SAWTOOTH Stretch Expandable Tonneau Cover Installation Guide

Stretch Expandable Tonneau Cover

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Product Specifications

• Brand: Sawtooth STRETCH
• Type: Expandable Tonneau Cover
• Manufacturer: Sawtooth
• Warranty: Requires registration for validity
• Components: Cab Rail, Stretch Cover, Side Rails (2), Tailgate
  Rail, Support Bows, Clamps, Allen Key

Product Usage Instructions

Preparation

1. Clean and dry the truck bed and bed rails before starting
   installation.

2. Ensure all cover components are unpacked and ready for
   installation.

3. For easy installation, choose a warm day with temperatures
   above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Note on Bed Liners: Different types of bed liners may require
   trimming for proper installation.

Installation Steps

1. Assemble aluminum clamps according to your pickup truck’s
   specifications.

LEFT: Ford, GMC / Chevy, Ram (Some Toyotas
& Nissan trucks without track systems)

CENTER: Nissan Utili-Track System

RIGHT: Toyota Deck Rail System

Note: Apply anti-seize grease to threads before
assembling clamps to prevent seizing.

2. Place Cab Rail with attached Stretch Cover in the Pickup Truck
   Bed Box next to the Bed Rail near the Pickup Truck Cab.

• The Cab Rail and cover should fit between the two side bed
  rails with protrusions pointing towards the tailgate.

• Ensure the long straps are under the Cab Rail and in the bed of
  the truck for securing the tonneau at the cab.

• Attach Side Rails onto the protruding Corner Connectors. Push
  in until you feel the Side Rails seat onto the Corner
  Connectors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What should I do if I encounter issues during

installation?

A: If you face any difficulties during installation, refer to
the detailed installation manual provided with your product. If
problems persist, contact our customer support for assistance.

Q: How should I clean and maintain the Sawtooth STRETCH tonneau

cover?

A: To clean the cover, use mild soap and water. Avoid harsh
chemicals or cleaners like Armor All. Regularly inspect the cover
for any damage or wear and tear. Lubricate moving parts as needed
for smooth operation.

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STRETCH EXPANDABLE TONNEAU COVER INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

THANK YOU
Thank you for purchasing the only expandable tonneau cover on the market. Sawtooth proudly manufactures the Sawtooth STRETCH and takes great care to provide you a premium product that does what no other tonneau can. With proper installation and care, your new cover should provide years of reliable service.
NOTICE: It is recommended that you read and follow the installation, maintenance, and safety instructions prior to installation and use of this product. Failure to follow these instructions will result in product failure and will void the Sawtooth warranty. Save these instructions for future reference. Often improvements are made without prior notice. Always handle the cover and components with care to avoid damage.
Your new Sawtooth STRETCH tonneau must be registered to make the warranty valid. Registration information can be found on the back page.
WARRANTY
Sawtooth offers a limited lifetime warranty against defective materials or workmanship on all aluminum and plastic components. Sawtooth offers a limited one-year warranty on the textile and rubber components. This warranty is void if the product has been damaged by accident, unreasonable use, neglect, improper service, or installation. Any modification, acts of God, normal wear and tear or other causes not arising from defective materials or workmanship is not considered under this warranty. The following are examples of conditions that will void the warranty:
Punctures that form because of covering sharp or pointy objects. Overloading the tonneau on extremely large cargo. Improper cleaning of the cover using harsh chemicals. Do not use chemicals like Amor All. Do not use chemicals designed
to be used on traditional vinyl tonneaus. Improper maintenance of the cover.
Sawtooth reserves the right to determine if all warranty conditions have been met. Upon determination, Sawtooth may require the product to be returned postage prepaid to further inspect the warranty claim. Given that all conditions are met Sawtooth will either repair or replace (at Sawtooth’s determination) the product or the component. In the event a product must be returned, a Return Authorization # must be obtained through our customer service and must be on the written on the parcel for it to be accepted. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other legal rights which vary from state to state.

