| Pre-Installation Notes: | | | | you are ready to remove the cover! CAUTION: BE |
| 1. Paint rubbing off the truck is normally not a | | | | SURE TO INSTALL THE SPLIT RINGS BEFORE |
| problem with this cover! However, because | | | | ATTACHING THE HYDRAULIC STRUTS!!! The struts |
| Undercover tonneau covers lock the tailgate of the | | | | will exert pressure on the front female hinge/tang |
| truck, the clearance is tighter on the tailgate so not | | | | mechanism and you want to make sure the cover is |
| to allow someone to "jerk" the tailgate open when it | | | | securely anchored prior to installing the struts! |
| is locked. Therefore, I recommend installing a | | | | • Step 8: Install hydraulic struts making sure the |
| standard tailgate protector on your truck. Many | | | | LARGE end of the strut is attached to the tonneau, |
| experienced truck owners install a sprayed-in bedliner | | | | and the SMALL end is attached to the ball stud on |
| that goes over the tailgate's top edge. This is often | | | | the rear bracket! Basically you slip the hole of the |
| the preferred method of choice for many truck | | | | small end of the strut onto this ball stud and it snaps |
| owners. However, a simple plastic, rubber, or thin | | | | into place and is held in place by the pre-installed |
| chrome tailgate protector will do the job! Paint | | | | retaining clip. |
| rubbing on the side rails is extremely rare. You almost | | | | • Step 9: Be sure the front flap seal hangs over |
| have to intentionally mount the cover "out of square" | | | | the bulkhead (or the front edge of the pickup truck |
| to have paint rubbing on the side rails. However, | | | | bed). This flap over provides you with additional |
| realize that paint rubbing is a possibility and is the sole | | | | weather resistance at the front edge of the cover. |
| responsibility of the truck owner. Thin, plastic smooth | | | | Make sure this rubber flap is not folded or rolled up |
| side rail covers can protect your side rails and the | | | | under the tonneau after installation. If flap seal is |
| cover will mount directly on top of these. Materials | | | | rolled up under the tonneau, simply open up the |
| such as 3M Scotch Cal or CabSkin protective films | | | | tonneau and from the inside, just use a yardstick or |
| may be used to help prevent any possible paint | | | | something similar to simply push the flap seal out |
| damage also. You can ask your dealer for specific | | | | form under the tonneau and over the front edge of |
| recommendations about your truck. | | | | the truck bed (bulkhead). |
| 2. UNDERCOVER Tonneau covers are designed for | | | | • Step 10: Close tonneau and check length on the |
| trucks that do not incorporate a Plastic over-the-rail | | | | truck. There should be a ¼ gap between the |
| Bed Liner. Trucks that have bed liners, will require | | | | tailgate and the rear overlapping edge of the |
| some minor trimming of the liner to ensure proper | | | | tonneau. If this is not correct, adjust by moving the |
| placement of the installation brackets. | | | | front brackets forward or back to achieve the |
| UNDERCOVER Installation Instructions: | | | | correct clearance here. Front brackets may also have |
| • Step 1: Place the rear bracket against the truck | | | | to be adjusted slightly to square up the tonneau on |
| stake pocket. | | | | some truck beds! |
| • Step 2: Use two of the holes in rear bracket | | | | • Step 11: Adjust lock strikes. When adjusted |
| which are unobstructed by the inside side lip of your | | | | properly, you should be able to turn the key to the |
| truck bed (there will be three to choose from). If | | | | locked position without having to push down on the |
| possible, use the two holes that are further apart | | | | tonneau. There should be just a very slight amount |
| from each other for a more secure fit. | | | | of play between the lock cam and the lock strike. A |
| • Step 3: Place bolt with washer through the hole. | | | | good rule of thumb is to adjust the lock by having |
| Place aluminum clamp on backside of bracket behind | | | | approximately a 1/8 gap between the cam and lock |
| the bed lip of truck. Thread the bolt into the clamp | | | | strike with the truck tailgate down!! This usually gives |
