Installing GM soft tonneau cover

[sledr]

I just ordered a soft tonneau cover and will be installing it myself this week. The dealership wanted 150 bucks to do it - this seems a little high!!!!!. If anyone has some installation tips or things to watch out for I would appreciate appreciate the input.

 

Thanks

sledr

[gmcjoe]

Installation is pretty straight forward. Rather difficult to put into words however.

 

I had the GM cover on my 2000 GMC for 4 years now. I just took it off last week. Rather, it blew off.

 

I had issues with the two rear end pieces (plastic). They like to crack! They ran me $30 each from the dealer to reaplace them the first time.

 

This time I was rolling down the eway at about 80 MPH or so. It was VERY windy day here. The back cover jsut went BOOM. The rear bar was long gone and both rear pieces were broken.

 

Mine is not in the garage. Never to be on my truck again

[team3-8]

When you go to putting the actual cover on, it's best to do it in a warm place with cover warm. Last one I had I got a corner tear doing it outside in cold weather. Makes it stretch far easier when warm. I went to a ARE fiberglass on my new to me 2003.

[RRobinson]

ugh. If it's the same one that came standard on our 05 Sierra Denali (it probably is) take it back man. It's the worse soft tonneau ever. My list of hates:

 

1. It looks like crap- the bars that hold it up sort of bow up so the cover is not "flat".

2. It's awkward and time consuming to take off- especially in the cold

3. The corners are already starting to fray and turn up.

4. When not in use- it does not fold up nice at all.

5. The plastic tits on the crossbars are wearing out.

 

Almost any cover is better. I have an Access cover (love it) on my 05 reg cab Z71, and a hard Lorider cover on my 95 GT.

 

Good luck

[slaterx2]

I really like my Truxedo Lo-Pro cover. Easy to install, look nice, works good

[RyanbabZ71]

i have the soft gm cover. I really like it. Very easy to install. I take it on and off frequently. I must say it is best to do it the 1st time when it is warm out (see directions). I installed mine when it was slgihtly below that and it made it a little hard the 1st time. Also if the sun is out will help. Overall its great. What did you pay for it? I got mine for $200 something

 

I also took a paint marker and painted the bowtie in the back of the cover blue

 

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ryanb0928/de...cdd.jpg&.src=ph

[sledr]

Thanks for all the input - it looks like the first installation should be in a warm place.

Sledr

[Chad H]

ugh. If it's the same one that came standard on our 05 Sierra Denali (it probably is) take it back man. It's the worse soft tonneau ever. My list of hates:

 

1. It looks like crap- the bars that hold it up sort of bow up so the cover is not "flat".

2. It's awkward and time consuming to take off- especially in the cold

3. The corners are already starting to fray and turn up.

4. When not in use- it does not fold up nice at all.

5. The plastic tits on the crossbars are wearing out.

 

Almost any cover is better. I have an Access cover (love it) on my 05 reg cab Z71, and a hard Lorider cover on my 95 GT. 

 

Good luck

 

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Do you have any pics of your truck with a cover on it??

[gmcjoe]

ugh. If it's the same one that came standard on our 05 Sierra Denali (it probably is) take it back man. It's the worse soft tonneau ever. My list of hates:

 

1. It looks like crap- the bars that hold it up sort of bow up so the cover is not "flat".

2. It's awkward and time consuming to take off- especially in the cold

3. The corners are already starting to fray and turn up.

4. When not in use- it does not fold up nice at all.

5. The plastic tits on the crossbars are wearing out.

 

Almost any cover is better. I have an Access cover (love it) on my 05 reg cab Z71, and a hard Lorider cover on my 95 GT. 

 

Good luck

 

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1. that is how most soft tonneaus fit

2. It is the quickest to remove/install I've ever had. No snaps, just slide the tabs into the groove. Great installation in cold weather (unlike snap covers)

3. My corners did fray up

4. It rolls up, again, like most soft tonneaus do

5. My cross bars are still fine after 4 years

 

My main beef is the use of plastic on the rear of the side bars. Besides that, this is a good tonneau. Just expensive to replace the ends

[RRobinson]

Joe,

Maybe I have been spoiled by the Access cover. It fits completely 100% flat and tight, the velcro holds the sides down, and it rolls up into a nice tight roll. I recently spent a week hunting w the Denali, and the cover drove me nuts- the only thing I can say about the factory cover is that it does in fact cover the bed... and it came with the truck.

 

Chad- no pics yet- but my truck looks just like yours- hey I love your body color door handles. Looks sharp. I would not change anything on my truck except door handles and maybe some BFG ATs to replace the crappy Duelers.

 

Oh and the Vortec Max package on a reg cab!

[gmcjoe]

Since my GM cover took a dump, I checked out two very nice options over the weekend.

 

The Truxedo Low Profile (current design)

http://www.truxedo.com/lopro/truxedo-lopro.html

 

The Extang Trifecta

http://www.extang.com/docs/trifecta.html

 

Great designs, VERY easy to install and operation is simple with one person, unlike my GM tonneau.

 

I may end up with the Truxedo by next weekend sometime :cool

 

Here are some pics of my GM tonneau for those that are interested. I took these when I still had the POS Wade bedrail caps on my truck

 

 

 

[sledr]

I got the cover on in about 30 minutes and I think it looks pretty good. What do you guys use to maintain it? Vinyl protectant?

Thanks

[gmcjoe]

I got the cover on in about 30 minutes and I think it looks pretty good.  What do you guys use to maintain it?  Vinyl protectant?

Thanks

 

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Use 303 Aerospace protectant

[RyanbabZ71]

I second the 303 protectant. Just dont use alot. It seems to run down the sides of the bed if you use to much when it rains

[gmcjoe]

I second the 303 protectant.  Just dont use alot.  It seems to run down the sides of the bed if you use to much when it rains

 

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Spay it on the rag first and use it sparingly