How Much Weight Can The Toneau Cover Hold?

[chevy4x4trucks]

I was washing the avy this weekend and it is hard to reach all of the roof w/ the sponge and I was wondering if the hard toneau cover will support the weight of a person. I mean, it seems pretty solid, I remember seeing a dealer at the auto show sitting on one.

Thanks for any help.

 

[justhrowit]

Well, I weight 245lbs. I'm not about to get up on mine and give it a whirl. Anyone out there tested this out yet?

 

[Prince_FuFu]

I think each panel hold 250 lbs.
I put a 28' extension ladder on mine, then held it while my neighbor climbed the ladder.
He probably weighs around 185, I weigh around 180. Ladder weighs around 35lbs. So I've tested mine out.

 

[FSUGUY]

I think each panel hold 250 lbs.
I put a 28' extension ladder on mine, then held it while my neighbor climbed the ladder.
He probably weighs around 185, I weigh around 180. Ladder weighs around 35lbs. So I've tested mine out.

250 is what heard. I'm over 200- no problem.
Heck my salesman was a little shy of 200 and he was jumping on them.

I've opted for a ladder , though, to do the roof. seems a little slippery on that cover. I do get on it to clean the window.

 

[ibshortie]

I've walked on mine a few times to wash the roof. I weigh in at around 250 lbs, so I guess they hold that much. I recall the dealer saying each panel could hold 250 lbs.

Dave

 

[craigvg]

Chevy4x4trucks,

I posted on this topic in the past, here;Interest in Custom AV Bed Rack?

and as a refresher;

Hey Fellow AVER's,

I do not remember if I posted this or not in the past, but I think it may have some useful information when it comes to questions about the weight capacity of the hard cover panels. I had sent that question to The General when researching my purchase and this was their response:

"" Thank you for contacting Chevrolet! Congratulations for selecting the new Chevy Avalanche. This is one of the most exciting new vehicles to enter the truck market in years. The Avalanche has won many awards including Truck of the Year from Motor Trend, "Best of What Is New Grand Award" from Popular Science, and ?Most Wanted Vehicle" Award-Pickup from Edmunds.com.

The answer for your specific question is: each bed cover panel is rated to hold 250 pounds weight applied at a single point. The bed panels are made of PROTEC composite material. This is a proprietary formula owned by GM jointly with Dow Chemical, and is also used to make the wings for the F-18 "Hornet" fighter plane! At the core of the panels is a thin sheet of a high tech formula of aluminum commonly called "memory metal." This is used by the aircraft industry for the floors and other surfaces of many aircraft. It helps your Avalanche cargo panels regain their original shape after bearing a load, such as a person or cooler sitting on one panel at a tailgate party.

Please take a test drive of an Avalanche and ask to see page 2-73 in the owners' manual for this information about the cargo panel's weight capacity.

Please keep in mind that these panels are not intended to be an everyday cargo load-bearing surface. There is a danger of a load entering the passenger compartment through the rear window if this is attempted. Ask your dealer to show you the cautionary materials from the factory about this subject. The bed well of the Avalanche is 22 inches deep. This is almost 3 inches more then the industry standard for a pickup truck bed. ""



I personally (6'-3", 245 lbs) have "walked" around on the installed hard cover panels showing off to some of my buddies at work and there was no adverse effect on the panels. You can see alot farther.....

 

[GoldBowTie]

I have heard the same - panels able to support 250 pounds.

When testing an Av before buying , I walked all over the panels to show off to the neighbor. Seemed to handle it OK.

I check in about 222 pounds, and after having my sagging third panel replaced under warranty - I now "walk the edge" not placing my full weight near the center especially on the third panel.

I climb up there for every wash to get the rear half of the roof, plus it is too cool to be able to climb around on your truck.

But, I try to keep my footing near the edge of the panels, but not totally on the side box lids.

So far, so good.

 

[chevy4x4trucks]

Wow, thanks for the great replies. When I got home I tested it out and it held all 200 pounds of me and showed no signs of stress.

Craig, that technical information was a great read. I just find more things to love about the avalanche every day.

 

[02-Z66]

i have crawled on it a few times to get at the roof and back window. i weigh in at about 265. has not failed yet. i may just be lucky. i think since i am on my hands and knees i tend to be on two panels at once. knees on one, while the hands are on another. this could be the secret.