| being careful not to let the clamp twist while | | | | you the proper adjustment once the tailgate is shut!! |
| tightening (Please keep the clamp straight (in the up | | | | Removal of Cover Instructions: Fast and Easy |
| and down direction). Make sure the bracket is held | | | | • STEP 1: Open Tonneau and with a small |
| down tightly against truck rail and in the right position | | | | screwdriver (or equivalent), gently pry out retaining |
| before tightening! | | | | clip on hydraulic lift strut about 1/8. Then, with the |
| • Step 4: Repeat steps 1 and 2 for opposite side | | | | palm of your hand pop (gently strike) the strut to |
| rear bracket. | | | | remove the strut from the ball stud. DO NOT |
| • Step 5: Per instruction, position the front bracket | | | | COMPELETLY REMOVE THE RETAINING CLIP! |
| accordingly along the inside of the side rail closest to | | | | Holding the tonneau cover up with one hand, place |
| the front corner of your truck bed. This bracket is | | | | the loose end of the strut into the strut storage clip |
| clamped on the inside rail of the front corner of the | | | | (mounted underneath the cover) with the other hand. |
| truck (where you have a place to clamp to). This | | | | Repeat the procedure on the opposite side. |
| bracket is designed to sit onto the top rail of the | | | | • STEP 2: Remove Split rings from tangs on front |
| truck to provide you with a location to mount the | | | | brackets. BE SURE TO COMPLETE STEP 1 BEFORE |
| front of the cover (so the front cover can hinge). | | | | REMOVING SPLIT RINGS. |
| Using pre-drilled holes in front bracket (which are | | | | • STEP 3: Tonneau is now ready for removal |
| customized for your truck), install clamps just as you | | | | Re-Installation of Cover Instructions: |
| did on the rear brackets (MAKING SURE THE BOLTS | | | | • STEP 1: Place tonneau on truck, positioning |
| ARE VERY TIGHT!!!). This position is a good starting | | | | female hinges on tonneau cover over tangs on front |
| point, but you may have to make some minor | | | | brackets and install split rings into holes in male tang |
| adjustments in the bracket hardware due to slight | | | | on front brackets. Again, BE SURE TO INSTALL |
| variations in truck beds from one to the next. | | | | SPLIT RINGS BEFORE ATACHING THE GAS |
| • Step 6: Repeat step 5 for opposite front | | | | STRUTS IN STEP 2! |
| bracket. | | | | • STEP 2: Lift tonneau up with one hand, and with |
| • Step 7: Place tonneau on truck positioning | | | | the palm of your other hand, firmly push the strut |
| female hinges on tonneau cover over the tangs of | | | | over the ball stud of the rear bracket. You do not |
| the front brackets. (Tangs are basically a small | | | | need to pry out the retaining clip when re-installing |
| protrusion of metal that the female hinge fits onto). | | | | the hydraulic struts. |
| These tangs are the portions that protrude over the | | | | • STEP 3: Be sure that the front flap seal hangs |
| front rail and provide a surface for which the cover is | | | | over the bulkhead of the truck and is not rolled up |
| to hinge upon. One you install the female hinge over | | | | under the tonneau after installation. This flap over |
| the tang on each side, you will install split rings to | | | | provides you with additional weather resistance at |
| ensure that the cover is secure and does not move | | | | the front edge of the cover. Make sure this rubber |
| forward. These split rings are very similar to the | | | | flap is not folded or rolled up under the tonneau after |
| design of a key ring or a shower curtain ring (of | | | | installation. If flap seal is rolled up under the tonneau, |
| course it is of industrial quality and strength) and will | | | | simply open up the tonneau and from the inside, just |
| remain shut. These split rings designed to hold the | | | | use a yardstick or something similar to simply push |
| cover in place until the cover is to be removed. | | | | the flap seal out form under the tonneau and over |
| These rings are designed to be very secure when | | | | the front edge of the truck bed (bulkhead). |
| closed but are also designed for easy removal when | | | | |