Hey guys, I've nearly got my bedcover finished. here's a couple of pictures.

I've only got a total of about $75 in the whole thing so far.

http://www.imagevenue.com/host/web1/56152_becover%20lock.jpg

http://www.imagevenue.com/host/web1/401c7_DSCN1266.jpg

http://www.imagevenue.com/host/web1/22d0d_DSCN1279.jpg

http://www.imagevenue.com/host/web1/9a71c_DSCN1280.jpg

Couldn't find anything that fit my criteria.....

1. hard
2. partially removable
3. uses utilitrack
4. doesn't cost alot $$$$

So I made my own: Figured that 3/4 inch plywood would slide into the tracks and was strong enough to span the bed. Cut into three pieces so I can remove what I need to in order to haul something (that's what I don't like about fiberglass tops). Anyway, then I added two good coats of fiberglass resin to fill in alot of the texture that plywood has. sanded it down fairly smooth. Painted three coats of enamel (flat black). Sanded as needed. Then put the final coat of enamel on it with "slip resistant" additive. I used the color "anodized bronze" because I thought it compliments the Canteen Green.

Anyway, if anyone has any questions about it......let me know! Hope this helps someone out. :wink: :wink:

I forgot to mention....when I remove a section to haul something (lawnmower, or example) I use those little blocks that came with the track cleats to hold the cover in place. No problems yet...

If you look close at the pictures, you'll see that I actually notched out about an 1/8 of an inch or so at the rails. I did this because, I didn't get the resin on when a breif rain came up and got the boards wet.......you know what happens then....the edges swell up. It took me and my neighbor to get the board out of the rail!!!! 8O Not a problem anymore!!! :lol:

Do you have to be logged in or something to view the pictures. I'm not getting anything. I would like to see these images.
M4ck

yeah, I guess so.....sorry, I'll repost them when I can get a chance.

PM sent firecracker!

Haven't seen any bed caps anywhere for the Titan yet. Figure its gonna be a while or what? I'm gonna need one soon, gotta let the dog in the back. Not havin' my Titan look like my Xterra did...looked like a friggin dog exploded in the back.

Oh no there out there. here ya go a few I know of.
http://www.leer.com/nissanmodel1.html
http://www.autoanything.com/shopping_guides/tonneau_cover/shopping_guide_lund.aspx?se=lund_tonneau_cover_lun d_truck_bed_cover
http://www.rolltopcover.com/
http://www.titantalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14197

Check all these links out.
M4ck

Sorry about the links, fellas.....I've edited it so now you can see them.

Looks good for $75.00.

Outstanding firecracker!! I've seen this done once before on another Titan and it's a great idea. Glad you reminded me because this is a very cost effective and sturdy cover.

Thanks for passing this along, it looks great!!

Great job! Why not go into your origanal post, edit, scroll down to bottom and make this a sticky?

?? appearently I can't do that..no option for it. I think you have to be a moderator.....

Yes you do have to be a mod. And since I am I will sticky it. LOL
M4ck

Actually has no one thought of one major problem? Rain! A major thing with the cover is no water gets into the bed. Well, the way you designed it allows water to go in between the wood panels you put on. Without some type of good rubber seal between them, its going to leak. Another bad thing about wood. The water is going to sit on top of the wood, which in turn will cause it to sag over time. Even a protectant won't help that.

Actually has no one thought of one major problem? Rain! A major thing with the cover is no water gets into the bed. Well, the way you designed it allows water to go in between the wood panels you put on. Without some type of good rubber seal between them, its going to leak. Another bad thing about wood. The water is going to sit on top of the wood, which in turn will cause it to sag over time. Even a protectant won't help that.

Well, first off...Rain was NOT the reason I put this thing together...it was the reduction of drag(^mpg). If it's water resistance that you need, then you can easily apply a good weatherstrip in between the planks, but that's not what is really important to me.

And, Second...you may have missed that I put a couple of coats of fiberglass resin on the wood prior to paining it. That will keep the water out of the wood.

Thanks for your opinions, though. If you're looking for a good retractable cover....MikeZ, I believe has one installed on his truck. You can check the "Reviews" section on the main page. :)

just in case you wanted to sturddy it up you could add a couple of 2x4's under the plywood, then you could even put a decent amount of weight on top of the plywood also. just a thought

Looks real good...What was the increase in MPG? Where would I find the fiberglass resin? Held up well so far? One last question..I guess your truck came with that sliding rail to put the boards in?

Looks real good...What was the increase in MPG?

maybe 1-2 mpg increase, I can't really say as I did it VERY quickly after purchase

Where would I find the fiberglass resin? Held up well so far?

Walmart or Home Depot has the resin. And, Yes, has held up well. Only problem is some of the paint peeling up because of not good adhesion with the resin...I didn't rough it up any before I painted it.

One last question..I guess your truck came with that sliding rail to put the boards in?

Yes. I've got the SE w/ the Utili-Trac system.


Thanks for the compliments!

Is it possible to paint the plywood before the resign is applied?

This looks like a great cover. I am thinking of making one just like it. I do have one concern. How do you keep the cover from leaking between the plywood sections?

This looks like a great cover. I am thinking of making one just like it. I do have one concern. How do you keep the cover from leaking between the plywood sections?

First off, welcome to the site! Second, you can add some weatherstripping in between, that should seal it. However, at the tailgate, in the corners, THAT will be a little more challenging.

Very creative!! I think it looks nice. How many hours do you have invested in it?


Clint

Very creative!! I think it looks nice. How many hours do you have invested in it? Clint

Thanks, Clint! I don't really know, maybe a total of 10 hours or so.

Very nice idea!!

What did you use for the tracks? Is it custom made? Couldn't tell what it is...

Thanks

Very clever design. It looks great!

Very nice idea!!

