Help! Installing a Soft Mopar Tonneau Take-Off

[Trailman]

Hi all -

I recently purchased a soft Mopar tonneau take-off from another forum member who pulled it off to add a hard top. We tried installing it in his driveway but immediately ran in to a problem.

The mounts that go against the back of the bed (cab-side) have a "tab" that goes in to the bolt threads. The bolt itself goes through a hole with no threads. So to mount it, you need to get a nut on the back side of the bed, which means getting your hand through the gap between the cab and the bed, and carefully threading the bolt in to the nut (I can tell you - extremely difficult).

This doesn't seem like the way it would mount if you purchased it as an aftermarket (rather than a take-off). I've looked at the instructions and videos for after factory Mopar soft tonneau, and it looks like the "tab" piece is not there at all, and the hole for the bolt lines up with the bottom, threaded hole. THAT would be an easy install.

So question: has anyone successfully installed the take-off factory version rather than the Mopar accessory version (post-factory)? Any tips? Did you somehow get a nut between the bed and cab?

Alternative: can you purchase the mounting brackets for the Mopar after-factory version separately?

Will update with some pictures soon. Any help much appreciated!

In the picture below, the mounts with the "A" pointed at them do not look like mine from the take-off. Where they show the bolt hole, that lines up with the bottom hole on the bed, which has bolt threads. The take-off version has a "tab" there that inserts in to the bolt threads. Then there is a higher hole above it, that aligns with a hole on the truck bed that has no threads. I can't find a part number for that bracket "A".

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[johnparjr]

there are 2 different versions of the cover for 2020 and 2019 there is a threaded hold there and sometime in the 2020-2021 production they took that away so the newer version on the cover comes with what you need to attach it basically a nutsert. There are lots of threads on this and most people just get a bolt and take care of it that way when buying used

 

[Trailman]

there are 2 different versions of the cover for 2020 and 2019 there is a threaded hold there and sometime in the 2020-2021 production they took that away so the newer version on the cover comes with what you need to attach it basically a nutsert. There are lots of threads on this and most people just get a bolt and take care of it that way when buying used

Got it - so my initial plan of getting a nut back there is the go-to. I did get nuts to make it work... just a PITA to get them lined up between the bed/cab.

Thanks!

 

[Kevin_D]

July, 2020, they stopped threading that hole. Other cover manufacturers used it, too.

Kevin

 

[Trailman]

Thanks @Kevin_D and @johnparjr -

I just found this thread, in which the installer realized that the bottom hole was unthreaded. My bottom bolt actually IS threaded, but the mount I have only makes it available for the upper hole. See picture below. But I guess the answer is the same - put in some kind of nutsert in the upper hole, or find a way to get a nut behind the bed (which still would have problems since there's no way to get a wrench in there to hold it when tightening).

 

[johnparjr]

Thanks @Kevin_D and @johnparjr -

I just found this thread, in which the installer realized that the bottom hole was unthreaded. My bottom bolt actually IS threaded, but the mount I have only makes it available for the upper hole. See picture below. But I guess the answer is the same - put in some kind of nutsert in the upper hole, or find a way to get a nut behind the bed (which still would have problems since there's no way to get a wrench in there to hold it when tightening).

Yeah mine is not like that

 

[Kevin_D]

Thanks @Kevin_D and @johnparjr -

I just found this thread, in which the installer realized that the bottom hole was unthreaded. My bottom bolt actually IS threaded, but the mount I have only makes it available for the upper hole. See picture below. But I guess the answer is the same - put in some kind of nutsert in the upper hole, or find a way to get a nut behind the bed (which still would have problems since there's no way to get a wrench in there to hold it when tightening).

I used nuts like this...

Once they make contact, they won't spin, so you don't need to get a wrench in there.

Kevin

 

[Trailman]

Thanks for the replies all. Update - got this installed in time for a few heavy snows this week.

For anyone who finds this thread in the future and is in a similar situation, I used a nut like that shown by @Kevin_D. The trick for me was to use a ratchet to hold that nut between the bed and cab. I had my wife hold the ratchet and slowly move it around while I eye-balled to get it lined up. Also helps keep the nut from spinning while you get started.

Pretty easy process once we thought to use the wrench.

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