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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: greg1984GMC on April 16, 2011, 11:25:32 am

Title: Tonneau covers?
Post by: greg1984GMC on April 16, 2011, 11:25:32 am
I am redoing my 83 shorty stepside and am putting in polished oak planks and stainless
hardware.  I would like to put a vinyl rollup style tonneau cover over it. 

None of the big tonneau cover companies offer one to fit this application
however Truxcedo will custom make one to fit. Has anyone here had any
experience with finding a cover to fit their stepside ?

Thanks for the help,
Greg
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: bake74 on April 16, 2011, 02:17:33 pm
     I have used the hard fiberglass topper style, I prefer to use the hard top instead of soft tops.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: greg1984GMC on April 16, 2011, 03:23:50 pm
Depending on the truck, I like the hard covers but I think that the older stepsides
lend themselves better to the classic vinyl cover.  The problem of coarse is the snaps.
That's why I would like a more modern rollup style.   Plus if you need to actually ever
have to haul anything, the hard covers are a total pain.


Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: Captkaos on April 17, 2011, 01:04:31 pm
I though Extang or someone like that made one for the stepsides?
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: gregcars on April 19, 2011, 08:46:39 am
Tha last one i ordered was for my 77 long box pace truck, it had snaps. The other was for my 81 short and it had the wedge non snaps (looks much better ) from   Truck for $250 or so. I think the non snaps one is more $.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: greg1984GMC on April 20, 2011, 08:55:49 pm
So far the Truxedo looks like the one I'll be getting.  It will cost
$500 but with nearly a Grand invested in wood and stainless the
extra protection (and not dealing with snaps) it might be worth
the expense.

Still need to do some more research.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: roger97338 on May 12, 2011, 02:58:07 pm
A local auto upholstery shop can custom make one for you. Maybe even do something fancy, like put in a clear bowtie-shaped window, so that people can see how cool the bed of the truck looks.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: greg1984GMC on June 06, 2011, 09:57:51 pm
Just out of the shop.
We took the entire thing down to bare metal and started over.
New chrome grill and headlight surrounds, New bumper --new everything.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: greg1984GMC on June 06, 2011, 10:35:28 pm
paint--
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: jaredts on June 07, 2011, 06:35:39 am
Nice.  Old school cragars too--that's a rare site these days.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: greg1984GMC on June 07, 2011, 07:19:28 pm
Nice.  Old school cragars too--that's a rare site these days.

What can I say,   I'm an old car guy.  I went with a hotrod stance so it had
to have Cragars and BFGs.  I also went with a Crane cam, Accel ign. and Hooker Headers.
All the cool stuff.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: three8six on June 08, 2011, 05:51:11 pm
You make that single headlight setup look good man.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: greg1984GMC on June 08, 2011, 07:02:00 pm
Thanks for the nice comments.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: dix32233 on July 31, 2011, 04:46:46 am
Glad you posted that one Bro. I'm doing the same exact thing to my 84 stepside. Just ordered my polished oak wood for my bed and started looking for a bed cover. Thanks for the info. By the way my truck is the exact same color as yours.  You're also giving me ideas for wheels because I might  put away the rally's for a bit. Thanks!
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: 69byrd on July 31, 2011, 08:36:02 am
Looks great!! I love a nice wood floor in a truck bed, thats why I hate to see them covered up with a tonneau cover.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: greg1984GMC on July 31, 2011, 09:20:33 am
Thanks for the comments .
I ended up getting a cover custom made by Truxedo.  I put it
on last weekend. It looks and fits good. I will get some new pictures once I get a
day off of work.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it is not completely water tight.  
Stepside boxes have a gap at each front corner where the bed sides attach
to the front bed panel.  The cover does not seal that gap and water can still get in.
I am still working on a good fix for that.

I agree--It's a shame to cover up almost a thousand dollars worth of oak and
stainless steal. But bright sunlight will kill that wood floor real fast.  This way
I can keep it looking nice for cruise night and the occasional car show.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: 69byrd on July 31, 2011, 09:03:44 pm
I agree with wanting to protect your investment. I am just gonna seal mine real good and take a chance with the weather. But I am only buying the stainless strips, I got new oak for free from a friend. Once again your bed looks great!!
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: greg1984GMC on July 31, 2011, 09:48:21 pm
Thanks.

I've got 6 heavy coats of marine spare varnish on mine. Almost a full
gallon of material  :o   A little rain doesn't worry me. I can wipe that off.
It's the sun's UV rays that do the damage.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: serratos_d@yahoo.com on September 20, 2012, 09:18:11 pm
im tryin to find a fiberglass bed cover for my 83 shortbed, if anybody can hook me up ill so happy to hear ti
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on September 20, 2012, 09:34:22 pm
im tryin to find a fiberglass bed cover for my 83 shortbed, if anybody can hook me up ill so happy to hear ti

if you have a fleetside, AFAIK only gaylord has one available, and only for shortbed.  Stepsides and LWB (fleet or step) will have to be custom made.
Title: Re: Tonneau covers?
Post by: bd on September 20, 2012, 09:46:38 pm
im tryin to find a fiberglass bed cover for my 83 shortbed, if anybody can hook me up ill so happy to hear ti

http://snugtop.com/products/model-availability.html?view=availability&model=chevy (http://snugtop.com/products/model-availability.html?view=availability&model=chevy)