Tonneau Cover Suggestions/Recommendations

[Sidekick]

I had one of those “foldable cages” on my 02 Ram.

It really liked it. It worked great for preventing things from “rolling forward” when I braked.

I kinda miss(ed) it.

But the truck had to go……Could not take the “boring’ness” of having an auto-magic transmission.

The auto tranny under computer control is the only way to get power from the little sewing machine motor in this. I like it at my age . Plus it tows like a V8 with all the gears. You need that extender when you only have a little one .

 

[Tughill Tom]

On my 2020 GMC 2500 HD, i put a Pace Edwards Electric roll up on it. It's great cover but can't be opened when covered with snow and ice, but I don't haul anything big in the winter so there's that.
On my wife's 24 Canyon I put a Leer tri-fold which is a really nice cover very secure and EZ to open and completely remove. Very well built as well.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

hmm, wonder if this 'cover' post will be longer than an 'oil' post !! lol

 

[Thunder chicken]

I did the ultimate in cheap..... a sheet of 3/4 plywood. (Maybe 2, probably had scrap part sheets)
Tacoma has bed length rails for cargo hooks just inside/below the box side, grind washer to fit, weld nut to washer, slide in. On plywood, use 2x4 blocks with hole/bolt to mount to rail nuts.
I have the top in 2 pieces, hinged. It comes off easily for larger loads, just 4 bolts. I was going to add a bolt latch just behind the tailgate so it could be 'locked' but never did. The hillbilly look keeps the honest thieves away. Customizable with stain or paint for the look you want. Burnable or repurposable when needed!

 

[RCW]

This is a good thread @RCW . There is no one answer for all of us and it's always interesting to see what others have and like. I've had various bed caps and tonneau covers over the years so I see the appeal.

hmm, wonder if this 'cover' post will be longer than an 'oil' post !! lol

@McMXi , this has been a good thread and @GreensvilleJay, might end up longer than some of the oil threads....

Does show how we all have our preferences. I've also been talking to folks last few days - - everyone has an opinion.

I swear I'm the only guy that's NEVER had a cap or cover.......never wanted one until now, and I'm still not entirely sure.....

First impressions after some research:

• Diamondback looks absolutely bulletproof and super heavy duty. Appear the best made BY FAR. Not sure they have a design/system I want, though.
• BAKFlip looks pretty good, but have some criticisms online. There's a similar AL4 from Worksport online. Definitely like this system to fold against cab.
• Looked at ACCESS Agri Roll and a few other roll-ups - - like some type of that design too. Probably would want a hard roll-up material than a vinyl, just because of snow (I think ?)

No decisions and more research/cost comparisons to do. Right now I'm at:
1st Choice - - Tri-fold/against-the-cab design - BAKFlip or similar
2nd Choice - - Roll-up of some sort - lot of options from cheapie to $$$$$
3rd Choice - - Something from Diamondback - - too well made to eliminate

Keep the suggestions coming.....with 16-22" of snow coming tomorrow and temps <20 degrees F next week, won't be buying one right away.

 

[McMXi]

hmm, wonder if this 'cover' post will be longer than an 'oil' post !! lol

Given the cost of tonneau covers and the like, it seems well worth the time and effort to help a member make the best decision for them. Oil and filters is such an easy decision to make, and it's not like you can't change your choice of oil and filter the next day. Not such an easy or cheap correction to make when you spend $$$ on a tonneau cover.

 

[Russell King]

I have a hard trifold but it won’t fold up along the widow so blocks tall things at the front third of the bed.

I recommend that you look at some motorized version since the trifold is either closed or open and not really that easy to open to sit stuff in the bed. You have to open the tailgate then open the cover if you want to sit something fairly close to the front of the bed.

I also recommend that you get a latch system that can release both sides of the cover at the same time. Mine has a separate handle on each side of the two folding sections so you have to walk back and forth to undo (or redo) the latches.

I remember that WeatherTech had a nice one but it was pretty costly, and I don’t think it was motorized either.

To add a few other thoughts to my previous post above…

The actual brand on mine was AutoSaver88 and here is a link to the one I bought for my 2016 Nissan Frontier.

https://www.amazon.com/AUTOSAVER88-Tri-fold-Compatible-Frontier-2005-2024/dp/B0D1XGP3HP?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

The truck has a factory rail system for attaching the tie downs and adjusting the bed extender. The cover was selected because it uses the rail system as the attachment point. I am not sure how it would attach to the truck if you have the rail and bought the standard attachment method. In other words if you have a rail system in your truck you need to figure out how the cover mounts to the truck and see if there are interference problems with the rail system. The cover makes the rail system difficult to use due to the attachment method being in the rail, limiting where anything can be moved towards the front or the rear. The floor rails are still completely free though.

The sealing system at the front is very similar as shown in the video by Sidekick above. But one additional thing that is on mine is a heavy rubber flap attached to the cover that is folded down into the space between the cab and bed. It provides a drip shield as well as covering the gasket and blocking air driven water from the gasketed joint between the bed front and cover. It works very well. The sealing along the sides and rear end are a rubber circular section that is pressed against the plastic bed rail covers by weight and the attachment system. It seals fairly well, not 100% watertight but only minor water has gotten in the bed during heavy rain and highway speeds for miles of driving.

The main complaints I have are:

The separate holdown latches (6 total with 4 being quick release style) so you have to walk back and forth to release them to fold up the sections. The tailgate must be down to open the cover and to lock the cover in place. The tailgate lock makes it secure.

The placement of the latches and attachment points interfere with the rail system so make it somewhat difficult to use well. The rear bed extender is very difficult to use unless it is stored separately and the attachment is left behind at the very rear of the truck rail system. (These have to be installed and removed from the very front of the bed which requires all the cover attachment points to be removed and the cover lifted off the bed.)

