I just got a nice tool box for my truck... but obviously my current 8' tonneau won't fit. I was thinking of having the one I've got now, custom altered.

1. Would it be cheaper to alter the cover by a canvas pro?
OR
2. Would it be cheaper to buy a cover for a 8' bed with a toolbox? I know Extang makes a few.

Now my other questions...

I plan on getting side rail boxes. Say I get two of them, would making a tonneau cover be impossible to get?

Or should I just not even have a cover on my bed? I kind of like it with the cover only because I do use it for carrying large items, that are somewhat expensive, and you don't want to leave out in open sight.

 

In my opinion. You should try to sell your current cover and tool box and get the 2nd option you mentioned. The cover that already has the toolbox with it. I think this because it was designed that way. Sometimes when you alter something it loses its strength or does not perform as well. Although you go through the hassle of selling your already paid cover, your new box; you will be getting something already designed to do the job you wanted. If your other boxes are under the rails you should not have a problem. JMO

 

that's probably what i would do. chest would be out of sight so less prone to theivery and would look a lot cleaner. only problem would be access to the chest.

 

I have the tuffy box under my undercover tonneau.

http://www.tuffyproducts.com/truckbox/117.html

I have to remove the cover to access the box. It really sucks. If you want to access the tool box alot, you may want to go to a custom cover to make your boxes work properly(like you mentioned earlier) or get one with the box already built into it. The problem with many covers I have seen is the design of the covers requires some form of clamping to the edges of the bed. Which also happens to be where most tool boxes attach to.

http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/s...bedcovers1.asp

http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/s...edcovers03.htm

This is what I have, since I prefered the hard style tonneau for better protection and I can lock my valuables in the back.(I do alot of travel)

http://www.autoanything.com/generic_...4239&p_id=1608

http://www.autoanything.com/tonneau-...A1608A0A0.aspx

 

Any pics of the tuffy box installed?

You might also consider that tonneau cover that pimprohr just installed, I think its the back flip? I might consider that one later down the road b/c of the ease of install removal and I use the bed often.

 

I called a professional canvas business and they are going to custom cut my tonneau... not just 20" off, but re-cut the sections in even distribution! Like it was designed for it!

I can admit, it is 75% cheaper than buying a whole new tonneau... and I like mine.

 

good deal...post some pics up when your done..before and after...

 

Surely will, sir!

 

I too would like to see the pictures, as I have had the same thought!

 

Well, here is the first portion... taking the tonneau apart. I've got to say, Lund was VERY smart in the design. So I give this an A+ cover for doing mods. Basically stating, if you want something in the bed, like a truck box, and you need to do a custom tonneau job, this IS indeed the cover for it. All it was were 2 screws and the rest of it just had compression fittings. The cover itself has a sliding track on it, and it just slides right off the aluminum rails. In the picture below, I took the top section apart. Now, I've got two options here, I can just cut 20" off the front rails or I can cut all of them to make them even. No biggie on the cover fitment. I am going to decide on that tomorrow. I am for both... but I'll see, but the equal cuts means that I need to make sure I cut all of them EXACT. So I need to do it right, but at least I've got the tools. I decided to take the cover apart on my bed because it was a decent height and I didn't want to mess it up on one of my dirty tables in my workshops... I started doing it on the floor, but I needed to be at eye level to do certain things. When I first looked at the cover, I was sort of baffled how they put it together... but it all came clear as soon as I took the hinges off. After that it was a total no brainer. But I can say, and recommend this cover if you want to do anything custom for the tonneau and you want a tri-fold.

So here is the beginning of the process:


I also noted that on my Extang Trifecta tri-fold tonneau on my Dakota, they are all welded... so it would be nearly impossible if you didn't have a TIG welder.

 

I've been looking for a cover for my bed with a toolbox, and I don't want rails attached down the side - I think what you are doing might be perfect for me - Can't wait for more pictures!

If you cut just the front it seems like it would be a lot easier to do, but then it won't fold and stack right, would it?

What is the length of each section of your 8' bed cover? (If anyone has the overall length of the 6.5' cover and the 5.5' cover, I'd sure like to know, too) I have the 6.5' bed, so I might end up getting the cover for the 5.5' bed and just cutting a little off the front section. Or maybe I could get the 8' cover and make it a bi-fold instead of a tri-fold.

Good luck with your mod!

 

Well, I got my hacksaw and carefully cut the rails. Came out more than perfect... I put it back together, less the cover itself, and it was exactly how it fit from the factory... I couldn't have done a better job.

I cannot wait until Monday... it is coming out like a dream.

So here are some preliminary pictures... Monday, it'll be all stiched and I'll have some good hi-res pictures of it as links if anyone is really curious.

Cut rails and repainted joints:


Rails done and clamped/tested against box for fit, passed inspection:

 

Looks good - can't wait to see the details. You are inspiring me to spend more $$$$ & get a cover!

Did you just cut the front end or all the sections? How much did you cut off?

 

I cut only the front, because if I cut all of the sections smaller, the final amount of room when I open it would be decreased. So I went ahead and cut the front only... not to mention, I think it looks nicer too, and unique. It can be had both ways, it is totally up to you. That's the nice part about this mod, it's all about your taste.

When I cut the bars, I had to also factor in the 2" plastic end that joins the cross bar for the front bar. When I cut the clamp bars, I cut them off on both sides to make them even on each, because you can't strictly cut 21" off of one side of the clamp bar because you will be cutting off the bar and not to mention the strenghth integrity of the clamps would be somewhat weakened. That is why you want to equally cut them on both ends. So I cut them at 10.5" on each side of the clamp. So I cut them, and they fit.

This mod is moderately challenging... but something that can be accomplished with this cover in about 2 hours or less... if you know what you are doing by doing a few of these... then maybe 30 minutes, tops. Since this was my first time doing it, and the fact that I didn't want to mess up on my cuts, I measured, and measured, and just made sure before I even touched them with the saw. It's like that old saying, "Measure twice, cut once."

However, I really liked the outcome so far, and I can't wait until Monday... and to have my bed covered again...

 

Cool - So if I bought a cover for a 5-1/2' bed and put it on my 6-1/2' bed with a toolbox, I'd probably only have to cut about six inches out of the front section, taking 3" off each end to keep the attachments centered.

Too bad I'm broke . . . maybe at tax return time!

Thanks for the post - that is some of the most interesting stuff I've seen on here lately.