Out of sight, out of mind. That's at least one of the philosophies behind bed covers for pickups. A tonneau not only covers your cargo, it also keeps air from rushing over the cab and into the bed, saving you fuel over the long haul. Tonneau covers are also fairly easy to install for the average driveway mechanic, especially the new generation of soft tonneaus. Many of them feature an aluminum frame construction and easy snap-on design for a snug fit.
Tonneau Masters, a division of Sport Masters Inc., has developed a new clamp-on soft tonneau cover that installs in minutes and fits like a glove. The new Tonneau Master roll-up tonneau cover is a low-profile, snapless unit, using a heavy-duty hook and Velcro loop system to attach the material to the frame instead of the conventional snap setup.
The Tonneau Master roll-up cover mounts to contoured rails that clamp to the inside of the truck bed, providing access to the stake pockets and giving the tonneau a custom, tapered appearance. The tonneau, which has reinforced and finished corners, also features integral bows in the cover, which roll up and out of the way when the cover is stored, leaving plenty of room for cargo and eliminating the need to remove the bows separately. Keeping things taut is an automatic adjustable rear tension control, which is built into the rails and makes for a latched closing at the rear.
The whole system can be installed in less than 10 minutes and gives the truck a finished look when in place. Tonneau Masters can also do custom applications to accommodate such things as bed-mounted toolboxes. The Tonneau Master is offered in a variety of vinyl colors and styles. Sport Masters also offers several other styles of soft tonneaus as well.
To prove how easy it is to install, Bill Thomas of Tonneau Masters showed up at our Placentia, California, offices with a handful of tools to install one of the company's new Tonneau Master roll-up tonneaus on a late-model Chevy. Ten minutes later, he was finished and the truck looked great. If you're in the market for something new in the way of a soft tonneau cover with ease of installation, check into Tonneau Masters' new roll-up system.
1. The Tonneau Master low-profile,...
1. The Tonneau Master low-profile, roll-up tonneau comes complete with all the necessary hardware and complete instructions for an easy, do-it-yourself install.
2. The clamp-on, contoured...
2. The clamp-on, contoured side rails are padded to protect the bedrails.
3. The first step of the install...
3. The first step of the install is to position the side rails.
4. The kit comes with these...
4. The kit comes with these specially designed aluminum clamps that hold the side rails of the tonneau to the bedrails of the bed. Note the rubber protector on the clamps.
5. The instructions show where...
5. The instructions show where to place the clamps along the side rails.
6. With the clamps positioned...
6. With the clamps positioned correctly, it's time to cinch them down.
7a. With both side rails in...
7a. With both side rails in place, the tonneau assembly is added next. First, the mounting bolts are slipped into the rail.
7b.
8a. With both mounting bolts...
8a. With both mounting bolts in place, the tonneau assembly is positioned onto the secured side rails and bolted in place.
8b.
9. Here's what the assembly...
9. Here's what the assembly looks like when mounted in place.
10. The tonneau can now be...
10. The tonneau can now be unrolled toward the rear of the truck.
11. The Tonneau Master system...
11. The Tonneau Master system uses an automatic adjusting rear tension control. The edge of the tonneau is slipped into the tensioner and snapped into place.
12. The finished install completely...
12. The finished install completely covers the bed, while leaving the stake pockets exposed. The low-profile design also complements the lines of the truck.