What did you use for the tracks? Is it custom made? Couldn't tell what it is...

Thanks

Thanks! I used the tracks of the Utili-Trac system. Worked out great!

Very clever design. It looks great!

Thanks, man! I wanted something usefull, pleasing to the eye, and didn't cost too much.

Man that looks fantastic. From your pics it looks just like the bed cover on an Avalanche and that thing is heavy duty. Of course, I'd really hate to see what it would look like if I did it. :roll:

Man that looks fantastic. From your pics it looks just like the bed cover on an Avalanche and that thing is heavy duty. Of course, I'd really hate to see what it would look like if I did it. :roll:

Thanks, man! Davo, it's really not that hard....just some cutting, sanding, and painting. Beats the heck out of $300 or more.

Yeh too bad I dont have a Utili Track or I would do this mod too.
M4ck

Just finished...not as smooth as Firecrackers, but I like it. I'm trying pipe insulation at the end of the bed between the sheet of plywood and the tailgate. I think the rain will just run into the utilitrack down to the corner of the truck bed by the tailgate. I'll keep an eye on it when it rains. Here's my pics.
http://members.shaw.ca/aucanete/cover1_400x300.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/aucanete/cover3_400x300.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/aucanete/cover8_400x300.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/aucanete/cover4_400x300.JPG

Canada0937, Looks just as smooth at 65 mph, doesn't it? LOL

It's amazing just how easy it is and how well it works with the utilitracs. GOod job.

Looks Like I may be redoing mine this summer sometime. I am sort of leaning toward using the "rhino liner" stuff instead of paint. That should LAST longer than the Titan!

Hey Daniel have you thought of maybe putting a piece of thin metal over it and gluing it to it. Something thin like flashing or something. Might look pretty sharp.
M4ck

Hey Daniel have you thought of maybe putting a piece of thin metal over it and gluing it to it. Something thin like flashing or something. Might look pretty sharp.
M4ck

Yeah, actually I have, but I believe I'd scratch it up too much. I've already scratched these up pretty badly. I do use my Titan as a truck, just as you do. So, I have to limit my "smooth & shiny" surfaces. :wink:

Hey Y'all,
This is a solid 3-star idea. I really like how it turned out for ya.
I might try it myself, as I have the nissan toolbox, which makes covering the rest of the bed a $$$ problem it I were to buy something.
One idea I had to improve it -- I recall seeing (maybe at the BORG) some "H" aluminium channel with .75" open ends, which would be perfect for making a connection between sections. The channel could be glued and screwed to one piece, while the mating piece could be slightly thinned and the edges eased to make it easy to slide apart, but provide a strong tongue&groove joint to the assembly. Probably strong enough to stand on. One other idea: For a more weatherproof and paintable surface, one could use MDO board, which is exterior plywood overlaid with a phenolic resin-coated paper. Many exterior sign boards are made from it; it really holds up.
"Helpful hints from your resident woodworker" Titanosaurus Rex.
:D

Those are some good ideas! This is one of those little mods that ALWAYS has different avenues of accomplishment.

Let us know how your's turn out -- pictures and all!

I'm sorry, but Plywood? It does not look good, it looks cracked and like wood. You will have to put some kind of material to make it look smooth, more like a bed cover. Maybe the some bed spray, it will eliminate the wood look. I like your idea though, I'll definitely try something, on this. I went to home depot and found something I could usse as a track.

How about adding a pigment to the resin. I seem to remeber my dad adding color to resin when he built his boat.

I am going to look into this and see what I can come up with. I was thinking about doing something like this when I found that you all allready did it.

I wasthinking of wrapping foam board in resin and fibebeglass cloth. Ythis is one of those someday projects. i may never get around to but I just might do it now.

Yeh too bad I dont have a Utili Track or I would do this mod too.
M4ck

Feel the same way, been trying to find out how much would cost to get at least the side channels, and the price is $90.00. I saw something similar at Home Depot for $15.00 a channel, I think I'm going to improvise something soon.

How about something like this that makes a flush mount system:

http://networkcloset.com/users/titan/cover.gif

How about something like this that makes a flush mount system:

http://networkcloset.com/users/titan/cover.gif

That is EXACTLY what I had started with. The only problem was there's SO little edge on those top rails.....just not much to sit on.

It's all still in work, though.



Good Idea!! :idea:

Question: What kind of wood did you use? Every time I make a trip to Home Depot or Lowes, I look around and explore on this mod, and I found some realy interesting stuff to use. like: weather door gaskets, weather door rubber moldings, aluminum channels. One of these days I'm getting on it. I just need to find out waht to use to protect the wood from the weather, maybe formaica (I thinks I spelled that right), you know the finish they use for the countertops?

goval,

there's any number of stuff to use. If you use plywood, be sure to use the marine grade stuff, it'll help prevent warping. I've also thought about using MDF (sp?) which is basically just very tightly pressed sawdust. Either way you need to seal it somehow from the elements.

My last go around, I used epoxy paint for garages. I figured it would be thick enough to fill in minor imperfections and it would seal the wood. Only time will tell. :D

goval,

there's any number of stuff to use. If you use plywood, be sure to use the marine grade stuff, it'll help prevent warping. I've also thought about using MDF (sp?) which is basically just very tightly pressed sawdust. Either way you need to seal it somehow from the elements.

My last go around, I used epoxy paint for garages. I figured it would be thick enough to fill in minor imperfections and it would seal the wood. Only time will tell. :D

Hi,
MDF is more like a paperboard product than sawdust. Sawdust & glue make particle board. Neither product is much good at all where it can be wet.
Stick with plywood/resin combos. "MDO" I still think will hold up well, especially if the edges are sealed w/resin or epoxy, or better still, wrapped with aluminium c-channel.
T Rex

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