Projects Pickup Tonneau Cover

I'm thinking about building a tonneau cover for my 40 Ford Pickup. I would like to do it with fibergl***. Never been much on the snap on covers. Anyone done this or have any hints?

 

well, if you have never worked with fiber gl***, you should know that if it's not supported with wood, it will be flimsy as hell. Also fibergl*** work is super messy (maybe it's just me).

 

I have seen it done and would agree to that. Does anyone sale sheets of flat gl*** panels that I could gl*** to a wood frame work?

 

Take a look at one of these;
http://www.craftecinc.com/

 

You could make one like the Carson tops were done, with a wood perimter, gently curved bows covered with chicken wire, padding, and Haartz canvas. That's what I'm planning on doing with my Diamond T bed. Put hinges on the front and gas rams like the new ones to lift it for access.

 

here is the one I made for my 34 P/U. No screw holes in the bed to rust. It's obviously not water tight but it can be removed in seconds.

1/4" plywood and firing strips. It just lays on the legged frame work that sits in the bed. I have covered it since I took these and it's done very well. It hides my ugly bed insides and keeps things out of sight of the people with sticky fingers.

 

I did one something like that on a 65 and a 79 ElCamino I had. Top was cut to fit the chrome bed trim and had bungees to hold it down.

 

I have been pondering this for my 36 ford for years. I think what I may try is using some sort of foam board and sandwiching it between to sheets of fibergl*** board. I was thinking of using some sort of aluminum t angle to use as a stiffener.I am planning on covering it with padded vinyl when done.

 

I"m gonna be building one for my AD...3/4" thin wall square chucked up into the bender to get nice sweeping italian hood style corners.

Then gonna sheet metal in the corners to the edge of the bed...

I've done quite a bit of research and seeing as I dont want to lay a welder to such a flat chunk of sheet steel due to the warpage issues I'm going to use some panel bond and bond the sheet steel to the frame work...

All the engineer's I've talked too said it'll be stiff as all hell and to not worry bout the panel bond delaminating...heck that said, if I have to ever remove the cover off the frame I'll have to chisle it off...

 

Aluminum or steel tubing?