I have a new 3/4 ton truck and I am looking for a hard bed cover. I like the retractables best, with the 2 main negatives being the space the canister takes up in the front of the bed and the price. The back flip style folding covers would be my next favorite except for blocking the back window when bed is fully opened or the hassle of removing them. Also, on the ones that sit down between the bed rails, do you have any issues losing the space in the bed that the side rails take up? I would be interested in anyone's comments about these two types of bed covers as to which system you like best and why. At this stage, I am not so interested in which manufacturer to buy, just whether to go retractable or folding.

I have the BakFlip folding cover and like it a lot. Yes, it does take away space when all the way up against the back window, mine is about 10" when folded up. They make a roll up cover too, but it uses space when rolled up. You may have luck visiting the web sites of the various manufacturers and get the specs you want from them. Mine is www.bakflip.com

I had the same concerns when I bought my truck. When looking at the roll up the saleswoman ask if I lived on a dirt road. When I said yes she said I would not like the roll up as all the dust will get in the track and cause problems. I never did put a cover on.

Can't comment on a folding cover. But have had roll type hard covers for last 6 years and very happy with them. In my case Pace Edwards Fullmetal Jackrabbit covers. I don't live on a dirt road, but have driven on them and don't understand the comment about them. With the gaskets around the cover and gaskets around the tailgate there are not many places for dust to get in. Mine stays closed 95% of the time and bed remains clean. Only real dirt/dust is what gets there by me putting dirty things back there.

BB_TX wrote:Can't comment on a folding cover. But have had roll type hard covers for last 6 years and very happy with them.So, has losing the bed space that the canister takes up been an issue for you? Also, is there any concern about tall things you carry in the bed sliding back and damaging the top or canister?

We have the retractable metal cover version and we do plenty of driving on dirt roads (we prefer boondocking) without much issues as tracks can be easily wiped out if such an accumulation of dirt does occur. The holding tube does take up some space, thus far it's been an insignificant issue for us, still plenty of room for firewood and everything else we want to carry on one of our RVing adventures. Keeps items stored under the cover from being exposed to environmental elements. At least in our case, the rails do not take up valuable space, but that might be different for other folks. There are pros and cons to whatever cover one chooses to use over their truck bed, but we enjoy our retractable, locking metal cover and the security it provides to the bed's contents.

Retractable vs Folding Hard Covers | Good Sam Community

MTPockets1
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
I have the BakFlip folding cover and like it a lot. Yes, it does take away space when all the way up against the back window, mine is about 10" when folded up. They make a roll up cover too, but it uses space when rolled up. You may have luck visiting the web sites of the various manufacturers and get the specs you want from them. Mine is www.bakflip.com
Roger10378
Explorer II
Mar 17, 2015
I had the same concerns when I bought my truck. When looking at the roll up the saleswoman ask if I lived on a dirt road. When I said yes she said I would not like the roll up as all the dust will get in the track and cause problems. I never did put a cover on.
BB_TX
Nomad
Mar 17, 2015
Can't comment on a folding cover. But have had roll type hard covers for last 6 years and very happy with them. In my case Pace Edwards Fullmetal Jackrabbit covers. I don't live on a dirt road, but have driven on them and don't understand the comment about them. With the gaskets around the cover and gaskets around the tailgate there are not many places for dust to get in. Mine stays closed 95% of the time and bed remains clean. Only real dirt/dust is what gets there by me putting dirty things back there.
Roadtech
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
BB_TX wrote:
Can't comment on a folding cover. But have had roll type hard covers for last 6 years and very happy with them.

So, has losing the bed space that the canister takes up been an issue for you? Also, is there any concern about tall things you carry in the bed sliding back and damaging the top or canister?
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Mar 17, 2015
We have the retractable metal cover version and we do plenty of driving on dirt roads (we prefer boondocking) without much issues as tracks can be easily wiped out if such an accumulation of dirt does occur.

The holding tube does take up some space, thus far it's been an insignificant issue for us, still plenty of room for firewood and everything else we want to carry on one of our RVing adventures. Keeps items stored under the cover from being exposed to environmental elements.

At least in our case, the rails do not take up valuable space, but that might be different for other folks. There are pros and cons to whatever cover one chooses to use over their truck bed, but we enjoy our retractable, locking metal cover and the security it provides to the bed's contents.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
a neat/different one that I saw was 3 sections, a small 1 ft or so center section that clamped to the bed with two hinged sections slanting down to bed top level.
bumpy
Nutinelse2do
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
We have the Rol Bak G2 hard cover. It is made very well, so no worries about anything hitting it and damaging it. Our 45 gal RDS auxiliary fuel tank fits under the canister.

We are in Az/ Nv, and there is ALOT of dust. We just use a Calofornia duster to clean it off. It keeps our air hitch and generator out of sight, and out of the sun. No problems with it leaking in the rain either.

The G2 stops about every 12" or so and locks into position if we want to be partially open or closed. Very happy with it and think it was worth every penny.
Roadtech
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
Nutinelse2do wrote:
Our 45 gal RDS auxiliary fuel tank fits under the canister.

I would like to know more about this. Is the RDS tank lying flat under the canister? How much bed floor space do you lose with the RDS tank? Can the tank be easily removed if you need the bed space? Are you gravity flowing fuel from the RDS to your stck tank?
Nutinelse2do
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
Here are some pics. It is a gravity feed tank. The silver is the RDS tank, and past the RolBak canister, it only comes out ~ 8". No, it will not come out easily. It is tied into the filler neck with a T. We wouldn't remove it anyway, since our hitch weighs hundreds of pounds, and we have the tool box attached to the bed behind the tank, and in front of the hitch.
BB_TX
Nomad
Mar 17, 2015
Roadtech wrote:
BB_TX wrote:
Can't comment on a folding cover. But have had roll type hard covers for last 6 years and very happy with them.

So, has losing the bed space that the canister takes up been an issue for you? Also, is there any concern about tall things you carry in the bed sliding back and damaging the top or canister?

I have a long bed truck so the loss of that few inches is not a problem for me. I have a 5th wheel hitch in the bed and have carried two 26" bikes in front of the hitch even with the canister taking up that space.
I frequently carry various tools, lumber, plywood, and such, but never anything so tall and heavy such that it might damage the canister.