whats the chance of these covers being in the way when towing a 5ver/ truck has a 8 ft bed.

I have one on my 6.5' box and it works great and I do not remove it when the 5er is hooked up. There are no clearance issues at all. When I hook up the trailer I just fold it up and attach the 2 buckles and leave it in place. After I unhook the trailer at the campground I fold it back down.

There is always a chance for crumpling these. If you are backing and turning when the truck tilts off camber, the clearance goes away quickly. I always take my tri-fold off when towing my 5'r. My trailer has 6 1/2" inches of clearance. Once I have crumpled the driver side bed rail, when backing, turning, and passenger side went down. Driver side then goes up. Clearance gone and trailer overhang went into the truck rail by one inch. $800 repair.Last spring it almost happened again. But I saved it. Backing down my driveway. Making a backing turn again. In order to negotiate this tight narrow turn, the trailer wheels needs to go off the pavement and into the dirt beside the pavement. We had a very wet spring, with lots of rain. Truck NOT off camber but, the trailer wheels sunk in the mud. Overhang of trailer dropped down to the driver side bed rail. After doing this once, I was watching the bed rail. And was able to pull forward before damage occurred. Even just pulling out of my paved driveway, my truck goes a little off camber when turning left onto the street. Trailer overhang comes within 2 inches of the bed rail. If I had the tri-fold on there it would be crushed. I can only imagine what would happen if going in or out of a gas station with a high ramp entrance.If you have a long bed you'll be a little better off. But my recommendation is to remove it and store it in the trailer when towing. Eliminate the risk.

I have a BakFlip F1 hard cover on my 8 ft. Bed. Four folds and no problem when hooked up. Love it.

I had one that folded all the way forward to a vertical position right behind the passenger compartment window so I don't think it would have caused any interference when towing a 5er.

I have the Rugged fri-fold on mine and it stays on when hooked to the 5er. I keep my fire wood under it.

tri fold hard cover | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

carpetguy2
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
Also depends on how high the hitch is too.Luckily I bought one at the dealer but would not fit with my HiRise hitch
So they had to return it and get me a nice roll up one .
rtazz17
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
mileshuff wrote:
rtazz17 wrote:
Mines a shortbox and I have no issues as long as its folded all the way up.

Folded against the cabs window or folded to the first section? I have a bakflip cover but have not towed since installing. If I fold it to the first section then rail clearance maybe an issue on tight turns. If I fold it against the cab window then the backflips supports may be a clearance issue. I have a slider hitch so am hoping there isn't an issue. Most others with a bakflip and shortbed report no problems.
If i fold it up to the first section my sliders release handle can hit the bakflip under certain conditions,example is 90 degree turn backing onto uneven ground side to side( it hit once already thats how i know and left a dent in cover)I have 8 inches of clearance of rails so thats not an issue.My brother owns same identical cover truck and camper and leaves it folded to first section but Ive warned him and eventually he will be somewhere and hit it but oh well warned him.Support rods when its up against window for cover are non issue,doesnt come close to those.
Sundance07
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
greende wrote:
I have a Fold-A-Cover that folds in fours. No problems with mine so far. The reason I got mine is that folded, it doesn't stick up very far.

I have the same for my dually. Works well and no clearance issues.
mileshuff
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
rtazz17 wrote:
Mines a shortbox and I have no issues as long as its folded all the way up.

Folded against the cabs window or folded to the first section? I have a bakflip cover but have not towed since installing. If I fold it to the first section then rail clearance maybe an issue on tight turns. If I fold it against the cab window then the backflips supports may be a clearance issue. I have a slider hitch so am hoping there isn't an issue. Most others with a bakflip and shortbed report no problems.
rtazz17
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
Mines a shortbox and I have no issues as long as its folded all the way up.
Trail-Mate
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
I have an Extang Tri-fold soft cover on an 8 foot bed, and I have no issues with hitching or towing with the cover folded, since you also have 8 foot bed I would think most Tri-Fold covers should work fine, I have heard the Tri-folds don't work well on shorter beds.
rtazz17
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
Same here.Bakflip hard cover ..I do have to fold it all the way up against the window.I cant leave it down on bed when folded because it certain situations with my pullright when at hard angles and on unflat roads(as is when I back into my driveway)the handle will hit the cover.Happened once to me and left a dent in cover but dent is on underside so no biggie but Now I always fold it up against the window.
machunt
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
Man i hope you guys are right. mine is due here tomorrow how thick when folded?
greende
Explorer II
Sep 30, 2013
I have a Fold-A-Cover that folds in fours. No problems with mine so far. The reason I got mine is that folded, it doesn't stick up very far.
abc40kids
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
I have the Rugged fri-fold on mine and it stays on when hooked to the 5er. I keep my fire wood under it.