will require a maximum of two to three to complete the project.
Step by step procedure to modify tonneau cover for tool box:
- Take the measurements of your new tonneau cover according to the size of the toolbox you want to fit it on.
- Mark about half (1/2) foot on the front of the second bar. Measure the middle bar towards the cab. While taking the measurements, make sure that the tonneau cover is rolled up.
- Now use the hacksaw to cut it to size as you are done taking the measurements.
- Now with precision join the two halves to attain the desired length. It highly depends on the brand and size of the toolbox. In some cases, some halves extend ½ foot behind the first bar.
- Once you are done connecting the two halves now cut the extra overlapping area. The new size after the cut will be your tonneau size for the toolbox.
- Before making any final steps just check if the tonneau perfectly fits on the toolbox or not.
- Now remove the tonneau cover and unroll it in an upside-down manner. Take a pen pencil to make a marked foot away from the cut edge on both the passenger and driver side. It’s not specific which side you mark first but make sure that you made a mark on both sides.
- Always use a straight edge to connect the two marks through the tonneau covering. After linking it cut out the sections. In case the cover is an inch longer from the sides it provides you room for errors.
- Now you just have to sew the cover. If you have the sewing machine use it otherwise get it stitched from the market from any upholstery shop.
- Once it stitched place the two halves of cover have cutting line ends. Placing the cover in this manner will open it like a book.
- Now drill out the tonneau frame so that you can hook the Bungie through it. Also, keep in mind to not drill through the cover. Moreover, link the other end of the tonneau using the bracket, so its flap is held at highway speed.
Also read: Why are Tonneau Covers so Expensive?
Conclusion:
Multiple styles of tonneau covers exist in the market. If you want to modify tonneau cover for tool box fitting, make sure that its feature and characteristics match your toolbox. Always choose a tonneau cover whose dimensions are close to your toolbox measurements.
Moreover, the tonneau cover you select must fit well into the brackets, mountain hardware, and rails of your toolbox. All of its design, features, and function must match with your toolbox, hooks, stake holes, and contours.
In this article, you will find all the tips and tricks to modify tonneau cover for tool box fitting along with the detailed procedure. Follow the guidelines and you will be successful in adding a tonneau cover to your toolbox.
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