HELP! 1983 VW pickup tonneau cover.. hinge question w/ pictures

JELLOWSUBMARINE

JELLOWSUBMARINE

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2011 Jetta Sportwagen, 6M, red/tan, navi, pano, 83 5m diesel pickup, 82 p/u trailer,.04 5.5 TDI Passat wagon (gone), 80,81,82 diesel p/u (gone), 80,82 sportruck (gone), 59 passthru bus (long gone), 79&87 westy (gone), 57 baja bug (long gone), 73 914
Note; I removed this thread from General automotive as it was mentioned to be in the wrong place.

Im getting the 83 VW pickup road ready. Been mostly in hibernation for over a decade.

Just had paint and am installing/trying to figure out the hinge setup on a rare fiberglass tonneau cover. I don't have any info on manufacture or model. It was from a parted pickup years ago and all I have is a box of hinge parts and questions.

I'm hoping there is someone here that may have one of these or know someone with one. Maybe I can get some pictures and/or information





Inside forward passenger side.

Pictures to come of other uninstalled hinge parts.





inside forward driver side



My internet information search has yielded little. Below is what I've found

This appears to be what I have?





Other types? Hinges that I'm not opposed to retrofitting





I'll post more when I find them
 
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JELLOWSUBMARINE

JELLOWSUBMARINE

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JELLOWSUBMARINE

JELLOWSUBMARINE

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2011 Jetta Sportwagen, 6M, red/tan, navi, pano, 83 5m diesel pickup, 82 p/u trailer,.04 5.5 TDI Passat wagon (gone), 80,81,82 diesel p/u (gone), 80,82 sportruck (gone), 59 passthru bus (long gone), 79&87 westy (gone), 57 baja bug (long gone), 73 914
I laid out the parts and looked them over. This Rube Goldberg disaster doesn't even resemble a hinge? I'm thinking eBay hood hinges.




This is the underside of the tonneau and one attached bracket. It could have been put on backwards.


Again this Internet picture is all I can find so far.
 
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Mozambiquer

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I just wish I could find a tonneau cover for mine! Sorry, not much help on that.
 
JELLOWSUBMARINE

JELLOWSUBMARINE

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2011 Jetta Sportwagen, 6M, red/tan, navi, pano, 83 5m diesel pickup, 82 p/u trailer,.04 5.5 TDI Passat wagon (gone), 80,81,82 diesel p/u (gone), 80,82 sportruck (gone), 59 passthru bus (long gone), 79&87 westy (gone), 57 baja bug (long gone), 73 914
I think this should work. The tonneau fiberglass frame structure has a flat area that appears to be designed for such an application as this type hinge


s-l140.jpg

s-l140.jpg

Tonneau hinges (2011 Ford Fiesta)
 
T

T1MMBOJONES

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I’m really of no help here but none of those tonneau covers look even remotely similar to yours They all appear to be metal ladder style frames with some sort of separate cover attached. Yours looks like solid fiberglass and you have additional cross supports all molded out of fiberglass as well. I personally think the first one and maybe all of them are one of a kind, but the first one especially strikes me as odd that the struts would mount that far down in the bed as opposed to in the bed rails, I for one wouldn’t buy said product…. But if it’s custom…. happen to have access to a donor truck or one without fresh paint? if you have the parts at hand it’s probably somewhat self explanatory maybe mock it up and take some measurements and see what clears? I built a Murphy bed in a van using similar hardware, it took lots of templates and trial and error for everything to close as I wanted but ultimately there were no instructions or a right or wrong way per say…. Good luck!
 
JELLOWSUBMARINE

JELLOWSUBMARINE

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T1MMBOJONES said:
none of those tonneau covers look even remotely similar to yours. They all appear to be metal ladder style frames. Yours looks like solid fiberglass.
Click to expand...
Yes true, that's the frustrating thing. I've Internet searched, made phone calls. I've even strapped it down and drove the truck to a custom truck accessories shop that said they could do it, they scratch their head and ran. I've had the best input posting in several places. Ultimately I'm going with the hood hinge and strut conversion set up. Got the part's. (post 6). Now hopefully I can find a good body shop that can/will step outside the box.

T1MMBOJONES said:
the first one especially strikes me as odd that the struts would mount that far down in the bed as opposed to in the bed rails,.
Click to expand...
Yes, alot of leverage on it. The original "Rue Goldberg" built in spring contraption was.

T1MMBOJONES said:
but ultimately there were no instructions or a right or wrong way per say…. Good luck!
Click to expand...
 
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T

T1MMBOJONES

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what I meant to say is I used the strut style system like you posted a pic of on the Murphy bed. Not that crazy contraption you posted. I still think a little trial and error and you’d figure it out but I think you are on the right track getting the kit, which will likely still require a little test fitting but at least have replaceable parts…
 
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