 

[jamesf]

Yea Yea...you can stand on them to clean the roof or for photo opts! Hmm...makes you wonder if you could take the window out and hook up a set of reins to control the beast from up there like they did in the ol'days. That'a be a new mod I'm sure...

 

[BadZ7123]

i have jumped around on mine, im 240 and it seemed ok, but you can feel it slump a little in the middle.

 

[CountyPaintball]

I double-checked in the manual, because I was curious as well. I found it on page 2-61 of my manual though. As mentioned above, 250 pounds per panel. It says that "Exceeding the weight limit can damage the cargo covers. This damage would NOT be covered by your vehicle's warranty."

For those of you over the 250 pound mark, I'd suggest sticking to the edges or supporting your weight over two panels.

 

[ygmn]

For those of you over the 250 pound mark, I'd suggest sticking to the edges or supporting your weight over two panels.

someone over weight.......nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...not in this country....hehehehe

 

[02-Z66]

i am about 265lbs. i climb up on the panels for various reasons. it may be to scrub the panels, or to reach the roof. usually to get at the panel better. as i usually stand on the door sills to reach the roof. however, when i am on the covers i usually have my knees on one panel, and my hands on another. this distributes my weight across two panels rather than one. seems to have worked without ill-effects so far.

 

[TXAVALANCHE1]

Well I'm 6'1" at 205lbs. I've walked on them, Had picnics on them with my wife and little girl and I've even hunted from atop the panels!

 

[TXAVy]

I'm sure there's a safety margin for weight up there. They wouldn't put in the owner's manual that they will hold 250 lbs if 251 lbs would damage them. But if you want any chance of having the dealer help you out should one of them bend, I wouldn't put any more than 250 lbs on them at a time. Now, the questions of whether or not you could convince the dealer that there was less than 251 lbs on there when it was damaged and what they would do to help you is another story.

 

[Big_Dave]

I would rather not get into the details on how I tested mine out, but they easliy held 302 lbs(187+117)distributed across all thre panels!
I have never walked on them though. I do not want to risk it. I agree with TXAVy, how do you go about proving that you never had more than the weight limit on there?
I usually remove the rear panel to wash the rear window, and replace it to rinse off the window. I use my side steps to wash the roof(had a bad experience with a ladder on my last truck!)

 

[ygmn]

I bet the clips or handles underneath break first since the panels will bend so much when overloaded.........

 

[mantislee]

I would rather not get into the details on how I tested mine out, but they easliy held 302 lbs(187+117)distributed across all thre panels!

Big_Dave

I think we should all use your test. 187 + 117 across 3 panels..hmmm. Took me a second

 

[Dazed_Dave]

I would rather not get into the details on how I tested mine out, but they easliy held 302 lbs(187+117)distributed across all thre panels!

Big_Dave

I think we should all use your test. 187 + 117 across 3 panels..hmmm. Took me a second

But that's cyclic stress and belongs in a different category

 

[gregas]

I would rather not get into the details on how I tested mine out, but they easliy held 302 lbs(187+117)distributed across all thre panels!

Big_Dave,

I hope you're not the one weighing in at 117!!!!

(j/k)

NJ George

 

[Big_Dave]

Mantislee: I strongly recommend!
NJ George: I've always enjoyed a good sense of humor, so since I can now vote on the karma, I'll give you a +! Wish you luck on testing yours!

 

[Gene]

Well I'm about 185 and my sone is about 80, and we have both been up there at the same time with not problems at all, and moving around on top of them.


So it will hold.

G.

 

[docopharm]

I would rather not get into the details on how I tested mine out, but they easliy held 302 lbs(187+117)distributed across all thre panels!

After all that testing BigDave, you might want to head to this thread:
http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=14;action=display;threadid=14181;start=msg229910#msg229910

Sorry...couldn't resist one last comment on that

Arrgh...somebody changed the topic heading . It used to be "stains on cargo panels"

 

[colonelmotox]

Panels seem to hold well- once a week every week on the panels for roof and rear window access at 173 pounds and to date never a hint of complications. I am going to keep going up there [hunting now] until I find another 117 pounds. Great storyline.