When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Running around shows/cruises with Hayride(1978 Lariat). We don't like the "stuff" just rolling around the bed. Looking at ideas for a bed cover. No topper! Want something "vintage", fitting the year. Pondered the vinyl cover- no like. Had one on my El Camino SS years ago. I like many of the new offerings such as the aluminum roll ups and plastic flip backs. We think they might be too modern. Thinking about building a hard cover from wood or aluminum. Or maybe a combination.
Any thoughts or pics of your? Thanks.
Last edited by 78Hayride; Aug 30, 2018 at 07:58 AM.
Reason: to clean up
Back in the day, I had a low rider mini truck. I needed to use the whole bed form time to time, but most of the time I didn't. I built a bed cover out of 2x4's and plywood, free standing and covered it with grey indoor/outdoor carpeting. I could slide the whole thing out if I needed the bed, but it was strong enough about 4 people could dance on it. Mine sat flush with the top of the bedrails, so it wasn't waterproof in the bed, but with the ribbed bed floor, it mostly stayed to the outside and flowed to the front or back of the bed to the drainholes or under the tailgate, everything in the middle stayed dry. I used carpet glue and a notched trowel and completely coated the plywood (it wasn't treated) and the carpet had a rubberized backing. I wanted a SnugTop, but was a poor college kid, so this is what I could afford. Got lots of approving comments on it.
Astroturf was period correct in the late 70's, in lots of boats too. If you could find some tan or brown to semi-match, you could do the same thing. Since you garage park it, it wouldn't see as much UV or rain.
When a poor college kid in the .70s I cut a 4x8 sheet of 1/2" plywood, to fit across the bed, put weatherstrip between it and the bed and bolter 'er down - cut a second piece to fir the remaining opening, hinged it to the first section, think I secured it with hook and eye loops on the inside of the bed - was watertight and protected my top box when commuting between the two jobs I had at the time. Was a brush-painted green '61 with white bumpers and wheels, painted the cover with a coupla coats of exterior enamel in white and it looked pretty good. Was on the truck when I sold it in '77...sure with I had that truck back. 223 and a 3 on the tree, no A/C but had 6x9s in the doors and it was LOUD.
An idea bouncing around my head is to build a bed cover similar to an airplane wing ...lightweight and with spars that way it'll shed rain and you can stand on it.. metal or wood, your call.
Anything made with ply wood and / or metal / 2x4 frame is going to be heavy to lift even 1 end.
I like the vinyl type covers but don't like the snap on ones as they can be hard to get snapped.
If you have some tie off points down the sides and had a cover made with a rope on the edges you could then put the rope over the tie offs and get it as tight as you wanted.
Something like a covered wagon type deal but would be flat unless you added some type of bows.
That's how I would roll and I think that was used back in the day or bed caps.
Dave ----
The company I bought the truck from used it for towing cars while filming them.
Prior to them owning it, it may have been used as a breakdown tow truck.
I believe it was originally a long bed, and one of them cut it shorter.
The only thing I like about it is that the entire back end is 1/2'' thick steel.
In fact with the recently added new tow bar, the back end is like a tank (an invitation for drunk drivers).
The two variations of bed covers below are now both in the bin. I didn't like either. (The nasty reflective crap is required by law here. )
The one I'm about to make will have the tailgate hinged similar to the OE trucks, and running straight down at the start of the slant, instead of having a bend in it.
Anyway, anyone with an unmolested tail section will have an easy time making a decent looking cover.
My Dad had a 76 with cover made of plywood, you could frame with square aluminum tube like rv. His had auto vinyl roof covering it with the seams like vinyl roof, looked period perfect.
)
