Roll-N-Lock E-Series Tonneau Cover - 2010 Toyota Tundra

Roll N Lock E Series Tonneau Cover Finished Installation

When we heard that Industrial Motoring, a custom shop just a few blocks from our Anaheim, California, office, had an install planned on a new type of tonneau cover, we knew we had to check it out. Mark Sandifer, a Roll-N-Lock technician, was already tearing into the install of an E-Series remote control tonneau on a new '10 Tundra. The E-Series takes the durable aluminum-framed, vinyl-laminated Roll-N-Lock tonneau to the next level, allowing one-hand opening and closing with the push of a button. The sturdy aluminum is basically a heavy-duty storm shutter, so it's built to take a punishing. Check out how Mark added new functionality to the truck in just a couple of hours.

The first step was to route the two-wire harness from inside the bed to the chassis. Mark connected the ground wire to the chassis and ran the power supply wire into the engine compartment and onto the battery, crimping the inline fuse in between.
The first step was to route the two-wire harness from inside the bed to the chassis. Mark
Next, Mark placed the tonneau housing at the front of the bed and loosely mounted the tracks to the bedrails.
Next, Mark placed the tonneau housing at the front of the bed and loosely mounted the trac
Hooking up the wiring harness to the plug in the electronics trough of housing was a simple plug and click of the two-wire connector. This was also a good time to uncoil the antenna wire (the one running out to the bottom left) and place it between the cab and bed.
Hooking up the wiring harness to the plug in the electronics trough of housing was a simpl

Mark measured the tailgate extrusion and marked the center, he then did the same with the tailgate. Lining up the center marks, self-tapping screws were used to mount the extrusion, and its underlying rubber seal, to the tailgate.
Mark measured the tailgate extrusion and marked the center, he then did the same with the
With the tailgate extrusion firmly in place, Mark matched the rails to the tailgate extrusion with the tailgate closed for the proper gap and tightened the clamps to secure the rails to the bed sheetmetal. The hardware for the entire install made everything simple. For example, these threaded tabs meant we didn't need to use a wrench.
With the tailgate extrusion firmly in place, Mark matched the rails to the tailgate extrus
With the rails tightened in place, Mark mounted the drive converter control lever to a flange in the rail. The drive converter was then attached to the roll-up mechanism by a braided steel cable. If the battery on the truck ever dies, this release will allow the cover to operate manually. After the tailgate is unlocked by key.
With the rails tightened in place, Mark mounted the drive converter control lever to a fla

Mark drilled two 1/2-inch holes in the forward bedwall and connected two drainage hoses from the housing and routed them through the hole and out of the bed. The final step was installing the cargo shield, which protects the housing from items in the bed. It was time to test the cover!
Mark drilled two 1/2-inch holes in the forward bedwall and connected two drainage hoses fr
The cover rolled back and latched into position right off the bat. These barbed posts in the tonneau latch into the tailgate extrusion, locking the tailgate closed to the rails and keeping cargo secure.
The cover rolled back and latched into position right off the bat. These barbed posts in t
Mark also installed this cool cargo manager which is an option from Roll-N-Lock. The first step was mounting the channel to the tonneau rails.
Mark also installed this cool cargo manager which is an option from Roll-N-Lock. The first

The divider can be mounted vertically at one of over a dozen spots...
...and can also be stowed horizontally out of the way as shown here.
Using Roll-N-Lock's key fob, you can walk up and open your tonneau cover with one touch of a button.
Using Roll-N-Lock's key fob, you can walk up and open your tonneau cover with one touch of

FROM THE DRIVER SEAT
The entire install for the Roll-N-Lock tonneau took only a couple of hours and the utility of the truck was improved tremendously. The cargo manager is a bonus, but the versatility of being able to have essentially a giant locking trunk like a normal tonneau and also the ability to haul tall loads with the push of a button is the real draw. Roll-N-Lock also planned ahead for a dead battery, with a manual bypass of the motor and keyed-access to the tailgate.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Time Spent Working: 2 1/2 hours
(Mark would have been faster if I weren't in his way shooting pics.)
Degree of Difficulty: Again, Mark made it look very easy. It would take an inexperienced installer more time, but the hardware made installation simple.

Parts Used:
Roll-N-Lock E-Series Tonneau $1,699.95
(Price from autoanything.com, not including tax or shipping)