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DIY temporary tonneau / bed cover?

seanocono

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Thank you for sharing, @Bf3

Your tonneau looks great, and the strength and security of your design is very appealing. I think this is the best option for everyone who received a truck without a tonneau, and I really can't imagine how Rivian would improve upon this design when they eventually release the manual tonneau. Congrats, and thanks again!
 
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timgradywy

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I have also mulled the idea of various composite materials given that they would be easy to work with. I question whether they will be stable enough though. In my experience composite tends to warp in the sun. I think that is why composite decking requires more supporting joists than traditional wood decking.
 

brancky3

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broc

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That's awesome. Nice work! Definitely the best I've seen. I'm guessing this is as good or better than what Rivian comes up with. In the non-tonneau trucks like I have, It would be cool if that stack of panels could be stored in the empty space cubby where the factory tonneau lived. Your panels are deeper and would probably stick out into the bed some but could have a velcro strap holding them in. I've taken off the panel on the front of the bed to see the empty space. Hate to have an unused storage space.
 
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Jlschoen

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temporary DYI Tonneau
~$150 in materials

12 cedar boards
Cut to 54.5” and planed down to ~ 1/2”
Combined to 3 - 18” width sections using scraps
~$50

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Alta-Fo...ed-Cedar-Dog-Ear-Fence-Picket-63035/205757693

Arctic vinyl wrap 54” width
Joann Fabric
~$75

-misc weather stripping and hardware
~$25

fits in gear tonneau

patiently waiting for the permanent Rivian manual tonneau or hard folding aftermarket

Rivian R1T R1S DIY temporary tonneau / bed cover? CED31445-B0CD-4C8E-B106-EA852B1F4BCB


Rivian R1T R1S DIY temporary tonneau / bed cover? BAF874C5-AC2B-450F-8BFC-18A1FE7E3ED5


Rivian R1T R1S DIY temporary tonneau / bed cover? 34E093E0-29EF-4585-80EC-4CD99285D7DA
 

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Jack Smoke

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temporary DYI Tonneau
~$150 in materials

12 cedar boards
Cut to 54.5” and planed down to ~ 1/2”
Combined to 3 - 18” width sections using scraps
~$50

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Alta-Fo...ed-Cedar-Dog-Ear-Fence-Picket-63035/205757693

Arctic vinyl wrap 54” width
Joann Fabric
~$75

-misc weather stripping and hardware
~$25

fits in gear tonneau

patiently waiting for the permanent Rivian manual tonneau or hard folding aftermarket

CED31445-B0CD-4C8E-B106-EA852B1F4BCB.jpeg


BAF874C5-AC2B-450F-8BFC-18A1FE7E3ED5.jpeg


34E093E0-29EF-4585-80EC-4CD99285D7DA.jpeg
That’s very nice. Well done sir
 

kostyaaf

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Has anyone tried the soft rollup version of a Maverick cover? I keep my MTB against the back of the bed and the fold up would be in the way.
 

Phatman113

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Just a huge shoutout to @Bf3 and @dga965 for the guidance and pointers. I just got the base work done on my DIY build with the fence boards and plastic sliders... It closes solidly, slides super nicely, no rattles or shakes that I can tell. It definitely needs the velcro (or a string of some form) for easy removal, because it's a big pain to climb in and pull them all out without something like that, but that's next... There's some fine-tuning that can be done on the one board that was ripped down lengthwise, I have it up at the front, cab-side, to help hide it mostly, but I think a little filing down will cover the part where my table saw skipped on the fence and made a not-so-smooth chunk. Maybe some paint to cover the raw aluminum parts on the cuts, but for the small amount of time I had, it's pretty awesome.
And my daughter likes standing on it... 🤷‍♂️:facepalm:
Edited to say, cutting this plastic with a table saw is super messy! My garage is COVERED in that stupid plastic fluff now...

Rivian R1T R1S DIY temporary tonneau / bed cover? 20230318_191849


Rivian R1T R1S DIY temporary tonneau / bed cover? 20230318_191856


Rivian R1T R1S DIY temporary tonneau / bed cover? 20230318_191921


Rivian R1T R1S DIY temporary tonneau / bed cover? 20230318_191930
 

Rugbym8t

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Looks awesome @Phatman113 can you link to the weather stripping that you are using at the front and rear of the bed. I am going to attempt this as well. I really need covered storage....
 

Phatman113

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Looks awesome @Phatman113 can you link to the weather stripping that you are using at the front and rear of the bed. I am going to attempt this as well. I really need covered storage....
Fence panels:https://www.homedepot.com/p/Veranda...Aluminum-Metal-Fence-Panel-EF-00308/205625711
Update, it looks like HD is out of stock... Lowes has a version, these should be identical, made by the same manufacturer, just Lowes brand: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Infinity-A...ack-Aluminum-Composite-Fence-Panel/1000041755

Plastic edging:BuyPlastic Repro Black UHMW Polyethylene Plastic Sheet 1/2" x 24" x 24", Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Board, Size 23.75 in x 23.75 in https://a.co/d/fdWZeeO

Weather stripping: Tintvent Car Door Rubber Seal Strip with Top Bulb(26Ft), Automotive Weather Stripping Soundproofing Edge Guard Trim for Cars, Trucks, Boats, and Home Applications https://a.co/d/eN5ard0

Velcro (arriving today, so I don't know how well it'll work, but I've got high confidence):VELCRO Brand Extreme Outdoor Mounting Tape | 20Ft x 1 In, Holds 15 lbs | Strong Heavy Duty Stick on Adhesive | Mount on Brick, Concrete for Hanging, 30702 https://a.co/d/1pKyaBZ

The weather stripping, at the rear is over the tongue section of the fence panel. At the front, since that panel was cut down to size a little, it's wedged into the interior cavity of the fence panel... Same stuff though, so that was nice
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