How to turn a 30 minute tonneau cover install into a 2 hour job

[DYI Dee]

First of all thank you for the advice re: Tonneau covers. I chose the Max Mate roll up as it best suited my needs.
I do a lot of DIY projects, but nothing auto or mechanicaly related. So I decided to install the Cover myself.
Since the instructions that come from Max Mate are very limited I chose to use Youtube videos.
I wish I had never watched the one from Freds Garage. Yikes. It definetly got me headed down a bad path.
But the real reason I had so much trouble... wait for it... was that I had never seen clamps like this so of course I did the exact wrong thing.
Instead of tightening that nut on the top of the clamps, I tightened that little washer on the bottom. Did I mentioned I don't own a ratchet?
Of course I wasn't able to get a tight grip from the clamp onto the rail so everything kept sliding. Ugh.
This morning when I got up I somehow I realized what I'd done wrong.
Took it all apart and an hour later I had completed the install. Still no ratchet wrench and my arthritic wrists are killing me but it's done and it looks FABULOUS! Drove it 40 miles at 60 mph, no issues whatsoever.
I am in love with this truck and planning to do some simple mods asap. Of course I purchased the ubiquitous letters for the tailgate and the vinyl blackout thing for the logos. Should be simpler than what I just went through.
Really enjoying the MTC forum. Thought you'd get a kick out of this story.

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[RR - All the way]

Saw your title. Thought maybe I had published an autobiography!!!! Good job!

 

[RG Mav]

First of all thank you for the advice re: Tonneau covers. I chose the Max Mate roll up as it best suited my needs.
I do a lot of DIY projects, but nothing auto or mechanicaly related. So I decided to install the Cover myself.
Since the instructions that come from Max Mate are very limited I chose to use Youtube videos.
I wish I had never watched the one from Freds Garage. Yikes. It definetly got me headed down a bad path.
But the real reason I had so much trouble... wait for it... was that I had never seen clamps like this so of course I did the exact wrong thing.
Instead of tightening that nut on the top of the clamps, I tightened that little washer on the bottom. Did I mentioned I don't own a ratchet?
Of course I wasn't able to get a tight grip from the clamp onto the rail so everything kept sliding. Ugh.
This morning when I got up I somehow I realized what I'd done wrong.
Took it all apart and an hour later I had completed the install. Still no ratchet wrench and my arthritic wrists are killing me but it's done and it looks FABULOUS! Drove it 40 miles at 60 mph, no issues whatsoever.
I am in love with this truck and planning to do some simple mods asap. Of course I purchased the ubiquitous letters for the tailgate and the vinyl blackout thing for the logos. Should be simpler than what I just went through.
Really enjoying the MTC forum. Thought you'd get a kick out of this story.

I ordered the same one. Putting it on next weekend. Looks good!

 

[Montana]

Lots of ways to turn a 30 minute job into a 2 hour one.

Just ask the local dealerships how they do it

"Well, first we have a 30 minute period where we just ignore the vehicle is even on the lot and ready for services... then we move it from one spot to another for the next half hour... then a 10 minute smoke break... then we pull it in the shop and stare it it for 20 minutes... then it's 5 minutes to do the work before we park it and let it sit for 25 minutes before notifying you that's it's done. That'll be $425.97 please."

 

[Oscarcat]

