Tonneau assemblies and methods of use and manufacture thereof

A tonneau system for use with a vehicle bed frame that is at least partially covered by a bed frame cover and that at least partially defines a vehicle exposed area, the tonneau system comprising:

• a tonneau assembly that includes a tonneau cover that is configured to removably cover the vehicle exposed area;
• a tonneau side rail assembly that includes:
• a tonneau side rail that is configured to be removably attached to the tonneau assembly, the tonneau side rail including an upper wall and a lower base wall spaced from the upper wall to define an open space therebetween, an aperture being defined in each of the upper wall and the lower base wall such that the open space is defined between the apertures;
• and
• an extender defining longitudinally opposite ends, one of the ends being configured to be rigidly directly secured to the vehicle bed frame, and the other of the ends being configured to be rigidly directly secured to the lower base wall of the tonneau side rail adjacent the aperture defined in the lower base wall so as to define a gap between the tonneau side rail and the bed frame cover.

A tonneau system for use with a vehicle bed frame that is at least partially covered by a bed frame cover and that at least partially defines a vehicle exposed area, the tonneau system comprising:

• a tonneau assembly that includes a tonneau cover that is configured to removably cover the vehicle exposed area;
• a side rail that is removably attachable to the tonneau assembly, the side rail includes an upper wall and a base, the base includes a first side positioned opposite a second side, the upper wall and the base at least partially define a chamber, the base includes a protrusion that extends from the first side of the base into the chamber, the base defines a recess on the second side of the base opposite the protrusion, the protrusion defines an aperture in the base, and the second side of the side rail is positionable opposite a side panel cover of a vehicle bed frame;
• an extender that includes a first end that is rigidly securable to the vehicle bed frame, and a second end that is positionable adjacent the second side of the base in the recess to maintain a gap between the side panel cover and the side rail;
• a fastener including a head having a diameter greater than a diameter of the aperture and a threaded shaft having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the aperture, the threaded shaft of the fastener is insertable through the aperture in the base of the side rail to threadingly engage the extender to secure the side rail to the vehicle bed frame, wherein the head of the fastener is positioned in the chamber between the upper wall and the base when the side rail is secured to the vehicle bed frame;
• and
• a seal positioned in the gap between the side rail and the side panel cover, the seal engages the side rail and the side panel cover outboard of the fastener when the side rail is secured to the vehicle bed frame.