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STRETCH EXPANDABLE TONNEAU COVER
PREPARATION
1. Clean and dry truck bed and bed rails prior to beginning installation. 2. Unpack cover components and ensure you have the below components. 3. For easy installation, install the tonneau on a warm day, ideally above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 4. NOTE ON BED LINERS: With an under-the-rail drop in bed liner, installation is possible with minimal trim cutting of the bed
liner at the front corner of the bed and back by tailgate to allow side rail to install properly. Considerable trim cutting is required with an over-the- rail drop in bed liners.
COMPONENTS
Cab Rail and attached Stretch Cover Side Rails (2) (Side Rails have Plastic Bow Receivers) Tailgate Rail (1) (Tailgate Rail has plastic Corner Connectors) Support Bows (2 bows on 5′ beds, 3 bows on 5′-6″ to 7′-9″, 4 bows on 8′) Clamps (4 clamps on beds shorter than 8′, 6 clamps on beds longer than 8′) Allen Key (Hex Key) (1) (Not Shown)

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Rev. 2024-07-08

STRETCH EXPANDABLE TONNEAU COVER
INSTALLATION
1. Assemble aluminum clamps per your year, make, and model of Pickup: LEFT: Ford, GMC / Chevy, Ram (Some Toyotas & Nissan trucks without track systems) CENTER: Nissan Utili-Track System RIGHT: Toyota Deck Rail System
NOTE: Apply anti-seize grease to threads before assembling clamps. Failure to apply anti-seize grease will result in threads seizing up if you must loosen or tighten the clamp. 2. Place Cab Rail with attached Stretch Cover in Pickup Truck Bed Box on Bed Rail next to Pickup Truck Cab.
The Cab Rail and cover should nest in and sit between the two side bed rails. The corners with protrusions should be pointing towards the tailgate. NOTE: Ensure the two long straps are under Cab Rail and in the bed of truck. (These straps are used to roll up and secure the tonneau at the cab)
3. Place Side Rails onto protruding Corner Connectors. Push in until you feel the Side Rails seat onto the Corner

4. Place Tailgate Rail, with protruding corner connectors, over tailgate opening and seat corner connectors into side rails. Push in until you feel the Tailgate Rail seat into the Side Rails.
NOTE: Close tailgate after connecting Tailgate Rail to ensure rail system is centered and seated in truck box opening. Failure to follow this step will result in the tailgate not closing or sealing properly against the tailgate rail.

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STRETCH EXPANDABLE TONNEAU COVER
5. With the tailgate closed, place clamps, within 4″ of red dots, and secure the side rails to the bed rails. Hand tighten until you start to feel resistance. Use provided Allen key to firmly secure tonneau to bed rail or track system.
LEFT: Ford, GMC / Chevy, Ram (Some Toyotas & Nissan trucks without track systems) CENTER: Nissan Utili-Track System RIGHT: Toyota Deck Rail System
NOTE: Do not over tighten. Check regularly that clamps remain tight during use.

Ford/ GMC/ Ram

Nissan Utili-Track

Toyota Deck Rail

Allen Key Tightening

6. Using two hands, slowly pull and hook the Stretch cover corner “J”-Hook over the corner Rails. Be sure to pull on the stretch textile and not the rubber J-hook. Failure to install the corners first will damage the J-hook.

7. Slide Bows into Sleeves mounted on underside of stretch cover when the tonneau is flat. This will control wind whip, help water drain off the cover, and prevent damage to the cover. Note: Install bows curved upwards (Concave Down) to help water and snow shed off.
(CAUTION: Driving pickup with the cover flat and without bows inserted into sleeves will result in the cover flapping in the wind.)
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STRETCH EXPANDABLE TONNEAU COVER
8. Place Bow ends into Bow Receivers. First, place the spring compression end into the Bow Receiver. Then place the non-spring compression end into the Bow Receiver.
9. Pull the “J”-Hook towards you with one hand and push the “J”- Hook over and hooking it to the Rail with other hand while moving down the perimeter.
Apply WAXEDSHINE Fabric Guard immediately following installation to maintain the warranty.

1. Drop Tailgate.

OPERATION

2. Pull rubber perimeter “J”-Hook at tailgate straight towards you and then slightly upward after clearing the aluminum tailgate rail, releasing the “J”-Hook from the aluminum Rail working around the perimeter of the Pickup Truck Bed.
Note: Do not pull the rubber “J-hook” up or at an angel while the “J-hook” is seated on the aluminum rail or corners. Doing so, will damage the “J-hook”. Do not remove the cover from the Cab Rail.
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3. Remove Bows from their sleeves.

STRETCH EXPANDABLE TONNEAU COVER

NOTE: Bows can be placed within the bed of the truck. (CAUTION: Not removing bows first and trying to roll the cover up will result in damage to the sleeves pulling away from the cover.)

4. Roll Stretch cover towards Cab and secure using attached buckles.

5. Pull Tailgate Rail towards you releasing.

6. Place Cargo within Pickup Truck Bed.

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Rev. 2024-07-08

STRETCH EXPANDABLE TONNEAU COVER 7. Unroll Stretch Cover over Cargo. (CAUTION: Always unroll cover over tall cargo making sure not to drag sleeves over a sharp cargo edges and separating sleeves from the bottom of the cover.)
8. Replace Tailgate Rail.

