Tonneau cover

BigToe wrote:
Really surprised that the majority of respondents to this thread are using some type of folding covers, rather than rolling covers like Retrax, Roll-N-Lock, Pace Edwards (Bedlocker, Full Metal Jacket, and others).

Wouldn't the roll tops be easier to use and operate with a fifth wheel? Partially closed, electric operation, no folding, no climbing in the bed, no carrying, no worries about clearance, no storing in a trailer or garage etc.

Why aren't more people using roll type covers that roll up into a canister below the bed rails? These were all the rage a decade ago. Has the fad faded? Do folding covers have greater virtues than meet the eye over roll tops?

cost, I think, is the biggest factor of folders over rollups. For me, at least.

I love my Access roll up cover. I like the concept of the retrax, but don't want to loose the bed length/space for the compartment it rolls into.
Access seals tight, and rolls easily to the front taking up almost no space, easily no matter the temp/weather.

Really surprised that the majority of respondents to this thread are using some type of folding covers, rather than rolling covers like Retrax, Roll-N-Lock, Pace Edwards (Bedlocker, Full Metal Jacket, and others).

Wouldn't the roll tops be easier to use and operate with a fifth wheel? Partially closed, electric operation, no folding, no climbing in the bed, no carrying, no worries about clearance, no storing in a trailer or garage etc.

Why aren't more people using roll type covers that roll up into a canister below the bed rails? These were all the rage a decade ago. Has the fad faded? Do folding covers have greater virtues than meet the eye over roll tops?

I'll throw in a recommendation for a Retrax (retrax.com). It's a retractable style that rolls into a box in the front. It's solid and keeps the box very dry. It locks at any point along the box so it can cover the box in front of a 5th wheel hitch. Very well constructed with a track and rollers compared to other roll-up covers. Available from Autoanything.com and other vendors. Also easy to install, did it myself with minimal help in under 2 hours.

Extang trifecta...have it love it and a great warrenty!

sunline1 wrote:

I have a slide in truck camper that sits in the pickup box, i use from time to time. The "clearance" between the part of the camper thay sticks out over the box rails is pretty tight. The snap type cover seams to have the lowest height of the "rail" that run the lenght of the box. Threfore I can leave the rail on the box while using the camper.

The Trifecta doesn't have a rail at all. It's a one-piece unit that clamps on from underneath. I can fold it up, or remove the entire cover in seconds.

sunline1 wrote:

Also you can acess the boxs front coners by just unsnaping a few snaps in both directions fron the corner. which is a feature i use when pulling my travel trailer.

Yeah, my old 4-fold cover had this feature as the panel nearest the cab could could be folded back. I missed that at first. But then I bought a cargo retriever (http://www.autoanything.com/hitch-bed-accessories/69A6239A0A0.aspx). I know that may seem silly, but it's incredibly useful, and I've found it's even easier because I don't need a sidestep to reach over the box. It works great for toolboxes and the like, but not so well for firewood.

-- Rob

Bimbert84
back in 2001 when i bought the "snap" cover i thought it lookes cool on the truck kinda sporty and "cheaper" than the othe types.
I have a slide in truck camper that sits in the pickup box, i use from time to time. The "clearance" between the part of the camper thay sticks out over the box rails is pretty tight. The snap type cover seams to have the lowest height of the "rail" that run the lenght of the box. Threfore I can leave the rail on the box while using the camper.

Also you can acess the boxs front coners by just unsnaping a few snaps in both directions fron the corner. which is a feature i use when pulling my travel trailer.

All covers have their good and bad points. just a matter of what suits "you" paticular needs.

Happy Camping!!

Just curious, what is the advantage of a snap-style cover? They seem so hard-to-use. I had an Advance 4-fold hard cover on my old truck. I liked it well enough, but as I got older, it got heavier. This time around I went with the Extang Trifecta, which is a vinyl tri-fold. So far I love it. It's lightweight, and I can open and close it in seconds.

-- Rob

My vote is the xtang too... I have the tilting kind. I've had it for a couple of years now and have yet needed to do anymore than tilt it up to get anything into or out of the bed.



If needed, it'll slide off the front hinge as a whole unit so you don't even have to roll it up for that case!

Before this one, I had the traditional kind, but it didn't have snaps, but was still a PITA to peel back and put back on, just to reach into the bed...

My dad has a fiberglass tonneau cover and that thing is HEAVY... He built a hoist system in his garage to lift it off!

Anyway, that's my story!

Good luck with whatever you get!

Mitch

I had a extang snap cover... it sucked. Took forever to put on and take off. Near impossible to snap closed in winter as the materal shrunk.

Took that junk off and put on an BakFlip VP. Love the back flip. Looks like a soft cover, but its hard and folds in 4 sections. Its also flush, unlike the snapping covers.

Pay the extra $300. Its WELL WORTH IT.