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Project Tundra: Keeping it Covered
We installed the Venture tonneau cover from Penda Corporation on the Toyota Tundra this month, enlisting the aid of Jason Zajicek, Director of Design Engineering, Portage, Wis.

tonneau
Moving the tonneau can easily be done with two people.
15 min to install tonneau cover
Installing the cover takes no more than 15 minutes for seasoned professsionals.

Penda has manufactured truck bed liners for more than 23 years, but the aftermarket and OE supplier decided to expand its product offerings by providing a quality thermoformed plastic tonneau cover.

Penda previously produced both fiberglass and soft tonneau covers, but the company found that fiberglass production was less economical and the material less durable compared to manufacturing with thermoformed plastics.

Penda says that because thermoformed plastics are more durable compared to fiberglass, the material hides imperfections better. It says the material is more resistant to scratches and dents, providing a superior product.

The Venture tonneau has been tested with more than 1,900 pounds of pressure and withstands a range of temperatures from -32 F to 190 F. Penda inspects each product to the stringent standards the company holds for its other manufactured aftermarket and OE products.

The Installation

We only needed a ˝-inch and 3/8-inch wrench for installation on the Toyota Tundra. The install was a simple process. It takes anywhere from a half hour for beginners, to 15 minutes for technicians familiar with the process.

Since it is easier to attach the brackets by sitting up in the bed, we made sure the truck bed was completely empty first.

“It is best to leave the tailgate opened while doing the installation,” Zajicek says.

We fastened the front frame on the truck bed side rail as far forward in the truck cab as possible. After attaching the clamps to the frame, we fastened the two rear brackets to the rear of the Tundra bed, closest to the tailgate. The kit provides a roll of tape for the front rail bracket just in case the vehicle doesn’t have a bed liner.

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