NFR Who has a folding tonneau cover on their truck?

[Josh]

Recently picked up a used F150.

Anyone have experience with folding tonneau covers and PNW rain? I have a soft one (Gator SFX) that I use for my Ranger if the canopy is off and it's been a good purchase. Stays quite dry and can be completely removed in a couple minutes. But I also know that it's 0% secure. Not that I leave anything in there, but I would be annoyed if someone decided to poke a knife through and see. You also can't access the full bed without removing it completely. That's not a huge deal, as it goes off/on quickly. But the hard tri-fold ones often have the ability to fold up against the back window to give full bed access.

Still, the hard tri-fold ones like the popular Bakflip MX4 are also more than three times the price of the gator sfx or similar. And I've read a surprising number of reports about them leaking. The soft covers do go over the bed rails, which would be a hassle if one wanted to set up a bed rail rack. But that's not something I see myself doing in the near future, if ever. And I'm not all that sure how much more secure the hard ones are. Seems like a little pry bar would get in pretty easily or maybe just a coat hanger to hook the release. But at least that's more work than a pocket knife.

 

[Evan B]

With the trip fold, why not just spend a few more dollars and get a used canopy.

 

[Josh]

With the trip fold, why not just spend a few more dollars and get a used canopy.

I've had a truck with a canopy and I know that it means I'll almost never take it off (because it's a PITA) and thus never use it for many truck things. Canopies are cool and useful. But on some level they make a truck into a less convenient Surburban.

 

[RCF]

I've had a truck with a canopy and I know that it means I'll almost never take it off (because it's a PITA) and thus never use it for many truck things. Canopies are cool and useful. But on some level they make a truck into a less convenient Surburban.

I have a canopy and it has not come off in 16 years. Works fine but I feel the biggest drawback is reduction in visibility...

 

[Scottybs]

PM sent

 

[Divad]

I got a Bakflip from a member on this forum! (Thank you @Greg Armstrong) I go between it and my canopy, mainly the canopy in the summer when I truck camp and Bakflip in the winter. The Bakflip is a very stout unit, and definitely deters theft. I once had a soft roll up but I wasn’t a fan if you’re in the city, just didn’t feel safe.

You do lose visibility on the Bakflip if you have to fold it all the way to the window but at least you have access to your entire bed.

I also replaced one of the weather strippings on a fold and I don’t get too much leakage. Maybe a couple dribble lines at two edges of the truck at a fold. I use totes though for anything I really care to keep dry or make sure the item is in the middle of the bed. I had to modify it to fit my bed as I was 3” shorter than the model’s intention which wasn’t too bad of a metal mod.

 

[Vagabond]

Josh,
Last truck I had (short bed 69” crew cab) came with the tonneau soft cover with hard slats in four sections. Never had a problem except one day unlocked while getting ready to load a big gust of wind sent it sailing like a spinnaker up and over the cab and it broke the last hard section, no damage to roof thankfully. They are only secured at the four corners but fold forward and lock open with buckles like a wader belt easily. Never really had leakage in the bed even after relatively high pressure tunnel wash’s. It did the job it was designed for with no frills, black on black truck, it did start to show its age after 3 years but worked fine and I carried a lot of expensive stuff beneath it.
New truck (crew cab short bed) was negotiated with a hard cover tri-fold, lockable by double side latchs at each section, with drain tubes at both forward corners as such no longer worry about flyaway bedcover. Again, no leakage after 20K miles. With tailgate locked you might need an axe to break into it. Solid and secure, both internally and externally, yet flexible to work with. Three weeks ago I delivered a boat to the Boston area, with an additional custom console for a 26’ CC in the bed, dropped the trailer at a friends home in NH and delivered the console to Mt Desert Island Maine. Folded all the way forward and locked in the upright position with the internal supports and locks it didn’t budge an inch and never affected my MPG in any manner. It’s designed to work in that manner if needed out of necessity. Soft pads against rear glass no marks.
Pros & Cons:
Old soft cover with internal hard slats is flexible and locks at 75% but won’t fold 90% forward upright.
New folds forward stabilized at 90% against rear glass with 4 composite pads and locked upright via supports.
Old vinyl cover will eventually tear and fade.
New is a composite hard both sides, more secure and flexible doubt it will fade before I do.
Old locks at four corners
New locks at each panel
Old doesn’t look as if it’s used for high dollar equipment hideaway….a plus
New looks like it’s secure for something of value and might be hiding it ( $1-2K Rods and Reels?)
Old $350-$450 cost
New $1200+/-
Old might last 5-8 years depending on use
New 10+ years again dependent on use.
The old one looks OK but utilitarian….the new sharp and multi-functional……. your choice.
I’ll post some images of it this PM as I have to clean the bed out of gear from yesterday’s return from the great North on a multi drop that needed the cover to fold forward and store upright for 1100 miles of a 1966 mile trip.
More coffee needed so after this break sponsored by fuel from the PNW I’ll post images this PM after the F1 race.
……

 

[fatbillybob]

I have had the same bakflip on my truck for 12 years. It is designed to leak a bit where it came with little tubes to drain off water. I can't say it leaks. It maybe dribbles. I never have a problem with the minor leaks even packing the bed wall to wall with gear and soft suitcases. I will put trashbags over things like ski boots just to keep them dry inside if I know it is going to rain.

