Diego Revisited

Selahdoor

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I really need to do SOMETHING though. Looks very naked without the cap on!

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I thought of this sooner. Guess I should have suggested it sooner.

Find an old canopy or two that have good windows and swap them over to yours.

I believe you can even buy new side windows that swing up like doors, and install them yourself.
 

chillman88

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I thought of this sooner. Guess I should have suggested it sooner.

Find an old canopy or two that have good windows and swap them over to yours.

I believe you can even buy new side windows that swing up like doors, and install them yourself.

Yeah that's always a possibility, but honestly this cap isn't correct for the truck anyway. It's certainly nice to have a cap, but they always seem to be in the way at the wrong time. I've got a few options later on, I have another cap that fits that at least has front and rear windows if I go that direction.

After I get the bed patched up I'll probably just put a toolbox in and a couple rails on the sides for tie down points. I'm thinking I gained a MPG or two without the wind resistance of the cap sticking above the cab 6" LOL
 

snicklas

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Yeah that's always a possibility, but honestly this cap isn't correct for the truck anyway. It's certainly nice to have a cap, but they always seem to be in the way at the wrong time. I've got a few options later on, I have another cap that fits that at least has front and rear windows if I go that direction.

After I get the bed patched up I'll probably just put a toolbox in and a couple rails on the sides for tie down points. I'm thinking I gained a MPG or two without the wind resistance of the cap sticking above the cab 6" LOL

That’s one reason that I went with a soft, roll up tonneau cover on my 11. I’ve had toppers, hard covers and soft covers. The soft cover keeps stuff dry and outta site, and can “go away” in about 30 seconds......
 

Selahdoor

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Yeah, I'll give ya that point. :D

I think my MPG is secure where it would be without the cap, simply because the cap fits so well.

A project I may consider in the future, is to remove all the side windows. Fiberglass up where the two tiny ones are on each side. (Those are useless anyway, and leak like sieves.) And either buy and install side windows that open like doors, or build my own.

And yeah, I was considering a tonneau. Even a home made one. But this came along for free...

I have an old utility trailer that I made from a boat trailer. Now of course, I need to rebuild that, so it can do 'truck' duty, for the things I can't do with the topper on. LOL
 

chillman88

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install side windows that open like doors, or build my own.

That's the biggest plus to this cap. I can reach almost the whole bed without crawling into the bed. Access is about equal to not even having a cap!


I have an old utility trailer that I made from a boat trailer. Now of course, I need to rebuild that, so it can do 'truck' duty, for the things I can't do with the topper on. LOL

Ironically... I'm very strongly considering modifying an old utility trailer I have out back to hold the cap, thus providing me with a fully enclosed trailer.

I personally tend to find if I need the truck it's likely to be something too high for the cap, or something too awkward to load with the cap on. Likewise, if I need dry enclosed storage for moving something, it tends to be more than the truck bed can hold (IE helping someone move).

That’s one reason that I went with a soft, roll up tonneau cover on my 11. I’ve had toppers, hard covers and soft covers. The soft cover keeps stuff dry and outta site, and can “go away” in about 30 seconds......

I'm definitely considering it, but I'm also a cheapskate when it comes to stuff like that.

Do you have any issues reclosing yours in the cold? I had one before that was almost impossible to close cold because it was such a tight fit it must have just barely shrunk. In the sunlight it was fine because the heat would make it stretch just enough to clip shut. This being my winter ride that would be a problem.
 

Selahdoor

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Tonneau. I was actually considering making my own out of plywood.

4 separate pieces that would slide and lock together and still seal out the rain.

I hadn't gotten far on that. LOL
 

snicklas

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I'm definitely considering it, but I'm also a cheapskate when it comes to stuff like that.

Do you have any issues reclosing yours in the cold? I had one before that was almost impossible to close cold because it was such a tight fit it must have just barely shrunk. In the sunlight it was fine because the heat would make it stretch just enough to clip shut. This being my winter ride that would be a problem.

