Because I plan to carry a generator and gasoline can, I plan to trade my van in for a pickup this fall. Since I want to secure things in the bed I will be installing a tri-fold cover. I know that the bed moves enough air that it's probably not a safety issue, but I would like to have some kind of ventilation through the bed while traveling down the road. Has anyone made a modification to accomplish this, especially something stealthy? No guesses please - just facts!

Not sure I understand your question... you want to be able to run a generator while driving down the road and are worried about enough ventilation?I'd be worried about the heat and its effect on the tonneau cover. Seems to me you would want a camper shell with windows. That will allow for a LOT of airflow (especially while moving) and a lot of space around the gennie for heat to dissipate.

Sorry I wasn't clear. I don't intend to run the generator while running down the road. I just want to keep any gasoline fumes from the vents diluted and maybe knock down the temperature a little. I see that the toy haulers usually have a vent system.

There's not much you can do other than perhaps use a bilge pump to evacuate the fumes every once in a while. Don't try to use a regular fan (boom).But frankly I don't think it's that big of deal. Just make sure the gas containers are tight and can't move around a lot and don't store plastic cans on a bed rug unless you have a metal pan between them. I'll bet you can hardly smell the gas at all when you open the cover.

Buy a canopy and open window. You will be further ahead than a bed cover.

I've had a few camper shells and don't want to go that route. Thus why I'm not looking for opinions. For the generator while camping, I want to open the cover and tailgate, and fire it up in the bed. A tri-fold cover is easy to remove if I need to haul brush, etc. I agree it's probably not that big of a deal.

Ventilating Covered Pickup Bed? | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

ScottG
Nomad
Jul 13, 2014
There's not much you can do other than perhaps use a bilge pump to evacuate the fumes every once in a while. Don't try to use a regular fan (boom).
But frankly I don't think it's that big of deal. Just make sure the gas containers are tight and can't move around a lot and don't store plastic cans on a bed rug unless you have a metal pan between them.
I'll bet you can hardly smell the gas at all when you open the cover.
DougE
Explorer
Jul 13, 2014
Sorry I wasn't clear. I don't intend to run the generator while running down the road. I just want to keep any gasoline fumes from the vents diluted and maybe knock down the temperature a little. I see that the toy haulers usually have a vent system.
spoon059
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2014
Not sure I understand your question... you want to be able to run a generator while driving down the road and are worried about enough ventilation?

I'd be worried about the heat and its effect on the tonneau cover. Seems to me you would want a camper shell with windows. That will allow for a LOT of airflow (especially while moving) and a lot of space around the gennie for heat to dissipate.

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Ventilating Covered Pickup Bed?

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