Pickup truck Tonneau covers -OT

ColbyLang

Gang, new truck a couple of weeks away….want a bed cover as I’ll have zero under seat storage in this truck cus it’s a half hybrid. Looking for the flip up/flip back version instead of the retractable ones. Any recommendations? thanks!!

pgprescott

I sprung for the roll up aluminum covered with vinyl. Gives me some measure of security and pretty much rolls out of the way should you need. They make a panelized model too if that’s your jam, but I am pleased with my decision on the roll up design. 

ColbyLang

Yours and the panel model are the two I’m looking at from BAK

WeberWho

I love my trifold tonneau cover. Easy to get in front of bed with, folds down to 1/3 with some clips if you need to haul something, and easy to remove if you need the whole bed. 

pgprescott

ColbyLang said:

Yours and the panel model are the two I’m looking at from BAK

The added security is the big thing. Basically turns the bed into a car trunk. Either one is great by all the accounts I’ve heard. The reason I went with the roll up is there is wind drag on the panels when in the upright position. How often will this happen? Almost never for me, but I talked to a few guys that said it was a minor issue for them in retrospect. Enjoy the new truck!

Lowcountrygamecock

My boys are driving my old truck which I had put a bakflip MX4 on.  I didn’t realize how much I would miss it when I bought my new truck. I waited until Black Friday to order and really missed not having it during that 2 month wait. Great product and really handy. Not 100% waterproof but close. 

ksmyrl

I have the aluminum roll up covered in vinyl. I like it, it's secure, and easy to roll up. But i wont buy another one. After about 2 years the vinyl begins to separate from the aluminum. Like the glue just doesn't hold up. My first one was replaced without question by the manufacturer (Gator) but the replacement is doing the same after about 2 years. We have hot summers here in GA and some cold days in winter. But I would hope these things would be made to withstand those extremes. A buddy's does the same. I'll replace it with a filp version next time. My 2 cents...errrr $900.

TechsasJim

A buddy has a Bak Flip he seems to like.   I have a roll n lock but sounds like you don’t want to go that route.  

ColbyLang

@TechsasJim, no roll lock due to the canister in the bed. At 5’7”, these beds are already too short to hold a 7’ fishing rod..don’t need to lose another 8-10”.

@pgprescott, only 2 options with the roll up, open and closed correct? 

TechsasJim

@ColbyLang
wow that is a short bed, makes sense to not lose
more real estate.  

Mickey

One-piece for me. 

When i retired our premium cover was UnderCover for security and water. I had used them on demos and very happy. So at retirement in 2014 bought a 2014 Tacoma with a UnderCover. 125,000+ miles (10 model years) later last month sold it. Wife and i took it off and put it on 100+ times and never a problem. I did it once by myself just to see if it was possible, it was but so easy with two people. 

From car washes to driving I-10 in near hurricane weather never a leak. 

They supply hooks to hang it in garage but i would just stick a towel/rug under and lean against the wall. 

Just bought a 2023 Tacoma and will get a UnderCover Elite Wednesday installed. They look very easy to install, but with the dealership ordering it why bother. 

https://undercoverinfo.com/products/2023/toyota/tacoma

Both trucks are white, 2014 bought the painted to match and the paint held up perfectly matching the body paint. For the 2023 ordered the black mat and saved approximately $500 thinking will match fine (I’m retired).

TechsasJim

Another option could be the Diamondback covers.   They flip up multiple places, have tie downs and are strong enough to park a side by side on top.

Expensive for sure though.

pgprescott

ColbyLang said:

@TechsasJim, no roll lock due to the canister in the bed. At 5’7”, these beds are already too short to hold a 7’ fishing rod..don’t need to lose another 8-10”.

@pgprescott, only 2 options with the roll up, open and closed correct? 

Pretty much. I suppose it could be partially open but not sure how you’d secure it. Would have to rig something up. Probably not a good situation. 

I’ve had mine now for 2.5 years without any delaminating issues. Not saying you won’t but it could be the particular brand/quality. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Legume

Bed covers are an exercise in compromise.  I had a bakflip for years after researching and was happy with it 90% of the time.  The one piece solid ones give you the best security and weather sealing but they don’t have a lot of options for things taller than the bed. The flip kind can also be very secure and weather proof and give you some added flexibility for things that are taller than the bed - as long as you put them in the back of the bed. The flip ones also block your rear window when you fold it all up and out of the way which is probably the worst issue with them.  I didn’t get a roll up for the same reason you mentioned - the space they eat up, but it sounds like there may be different options now.