 

[RCW]

Been surprising.

Some of the hard material rolling covers are more expensive than the folding varieties.

Rolling covers might be the preferred right now...

 

[McMXi]

Been surprising.

Some of the hard material rolling covers are more expensive than the folding varieties.

Rolling covers might be the preferred right now...

I am such a pack rat, even for photos, and found these photos that I took in 2002 when I installed an Advance Cover on my F-350 Super Duty XLT dually. It was the folding type and it was ok, but once folded up it took up bed space. I had the 8ft bed and the cover consisted of four 2ft panels that folded up behind the cab. I think I was happy with it overall, but living in Hawaii I didn't have to deal with snow of course, or much dust to be honest.

I should never have sold that truck. It had the ZF 6-speed manual transmission, the 7.3L power stroke engine, a floor mounted lever for 4WD and was a great truck.

 

[McMXi]

Here's the hinge mechanism. I didn't care for the plastic supports on either side of the bed so made up steel replacements.

 

[McMXi]

@RCW, I stopped by the local Ford dealer this morning to pick up some windshield wiper nozzles which were ridiculously expensive, but while there I noticed a display of tonneau covers with no less than five models, some rolling and some folding. I thought of you and took some photos.

 

[RCW]

@RCW, I stopped by the local Ford dealer this morning to pick up some windshield wiper nozzles which were ridiculously expensive, but while there I noticed a display of tonneau covers with no less than five models, some rolling and some folding. I thought of you and took some photos.

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Many thanks- I’m definitely focusing on the roll up and the tri-fold.

I’ve definitely learned a lot about tonneau covers in the last few days.

Dayum - I don’t think I could handle looking at caps….(just kidding- I definitely don’t want a cap- still debating if a cover is tolerable for me…)

 

[WFM]

My last truck I bought a
Pace Edwards Switchblade rolling cover. I liked it so much. I bought the same cover again for my new truck. If you shop around you can find better pricing.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

My “Spidey senses” are tingling…………

I find it kinda amazing guys from “snow/ice prone” areas like the roll up ones.

I would have “thought" that they would have problems getting snow and ice jammed in the mechanisms.

But apparently not…….hmmm…..interesting.

 

[McMXi]

My “Spidey senses” are tingling…………

I find it kinda amazing guys from “snow/ice prone” areas like the roll up ones.

I would have “thought" that they would have problems getting snow and ice jammed in the mechanisms.

But apparently not…….hmmm…..interesting.

These days I only have DECKED products in the beds of my trucks. A drawer system in the F-250 and a toolbox in the F-450. They work for me but I understand that we all have different needs.

A couple of years ago I sold the SnugTop cap that came on the F-250 for about twice what my friend paid for it new in 2005. Those things are incredibly expensive now so it was a good deal for the new owner and I was happy to see it go.

The only change I'll make to the F-450 bed is to remove it, sell it and buy one of those aluminum flat beds with storage compartments. Turn the truck into more work/utility than luxury.

 

[hedgerow]

I am such a pack rat, even for photos, and found these photos that I took in 2002 when I installed an Advance Cover on my F-350 Super Duty XLT dually. It was the folding type and it was ok, but once folded up it took up bed space. I had the 8ft bed and the cover consisted of four 2ft panels that folded up behind the cab. I think I was happy with it overall, but living in Hawaii I didn't have to deal with snow of course, or much dust to be honest.

I should never have sold that truck. It had the ZF 6-speed manual transmission, the 7.3L power stroke engine, a floor mounted lever for 4WD and was a great truck.

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I had the twin to your truck I bought it new in 2001 and it was a 2002. It by far was one of the best trucks I owned. Because of heart failure in 2004 and a big change in our farming operation I sold it and a all aluminum three axle stock trailer that I pulled with that truck.

 

[McMXi]

I had the twin to your truck I bought it new in 2001 and it was a 2002. It by far was one of the best trucks I owned. Because of heart failure in 2004 and a big change in our farming operation I sold it and a all aluminum three axle stock trailer that I pulled with that truck.

I had an offer from a local fisherman who was pulling a big boat with a tiny truck and the offer was too good to pass up. I sold it two and half years later for more than I paid for it. I ordered it from Sunrise Ford in CA using the EAA discount which was significant.

Still, I should have kept it, so I jumped at the chance to buy the '02 F-250 from my friend who bought it new when I bought mine. We met in 2002 via a Ford truck forum, and at that time he was an American Airlines pilot and used to fly from SF to HNL regularly so we'd meet for dinner at least once a month. He retired a couple of years ago but moved to Hawaii in 2019 and didn't want to ship the truck so asked me if I wanted it. I paid $8k for it with only 117,000 miles on it, and he and his girlfriend drove it up to Kalispell from SF.

 

[RCW]

My “Spidey senses” are tingling…………

I find it kinda amazing guys from “snow/ice prone” areas like the roll up ones.

I would have “thought" that they would have problems getting snow and ice jammed in the mechanisms.

But apparently not…….hmmm…..interesting.

I was wondering the same thing, but I guess any kind of cover can get frig'd up by snow/ice - - again, never had one.

I like how a couple of the Roll-up covers easily expose most of the box are quickly, and can be fastened reliably.

Like how a couple of the tri-folds look easily folded up, but not sure I'd want to drive with them folded against the cab for very long...

 

[Sidekick]

Usually when they are up the load blocks the rear view mirror anyway and trucks have good side view mirrors. I don't get any noises and the supports keep the bumpers against the window. Not really noticeable. For partial loads just flip the required ones and use the straps.