gpascazio
Chicago
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Hi All,
Newbie to Truck Campers. Does anybody have a tonneau cover installed on their truck that does not have to be completely removed before loading the TC. If you do what kind is it. My Truck, TC combo has about a 1/4" space between the top of the truck bed side and the bottom of the TC. Every tonneau cover I have seen on line does not look like it could be permanently installed in that amount of room without damage to the unit or the tonneau. I don't know that I like the idea of loading the camper on wood to raise it higher off the bed. Any ideas?
Thank you
2008 Ford F350 dually
6.4 L Diesel
2010 Eagle Cap 1160
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gm5erguy
Up north
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I use a vinal/poly cover. I roll it up for towing the 5er, and unroll when I am un-pinned. Nice look and gives me an extra mpg or 2. It also keeps the hitch out of the weather. Easy to install. There are several on the market.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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There are covers that install between the bed rails. The ones I am thinking of have a box in the front of the bed that the cover rolls into, which is not going to work well for a TC.
You're not going to find a traditional soft cover that doesn't sit above the bed rails by about an inch.
1/4" clearance between the TC and bed rails is a little too close for comfort, IMHO. Even if you never do find a tonneau cover, I'd put SOMETHING under that camper to get it up a little. You can find nice thick rubber stall mats at farm supply stores, anywhere from 3/4" thick up to 2-3" or so.
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
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gpascazio
Chicago
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What should the distance be? Are you saying it should be between 2'-3". What are the consequences for keeping it as is? Just trying to learn. Don't want to damage the unit.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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When the truck frame and truck bed flexes when driving over uneven ground, if all you have is 1/4" gap between camper and bed rails, you may be scraping some paint off the bed rails. Better to put a 3/4" plywood under the camper and then you have enough gap to eliminate that problem and you can put a soft tonneau cover on the truck.
If you use one of the traditional snap-on covers, you can un-snap it on both sides and the rear, leave it snapped on the front and roll it up between the back of the cab and front of camper.
05E350 6.0PSD
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69Bronco ATC250R CR500
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92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
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BugsRLB
NH
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I have this one on my Chevy. Goes on/off in 5 minutes, MAX! No tools required. There is no hardware attached to the bed for it. And this is not BS. I have had hard covers, roll ups and this one is the best for me. And the NH snow has not bothered it in the 3 years the we have owned it. JMHO
Extang Trifecta
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LTZ Alli/D-Max
2000 Lance 1010
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gpascazio
Chicago
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Thanks BugsRLB, I think this will fit the bill. I was trying to avoid having one more thing to do before loading the TC. But, it looks like I was just not facing reality. The checklist keeps getting longer and longer. I guess this is the price we pay for the flexibility offered by our TCs. Thanks to everyone for the help.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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"One more thing?"
A rubber stall mat, or even a piece of plywood, can ride in the bed when the camper is out.
You could always build a platform and fasten it to the bottom of the camper...
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AITG
the North woods
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BugsRLB wrote:I have this one on my Chevy. Goes on/off in 5 minutes, MAX! No tools required. There is no hardware attached to the bed for it. And this is not BS. I have had hard covers, roll ups and this one is the best for me. And the NH snow has not bothered it in the 3 years the we have owned it. JMHO
Extang Trifecta
Me too. I love mine - it comes completely off in about two minutes and I can handle it myself easily.
BTW: it's made in the USA!
The Big Dog.
2003 Chev ECLB DRW Duramax LB7
2003 Lance 1121
My idea of roughing it is single ply toilet paper.
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buggsy
Harveys Lake, PA
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I used a LeBra Lo Profile that mounted nearly flush with the bedrails and only protruded about 1/4" or so into the truck bed for the longest time. Just had to remove the cover and the bows and T/C or even cap would go on with no troubles.
2005 Superduty
2011 Shadow Lite
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