Hi, I have a 2003 Dodge Dakota that I bought used several years ago. It came with a black tonneau cover that is made by Mopar. Has a Mopar tag on it. It has a cloth like top with a plastic/rubber type bottom side to it. It is the kind that has the rubber strip that goes into the groove.

Last year, after having it rolled up for awhile, it was very hard to put back on. It is almost like it shrunk. I had to really pull to get onto the rear rail that goes across the tailgate.

This year, I have had it rolled up again for most of the summer. We are getting near snow here in PA, so I unrolled it and attempted to put it back on and it appears to have shrunk again.? It is at least 2" from making it to the rear rail on the tailgate. I pulled and pulled and it's not going to make it.

Do these things shrink or what ? Has anyone had this happen and if so, what was the solution ? I have to buy a new one but maybe it is time. I am thinking of cutting some off of the side rails to shorten them up but if I do, it appears as though the tailgate rail will no longer sit on the top of the tailgate and may cause a leak.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks.

 

I have the same problem with cover. I can only get it back on when the weather is somewhat warm. The plastic/rubber stretches better. If I happen to roll it up during the colder weather, there is no way I can stretch it to snap it in.

 

We have one on our ram and this time of the year is hard for them. They are fine when the sun is beating down on them but as soon as it goes down and the temp falls below 50 it takes 2 people to get it on. Ours is the extang snap on kind. It is our second one the first one was on our f150 for 6 years looked great when we sold the truck. This on has been on our ram for 3 years and still looks good. Got the one for the ram off ebay for 150.00 brand new. I would try to leave it in the sun for as long as you can. Then try it, if you have already done that there isnt much sense ordering a replacement cover from mopar you will spend just as much as a extang or some other model.

 

In the winter, IF, you have to roll it up & then want it
back on again, good-luck,.. It's gonna be tough.
What works for me is; I put my torpedo-heater on the
tail-gate, unroll the cover, (watch it carefully) so it
doesn't drop into the bed and catch on fire. Wait 10 mins.
It's now warm enough under the tarp in the bed to where it will stretch back long
enough to snap back on. (Works for me).

 

Blow dryer !

 

My cover is an Extang "Tuff Tonno", and it has the same closure (I think) you describe; sort of like if you take your two hands with one pointed up and one pointed down and hook your fingers together. It's impossible to refasten in cold weather. I like the suggestion of unrolling it and heating it with an electric heater to soften things up.
I'm going to sell mine and get a cover with the velcro closure. I certainly will not get another Extang after all the frustrations I've had with this one. I'm thinking I'll get the Truxedo LoPro; a friend has one and it is SO quick and easy to unfasten and refasten.

 

The one thing about the extang classic snap on cover. You can flip the snaps around for a looser fit and also move the cross supports down a level to make snapping it in cold weather much easier. We leave ours on the tightest setting all year long thats why ours is tough to get on in the winter but its never impossible to get back on

 

Well, I've tried putting it in a heated garage, putting heat underneath it in the bed of the truck, blow dryer and using 2 people to try to get it on. But it still lacks 1 3/4" from hooking under the tailgate rail. Must have really shrunk somehow. Frame has not changed or been taken off at any time since I've owned it.

Any other suggestions out there? If not, looks like I may be shopping for a new one or just going without.

Thanks.