DIYAndy
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DIY Hillbilly II Hard, Incline Truck Bed Cover for the 2019/2020 Ford Ranger (New, enhanced designed pretty Tonneau)
What shocked me, more than anything else, when I bought/received my 2019 Ford Ranger XL and opened/lifted up the hood - it had two gas lifters - what the #@?! What is good for the Ford Ranger front hood should be also good for the back of the Ranger! So, I designed in a gas lifter on my second, newly designed DIY hillbilly hard, incline truck bed cover.(Tonneau)
Before I begin, I need to pay tribute to another forum member aka Hoosier / possible hayseed wannabe Jsphlynch (Indiana) in inspiring me to NOT do any more "ugly" rectangle, without contours, truck bed panel covers but to add "contours" to my new cover truck bed cover design for a modern, sleek, expensive, "pretty" look.
DIY Hard, Incline, Truck Bed Cover (Tonneau) features:
1. Truck bed cover is a solid, one piece (no seams), 1/2", "hard", plywood panel cover that inclines up for easy cargo access.
2. ~ 100 % truck bed waterproof due to a one cover panel piece, with no seam(s) construction.
3. Very low cost - unsealed/non-painted, no frills truck bed cover version ~ $100 - $37 for plywood and $63 misc. parts + beer.
4. Tailgate can be opened and closed with the truck bed cover down.
5. Light weight ~ 6' x 60" x 1/2" plywood weight (after cutting and finishing and this includes the ladder frame weight) is only ~ 53#
6. Truck bed cover can be removed/added/re-installed from the truck bed in about 10 minutes.(quicker - if you are a midget and can crawl fast and use tools below 21" in the truck bed height)
7. No drilling or machining on the Ranger's truck bed.
8. Heavy duty, custom welded pivot hinges, for security, that can only be accessed "below" the truck bed cover.
9. Panel/cover edges are routed and power belt sanded with special contours that gives the truck bed cover a modern, sleek, expensive and pretty look.
10. Security tiedowns (both sides) to prevent the cover from being lifted/inclined unless the tailgate is unlocked/down and the security tiedowns are released.
11. Optional gas lifter strut is used for easy truck bed panel cover incline (It's good for 65# max. cover weight and 20# min. - so using one is more than enough for this 53# max. weight plywood cover panel) -- updated - two gas struts/lifters (not one) were added to finish this project.
12. No screws/bolts in the cover panel plywood for the professional clean look and for tight weather protection seal (except for the rear bulk head 6 hinge bolts which are already sealed)
13. Very low cost, easy to replace and/or to repair plywood cover panel. Just use the old or damaged plywood panel to trace an outline on the new "one" and then finish, seal/paint it.
14. Authentic true wood grain panel cover texture and finish. (Courtesy of Oregon pine or "Douglas FIR" of Roseburg, Oregon)
I now have two, very low cost, DIY Hillbilly truck bed covers (Tonneau) - the previous designed one (the rough rectangle Tonneau with 3 removable panels) is used for driving in the country/rural areas and this one (the "pretty" truck bed cover (Tonneau) with a incline/gas lifter with contours) is used for driving in the big city to Walmart.
Total DIY truck bed cover cost, which includes the optional gas lifter, ladder frame, painting/sealing is ~ $175 max.
End of completed project
DIYAndy 3/9/20
Pics below
What shocked me, more than anything else, when I bought/received my 2019 Ford Ranger XL and opened/lifted up the hood - it had two gas lifters - what the #@?! What is good for the Ford Ranger front hood should be also good for the back of the Ranger! So, I designed in a gas lifter on my second, newly designed DIY hillbilly hard, incline truck bed cover.(Tonneau)
Before I begin, I need to pay tribute to another forum member aka Hoosier / possible hayseed wannabe Jsphlynch (Indiana) in inspiring me to NOT do any more "ugly" rectangle, without contours, truck bed panel covers but to add "contours" to my new cover truck bed cover design for a modern, sleek, expensive, "pretty" look.
DIY Hard, Incline, Truck Bed Cover (Tonneau) features:
1. Truck bed cover is a solid, one piece (no seams), 1/2", "hard", plywood panel cover that inclines up for easy cargo access.
2. ~ 100 % truck bed waterproof due to a one cover panel piece, with no seam(s) construction.
3. Very low cost - unsealed/non-painted, no frills truck bed cover version ~ $100 - $37 for plywood and $63 misc. parts + beer.
4. Tailgate can be opened and closed with the truck bed cover down.
5. Light weight ~ 6' x 60" x 1/2" plywood weight (after cutting and finishing and this includes the ladder frame weight) is only ~ 53#
6. Truck bed cover can be removed/added/re-installed from the truck bed in about 10 minutes.(quicker - if you are a midget and can crawl fast and use tools below 21" in the truck bed height)
7. No drilling or machining on the Ranger's truck bed.
8. Heavy duty, custom welded pivot hinges, for security, that can only be accessed "below" the truck bed cover.
9. Panel/cover edges are routed and power belt sanded with special contours that gives the truck bed cover a modern, sleek, expensive and pretty look.
10. Security tiedowns (both sides) to prevent the cover from being lifted/inclined unless the tailgate is unlocked/down and the security tiedowns are released.
11. Optional gas lifter strut is used for easy truck bed panel cover incline (It's good for 65# max. cover weight and 20# min. - so using one is more than enough for this 53# max. weight plywood cover panel) -- updated - two gas struts/lifters (not one) were added to finish this project.
12. No screws/bolts in the cover panel plywood for the professional clean look and for tight weather protection seal (except for the rear bulk head 6 hinge bolts which are already sealed)
13. Very low cost, easy to replace and/or to repair plywood cover panel. Just use the old or damaged plywood panel to trace an outline on the new "one" and then finish, seal/paint it.
14. Authentic true wood grain panel cover texture and finish. (Courtesy of Oregon pine or "Douglas FIR" of Roseburg, Oregon)
I now have two, very low cost, DIY Hillbilly truck bed covers (Tonneau) - the previous designed one (the rough rectangle Tonneau with 3 removable panels) is used for driving in the country/rural areas and this one (the "pretty" truck bed cover (Tonneau) with a incline/gas lifter with contours) is used for driving in the big city to Walmart.
Total DIY truck bed cover cost, which includes the optional gas lifter, ladder frame, painting/sealing is ~ $175 max.
End of completed project
DIYAndy 3/9/20
Pics below
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