9. Using two hands, pull slowly and place corner “J”-Hooks and hook then onto Rail Corners. NOTE: Be sure to pull on the stretch
textile and not the rubber J-hook. Failure to install the corners will result in damaging the J-hook.
(CAUTION: Pay Special attention to sleeves so they are not pulled off from cover underside. See note 7 above.)
10. Pull the “J”-Hook towards you with one hand and push the “J”Hook over and hooking it to the Rail with other hand while moving down the perimeter. (CAUTION: Pay Special attention to sleeves so they are not pulled off from cover underside. See note 7 above.)

TIPS

1. It is best to initially install a SAWTOOTH STRETCH on a warm sunny day. 2. In cold weather, materials may resist stretching. Proceed slowly when stretching fabric and J-Hook. 3. After initial installation, allow textile and J-Hook to acclimate for 3-5 days before stretching over cargo load. 4. For additional protection against the elements, locate and seal miscellaneous vehicle factory holes, crevices, stake pockets,
etc. that may be in pickup truck box (sealant not included).
5. Apply WAXEDSHINE Fabric Guard immediately following installation to maintain the warranty.

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STRETCH EXPANDABLE TONNEAU COVER
CARE & MAINTENANCE
1. Keep cover closed when not in use and always seal cover edges the full length of bed on both sides with “J”-Hook sealing system.
2. Make sure tonneau is sealed around the perimeter before driving or entering a drive-through car wash. 3. Periodically inspect the cover assembly and the condition of all parts. Check for loose bolts and parts, tighten if needed.
Test the operation to ensure that the parts are functioning properly and that the cover is in top operational condition. a. Inspection and/or maintenance should also be performed anytime a malfunction is observed or suspected. If you need assistance inspecting and/or servicing your cover, or if you want to order a replacement part, please e-mail us. Always use original equipment replacement parts for your cover.
4. When cleaning, for the best results use mild liquid soap and water. Never clean with petroleum or citrus-based products. After cleaning and dried, treat the cover with a UV protectant and hydrophobic coatings instead of petroleum- based products. UV Protectant coatings will keep the composite textile from greying, preserve the water-resistant membrane, and maintain the warranty. The hydrophobic coating will also help maintain the water-resistance properties of the cover.
WAXEDSHINE Fabric Guard or is Sawtooth’s approved UV protectant/ hydrophobic coatings. It is recommended to apply WAXEDSHINE Fabric Guard immediately following installation to maintain the warranty. WAXEDSHINE Fabric Guard also has the added benefit of limiting water pooling and repelling dust. Petroleum based products will dry
out/ damage the composite textile and void the warranty.
SAFETY
1. Do not pull fabric over sharp objects or objects with sharp corners. This will void the warranty. 2. Do not overstress tonneau with excessively large loads. This will void the warranty. See website FAQs for details. 3. If tonneau is not fastened around tailgate rail, remove tailgate rail, and secure it. 4. Check to make sure “J”-Hook is securely fastened around Rail Frame and Corners Rails before operating vehicle. 5. Periodically check and/or retighten clamps as needed. 6. Do not use cover rails, corners, clamps, or framework to tie down cargo. 7. Never stand, sit, or ride on the cover or allow others to do so. 8. Do not leave valuables in an unattended vehicle as cover does not prevent theft of contents in truck bed. 9. The cover does not eliminate moisture and dust from entering the truck bed. Special wrappings or packaging of the
contents may be necessary. 10. Due to poor ventilation, if you allow a pet/animal in the bed, leave cover open. Do not allow people or animals to occupy
bed with the cover closed. 11. When towing vehicle backwards, cover must be rolled fully open and secured with safety straps or fully closed and secured. 12. ALWAYS finish securing the cover by sealing sides. Use caution when operating cover in windy conditions.
WARRANTY REGISTRATION
This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights, which vary, from state to state. You can view Sawtooth’s warranty and return policy at https://sawtootht.com/pages/warranty-and-returns. Your new Sawtooth tonneau must be registered to make the warranty valid. You can register your unit online at https://sawtootht.com/pages/sawtooth-warranty- registration.
www.SAWTOOTHT.com
This product is protected by multiple utility patents and/or applications in multiple countries. https://sawtootht.com/pages/patents
Product subject to change without notice. Sawtooth, LLC © 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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References

• Expandable Tonneau Covers & Truck Bed Covers - Sawtooth Tonneau
• Patents – Sawtooth Tonneau
• Warranty Registration – Sawtooth Tonneau
• Lifetime Limited Warranty | Sawtooth Tonneau Covers

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