No I haven't. I know the problem you are talking about, though. We had an "old school" snap type tonneau cover on our 83, the kind you serew 4000 snaps into the top of the bed. With that one, in the winter, it would take 2 people to get it closed. One to pull on the "tarp" and one to snap the snap........

What I bought is this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZM2IZF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has a frame that clamps to the bedrails, and sits on top of the bedrails. So the cover is actually above the bed, if that makes sense. The frame is a big U shape, the front rail has the cover attached, then the two sides. There are bows already attached to the cover, so it doesn't sag and collect water. The rear of the cover has the latching/tensioning mechanism attached to it. When you unroll the cover and get to the back, there are 2 "feet" that hook into a receptacle on the rails (they can be adjusted if more or less tension is needed. Then you rock it in place, and it tensions the cover. The sides are velcro, amd mainly just keep a bit of cross tension on the cover, and keep the sides down. It can be removed in less than 5 minutes if needed. Just remove the clamps with a wrench/socket and pull it off. There is nothing left on/in the bed when it is removed. If you scroll through the reviews ,you can see pictures of mine installed. It's the silver pickup. I'm happy with the cover, and it was not a bad price. I know that some can be a bit steep..... so this wasn't bad. I do use my truck as a truck, so being able to have the full bed open is important to me. We did a scrap run, then a dump run this weekend, and just rolled the cover up and started loading. We also use the truck for our grocery runs, everything stays dry and doesn't blow out. Plus, you can't see inside the bed, so no one knows what it is there, and you have to open the tailgat to be able to pop the latch to open the cover. With the newer trucks that have a lock on the tailgate from the factory, you can't just pop a few snaps and look in the bed.

Sorry about the long post.... but a topper is nice, except when it isn't (like your examples), and I had access to a truck that had one of the fiberglass solid, 1 piece bed "lid" and I will NEVER own one of those...... that are a huge pain ti the a$$!!!!!!
 

chillman88

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Well I knew the track record but wanted to hurry up, so I tried the "correct" rear view adhesive. TWICE! Both times it was off before it was ever adjusted. Today I tried some JB ClearWeld and an hour and a half later the mirror is properly adjusted and still on the window!

It was a royal pain getting a picture without my ugly haircut-needing mug in it!

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Auto dimming with compass built in. We'll see how long it stays there LOL
 

Selahdoor

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Link to the jb clearweld you used?
 

chillman88

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Link to the jb clearweld you used?

https://www.amazon.com/J-B-Weld-50112-Clear-0-85/dp/B009EU5ZM0

Taped the button to the windshield for an hour or so for the glue to cure and then installed the mirror. I roughed up the button with a file after removing the old glue and sprayed it with brakeclean. I didn't prep the window because I put the button where it had just pulled off so I figured the old glue probably took off anything that was on there.
 

The_Josh_Bear

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Well I knew the track record but wanted to hurry up, so I tried the "correct" rear view adhesive. TWICE! Both times it was off before it was ever adjusted. Today I tried some JB ClearWeld and an hour and a half later the mirror is properly adjusted and still on the window!

It was a royal pain getting a picture without my ugly haircut-needing mug in it!

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Auto dimming with compass built in. We'll see how long it stays there LOL
Where'd you get the mirror? Does it just run off 12v? I always figured they wired into the computer so I couldn't mod my own pickup with one...course my rear view has been on the floorboard for 2 years and I don't regret it.
 

chillman88

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Where'd you get the mirror? Does it just run off 12v? I always figured they wired into the computer so I couldn't mod my own pickup with one...course my rear view has been on the floorboard for 2 years and I don't regret it.

You really think I'm going to tell all the guys on here I put a mirror from a 96 Silverado in my F250? I don't think so! Oh wait... .... Whoops! :p

I don't know for sure where to get one. I believe they came in higher trim level Suburbans, Tahoes and Blazers in the late 90s. This particular one does run off only a switched 12v and a ground. I have seen some universal ones on eBay.

The annoying thing is that east and west are working on the compass, but I'm always heading south no matter how much I'm pointing north.... I guess sitting in the garage for four years didn't do it any favors. :(
 

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