T Man
12-08-05, 08:27 PM
I ordered a Checkmate Flush Mount Hard Tonneau on a Monday, and it was in by Wednesday. That’s quick shipping. The install was simple, though it took two people because of the awkwardness of the tonneau.
Tools needed:
Cordless drill with Phillips head bit
Sharpie
Tape Measure
Optional:
Either a uni-bit or stepped drill bit
Or
¾’ Drill bit.
Placement:
Note, this step took me the longest, take your time with this step, or it will haunt you.
The begin with, remove the tonneau from the box and set it on the bed. Take your time lining up the tonneau so that it is square. Use both a tape measure and your eye. I chose to center mine predominately in relation to the back window. It is approximately 1/16th inch off of center on the bed, but dead center with the window. Once you are happy with the placement of your tonneau, take a sharpie and shimmy yourself up under the tonneau making sure that you don’t bump or move it. Once you are up to the front, have your assistant check to make sure you haven’t moved it at all. Using your sharpie, outline the hinges on the back of the bed. These will serve as guide marks when the tonneau is open and you are securing the hinges to the bed. Once the hinges have been outlined, the tonneau can be opened and you can crawl out.
Tonneau Installation:
Open the tonneau and have your assistant hold it open. The instructions call for a 1/8th inch pilot hole to be drilled for each screw. After drilling a pilot hole, I found that the screw is smaller than 1/8th inch, and that my pilot hole didn’t do me any good. The screws included with the kit are self tapping screws and do an excellent job of going through the hinges and the bed sheet metal. With both you and your assistant holding the tonneau open, align the hinges with your score marks. I chose to roll my hinges in slightly so that when closed, it wouldn’t risk not closing all the way. (Instead of the bed front hinge which was shaped like an “L†being parallel to the ground, turned it slightly pointing towards the bed, maybe a 100 degree angle with 0 degrees being straight up) Screw in one or two of the self tapping screws included with the kit. I chose to screw in one and move to the other side. Screw in one or two on the other side making sure it is still lined up. If it is not, remove the first two screws and move to correct the problem. Close the tonneau and make sure it is still centered. Once you are satisfied with the placement, install up to 5 screws total in each hinge. I chose to install 7 just for added security, but it is not necessary. Close the tonneau to check for final fit.
Gas strut Installation:
The gas struts are included with the basic tonneau. They come with 4 brackets, 2 “L†shaped, 2 flat. Begin by installing the L shaped brackets on the tonneau. There are pre drilled holes in the tonneau. Make sure that the ball is facing the outside of the truck. Repeat on the other side. Install one strut onto the ball, twisting the bottom half of the strut 180 degrees, so that one socket is facing in and one is facing out. Attach the flat strut bracket to the strut. Hold the tonneau so that it is just at the top of your reach, you will get maximum access out of it this way, and you will be able to reach items in the front of the bed with it open this way. Have your assistant attach the bracket to the bedside with the self tapping screws included. Close the tonneau to check for clearance. Once clearance is established use a measuring tape to measure from a point on the bed to the rear most screw on the bedside bracket. Doing this will insure your tonneau will not be crooked when it is open. Attach the other side strut to both the tonneau bracket and the bedside bracket, and screw it in. The install is now done!
Optional Lock Kit Installation:
I chose to order the optional lock kit to secure the inside of my bed. With thoughts of a blow through running through my head, it is cheep insurance to keep my stuff secure.
Using a tape measure and your eye, measure approximately 4 inches from the end of the tonneau, and 2 inches from the side. Make sure you check the underside for clearance of stake pockets etc. If it will interfere with stake pockets, move to where it won’t. I chose to lay a piece of duck tape to mark my alignment holes. Keeping the duct tape on the tonneau to prevent damage to the tonneau finish. Using a 1/8th inch bit make a pilot hole. I used a uni-bit to drill a ¾†hole on the top and bottom side. The foam middle of the tonneau can be removed with file. Drop the assembled lock through the hole, and attach the nut on the other side. Complete this step on the other side and you are done. A dry secure bed!