First of all thank you for the advice re: Tonneau covers. I chose the Max Mate roll up as it best suited my needs.
I do a lot of DIY projects, but nothing auto or mechanicaly related. So I decided to install the Cover myself.
Since the instructions that come from Max Mate are very limited I chose to use Youtube videos.
I wish I had never watched the one from Freds Garage. Yikes. It definetly got me headed down a bad path.
But the real reason I had so much trouble... wait for it... was that I had never seen clamps like this so of course I did the exact wrong thing.
Instead of tightening that nut on the top of the clamps, I tightened that little washer on the bottom. Did I mentioned I don't own a ratchet?
Of course I wasn't able to get a tight grip from the clamp onto the rail so everything kept sliding. Ugh.
This morning when I got up I somehow I realized what I'd done wrong.
Took it all apart and an hour later I had completed the install. Still no ratchet wrench and my arthritic wrists are killing me but it's done and it looks FABULOUS! Drove it 40 miles at 60 mph, no issues whatsoever.
I am in love with this truck and planning to do some simple mods asap. Of course I purchased the ubiquitous letters for the tailgate and the vinyl blackout thing for the logos. Should be simpler than what I just went through.
Really enjoying the MTC forum. Thought you'd get a kick out of this story.

I and others feel your pain. I have learned to watch multiple YouTube videos [if they exist] before doing a repair and take away the best practices from each.

As for tools, I have learned the "cost" of a DIY project is sometimes the proper tools. Or, I ask a neighbor if s/he has what I need. I hate the handicap added by not having a simple tool. A rachet is a simple tool.

 

[Exranger]

For Father’s Day, if appropriate, ask for the harbor freight 131 piece tool kit! It has a socket set in it! About $39. Believe me now thank me later

 

[Sorren66]

The cover looks great and I give you credit for taking something like this on with out many tools-great job! And you can get a basic set of tools from Harbor Freight for not much money. Many people hate on the Freight but if you only use the tools once in awhile the cost savings advantage is worth it in my opinion.

I have $25k worth of auto tools (35 plus years to collect) everything from Snap On to HF and for I will grind/modify those cheap HF wrenches/sockets to make a special tool with no regrets.

I tell my Auto Tech students that if the book says it will take 1 hour to do a ball joint replacement-it will take them 8 hours for the 1st one and 4 hours for the 2nd one. After 3-4 ball joint replacements they will get it done to 1-2 hours a side LOL.

You will definitely get faster/better the more mechanical things you try and YouTube is a great resource.

 

[DCBoy]

Hi DYI DEE. I found the Fred's Garage video very helpful when installing my cover. You may have had issues because the cover you installed was from a different manufacturer.

Glad you were able to get it done. Looking at the picture, your install turned out beautifully.

 

[sapperforward]

First of all thank you for the advice re: Tonneau covers. I chose the Max Mate roll up as it best suited my needs.
I do a lot of DIY projects, but nothing auto or mechanicaly related. So I decided to install the Cover myself.
Since the instructions that come from Max Mate are very limited I chose to use Youtube videos.
I wish I had never watched the one from Freds Garage. Yikes. It definetly got me headed down a bad path.
But the real reason I had so much trouble... wait for it... was that I had never seen clamps like this so of course I did the exact wrong thing.
Instead of tightening that nut on the top of the clamps, I tightened that little washer on the bottom. Did I mentioned I don't own a ratchet?
Of course I wasn't able to get a tight grip from the clamp onto the rail so everything kept sliding. Ugh.
This morning when I got up I somehow I realized what I'd done wrong.
Took it all apart and an hour later I had completed the install. Still no ratchet wrench and my arthritic wrists are killing me but it's done and it looks FABULOUS! Drove it 40 miles at 60 mph, no issues whatsoever.
I am in love with this truck and planning to do some simple mods asap. Of course I purchased the ubiquitous letters for the tailgate and the vinyl blackout thing for the logos. Should be simpler than what I just went through.
Really enjoying the MTC forum. Thought you'd get a kick out of this story.

