GM Factory Tonneau Cover

nluchau · June 28, 2005

I recently picked up a complete GM factory tonneau cover. How does this work?

I think its off of a 2001 Silverado Shortbox

It has no Velcro or Snaps. Around the tonneau cover it has a about an inch plastic piece - It also has 3 bars that fit across the bed holding the cover out looking somewhat of a bubble I assume.

Help. Does anyone know anything about these?

biochemist · June 28, 2005

I recently picked up a complete GM factory tonneau cover. How does this work?

I think its off of a 2001 Silverado Shortbox

It has no Velcro or Snaps. Around the tonneau cover it has a about an inch plastic piece - It also has 3 bars that fit across the bed holding the cover out looking somewhat of a bubble I assume.

Help. Does anyone know anything about these?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know ...they work great...I hated the button covers...in the winter they stink. Anyway the plastic strip you see around the edges fits into the track...unique I guess, sort of like a ziplock sandwich bag. Start at one end and fit the plastic rail into the track, move you way along until all sides are fastened down. Should be a tight fit but should not be too hard to use at all. I think it is a great design over the snaps. The rails you see in the middle just keep rain/snow and ice from caving in the cover. You should also see a couple screw at the end where the gate is, if you ever need to load anything that requires you to remove the end...just unscrew those and pop it out...real nice IMO. Let me know if I am clear, later,

nluchau · June 29, 2005

I recently picked up a complete GM factory tonneau cover. How does this work?

I think its off of a 2001 Silverado Shortbox

It has no Velcro or Snaps. Around the tonneau cover it has a about an inch plastic piece - It also has 3 bars that fit across the bed holding the cover out looking somewhat of a bubble I assume.

Help. Does anyone know anything about these?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know ...they work great...I hated the button covers...in the winter they stink. Anyway the plastic strip you see around the edges fits into the track...unique I guess, sort of like a ziplock sandwich bag. Start at one end and fit the plastic rail into the track, move you way along until all sides are fastened down. Should be a tight fit but should not be too hard to use at all. I think it is a great design over the snaps. The rails you see in the middle just keep rain/snow and ice from caving in the cover. You should also see a couple screw at the end where the gate is, if you ever need to load anything that requires you to remove the end...just unscrew those and pop it out...real nice IMO. Let me know if I am clear, later,

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the reply. The tonneau cover fits well just like you said. Now I found the two brackets on the rails towards the cab are broken so the bar that lies parallel with the cab on the tarp just hangs there. Is there somewhere I can purchase these plastic brackets (one for each front rail).

Thanks,

Nick

biochemist · June 29, 2005

I recently picked up a complete GM factory tonneau cover. How does this work?

I think its off of a 2001 Silverado Shortbox

It has no Velcro or Snaps. Around the tonneau cover it has a about an inch plastic piece - It also has 3 bars that fit across the bed holding the cover out looking somewhat of a bubble I assume.

Help. Does anyone know anything about these?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know ...they work great...I hated the button covers...in the winter they stink. Anyway the plastic strip you see around the edges fits into the track...unique I guess, sort of like a ziplock sandwich bag. Start at one end and fit the plastic rail into the track, move you way along until all sides are fastened down. Should be a tight fit but should not be too hard to use at all. I think it is a great design over the snaps. The rails you see in the middle just keep rain/snow and ice from caving in the cover. You should also see a couple screw at the end where the gate is, if you ever need to load anything that requires you to remove the end...just unscrew those and pop it out...real nice IMO. Let me know if I am clear, later,

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the reply. The tonneau cover fits well just like you said. Now I found the two brackets on the rails towards the cab are broken so the bar that lies parallel with the cab on the tarp just hangs there. Is there somewhere I can purchase these plastic brackets (one for each front rail).

Thanks,

Nick

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi, I sent MS3DALE an PM for you. He works for a dealership in the parts dept...he should be able to help out...what exatly is broken, the plastic clips that hold the crossbars in place? Take a photo if you can. Do you like the way the cover works? I love mine, so much better than the snaps ...later,

nluchau · June 29, 2005

I recently picked up a complete GM factory tonneau cover. How does this work?

I think its off of a 2001 Silverado Shortbox

It has no Velcro or Snaps. Around the tonneau cover it has a about an inch plastic piece - It also has 3 bars that fit across the bed holding the cover out looking somewhat of a bubble I assume.

Help. Does anyone know anything about these?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know ...they work great...I hated the button covers...in the winter they stink. Anyway the plastic strip you see around the edges fits into the track...unique I guess, sort of like a ziplock sandwich bag. Start at one end and fit the plastic rail into the track, move you way along until all sides are fastened down. Should be a tight fit but should not be too hard to use at all. I think it is a great design over the snaps. The rails you see in the middle just keep rain/snow and ice from caving in the cover. You should also see a couple screw at the end where the gate is, if you ever need to load anything that requires you to remove the end...just unscrew those and pop it out...real nice IMO. Let me know if I am clear, later,

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the reply. The tonneau cover fits well just like you said. Now I found the two brackets on the rails towards the cab are broken so the bar that lies parallel with the cab on the tarp just hangs there. Is there somewhere I can purchase these plastic brackets (one for each front rail).

Thanks,

Nick

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi, I sent MS3DALE an PM for you. He works for a dealership in the parts dept...he should be able to help out...what exatly is broken, the plastic clips that hold the crossbars in place? Take a photo if you can. Do you like the way the cover works? I love mine, so much better than the snaps ...later,

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the reply. This is my first tonneau cover so it will take a while to get used to. The pieces that are broken are on the cab side of the railings (both sides). The cross bars work great. I have some pictures I could send you. I dont know how to post them on this site.

