Project Lead Sled - Gaylords - Fiberglass Tonneau Cover

One of the most obvious benefits to owning a truck is the large open area in the bed to carry and transport items too large to fit comfortably inside the cab. Unfortunately, those items are left exposed to the sun and weather, and are easily removable by unscrupulous individuals if left unattended for too long. A remedy for all those ills is a lockable tonneau to fit your truck. With the added benefit of sleek looks, it's an easy answer for those who don't consistently haul anything in their truck's bed higher than the bedrail.

To create a more secure hauling environment for Project Lead Sled, we turned to the pros at Gaylord's for a truck bed covering we could be proud of. Being a daily driven vehicle, we usually have a random assortment of Truckin swag, project parts, and camera gear for photo shoots being carted from one destination to another. With nearly 50 years of history manufacturing both hard and soft tonneau covers for trucks, Gaylord's has amassed a large catalog with coverage for nearly any truck model and year. For our '09 Ram, we chose the OG Series BedCover for its clean fit, no drill installation, and low profile design. Customers can order their lid in a factory-matched color, but with our custom House of Kolor Blood Red from Coast Airbrush, we had Buckwild Designs paint it prior to installation. You and a buddy can handle this install yourself with basic hand tools, so check out how easy the OG Series BedCover goes in place.

1. We chose to spread out the parts to show all the pieces, but Gaylord's ships the rails already assembled and ready to install.
1. We chose to spread out the parts to show all the pieces, but Gaylord's ships the rails
2. The extruded aluminum rails feature two slots that accept the hardware's hex head. Bolts are simply slid head first along the rail's slots.
2. The extruded aluminum rails feature two slots that accept the hardware's hex head. Bolt
3. Pictured is the locking mechanism catch loop, and it perfectly illustrates how easily the assembly goes together and how it can be adjusted without tearing everything apart.
3. Pictured is the locking mechanism catch loop, and it perfectly illustrates how easily t

4. With the large wheeltubs cut through the bed to clear our 26-inch wheels and tires, we assessed the location of the mounting hardware to ensure compatibility. Those of you without such drastic modifications will have nothing to worry about.
4. With the large wheeltubs cut through the bed to clear our 26-inch wheels and tires, we
5. Once the Gaylord's mounting rails were set on the bedsides, the clamping system was loosely tightened to hold the rail on and still allow movement.
5. Once the Gaylord's mounting rails were set on the bedsides, the clamping system was loo
6. Both rails were set evenly between the bed's bulkhead and tailgate so we could measure the necessary 41-1/2-inches to locate the hinge system.
6. Both rails were set evenly between the bed's bulkhead and tailgate so we could measure

7. Gaylord's hinge system features two parts. The first part stays firmly bolted to the rail, while the second part slips onto the first with hand-cranked fasteners. That allows the tonneau to be removed and installed without tools should the need to haul something larger in the bed arise.
7. Gaylord's hinge system features two parts. The first part stays firmly bolted to the ra
8. Dropping the fiberglass BedCover into position was a definite two-person job. For the primary installation, the cover was squared to the bed and checked by eyeball for all the right angles.
8. Dropping the fiberglass BedCover into position was a definite two-person job. For the p
9. Measurements for the proper placement of the gas lift strut were included in the instructions. We used an electric driver to cinch down all our bolts once the measurements were reached.
9. Measurements for the proper placement of the gas lift strut were included in the instru

10. To gain the proper angle on the gas struts that support the tonneau cover, the brackets hang below the rail and are subject to a fair amount of torsional stress. Remedying this are these adjustable legs with rubber feet that support the bracket against the inside of the bed.
10. To gain the proper angle on the gas struts that support the tonneau cover, the bracket
11. Final placement of the hinge and the lid was handled while the lid was on the truck. A thick pad of fiberglass gets all the hardware screwed directly into it while still on the truck. We chose to pull it off and flip it over for ease of photographing this step.
11. Final placement of the hinge and the lid was handled while the lid was on the truck. A
12. The OG Series of lids have a dual-locking arrangement that closes each corner of the tonneau individually. Plenty of adjustment is supplied in the threaded body to allow a multitude of locking situations encountered.
12. The OG Series of lids have a dual-locking arrangement that closes each corner of the t

SOURCE
Buck Wild Designs 626-321-1122 http://www.buckwilddesigns.com/	Gaylord's Truck Bed Lids 13538 Excelsior Dr. Santa Fe Springs CA 90670 562-529-7543 www.gaylordslids.com
Coast Airbrush 312 North Anaheim Boulevard Anaheim CA 92805 714-635-5557 www.coastairbrush.com