Try putting the hood struts on and dropping the socket you think ah okay you drop the socket no big deal except the fact that there's a freaking shield underneath the entire engine and you have to take it off to find a damn socket

 

[2lbgill]

First of all thank you for the advice re: Tonneau covers. I chose the Max Mate roll up as it best suited my needs.
I do a lot of DIY projects, but nothing auto or mechanicaly related. So I decided to install the Cover myself.
Since the instructions that come from Max Mate are very limited I chose to use Youtube videos.
I wish I had never watched the one from Freds Garage. Yikes. It definetly got me headed down a bad path.
But the real reason I had so much trouble... wait for it... was that I had never seen clamps like this so of course I did the exact wrong thing.
Instead of tightening that nut on the top of the clamps, I tightened that little washer on the bottom. Did I mentioned I don't own a ratchet?
Of course I wasn't able to get a tight grip from the clamp onto the rail so everything kept sliding. Ugh.
This morning when I got up I somehow I realized what I'd done wrong.
Took it all apart and an hour later I had completed the install. Still no ratchet wrench and my arthritic wrists are killing me but it's done and it looks FABULOUS! Drove it 40 miles at 60 mph, no issues whatsoever.
I am in love with this truck and planning to do some simple mods asap. Of course I purchased the ubiquitous letters for the tailgate and the vinyl blackout thing for the logos. Should be simpler than what I just went through.
Really enjoying the MTC forum. Thought you'd get a kick out of this story.

I have the same rollup and no problems. One hint make sure you have it towards the tailgate far enough to assure a good seal there. Once it's all up you can slide where you want.

 

[kfinch74]

I had a similar issue myself with my soft tonneau cover. Some of the instructions were unclear, and everything was farmed out on the cover, so I broke down and had Line-X do the installation. (It wound up only costing me $50.) However, I could have done it myself if I had realized what was off. I had the cover backward, but that was what it looked like in the instructions.

 

[TomD]

First of all thank you for the advice re: Tonneau covers. I chose the Max Mate roll up as it best suited my needs.
I do a lot of DIY projects, but nothing auto or mechanicaly related. So I decided to install the Cover myself.
Since the instructions that come from Max Mate are very limited I chose to use Youtube videos.
I wish I had never watched the one from Freds Garage. Yikes. It definetly got me headed down a bad path.
But the real reason I had so much trouble... wait for it... was that I had never seen clamps like this so of course I did the exact wrong thing.
Instead of tightening that nut on the top of the clamps, I tightened that little washer on the bottom. Did I mentioned I don't own a ratchet?
Of course I wasn't able to get a tight grip from the clamp onto the rail so everything kept sliding. Ugh.
This morning when I got up I somehow I realized what I'd done wrong.
Took it all apart and an hour later I had completed the install. Still no ratchet wrench and my arthritic wrists are killing me but it's done and it looks FABULOUS! Drove it 40 miles at 60 mph, no issues whatsoever.
I am in love with this truck and planning to do some simple mods asap. Of course I purchased the ubiquitous letters for the tailgate and the vinyl blackout thing for the logos. Should be simpler than what I just went through.
Really enjoying the MTC forum. Thought you'd get a kick out of this story.

In this vein is there a specific distance that the soft trifold cover is supposed to be from the cab of the truck? I had to remove mine to haul something. Prior to removing I would get a little bit of water in the bed if I went through a car wash or during a serious downpour.
now the water is coming in at the front next to the cab.
I tried lining the cover with the witness marks apparently those are not the exact fit.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I ordered the same one. Putting it on next weekend. Looks good!

Looking forward to your post "Tonneau Install - Scheduled a weekend but done in Four Hours"!

 

[ychuck46]

I put on a different vendor's tonneau cover last year on the Mav. Took my time and made sure it was perfect. Was in the bed with my spotlight having the wife stand outside to insure she saw no light coming through any area as I moved the spotlight across every inch. It is worth taking the extra time to insure the fit is good. We have been in torrential rains multiple times since and I never have a drop of moisture in the bed afterwards. Do it yourself to guarantee it is done right is my motto.

 

[MetalsGeek]

30 minutes into 2 hours is beginner-level. I went to clean up my garage (est 2 hours) and amputated a fingertip on a folding table brace. Now I have to wait 6 more weeks for the bandages to come off so I can try again. I think I will leave the blood spots on the garage floor as a reminder of how easily life can change when you're not really paying attention.

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