I chose to not have a cover on my current truck, I just put on Yakima bedrock bars and mount a Thule roof box on the bed when I need weather proof/secure storage - but that’s really only for trips for me - if you need it daily, a cover is the better way to go.

fishlessman

have never had anyone look under my soft tonneau in the last 30 years.....easier to break the snow and ice off in the winter

Langner91

I have these stickers on my Jeep.



If I had a soft tonneau cover, I would replace the zipper with velcro.

HeavyG

TechsasJim said:

Another option could be the Diamondback covers.   They flip up multiple places, have tie downs and are strong enough to park a side by side on top.

Expensive for sure though.

I put a Diamondback HD on my truck about a decade ago. Love it. Removes/installs fairly easily. Can carry a pretty heavy load on top (I wanted something me and a couple other people could stand on). Very secure - nobody is going to be cutting thru it to steal stuff from the bed.

Especially like the LineX coating - can rest my arms on it on a hot sunny day and not worry about third degree burns from bare aluminum.

TideEggHead

I have a tyger T5 I got off Amazon for $500. It’s an alloy hardcover tri-fold. I really like it. It holds up to putting stuff on top of the cover and it is easy to unlatch and fold back. The only drawback is the last panel closest to the cab doesn’t fold up (you can only fold up two of the three panels). I’ve had it for 3 years no issues. It’s an easy 20-30 minute install.

TideEggHead

TideEggHead

I meant to say this is on a toyota tundra crewmax with the shorter bed 5'5. Sometimes I wish I had a camper shell.

ColbyLang

Thanks for the insights. Decisions decisions. I’ve got a few weeks. Gonna go to a shop to see what the benefits are. I’d love a camper shell, doesn’t work so good with bread trays making hot shot deliveries when needed

alaskanassasin

I roll with a shell. Plenty of space, everything stays dry. 

BikerBob

Agricover Literider First one Velcro started to fail after 17 years. Got another when truck totaled. It takes up no room when open and has kept a mattress dry in a downpour.

U_tarded

I bought a cheap open box tiger soft trifold on Amazon for like 180 I just wanted to be able to keep like groceries out of sight while in another store kinda thing.  I wanted the bak revolver but I couldn’t justify the extra cost.  95% of the time mine is folded up by the cab because I use the bed with tailgate pad 3-4 times a week to haul my mountain bike around.

anyways someone linked a tiger hard trifold above and the “off brand”  savings on something like this is worth it.  I know 5 people that have various tiger ones and have not had anything bad to say about them. 

pgprescott

Man buys $75K truck probably has very little weight given to the price of the tonneau cover. Probably looking for the very best one to suit his needs. Just guessing though. Probably springs for the weathertech floor mats in lieu of the china knock offs if he wants those too. 🤷🏼‍♂️

nolaegghead

I don’t get it.  If you want secured storage, buy a box truck or station wagon.  

My truck goes commando, although I have a LineX bed.  That liner is tough.

ColbyLang

nolaegghead said:

I don’t get it.  If you want secured storage, buy a box truck or station wagon.  

My truck goes commando, although I have a LineX bed.  That liner is tough.

I need a place to keep my crap. Truck has zero under seat storage due to hybrid batteries. I’d also like to keep my crap dry without losing another foot of bed space with a tool box. 

ColbyLang

Already ordered the weather tech mats lol

Corv

A fellow in my neighborhood has a Rivian. It has a built-in electric (of course!) cover.

nolaegghead

Thankfully I don’t need to drag around a bunch of stuff that could get wet or stolen and has to stay in the truck.

TechsasJim

ColbyLang said:

Already ordered the weather tech mats lol

Yes sir.   Weather Tech mats in my unit as well.   For what I do and the crap I bring into the cab they’re well worth the price (albeit not a huge price).   

Keeping your cargo safe is the bigger picture.  

Can you fit a 6’6” rod in your bed?    I love my Loomis rods and don’t cast any different (imo) than my old 7”.