Tonneau Cover with 5th wheel

[M109Rrider]

I will say the wind is violent in the bed while towing. I almost lost a cooler while storing it between the hitch and tailgate. I have a trifold cover and need to store lighter items in the front of the bed under the folded cover. Didn't mean to sound like I was knocking your idea and desire for using a cover while towing, just can't see it saving a drop of fuel but I am curious of your findings.

[EdJunior]

Originally Posted by M109Rrider

I will say the wind is violent in the bed while towing. I almost lost a cooler while storing it between the hitch and tailgate.

Yeah...violent. That's a pretty good word for it. I found out the hard way also. I had a 5 gallon bucket with some stuff in it, and the lid that screwed onto it. The violent wind actually unscrewed the lid and I lost some stuff out of that bucket. After that, I bought a swingout storage bin. I really liked that. Secure and solid. But with my new truck, I have the bed extender. Still deciding if I want to keep that.

Anyway, I'm curious to see how this thing works also.

[OldCoot]

Don't know that it will save any fuel, but with the Undercover, it increased about 1-2 mpg not towing anything and about .5-1 while towing a tongue trailer over approx. 10,000 miles total. At todays prices, that would have paid for the Undercover. If it increases .5 mpg max. it will still pay for the material (labor excluded as I am retired) and I love to tinker, so it has already served one purpose.

[OldCoot]

Well, we are on our maiden voyage with our new 5th wheel camper for 4 or 5 days. So far everything is working as it is suppose to. Had quite a session with the tv, satellite & G3 getting everything to talk to each other. What a nightmare. Toshiba tv is very slow to react and Forest River should be taken to the woodshed for placing the unit so high that you have to really search for the area the remote will work. I will no doubt move it to a more feasible location and put doors on the shelf and the hole the unit was in. No problems with the tonneau cover, may have to increase the side clearance about 1/2" on both sides to make sure there is no contact with the hitch pin if we get into a more severe twisting situation. Do believe that even tho it is taller than the Flagstaff 831RLSS we towed for 4 yrs, the fifth wheel tows easier and definitely is not affected by passing semis or wind.

[OldCoot]

Took the tonneau cover over to the upholstery shop. Should get it back in 2 wks. A little more $ than I expected, but with gas prices like they are and if it increases mileage .25 - 1.0, which I think it will, it will eventually just about even itself out. Total cost will be less than $500 not including labor which in my case is $0.00

[EdJunior]

So how did everything else work out with this cover? Did you actually see any increase in mileage, or note anything else?

[OldCoot]

Will know more about mileage when we go back to Forest Lake TT in Mocksville in a few days over the same roads without the tonneau cover. We have never in over 36 yrs of towing a trailer never had a tonneau cover. Just don't like an open truck bed and there has to be resistance with the air hitting the tailgate, IMO, just common sense.

But, everything worked just fine with the cover. One minor issue was the breakaway switch hit the side of the hole for the hitchpin & gouged a 1/4" x 1/4" place in it. I opened the hitchpin hole up by 1/2" on both sides and moved the breakaway switch up about 3" on the hitchpin.

[OldCoot]

Well, our trip to check mileage without the tonneau cover has been postponed. Hooked up this morning, checked brakes, lights and when I started to retract the front jacks I heard several thumps and noticed the motor jumping. Jacks finally got close to storage position. After removing the motor which works fine, I took the top off the driver side jack and discovered at least 2 places on the vertical gear where a tooth was missing. Called dealer, no jacks on hand but will get one ASAP from FR. Supposed to be @ dealer 8:30am Mon.
So, I spent the afternoon measuring and getting up the courage to use a circular saw on a just about perfect Undercover Hard Tonneau cover purchased yesterday on Craig's list for $70. Finally decided to go for it. Attached pics are the initial fitting. Now I have to add some alum strip to the front center seam and add 3 alum strips to the 13" x 48-3/4" cutout to hold it in place when not towing. Also have to make a filler to cover the hole behind the pinbox while towing.

[TURBS]

its looking good !

[M109Rrider]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Well, our trip to check mileage without the tonneau cover has been postponed. Hooked up this morning, checked brakes, lights and when I started to retract the front jacks I heard several thumps and noticed the motor jumping. Jacks finally got close to storage position. After removing the motor which works fine, I took the top off the driver side jack and discovered at least 2 places on the vertical gear where a tooth was missing. Called dealer, no jacks on hand but will get one ASAP from FR. Supposed to be @ dealer 8:30am Mon.
So, I spent the afternoon measuring and getting up the courage to use a circular saw on a just about perfect Undercover Hard Tonneau cover purchased yesterday on Craig's list for $70. Finally decided to go for it. Attached pics are the initial fitting. Now I have to add some alum strip to the front center seam and add 3 alum strips to the 13" x 48-3/4" cutout to hold it in place when not towing. Also have to make a filler to cover the hole behind the pinbox while towing.

What about the one you built?

[OldCoot]

Picked it up from the upholstery shop this morning and it is sitting in my garage. Will take all the screws & latches out of it and cut it up and burn it probably.

[RonLynnJr]

What on earth made you change your mind and go with a store bought one instead of the one you spent all that time on? The one you built was looking really good, unless the upholstery shop screwed it up beyond repair. What gives?

[OldCoot]

Still have the wooden one but it is not covered. Upholstery shop wanted $360 to cover all the pcs. Undercover was $70 and is more durable in handling. Bottom line, saved $290. I aint free, but I am Cheap! If you want the wooden one, come get it or it will be destroyed.

[crocus]

I only have one question, how do you access the stuff in the truck box?
Mine is right full of stuff, including the blocks and other stuff I use to set up. A box cover would be a pain in the rear. And I seriously doubt you'll see any increase in fuel mileage, at least not anything measurable.
It does look nice and clean, though. Just impractical for my outfit.

[RonLynnJr]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Still have the wooden one but it is not covered. Upholstery shop wanted $360 to cover all the pcs. Undercover was $70 and is more durable in handling. Bottom line, saved $290. I aint free, but I am Cheap! If you want the wooden one, come get it or it will be destroyed.

I can understand saving money, your preaching to the choir here. It just stinks seeing someones hard work go to waste. Thanks for the offer but it wouldn't fit my truck anyway. If anything put it on the for sale forum and see what fish you catch.

[OldCoot]

May try that, but most people on this forum are smarter than to take a partially completed project and finish it, but I will give it to anyone who wants to come pick it up!

[OldCoot]

Crocus, we don't store anything in the bed while towing and when we set up in Florida for 2-3 months, I want the bed covered. Mileage may not increase significantly, but it has to help some and with less than $150 total outlay on both of them I feel I will get it back eventually in gas savings. As I said in a previous post, when I was bringing the wooden one home, the air going into the cutout for the hitchpin was enough that I had to slow down to 35mph to keep it from lifting off as I didn't have it latched down. Air hitting the tailgate has to affect gas consumption on a bare truck bed.

That's what makes this country so great, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and can express them.

[OldCoot]

Finally finished with it except painting the aluminum inserts behind the hitchpin. Have to be at the dealer tomorrow by 8:30 am so they can replace the driver side landing jack. Then we will try it out going to Forest Lake Thousand Trails CG in Mocksville, NC.

[Rugged Brown]

Nice,, patent pending I hope?

[OldCoot]

Not patentable. Wouldn't recommend doing it if it had been a new Undercover tonneau cover. I gave around $750 for my good one 6 yrs ago and this one was only $70 on Craigslist and 2 days labor which is free. (retired)