Truck bed cover options-on the cheap

chuck t · Mar 13, 2016

Have a 2014 F150 with 6 1/2 foot bed. Have to take a trip and keep stuff dry in the bed for the trip. Don't want a regular cap. Looking for suggestions for a bed cover that won't cost much and won't be a long term storage problem

big fred · Mar 13, 2016

How pretty does it have to be? You could take a couple sheets of plywood, since it would take two to cover a 6 1/2 ft bed, attach it to the truck with j-bolts hooked on the side rails, nuts sticking out the top. If you need it really watertight, you could seal the gap with duct tape, protecting the duct tape on either side of the gap by screwing a piece of thin wood lath thru the tape and into the plywood. Not pretty, but easy, cheap and recyclable.

Dick2 · Mar 13, 2016

That's a tough one. Most types of bed covers will leak under certain conditions. I have a full fiberglass cover, but in driving rain it will force some moisture under the seal. The folding type covers will leak also.

I've loaded thing in the bed without of trucks without any cover. Put an oversized tarp on the bottom, loaded the items and then wrapped the top with another tarp that overlapped the bottom tarp. Laced a small rope to tie the tarps together, add a few bungee cords then some ratchet straps from one corner to the opposite corner to hold down the tarp to keep the wind from lifting the center of the tarp. Guy through some rain and the load stayed dry. This will only work if the job is done right. Tarps are not security devices if you make overnight stops though, but so far I've never had anyone bother the load the half dozen times that I've done that. You may/may not get lucky that way.

Mashbox · Mar 13, 2016

Trifold tonneau cover works great. Last one I priced was $300. I have one on my GMC that is 10 years old and has held up good. Very seldom leaks and can be installed or removed in a few minutes by one person.

47fivewindow · Mar 13, 2016

Get some heavy duty contractor trash bags. Double bag, No one will bother looking in a trash bag in the back of a pickup,

Pitch · Mar 13, 2016

What do you consider cheap? I've got a trifold Truxedo tonneu that works well. easy on easy off about 250 bucks if I recall right.

David G · Mar 13, 2016

Find a used one.

onefarmer · Mar 13, 2016

I made a plywood one once. To seal it I laid plastic on the bed rails and ran a bead of silicone on it. I then put the plywood cover on and pushed it into the silicone. Let it setup took the cover back off and trimmed the plastic. It didn't leak at all in thunderstorms on the way to FL.

oldhammerhead · Mar 13, 2016

How did you seal up area around Tailgate? Sides and bottom,not watertight.

Bob · Mar 13, 2016

.
Seals that sorta work...

Truck bed cover options-on the cheap

chuck t

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big fred

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Dick2

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Mashbox

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47fivewindow

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Pitch

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David G

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onefarmer

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oldhammerhead

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Bob

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