aci ACCESS series Quick start guide

TONNEAU COVER INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS AND OWNER’S MANUAL
Thank you for purchasing a tonneau cover. ACI®manufactured this cover with
pride using superior quality materials and workmanship. With proper care, your
cover will provide years of service and enjoyment.
NOTICE TO INSTALLER: It is recommended instructions are read before
installation, even if familiar with cover. Improvements may be made without
prior notice. Always handle cover and components with care. If you have any
problems or questions, have serial number ready and call customer service.
When done, this owner’s manual must be given to the consumer.
NOTICE TO CONSUMER: Before using cover, read operating, maintenance,
and safety sections and save owner’s manual for future reference.
FOR YOUR RECORDS
DATE PURCHASED:
WHERE PURCHASED:
SERIAL NUMBER:
Customer Service Hours:
8:00am-5:00pm CST, Mon. - Fri.
Problems? Questions? Missing or
Damaged Parts? Install Questions?
Call Us First!
1-866-630-8726
STOP
(Located on decal under rear bar by tailgate)
HELP LINE
HELP LINE

2
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Note: Side rails and bows are silver nish.
PREPARATION
NOTE ON BED LINERS: With an under-the-rail drop-in bed liner, installation is
possible with minimal trim/cutting of bed liner at front corner of box and back by
tailgate to allow side rail to install properly. Considerable trim/cutting is required
with an over-the-rail drop-in bed liner.
Unpack cover components.
Clean truck box if dirty.
COMPONENTS:
1 driver side rail
1 passenger side rail
6 clamps
1 left and 1 right tension adjuster with nuts & bolts
1 pre-rolled up cover assembly
TOOLS NEEDED:
2 - 1/2” wrenches 1 - Tape measure or ruler
1 - Spring clamp optional Protective eyewear
(to hold rails in place while clamping)
Tension adjuster
Front bar
Storage straps Support bows
Slide lock on
rear bar
Rear bar
Right side rail
Left side rail
Trigger latch
Rail clamps
PARTS DIAGRAM

3
1. INSTALLING COVER SIDE RAILS
Align outside edge
of cover rail as
shown with top of
box rail at front,
center and rear
NOTE: Some installs require drilling/bolting. Those kits will contain special side
rail instructions. Follow those instructions for rail attachment in conjunction
with instructions in this owner’s manual.
This surface of
the rail should
be level
At front set top
of rail ush with
top of box
B. At front, adjust top of rail ush with
top of box and hold it there with as-
sistance of another person or with a
spring clamp.
First clamp
at front
Temporary
spring clamp
C. Install rst clamp as close to front
of bed as possible and use 1/2”
wrench to tighten.
This surface of
rail should be
level
D. With rail ush at top of box and
clamp teeth engaged, tighten clamp.
Check if rail is level. If rail tilts up,
loosen clamp; lower it; engage teeth;
and tighten it. If rail tilts down, loosen
clamp; raise it; engage teeth; and
tighten it.
A. Position side rail with weather strip
against inside lip of box. Push rail
forward until it touches front of
box. End of rail with strike goes to
rear.
Adjust clamps
up or down
until they hold
rail level when
tightened
IMPORTANT: To keep rail on
truck secure, make sure clamp
teeth engage grooves on rail,
turn nut nger tight and then use
wrench to nish tightening.
Nylon strike
to rear

4
1. INSTALLING COVER SIDE RAILS (Continued)
E. Install second clamp on rail at
midway point of box. Adjust rail ush
at top of box and repeat clamping
procedure, always making sure teeth
are engaged on rail grooves.
F. At tailgate, adjust rail height ush
with top of tailgate. Repeat clamp-
ing procedure placing third clamp as
close to tailgate as possible. NOTE:
For trucks with an electric tail-
gate, rails will have to be installed
slightly higher (approximately
3/16”) to eliminate interference.
Repeat STEP 1 to install rail on
opposite side. When done, make
sure all clamps are torqued to 20
ft-lbs on both rails.
A. The cover comes pre-rolled in
its normal open position for ease
of installation. Set pre-rolled cover
on tailgate with front bar facing up.
Align tension adjuster (marked “L”)
on driver side of cover - positioned
as shown in photo at left.
2. ASSEMBLING TENSION ADJUSTERS TO COVER
B. Turn 1-1/4” bolt with at washer
onto nut in bar. Leave loose for now.
Repeat for tension adjuster (marked
“R”) on passenger side of cover,
and leave that bolt loose as well.
Nut
“L” left
tension
adjuster
Working from front to tailgate,
match this point of cover rail
with top of pickup box as
clamps are installed
This surface of
rail should be
level
Adjust clamps
up or down
until they hold
rail level when
tightened
Second
Clamp
Third clamp
last

5
A. Set rolled up cover on rails at front
of box (behind cab) with front bar
facing up. Roll cover bar onto front
of rails and fold/tuck vinyl ap under
with storage strap tabs out. Now bar
will face down. Let straps hang to
inside of box. Push cover bar forward
until it sets at on front of side rails.
3. MOUNTING COVER TO SIDE RAILS
B. Slide left tension adjuster over
until it engages under side rail. (See
photo in Step 3E for tension adjuster
tab under side rail.) Push bar back
and forth to line up holes. Do not
turn dial wheel. Insert bolt from top
and nut from bottom.
C. Hold bolt at top and tighten nut
under side rail. Repeat procedure
for right tension adjuster.
D. Center the front bar between the
two side rails.
Center front bar between
rails until space is equal
at both ends
Adjuster tab
goes under–then
tighten bolt
E. Tighten bolt (left loose earlier)
under front bar on each tension
adjuster.
NOTE: Before tightening, make sure vinyl ap
is still tucked under front bar and alignment
tab for storage straps is out.
Alignment tab
for storage
straps is out
Vinyl ap
tucked under

