How to Install a Tonneau Cover

The Moment of Truth

Picture this: your brand-new tonneau cover just arrived. You can almost smell the vinyl through the cardboard box. You can visualize yourself cruising down the highway without a care in the world, confident that your tools are safe from the elements. You roll down the window and relax your elbow on the door frame. You take off your hat to feel the wind in your hair; your favorite song just hit the radio. Life is good.

But wait dear reader, you're missing a step. The tonneau cover of your dreams is still in a box. You recall being asked about having the cover professionally installed, but you said to yourself "I don't need that. I'm a boss. I've got this." Now your resolve is shaky. What if you're not actually a boss? Don't worry, we're here to help. We will make sure that you have all the knowledge necessary to in fact, have this.

Before We Begin

It is worth noting that you run the risk of potentially damaging your tonneau cover, or even your vehicle, during the installation process. It is a simple process all things considered, but if you do not feel comfortable installing the tonneau cover yourself, there is no shame in opting for professional installation. We understand. That truck is your baby, and the last thing you want to do is hurt it. I wouldn't want to do surgery on a loved one either. You can find a nearby truck-doctor (professional installer) here.

Where To Begin

The first thing you should do is to confirm that your tonneau cover is the right fit for your truck. If you are purchasing from etrailer, you can use our fitguide to confirm the fit by year, make, and model of your vehicle. If not, you will want to confirm the fit by manually measuring.

Open your tailgate and measure from the base of your truck bed, against the wall closest to the cabin of the truck, all the way to the gap in between the bed and the open tailgate.

Note: As long as the tonneau cover is within 1-2 inches of your truck bed measurement you should be fine. Tonneau cover manufacturers often round to the nearest even inch.

Once you have confirmed that your truck and tonneau cover are a match made in truck-heaven, you will want to give it a good scrub down. Make sure your truck bed is clean and dry before you install your tonneau cover. This will not only make sure your truck is all ready for its big day (the first tonneau cover is special), but that there is no dirt or residue in the hardware of the tonneau cover that may compromise its stability.

Step 1: The Clamps

Most tonneau covers will need rails installed on the sides of the truck bed to attach to. These rails are either held down by clamps, or by screws drilled into the side of the truck bed in rare cases.

Place your rails evenly on the sides of your truck bed, and apply clamps on the ends to hold the rails in place.

If your truck bed has a bed liner that doesn't allow the clamps to be placed under the lip of the truck bed, then you will want to cut small holes in the bed liner for the clamp to get a grip and be as secure as possible.

Note: Don't make the clamps too tight. Tightening them too far can put too much pressure and actually cause damage to the truck bed itself. Two full rotations after the clamp has made contact should be sufficient.

Step 2: The Rails

After your clamps are installed, your rails should be firmly attached to the walls of your truck bed. If your tonneau cover came with weather protectant seals, now would be the time to install those.

Make sure the rails are completely clean (wipe down with rubbing alcohol to ensure the best results). Remove the backing paper covering the adhesive strip, and apply the seals where indicated by your instruction manual. Some tonneau covers come with seals for all sides, and making sure to apply the right ones in the right spots will ensure a weather-resistant seal.

There might seem like there isn't a lot to this step. But it is important to check the fit of the rails and make sure they are stable. If there is any movement, your clamps should be tightened accordingly, or there may be an obstruction between your rails and truck bed.

You should now be able to place the tonneau cover on top of the rails and fasten it near the cabin of the vehicle.

Step 3: The Cover

Now is the moment you've been waiting for (probably). Time to attach the cover itself. Depending on your cover, it will either snap into the rails at a specified point, or it will have to be attached with supplied hardware. But attaching the cover should be simple once the rails are on and secured.

Once the cover is attached, unfold or unroll it to make sure that it fits properly on your truck bed.

Make sure all the clamps are tight (but not too tight!) and that the rails and cover are secure, and you're ready to hit the road. Congratulations, you just installed a tonneau cover on your truck! Turns out you are a boss!

About Jacob J

To say that my path to etrailer was complicated would be an understatement. I have always had a passion for helping others, and throughout my education and career as a social worker or community liaison, I have loved writing as a hobby. When I found etrailer and was given the opportunity to turn something I enjoyed doing into a career that helped people access information and products they need to live the best life they possibly could, I was instantly interested.

I am a lover of the outdoors, have been loading and unloading trailers since I before I was old enough to drive them, and have spent my recent years working in and around the automotive industry. And I am excited to share all of the things I have learned (more often than not the hard way).

I consider myself a perpetual student, and etrailer gives me the opportunity to learn something new every day and share my findings with others. Which is something I am extremely grateful for. I look forward to continuing to help people find the answers they need to make memories for a lifetime.

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