looking to make a bed cover and a roll pan...

[wolfpackjeeper]

Ok, I am pretty good with fiberglass so here it goes. If anyone else has done this already let me know. This is on a 2wd, 4cyl, clean MJ, and the place that sold the truck originally STAMPED their name into the bumper.

 

I plan on making my own bedcover that actually fits, and while I am at this I will probably make a roll pan too. My dad and I made a lot of different model aircraft parts, wings and such, basically you layer foam till you get enough thickness the carve what you want. Before I went to college we got into making cedar strip canoes and we both got pretty good at laying fiberglass.

 

THE ROLLPAN

I plan to stack the foam till I get a thickness that will lay flush with the bumper end caps, then shave it down and curve it to fit the right shape, notch in a place for the plate too. Glass the outside to add flexibility, pull it off and carve away the areas that are not needed for interior mounting points. Glass the interior so that it forms a nice firm structure. sand it, glass the outside again, finish sand it, then lay the paint. I have yet to find a rollpan on line, but maybe I am not searching hard enough, besides, this seems fun.

 

 

BEDCOVER:

On, this one is open for a little more debate. I want one, but I want it to be pretty lowprofile. The local truck shop says that he can get me all the hardware for $150 or so. I plan to lay a thin sheet of plywood across the bed and cut it a hair shorter on all sides than the bed(fiberglass room). Then more foam, really just a nice thin sheet so I can shape the edges. This will probably get 2 or more layers of a heavier glass so that I could sit on the edges. mount the brackets and be good to go.

 

I have also seen one, and only one, truck that had a cover that mounted within the bed sides. I was thinking if I went this way to run some angle around the insides of the bed to give a cover the lip to sit on. then use the same technique to form the cover.

 

 

ideas, suggestions? This truck is probably going to head in the fast sport truck direction rather than offroad beast. I already have one offroad beast that gets $#!&ty mileage.

[maddzz1]

I like the idea of a bed cover that sits inside the bed rails.

[mjtjnj]

not to change the subject, wolfpack, but check your private messages, I have a a new low pressure switch for you.

[wolfpackjeeper]

got the pm, kinda expected a notice like on other boards

 

as far as the bed cover goes, I am going to try for the in bed mount. Will go with a sandwich structure of two sheets of quarter in plywood with a sheet of foam in between.

 

at the Home Depot:

1/4 in plywood is about $10 a sheet, I will need 3

blue insulation foam is $6 a sheet, need 2

I found some nice looking stainless steel hinges for $10

3/4x3/4 aluminum angle is $13 for an 8 ft stalk, need 2

I can get fiberglass and epoxy from a local marine shop

Duplicolor spray auto enamel is $6 a can, and they have a close match at Advance

the only thing I am really lacking will be a way to lock it, and I think a nice under counter locking latch will work ok for that.

[lower jeep]

i have found that a 86-96 dodge dakota rollpans are about 1 inch on each side and you have to cut an like 3/8" out on the top mount to get it to fit against the out side of the bed and you can find them for like maybe $70 for a fiberglass one and i think that JC Whitney has a roll top bed cover that is made for the comanches its a hard cover that is made out of alum. and is covered with vinal that sits inside the bed rails but they want 600 -700 dollars for it

 

here are a few options for you that i have found in searching for parts for my truck

[wolfpackjeeper]

yea, the 600-700 dollars is way too much. I really think I can get a reasonably strong and light cover made myself. Dad says that he actually designed several houses to us the sandwich panels, they were called SIPS panels. and realistically it is the same setup we use to make canoes strong and lite.

 

on a side note, judging by your name, what did you use to lower yourt truck and about how much did you get.

[lower jeep]

yhea i have a lowered jeep rear is bagged and the front is on a set of rare lowering springs that i found in canada the rear sits on the ground check out the my lowered jeep under projects