6
A. Unroll cover and place rear bar
into strikes on side rails. Press down
on bar to close (20-30 lbs pressure).
The cover fabric may be tight. Over
time under tension it will conform to its
hardware and loosen slightly. If bar is
too hard to push down, adjust tension-
ers equally as needed to close.
4. INITIAL OPERATION AND ADJUSTMENTS
B. Close tailgate slowly - top of
tailgate should t snug under cover
bar. If tonneau cover hampers normal
tailgate operation, raise rails by
loosening rear clamps; adjust rails
up; and retighten clamps. If there is
too much space between tailgate and
cover bar, lower rails by loosening
rear clamps; adjust rails down; and
retighten clamps.
C. Check cover tension by releasing
trigger latch and open and close rear
bar several times. It should snap
down when closing. Cover fabric
should be tight with no sagging
between bows. If adjustment is
needed, roll cover open and to
loosen turn tension adjuster
clockwise. To tighten turn tension
adjuster counter clockwise.
Always turn dials in equal
amounts.
To loosen Cover
Turn Clockwise
To Tighten Cover
Turn Counter
Clockwise
D. When done, always seal both
sides of cover with hook and loop
system. For detailed operating
instructions see Page 7.
TIP: Reasons to keep cover drum
tight:
1) Lasts longer
2) Less noise
3) Looks nicer
IMPORTANT: When done, go back and double check each clamp and make
sure they are fully tight. Start behind cab and work towards tailgate.

7
Release storage straps at
front and using both hands,
roll cover to rear of box.
Alongside of box, seal cover
edges with hook and loop
sealing system the full length
of cover on both sides. Pull
with one hand - seal with other
hand.
Position rear bar against
strikes. Push down on bar
until latch locks in place.
Open tailgate. On driver side
release trigger latch and lift
up on rear bar.
Securely fasten storage
straps to store the cover.
Using both hands, roll
cover toward front of box (not
against the cab).
TO OPEN
Manual Slide Lock (use is optional) is
located under cover bar on passenger
and driver side - push slide lock to
engage, pull to disengage.
OPTIONAL USE
TO CLOSE
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

PROBLEM SOLUTION
TROUBLESHOOTING
Cover too loose Turn both tension adjusters counter clockwise to
move front bar forward. (Refer to Step 4C, see
arrows next to adjuster)
Cover too tight Turn both tension adjusters clockwise to move front
bar back. (Refer to Step 4C, see arrows next to
adjuster)
Gap between roll-up bar and
tailgate
Rails set too high (Refer to Step 4B)
Cover too narrow Check if rail is level. If rail tilts up, loosen clamp;
lower it; engage teeth; and tighten it. (Refer to Step
1D)
Cover too wide Check if rail is level. If rail tilts down, loosen clamp;
raise it; engage teeth; and tighten it. (Refer to Step
1D)
Lopsided cover (too much on one
side)
Check front bar. It must be centered side to side.
(Refer to Step 3D)
Top of tailgate hits rear bar when
attempting to close
Raise side rails at rear of box until tailgate closes
without pushing rear bar up (Refer to Step 4B)
Manual slide locks too loose or too
tight
Use 1/8” Allen wrench and adjust set screw tighter
or looser as desired. Lock performs best with some
friction.

9
• Inspection and much of the maintenance can be done by the
operator. It may be necessary to review the installation and operating
instructions.
• 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.
• If latch has been damaged, replace with new one. NOTE: 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, call
the customer service number on the back page. Always use original
equipment replacement parts for your cover.
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
• Keep cover closed when not in use and always seal cover edges
the full length of box on both sides with hook and loop sealing sys-
tem.
• Keep the cover tight; cover vinyl should sound drum-like when
tapped on.
• Make sure cover is properly latched and sealed. Lock while traveling
and before entering automatic drive-through car washes.
• Avoid storing cover in its rolled up position for long periods of time.
• When cleaning, for best results use mild liquid soap and water.
Never clean with petroleum or citrus based products.
• Periodically treat cover with our COVER CARE®Cleaner & UV protec-
tant instead of petroleum based products that may dry out and damage
the vinyl.
• Avoid allowing cargo to rub against cover while transporting, wheth-
er in open or closed position.
TIPS FOR A LONGER LASTING COVER

1010
• Do not cover cargo that is higher than the cover.
• Do not place object(s) on or against the cover or its framework at
any time.
• Always secure cargo so it cannot shift and damage the cover or its
parts.
• Do not use the cover’s framework to tie down cargo.
• Never stand, sit or ride on the cover or allow others to do so.
• Do not leave valuables in an unattended vehicle as cover does not
prevent theft of cargo in truck box.
• The cover does not eliminate moisture and dust from entering the
truck box. Special wrappings or packaging of the cargo may be
necessary.
• Due to poor ventilation, if you allow a pet/animal in the box, leave
cover open. Do not allow people or animals to occupy box with the
cover closed.
• When towing vehicle backwards, cover must be rolled fully open
and secured with safety straps or fully closed and secured.
• ALWAYS nish securing the cover by sealing sides.
• Use caution when operating cover in windy conditions.
• Periodically check and/or retighten clamps and front bar
tensioning bolts as needed.
SAFETY INFORMATION