Re: Downey LTD tonneau cover installed

From: jon@dakota-truck.net
Date: Wed Jun 25 2003 - 20:08:15 EDT


andy levy <andylevy@yahoo.com> wrote:
: jon@dakota-truck.net wrote:
: > On the recommendation of Andy Levy, I purchased it for $315 shipped
:> from BME Covers (http://www.bmecovers.com). It was a bit disconcerting
:> as the order sort've "dissapeared" after I placed it (i.e. no
:> confirmation e-mail, etc.) but an e-mail to BME covers confirmed that
:> it was on its way and the cover arrived about a week after I had placed
:> the order.

: See? I *told* you to call!

   I don't like phones. :-)

:> The install was super easy. I went real slow and it took me
:> 20-30 mins. Now that I know what's what, I figure I could install
:> one in 5-10 minutes. The only part that was a bit of a pain was
:> snapping the tonneau onto the frame. It was TIGHT even though I
:> was doing it on an 80 degree day in full sun. That might be my
:> only complaint with the cover - come winter time, it is going to
:> be a bear if I have to try to snap it back on - they really could
:> stand to make it an eighth to a quarter inch longer and wider,
:> especially considering they include spacers to expand the frame
:> in case the cover is too loose!

: Spacers? I got no spacers. I'm a little surprised that you had that
: much trouble getting the cover on. Next time, pour some hot water over
: it - it'll be much easier to stretch. But just having it on now and
: getting stretched will help too. As for removing in winter - A) you
: have HOW many vehicles, and you're going to choose the convertible? B)
: this is why it lifts - so you don't ahve to rake it off!

   Yep, in reality, I will probably not need to remove it that often,
especially in the winter when I rarely drive it. After driving around
with it a bit, it does just move a little bit in the wind, so although
the cover was tight, I guess having it any wider wouldn't be a good
idea.

:> The latch was a bit too loose for
:> my liking, but the adjustment built into the cover took care of
:> most of that, and a little bending of the latch bars by hand took
:> out the rest of the slack, so it is pretty good now.

: You had to bend the latch bars? Wow, I was able to get mine pretty
: solid just with the provided adjustments. We'll have to look at it at
: the BBQ.

   I think the GenIII rails may be thicker than the GenII. ?

:> A pleasant surprise was that thanks to the design of the Downey
:> which hinges back from the cab slightly, I can open the tonneau
:> fully with the convertible top down!

: Great to hear that the hinge was far enough back! I was a little
: nervous about that. How far from the front rail to the hinge pin is it?
: I imagine it's more than on mine since the cover itself is longer.

   I just measured (the reason for the delay in replying) and the hinge
on mine is about 22" back from the front of the bed.

-- 

-Jon-

.---- Jon Steiger ------ jon@dakota-truck.net or jon@jonsteiger.com ------. | I'm the: AOPA, DoD, EAA, NMA, NRA, SPA, USUA. Rec & UL Pilot - SEL | | 70 Cuda, 90 Dak 'vert, 92 Ram 4x4, 96 Dak, 96 Intruder 1400, 96 FireFly | `------------------------------------------ http://www.jonsteiger.com ----'



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