DIY Truck Bed Cover

Has anyone built a hard cover for their truck bed? Trying to get some ideas

If you are going to build a tonneau cover to improve fuel economy by lowering aerodynamic drag,
it is worth looking over this old General Motors US Patent.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US4573730A/en?oq=4573730

It is odd.
You get the best gain by covering from the tailgate forward, but leave a gap behind the rear window.

Picture

Another patent

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20100045069

If it was so good why didn't GM produce it? Other than the fact the difference wasn't worth the effort and lack of bed coverage.

If you have a 2002-2008 Ram 1500, I will GIVE you my old Leer Cover FREE.

I made one out of 1/4 inch aluminum sheet.

Tried DIY almost everything for my truck. Use plywood since it is cheaper and cover it with vinyl protectant.

Friend of mine made one out of plywood covered with some kind of heavy black vinyl. Lasted for several years until the truck was totalled. He actually hinged it so it would fold like one of the tri-fold covers also.


Tim

That's pretty slick!

Nobody makes a tonneau for a Sweptline, so I made my own. built a frame out of 1" aluminum box tubing and covered it with .050" trailer siding bonded to the frame with body epoxy. The .050" is easy to cut with a carbide router bit...