Bed tonneau covers

[MrD]

Hi all,

I would like to find a hard cover that would fit over my hitch, what do you use and how do you like them, do they keep your bed dry?

Thanks
Mike

[bkurt710]

tri-fold xtang best for me http://www.extang.com/docs/trifecta.html
easy to install and remove

[Ginther]

I have a Roll-n-Lock on my '04 F250 short bed. Got it on craigslist for $100. It was pulled off a wrecked truck in a junk yard. Couldn't pass up that deal!

My hitch is a Demco HiJacker auto slide. My FW has a regular solid pin box (for now). It has never hit the side tracks for the bed cover.

My only complaint is that my hitch with all the auto slide mechanism is huge. It is about 1/2" too tall to close the cover. I have to pull a pin and remove the head plate from the hitch to close the cover. Not a huge pain in the rear, but a slight inconvenience none the less.

[SanMarMor]

I bought my truck used, and it already had a Truxedo LoPro QT installed. I hadn't had one of these before, but I would definitely get one again. They are a flat cover, so if something sticks above the rails it would be a problem, but I haven't had any problem with it. No problem at all with my 5th hitch. The thing I like the most, the cross stays are fastened to the canvass. So when you roll the cover up, it rolls the stays and all. Very easy to roll and unroll, no extra parts to store when rolled. It's the favorite cover I've had, and I've been driving pickups since 1985, and had many covers.

Mark

[MTPockets1]

Lantley wrote:
My Backflip has 4 panels. If I fold back one panel it will not stay in place it will blow over. However if I fold back 2 or more panels they do stay in place. When towing I Have 3 panels folded back and they stay in place.
I could fold the 4th panel back and lock it in place against the cab window to fully expose the bed, however I have no need to do this while towing.

Ditto with mine.... But, when I had the BakFLip on my short bed F350, I had to put it all the way up against the window or my pin box would hit it on turns... Not a problem with my long bed.

[Lantley]

My Backflip has 4 panels. If I fold back one panel it will not stay in place it will blow over. However if I fold back 2 or more panels they do stay in place. When towing I Have 3 panels folded back and they stay in place.
I could fold the 4th panel back and lock it in place against the cab window to fully expose the bed, however I have no need to do this while towing.

[GoPackGo]

To the folks that have the panel-type tonneau covers, such as FOLD-A-COVER, and BAKFLIP - Do they stay in place when horizontally stacked up (open) at the front end of the bed and you are towing ? I also want a hard cover, and I'm having an aux fuel tank installed in the bed. I don't believe any of the retractibles will work as the height of the aux fuel tank is too high (but is below the bed rails). I don't think I want to travel with the panels in the vertically stacked configuration as shown in some of the manufacturer videos I've looked at.

[richfaa]

we have just a plain ole tonneau cover. We have it to keep stuff dry in the bed of the truck. Before that we had a fold a cover. It kept stuff dry also.

[MTPockets1]

MO_Trout_Bum wrote:

Lantley wrote:

homefor2 wrote:
When I save up all my allowance, I'm getting a Roll N Lock bed cover. Surprised no one has mentioned it . Very high quality and good reviews. Expensive but you get what you pay for.

I have found that it's not a matter of which cover you like but which cover will fit without contacting pin box in tight turns. While I like them the most,the roll up type seem to be the worst for my scenario.
The tracks used to support the rolling covers interfere with the pin box during tight turns. I eventually ruined a Retrax cover before eventually going with a Bak Flip G2 cover that fits my set up much better.

Amen to that. What cover works best is dependent on so many factors. For me, the rollup works best, as I get full access to the the truck bed, and can see my fifth wheel hitch, making it easier to hook up. However, I am probably 1/4" from hitting the cover side rail - with the PIN box - in the tighest of turns. Bottom line is, the rollup cover works best in my 2004 2500HD, however I might need to go with somthing like a backflip when I eventually move on to a new truck.

We're on our second BakFlip F1 .... Strong and secure if you have a locking tailgate. When we had the short wheel base truck, the BakFlip was in the way of my pin box on turns so I had to travel with the cover all the way up against the rear window. The current ruck is a long wheel base and the cover just lies flat in the folded position on the bed rails when towing. A great cover.

[MO_Trout_Bum]

Lantley wrote:

homefor2 wrote:
When I save up all my allowance, I'm getting a Roll N Lock bed cover. Surprised no one has mentioned it . Very high quality and good reviews. Expensive but you get what you pay for.

I have found that it's not a matter of which cover you like but which cover will fit without contacting pin box in tight turns. While I like them the most,the roll up type seem to be the worst for my scenario.
The tracks used to support the rolling covers interfere with the pin box during tight turns. I eventually ruined a Retrax cover before eventually going with a Bak Flip G2 cover that fits my set up much better.

Amen to that. What cover works best is dependent on so many factors. For me, the rollup works best, as I get full access to the the truck bed, and can see my fifth wheel hitch, making it easier to hook up. However, I am probably 1/4" from hitting the cover side rail - with the PIN box - in the tighest of turns. Bottom line is, the rollup cover works best in my 2004 2500HD, however I might need to go with somthing like a backflip when I eventually move on to a new truck.

[IWally]

Retrax. 2+ yrs still love it.

[BeerCan]

Too Young to Retire wrote:
I have the truck cover USA retractable cover. Keeps the bed dry and looks good too.

TCUSA kicks A** I had one on my F150 and loved it.

[soling2003]

I like the Backflip G2 also. Even took it with me from my 2010 F250 to the 2011 ford dually. It does have a few dings on the inside now where I either slammed it down on something too tall inside or some such thing. It is nice that you can lay it over something that is just a bit too tall, but make sure you tie it down if you are driving very fast.....or it goes up and down back there like a snake. Even at just 35mph.

[TruckGuy616]

MrD wrote:
Wow great responses, I'm checking out all the different options. I do have a long bed so that is an issue I'll have to deal with. My companion hitch is low enough so it probably won't be a problem. but my pin box is close to hitting my bed sides on a wide turn and with brackets for the cover it might get even worse. Lots to think about

Thanks for the replies.

Mike

The Fold-a-Cover that I have doesn't take up any extra room inside the bed. The rails sit on top of the sides of the truck bed, giving it an extra inch or so of height, but still plenty of clearance for my fifth wheel.

Here you can see the rail doesn't go into the bed at all.


And here is an extra picture of how it looks on the truck.

[Too_Young_to_Re]

I have the truck cover USA retractable cover. Keeps the bed dry and looks good too.