Tools needed:
Cordless drill with Phillips head bit
Sharpie
Tape Measure
Optional:
Either a uni-bit or stepped drill bit
Or
¾’ Drill bit.
Placement:
Note, this step took me the longest, take your time with this step, or it will haunt you.
The begin with, remove the tonneau from the box and set it on the bed. Take your time lining up the tonneau so that it is square. Use both a tape measure and your eye. I chose to center mine predominately in relation to the back window. It is approximately 1/16th inch off of center on the bed, but dead center with the window. Once you are happy with the placement of your tonneau, take a sharpie and shimmy yourself up under the tonneau making sure that you don’t bump or move it. Once you are up to the front, have your assistant check to make sure you haven’t moved it at all. Using your sharpie, outline the hinges on the back of the bed. These will serve as guide marks when the tonneau is open and you are securing the hinges to the bed. Once the hinges have been outlined, the tonneau can be opened and you can crawl out.
Tonneau Installation:
Open the tonneau and have your assistant hold it open. The instructions call for a 1/8th inch pilot hole to be drilled for each screw. After drilling a pilot hole, I found that the screw is smaller than 1/8th inch, and that my pilot hole didn’t do me any good. The screws included with the kit are self tapping screws and do an excellent job of going through the hinges and the bed sheet metal. With both you and your assistant holding the tonneau open, align the hinges with your score marks. I chose to roll my hinges in slightly so that when closed, it wouldn’t risk not closing all the way. (Instead of the bed front hinge which was shaped like an “L†being parallel to the ground, turned it slightly pointing towards the bed, maybe a 100 degree angle with 0 degrees being straight up) Screw in one or two of the self tapping screws included with the kit. I chose to screw in one and move to the other side. Screw in one or two on the other side making sure it is still lined up. If it is not, remove the first two screws and move to correct the problem. Close the tonneau and make sure it is still centered. Once you are satisfied with the placement, install up to 5 screws total in each hinge. I chose to install 7 just for added security, but it is not necessary. Close the tonneau to check for final fit.
Gas strut Installation:
The gas struts are included with the basic tonneau. They come with 4 brackets, 2 “L†shaped, 2 flat. Begin by installing the L shaped brackets on the tonneau. There are pre drilled holes in the tonneau. Make sure that the ball is facing the outside of the truck. Repeat on the other side. Install one strut onto the ball, twisting the bottom half of the strut 180 degrees, so that one socket is facing in and one is facing out. Attach the flat strut bracket to the strut. Hold the tonneau so that it is just at the top of your reach, you will get maximum access out of it this way, and you will be able to reach items in the front of the bed with it open this way. Have your assistant attach the bracket to the bedside with the self tapping screws included. Close the tonneau to check for clearance. Once clearance is established use a measuring tape to measure from a point on the bed to the rear most screw on the bedside bracket. Doing this will insure your tonneau will not be crooked when it is open. Attach the other side strut to both the tonneau bracket and the bedside bracket, and screw it in. The install is now done!
Optional Lock Kit Installation:
I chose to order the optional lock kit to secure the inside of my bed. With thoughts of a blow through running through my head, it is cheep insurance to keep my stuff secure.
Using a tape measure and your eye, measure approximately 4 inches from the end of the tonneau, and 2 inches from the side. Make sure you check the underside for clearance of stake pockets etc. If it will interfere with stake pockets, move to where it won’t. I chose to lay a piece of duck tape to mark my alignment holes. Keeping the duct tape on the tonneau to prevent damage to the tonneau finish. Using a 1/8th inch bit make a pilot hole. I used a uni-bit to drill a ¾†hole on the top and bottom side. The foam middle of the tonneau can be removed with file. Drop the assembled lock through the hole, and attach the nut on the other side. Complete this step on the other side and you are done. A dry secure bed!