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1st Gen. Ram - All TopicsDiscussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.
So, the hard tonneau covers are no longer available, and finding a used one is pretty much impossible. Has anyone taken one from a differet truck, modified it and made it fit? What year, make and model was it for? Who was the manufacturer? What is it made out of?
I'm in the process of attempting to cut down an "Undercover" Lid, made from ABS, from an 04 Ford F250 shortbed, to fit my 73 W200 shortbed (pictures to come if I’m successful). Any ideas would help me and others looking to cover their bed to keep the weather out, and thieves at bay.
unless you want the lid to be flush and recessed I can't see any way to make that fit with it's current contours. Only way would be to cut it into quarters and trim and make fit then stitch them back together....might look a bit Frankenstein...
The price was right (free) so if I F...ubar this thing, then I’m only out a can of ABS cement. My daughter is home sick, so I had to miss work today...if she goes down for a nap soon, I’ll get some tools out and start Frankenstein’s ugly twin.
I would cut it in 4 pieces and then either overlap the cut ends or make butt joints and use the cut-out piece to reinforce it on the inside. If you aren't that particular you could pop-rivet it as well as gluing.
Well, I did a quick wedge cut, down one side and glopped 1/2 can of ABS cement into the seam and on top. Fiberglass would be a lot easier for me to work with. I have ZERO experience with ABS, other than drain pipes as you can tell from the pictures. If this doesn’t work, I’ll either try to cut it into a flush mount cover, keep my eye out for a free fiberglass cover to cut down, or build one out of steel (which was the original plan).
It's a lot different structure than I had in my head. ABS isn't to bad. I glued a motorcycle fairing back together after a crash with ABS glue and strips I cut from a big chunk of pipe. A heat gun helps to form it into a better shape for gluing also.
My buddy made a cover out of sheet aluminum for his NHRA stocker Dakota. Three sections of .040 aluminum, some aluminum angle riveted inside the box side rails and in the front so it sits flush. He hinged the three pieces together with piano hinge and then used Zuess fasteners to hold it all in place.
Well, I got called in to work on Saturday, so I only had about 2 hours to play around with the tonneau. I got the other side cut and glued, and cut a little over 4” off the back. We’ll see how it fits after the glue cures.
How strong are the joints after??? I was thinking about it and thought that maybe some fiberglass matting/mesh, or maybe that mesh tape for dry walling might work (but might melt in the ABS glue?) if you lay down some glue, then put the mesh in, then more glue on top?
How strong are the joints after??? I was thinking about it and thought that maybe some fiberglass matting/mesh, or maybe that mesh tape for dry walling might work (but might melt in the ABS glue?) if you lay down some glue, then put the mesh in, then more glue on top?
Well, one side cured after a week outside and it seems just as strong as if it had never been cut. It’s UGLY! But it’s working... I’m not sure how it will be on a hot day, but it’s supposed to be 96 on Wednesday here in Southern California. Hopefully I can swing by my house in the middle of the day to check to see if it softens up or not. This is definitely not my best work. I still think I want to build one out of steel. If money were no object, I’d buy a Diamondback cover.
11-06-2017, 12:11 PM
