Tortooga Custom Works
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Ralph
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2018
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- Location
- Central NJ
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 Jeep Gladator Launch Edition | 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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- #1
So yea, we all know that the Roll–Up Tonneau Cover does not actually lock. It's just some weather stripping that holds it in place. With just a little force you can pull it up. Perhaps we're all closing it wrong? If you know how to make it actually lock, please, let us know.
EDIT: 2019-08-06
An idea that actually works.
Thanks to @Austin Himself for this one.
This works as is, or you could use it as a starting point to over-engineer it, like I will. The point is, you can thread an M6 bolt/screw/eyelet, whatever, into that existing hole.
Thanks to @steffen707 for this idea... My first attempt has failed, but, I'm close.
You could do this easily with rope if you know how to tie good knots, and you don't mind undoing and redoing knots.
You could also do this easily with tie down straps... if you don't mind strapping and unstrapping. I'm trying to find something easy and quick, as in, when it comes time to lock/unlock.
I want to do this so I don't have to spend tons on a tonneau cover, at least for a few months. I want to see what else the aftermarket comes up with before I spend $1000+ on something I will get rid of soon.
Here's what I did.
I drilled a 1/4" hole in the rear-most, driver side, bracket of the roll up cover. I put a small piece of wood on the other side of that bracket so that I would not drill through the fabric by mistake.
That allowed me to set in a 1/4" eyebolt with two nuts, one under and one over. I did let the eyebolt come out a bit more on the bottom so that the bolt itself does not puncture the soft top.
I think this is the foundation for any fix. So even though the rest didn't quite work, I think this will make whatever else we come up with work...
Of course - it might not roll up right. I have to double check that. I may need to abort this concept entirely...
I then used some plastic covered wire rope (3/32" to be exact) and two wire rope clip and thimble sets to make this:
Note that one side is a 1/4in x 2-3/8" spring link, that's the side that attaches to the tonneau cover, and the other side, that would go onto the bed's D ring, is a 3/8" x 3-1/2" spring link.
Of course, this doesn't quite work because it permanently locks the whole thing. There isn't enough play in the rope to unclip either end of the link. I thought that would happen, but I was hopping that some finagling would allow it to work. But no dice.
Attempt 1 - Fail.... thoughts?
You could do this easily with rope if you know how to tie good knots, and you don't mind undoing and redoing knots.
You could also do this easily with tie down straps... if you don't mind strapping and unstrapping. I'm trying to find something easy and quick, as in, when it comes time to lock/unlock.
I want to do this so I don't have to spend tons on a tonneau cover, at least for a few months. I want to see what else the aftermarket comes up with before I spend $1000+ on something I will get rid of soon.
Here's what I did.
I drilled a 1/4" hole in the rear-most, driver side, bracket of the roll up cover. I put a small piece of wood on the other side of that bracket so that I would not drill through the fabric by mistake.
That allowed me to set in a 1/4" eyebolt with two nuts, one under and one over. I did let the eyebolt come out a bit more on the bottom so that the bolt itself does not puncture the soft top.
I think this is the foundation for any fix. So even though the rest didn't quite work, I think this will make whatever else we come up with work...
Of course - it might not roll up right. I have to double check that. I may need to abort this concept entirely...
I then used some plastic covered wire rope (3/32" to be exact) and two wire rope clip and thimble sets to make this:
Note that one side is a 1/4in x 2-3/8" spring link, that's the side that attaches to the tonneau cover, and the other side, that would go onto the bed's D ring, is a 3/8" x 3-1/2" spring link.
Of course, this doesn't quite work because it permanently locks the whole thing. There isn't enough play in the rope to unclip either end of the link. I thought that would happen, but I was hopping that some finagling would allow it to work. But no dice.
Attempt 1 - Fail.... thoughts?
EDIT: 2019-08-06
An idea that actually works.
Thanks to @Austin Himself for this one.
This works as is, or you could use it as a starting point to over-engineer it, like I will. The point is, you can thread an M6 bolt/screw/eyelet, whatever, into that existing hole.
Well I've had my JT for a little over a week now. I regularly transport guitar amps in the bed of the truck in order to get to my gigs, so I was interested in finding a solution to make the cover lock down, when the tailgate is closed.
Here is what I came up with.
2x M6 - 1.0 x 20mm Pan Head Machine Screws - $1.17 at Home Depot
2 Pieces of Paracord, 1 foot each, trim to length.
Insert the M6 machine screws into the existing holes in the side of the bed. Leave enough sticking out so the paracord can loop over the bolt head.
Loop the paracord around the metal braces that are part of the soft tonneau cover, and tie a knot to secure. Adjust knot length to preference.
Loop paracord over the exposed bolt head, and your all set!
And your done!
Sponsored
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