pick-up owners - favorite bed/tonneau cover?

[fanaudical]

I bought a used Dodge Ram 1500 crewcab pick-up with a short box this summer as my daily driver. I'm looking at bed covers to keep my occasional cargo dry in the winter months. I don't want a canopy.

A couple initial thoughts:

- I don't like the idea of a soft tonneau as it seems easy to defeat if something remotely valuable is in the bed.

- Fiberglass hardshell tops are certainly waterproof, but look difficult to remove when needed.

- I like the Roll-n-Lock brand retractable that I've seen, but the instructions indicate necessity to carve up the bed-liner (and I don't want to do that).

What have you purchased that you like and would recommend?

Thanks for the help.

[Dantilla]

I like the room under a canopy that matches the cab height. Held on with C-clamps. Though it typically is on and off several times during the year, the default is on in Winter, off in Summer.

I can take it on and off by myself. Only downside is the poor rear visibility when it's on.

[stevej37]

A soft cover is cheapest and easiest to install. How would anyone know that there are valuables in the bed?

[MBAtarga]

My Tacoma (bought used) had a rolling top cover - but it also required the shell bed liner to be cut. I don't see how any cover with that design could be made in a generic fashion that would allow use with whatever brand(s) of bed liners being sold.

[Nickshu]

I had a Fold-a-Cover G4 tonneau on my '14 Silverado. HAD. I now have a topper.

Likes - Solid construction, good locking and latch mechanism, good esthetics, access to the front section w/ front latch and back 3 sections w/ rear latch (this is fold-a-cover's claim to fame)

Dislikes - Cost (one of the more expensive folding options), Difficult to remove (must unbolt) if you need access to the entire bed/want to remove the tonneau.

Ultimately I got rid of the tonneau and went w/ an ARE Z-series topper which is what I should have bought in the first place. In the end I found that not much stuff could really fit under the tonneau and often when I wanted to protect something from the elements it would not fit under the tonneau. I am very happy w/ the topper and should have gone this route to begin with.

My biggest advice would be to go w/ a tonneau that can be easily removed (as in without tools) if you need access to the whole bed. Also don't be surprised if a lot of cargo does not fit under the tonneau and it needs to be removed, exposing the cargo to the elements/theft/etc.

Good luck!

[fred cook]

A couple of months ago I put a folding cover on my F150. It is made by the company Peragon here in the states. Except for the rubber seals, it is all extruded aluminum. It is lockable and when not needed, will fold up against the back of the cab. Cost was about $700 including shipping. It took me about 4 hrs to install following the very detailed instructions that are included. Go to Peragon.com to find out more details. I am very pleased with the way it operates, the quality and the overall appearance. Happy hunting!

[jwasbury]

When I was looking to add a tonneau to my new GMC Sierra a few years back I searched this very forum and saw a recommendation for Retrax brand roll up. It's like a roll up garage door for the truck bed. It's perfect for my needs. Opens and closes easily, lockable in any position. When open the unit takes up 12" or so at the front of the bed, but it has space underneath so you can tuck long items like lumber underneath it and still take advantage of the full length of the bed.

I had a cap on my last pickup and it was nice but removing was a pain when needing to haul taller items.

[onewhippedpuppy]

On my last F150 I had a hard fiberglass lockable tonneau with a Bedrug liner. I liked the fact that it was waterproof and very secure. I disliked the fact that it limited the available height to haul cargo. For my current F150 I bought a Bedrug and Bakflip G2 tonneau, which is one of the segmented folding aluminum covers. My in laws have had two of them and love them, they offer the security of the fiberglass cover but will fold against the cab to allow hauling tall cargo. The only downside is that they do tend to seep a little in very heavy rain, but no worse than a 911 Targa.

[93nav]

I got a Bakflip VP (I think that was the model). Solid, folds out of the way, removable with two bolts, need to open tailgate to open tonneau (so if you have a locking tailgate, your bed is locked up), can open in sections. Good so far.

I know a topper would probably be more usable, but I really like seeing out the back window.

[Seahawk]

I have an ABS plastic hinged cover by SE. I went ABS because I wanted the option of adding racks to the top of the cover.

I have owned trucks all my life and this is the first time I have ever put a cover over the bed. I wish I had done it earlier....greatly improves the utility of the truck for dry, lockable storage.

Hinged was an easy option for me since I have a trailer for cumbersome loads. I looked at all sorts of covers and probably would have purchased a sectional top if I didn't have a trailer handy for tall loads.

[Tom '74 911]

One of these came with my truck when I bought it used:

BakFlip F1 Tonneau Cover | Bakflip.com

It is really a great, secure, mostly watertight cover. All of my previous trucks had fiberglass toppers, which are also nice, but make visibility a little more difficult.

[MDH]

TruXport – Economical, Soft Roll-up Tonneau Cover
I have a truxport rollup cover.
Easy to install and use.
When rolled up it is about 6" diameter at front of box.
Nice cover.

[stealthn]

Originally Posted by Tom '74 911

One of these came with my truck when I bought it used:

BakFlip F1 Tonneau Cover | Bakflip.com

It is really a great, secure, mostly watertight cover. All of my previous trucks had fiberglass toppers, which are also nice, but make visibility a little more difficult.

Same here love it!
My Issue is we have Kayaks too, but almost all the racks are made to sit on top of the rails, so it would force me to remove the backflip and rails every time I want to move my kayak's - Backflip does have a system to have the cover and racks but I don't like the mounts for the kayak, I have Yakima rollers now.
Frustrating

[fanaudical]

Hey, All - Thanks for the input and suggestions.

I'm looking for a "hard" tonneau mostly because I've seen several "soft" tonneau's sliced open in areas I travel and I don't want to impede visibility in the rear with a canopy. I appreciate the suggestions.

[930addict]

Extang - America's Best Selling Tonneau Covers

Had my rollup for five years. Have had snow piled up on it as well as sitting in 100+ degree temps and still in great shape.

[BlueWing]

I have a Truxedo, it is a soft top and latches under the cover behind the tailgate. It installs with no mods to anything. One person open and close in seconds, rolls up tight with two straps on top of the bed, velcro sides that drape over. Lifetime warranty which they honored when my velcro wore out after 12 years with no issues. I can load up right to the back of the bed when opened and have never had a drop of water find it's way in when closed.

I never park this truck indoors and it still looks and performs as when it was new.
Yes it is a soft top with a few cross tubes but gives me the full use of a pick up and also a closed bed for traveling and carrying smaller items out of view/weather.

Really works out for my application.

Terry

[regency]

Look up "Roll - N - Lock". I had one on my Tacoma, very nice.

1973 911T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

Steve