Thanks again

MS3DALE · June 29, 2005

It sounds like the front corners of the rails are what you are after,These broke quite often,and one of the reasons why GM no longer offers a "factory-installed" tonneau cover (Although the GMC Sierra Denali pickups still come with one as standard equipment,It was taken off of the option sheet after '02 on everything else)

You wouldn't believe how many of these we go through!

Anyway if the frt.corners are what you need the part numbers are...LH-88937233 & RH-88937234.

Please note that these numbers are for the "factory-installed" cover only (RPO Option code E95)

These numbers WILL NOT work for any of the GM Accessories tonneau covers,they are different.

You can tell if you have the "factory" cover by the way the side rails mount,If they mount to the "inside" of the bed rails (and you can still see most of the top of your bed rails) then you have the "factory" cover,If the side rails just sit "on top" of your bed rails then you have the GM Accessories cover.

I hope I wasn't too confusing and I hope this helps

nluchau · June 29, 2005

It sounds like the front corners of the rails are what you are after,These broke quite often,and one of the reasons why GM no longer offers a "factory-installed" tonneau cover (Although the GMC Sierra Denali pickups still come with one as standard equipment,It was taken off of the option sheet after '02 on everything else)
You wouldn't believe how many of these we go through!

Anyway if the frt.corners are what you need the part numbers are...LH-88937233 & RH-88937234.

Please note that these numbers are for the "factory-installed" cover only (RPO Option code E95)

These numbers WILL NOT work for any of the GM Accessories tonneau covers,they are different.

You can tell if you have the "factory" cover by the way the side rails mount,If they mount to the "inside" of the bed rails (and you can still see most of the top of your bed rails) then you have the "factory" cover,If the side rails just sit "on top" of your bed rails then you have the GM Accessories cover.

I hope I wasn't too confusing and I hope this helps

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Doublepost --oops

nluchau · June 29, 2005

It sounds like the front corners of the rails are what you are after,These broke quite often,and one of the reasons why GM no longer offers a "factory-installed" tonneau cover (Although the GMC Sierra Denali pickups still come with one as standard equipment,It was taken off of the option sheet after '02 on everything else)
You wouldn't believe how many of these we go through!

Anyway if the frt.corners are what you need the part numbers are...LH-88937233 & RH-88937234.

Please note that these numbers are for the "factory-installed" cover only (RPO Option code E95)

These numbers WILL NOT work for any of the GM Accessories tonneau covers,they are different.

You can tell if you have the "factory" cover by the way the side rails mount,If they mount to the "inside" of the bed rails (and you can still see most of the top of your bed rails) then you have the "factory" cover,If the side rails just sit "on top" of your bed rails then you have the GM Accessories cover.

I hope I wasn't too confusing and I hope this helps

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

MS3Dale,

Thank you so much for this information. Mine Mounts on the inside and goes over the bed rail about a half inch so most of it is showing. I hope they still make the parts I need. It only took me about 10 minutes to install the rails and the cover - very simple deal. but the front hangs and doesn't latch like it should. I will check with my GM dealer this morning to see if they can order me some.

If they only cost me 20 bucks I have a 25 dollar tonneau cover because I picked it up for 5 dollars at a garage sale.

Thanks again,

Nick

nluchau · June 29, 2005

Biochemist,

Thank you for the help you given me finding MS3Dale.

Its much appreciated

MS3DALE · June 29, 2005

It sounds like you got the GM "factory" tonneau cover,Let us know what happens

nluchau · June 29, 2005

It sounds like you got the GM "factory" tonneau cover,Let us know what happens

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

MS3DALE,

I checked with my Local GM dealer and these 2 retainers cost 34 bucks each. Is this about right? Also how do I take the old ones out and replace with new ones. Will I have to remove the both rails to do this?

Thanks again,

Nick

MS3DALE · June 29, 2005

Yes,$34.73 is what they list for each.

As far as installing them,I'm not sure but I think they slide into place so you probably will have to unbolt the rails from the truck to slide to old ones out and slide the new ones in (Plus it might make it easier anyway)

I checked in the service manual here and it wasn't very helpful.

Let me know if you need anything else

Rich

nluchau · June 29, 2005

Yes,$34.73 is what they list for each.
As far as installing them,I'm not sure but I think they slide into place so you probably will have to unbolt the rails from the truck to slide to old ones out and slide the new ones in (Plus it might make it easier anyway)

I checked in the service manual here and it wasn't very helpful.

Let me know if you need anything else

Rich

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Rich,

I will go ahead and order them. If this finishes off the tonnea cover (install wise) that would be great. Now do you know what year this cover might be from? Is there anything on the cover I can look for to tell me that?

Thanks,

Nick

MS3DALE · June 29, 2005

No.I can't tell you what year its from and theres nothing on it that tells you that.(Or at least not that I know of)

What I can you is that GM first offered the factory installed cover (RPO Code E95) in the 2000 model year,so its no older than that.

nluchau · June 29, 2005

Rich,

I just ordered them and they were 34.73 a piece.

They will be in tomorrow at GM and I can pick them up. I will remove the rails and see if the old ones will slide out easy. I hope they will with no hesitation. IF no do you have any advice to remove them since you've done many?

Thanks again - your a great help