[wv/5.9/6.7]

What do you guys think about this, I want a solid bed cover for my truck but need it to fit around my 6" bed stack. I was thinking of buying 2 pieces of marine plywood and some 1/2 x1/2 angle iron. The angle iron will go down the bedsides and front of bed for the plywood to sit on. It will be 2 halfs the first piece will be solid and the second will have hinges on it so it can fold back. It will seat flush with the top of the bed and i will have the plywood sprayed with linex. :confused013: How do you think this will hold up under weather? Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[dad2bike]

Redneck Bed Cover??

It would probably work well. How redneck it looks is up to you. Your ideas sounds workable.

 

[R_Zachs]

sounds good. ive thought about it. why buy something when you can do it cheap.

 

[2500MegaDiesel]

I built a plywood one and covered it in vinyl for my 1989 Dodge Dakota Pickup. Used gas springs and some drawer locks. Worked great and was still perfect after three years in Ohio. Used wooden rails along the side and for cross braces. Just 1/4 inch exterior plywood.

 

[MidWestFarmer]

Speaking of bed covers - does anyone use one of the rollup ones like Retrax? How much bed space do you lose at the front with a long bed?

 

[R_Zachs]

i seen a cheapy stretch bed cover/tonoue cover from ACE for $30

 

[wv/5.9/6.7]

Redneck Bed Cover??

It would probably work well. How redneck it looks is up to you. Your ideas sounds workable.

I don't know of anyone selling a hard cover that will fit around my stack and will still fold in the center.

 

[king nothing]

Ive been thinking about making a bed cover and using trucking tarp to cover it. Glad Im not the only one who thinks like this. The bedliner is a good idea too. If you made it sturdy enough you could put tiedowns on it and put stuff on top of it too

 

[R_Zachs]

i got an army canvas tarp while i was in alaska and i was thinking of making it a cover. only 10$ and its 10x15 i think

 

[wv/5.9/6.7]

Well I have decided to go with 1/8 diamond plate because I think I will have problems with it warping. I still going to have it linex.

 

[Utahrd]

Sounds like a workable solution, but I am pretty certain that both diamond plate and plywood would bow in the middle, especially over time. The good news is, it is relatively inexpensive to try!

 

[kozy]

I've been tossing this idea around as well. I was thinking of using 1" aluminum angle or square tube for the frame work and supports to keep weight down and help prevent sagging then skin it with puck board for weight as well as reduced maintenance. Works pretty slow today so drafting up some ideas would be a good way to pass some time today.

 

[wv/5.9/6.7]

I was going to take a metal break and put a 3/4 lip all the way around both pieces of the diamond plate. It would make it alot stronger.

 

[ant.foste]

1600lbs capacity. Diamondplate aluminum with line-x on it. DiamondBack bed cover. Link is in sig.

 

[wv/5.9/6.7]

I never seen that one before, and I really like it. I could not find a price on there website. Mine will be alot like that but will seat flush with the bed, but it won't support 1600.

 

[oln608]

i want to built that bed cover. . . its a pain driving with the trailer. . .

 

[kozy]

I never seen that one before, and I really like it. I could not find a price on there website. Mine will be alot like that but will seat flush with the bed, but it won't support 1600.

From what I found on thier site, one like that starts at $1750.......If we all had money for something like that none of us would have to DIY at all.

Reminds me of this dude that pulled up beside me at the mall once. I had all our luggage in the bed with garbage bags over them so they stayed clean and dry. He asks me why I don't get a roll 'n' lock like his so I don't need the bags. He didn't seem to understand that the $1600 price tag wasn't exactly an option for me.

 

[wv/5.9/6.7]

Yeah Inless I hit the lottery I won't be getting one of those. I am going to make my own. Plus I have to have it fit around my stack!

 

[kozy]

Same here. I actually came up with a pretty good idea this morning for one with 3 panels that slide and fold to stand side by side inside the bed at the front or back so it will take up no more room than a roll 'n' lock. I'll have to put about a dozen nutserts around the lip of the bed to attach the rails but the panels themself can be pulled out in a matter of minutes. I'm hoping to build a wood prototype of the rail system on my next days off to make sure the theory works and if so I'll start making it with aluminum or small gauge steel tube. Like yours, it won't hold 1600 lbs but I should be able to stand on it without issue.

 

[wv/5.9/6.7]

Sounds good, when I get mine done I get some pics up. It will be a few weeks before I get it finished!