After rolling stock and ride height, the cargo box exerts the most influence on your sport truck's style. That's why installing a tonneau cover is one of the most effective ways to enhance the look of your sport truck as well as enhance its utility and efficiency.
Putting a sleek surface across the top of the cargo bed smoothes the usually broken visual line of the open bed and improves the aerodynamics of the truck. In addition, you get the added security of the cover, which turns your cargo bed into a large trunk, and you'll get a slight bump in fuel mileage from the improved aerodynamics of the tailgate area.
Since we wanted to get a sleek and smooth look for this truck without spending a ton of money, we chose Checker Products Inc.'s CheckMate FX fiberglass flush-style tonneau. It's a great product, and with an MSRP of $349 for a standard shortbed tonneau, it's very affordable.
While installing a tonneau cover is a great addition to any sport truck, the cargo bed isn't truly finished until you cover the sheetmetal. There are several options on the market, but one of the best and easiest to install is a Bedrug. A Bedrug is constructed from a solid plastic-polymer fiber that cannot be permanently marked by transmission fluid, oil, grease, or gasoline. So even though it feels like a cushioned carpet, acids, solvents, chemical compounds, or petroleum products will not damage the carpet-like plastic-fiber surface or foam bottom. And since the closed-cell foam bottom doesn't absorb water, any spill or stain remains on the stain-resistant plastic-fiber surface for easy cleaning. Plus, the plastic-foam backing is molded to conform exactly to the floor ribs; this creates a flat, cushioned floor that is very knee-friendly. When kneeling, sitting, or lying on floor, you almost don't feel the floor ribs.
We installed the Bedrug before the CheckMate FX tonneau, and the first step to successfully install your Bedrug is to read all the instructions beforehand. The floor and side rugs are shipped unzipped, so remove the floor and sides from the box. We recommend trial-fitting before zipping the components together in order to get familiar with all the parts.
1. Your Bedrug is shipped...
1. Your Bedrug is shipped unzipped and comes with all the hardware and fasteners you'll need for a quick and easy installation. Lay the Bedrug soft bedliner in the bed of the truck to determine the exact location and fit. A very aggressive hook and loop fastening system has been designed to hold the bedliner in open-bed trucks. The loop fastener portion of this system is sewn around the 'liner. The bulkhead and tailgate have two continuous strips of loop fastener sewn along the top and bottom.
2. The hook fasteners have...
2. The hook fasteners have a self-adhesive backing to stick to the bed of the truck.
3. Your next task is to zip...
3. Your next task is to zip the Bedrug components together. We found it easiest to perform this on the shop floor as shown. You have several components: the bed floor and tailgate flap, the two side panels, and the bulkhead panel.
4. Zip them together as if...
4. Zip them together as if you're zipping up your coat. No tricks here; it's just too easy.
5. When completely zipped...
5. When completely zipped together, the Bedrug looks like this, viewing from the foam-padding side.
6. You'll be applying adhesive-backed...
6. You'll be applying adhesive-backed hook strips to the bed of your truck, so cleanliness is essential. We used compressed air to thoroughly dust off the bed before laying the zipped-together Bedrug into the cargo bed.
7. To install the hook fastener...
7. To install the hook fastener strips, roll one side of the Bedrug up, exposing the floor area where you need to install the 3-inch strip of hook fastener. You'll know where to install since the other side of the fastener system is sewn to the Bedrug. Using a clean, lint-free cloth, clean this area thoroughly using non-petroleum based solvent. Then with a separate cloth, clean the same area again with alcohol. If the cloths become visually soiled, replace them with clean ones.
8. Bedrug recommends that...
8. Bedrug recommends that you attach the hook fasteners to the loop and then rub the area firmly to ensure the best adhesion. We found, at least for the bottom stripes, it was easier for us to measure and mark the 'liner and bed to get the strips positioned where we wanted them. We followed the manufacturer's directions for the sides, however. The sides have marks on the bedliner to make positioning and installation very easy.
9. The installed Bedrug gives...
9. The installed Bedrug gives a soft, clean, yet finished look to your sport truck's cargo bed. It's soft and resilient and protects your truck and cargo.
10. To provide access to the...
10. To provide access to the factory tie-down loops, we cut a small slit in the Bedrug, allowing the tie-down to protrude through the Bedrug into the truck bed. Note: This will not damage the Bedrug.
11. Installing the CheckMate...
11. Installing the CheckMate FX tonneau begins with a trial fit on the cargo box. If that checks out, the next step is to install the bulb seal to the underside lip of the cover's frame.
12. Installing the bulb seal...
12. Installing the bulb seal is simply a cut, peel, and stick operation. However, California Classic owner Alan Ross mitered the corners for a cleaner, more professional installation. To do this, he cut the seal at the corner on a 45-degree angle to make a 90-degree mitered joint.