 

[jasmillo]

I had a bakflip on my Tundra before replacing it with canopy a couple years back. I agree you lose some functionality with a canopy but it’s been minimal for me. I can’t move a couch anymore with my truck but that just gives me an excuse to not help others move now.

I loved the bakflip though. Super durable and did not really leak that I recall. The design did a good job directing water to the drainage tubes. As @Divad mentioned, you lose visibility with it up. That said, if it’s up, you probably have something back there hindering visibility anyway.

I’d let you have mine super cheap since it’s just gathering dust in my garage at the moment. It’s for a Tundra short bed though so doubt it would fit.

 

[Josh]

I agree you lose some functionality with a canopy but it’s been minimal for me. I can’t move a couch anymore with my truck but that just gives me an excuse to not help others move now.

To be clear, I'm not against canopies. My Ranger has had one installed for at least 90% of the time I've owned it. I just want to try life without one for a while. We'll see how many people ask me to help them move. I may indeed be back on here asking people to look for a used canopy in the future.

I’d let you have mine super cheap since it’s just gathering dust in my garage at the moment. It’s for a Tundra short bed though so doubt it would fit.

A kind offer, but I doubt it would fit the F150. I'm sure someone on the forum would help you free up garage space though. Which size is it, 5.5ft, 6.5ft, or 8ft?

 

[bobduck]

I have a trifold on my Silverado. It's too heavy for wind to lift and it keeps the bed dry and it looks nice but.....after making a few fishing trips for only one or two nights I wished I had spent the extra grand and bought a canopy so I could crawl in and spend wet windy nights without setting up a camp. I do;n't have a locking tailgate so I keep rods and valuables inside the truck. Nowadays age and health are preventing me from making these kinds of trips so a canopy wouldn't be worth the expense. I can't do anything about the age but I'm working on the health issues so I can get in a few more trips before I croak off. I still might spend the money.

 

[Clean Willy]

I've had a Backflip MX4 on my '17 Tacoma since new. Minimal water intrusion and adding weatherstripping around the tailgate keeps dust down but not out completely. It IS possible to sleep under it, but not comfortable for me at 6'3" and a 6' bed. It's held up well despite pretty heavy up/down use.

 

[jasmillo]

To be clear, I'm not against canopies. My Ranger has had one installed for at least 90% of the time I've owned it. I just want to try life without one for a while. We'll see how many people ask me to help them move. I may indeed be back on here asking people to look for a used canopy in the future.


A kind offer, but I doubt it would fit the F150. I'm sure someone on the forum would help you free up garage space though. Which size is it, 5.5ft, 6.5ft, or 8ft?

2017 Tundra. I believe the bed is 5.7.

Re: canopies versus covers. I get it. I’ve had both and loved both for what they are. I’m in a canopy phase now for a couple of reasons. Ease of camping being the biggest.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

I got a Bakflip from a member on this forum! (Thank you @Greg Armstrong) I go between it and my canopy, mainly the canopy in the summer when I truck camp and Bakflip in the winter. The Bakflip is a very stout unit, and definitely deters theft. I once had a soft roll up but I wasn’t a fan if you’re in the city, just didn’t feel safe.

You do lose visibility on the Bakflip if you have to fold it all the way to the window but at least you have access to your entire bed.

I also replaced one of the weather strippings on a fold and I don’t get too much leakage. Maybe a couple dribble lines at two edges of the truck at a fold. I use totes though for anything I really care to keep dry or make sure the item is in the middle of the bed. I had to modify it to fit my bed as I was 3” shorter than the model’s intention which wasn’t too bad of a metal mod.

I was happy to have someone here be able to put it to good use. Good to hear it’s working out!

 

[troutpocket]

I have a heavy duty tri-fold on my f150. I like it for most everything except camping. One trade off is great visibility when backing up my boat trailer. And being able to fold up the cover and hop in the back to access stuff is nice. When it’s wet, I pack my stuff in waterproof containers. It doesn’t get real soggy but things can get a little damp. Same with dust in the summer.

 

[Sam Roffe]

I'm kind of a tonneau cover guy, I like to keep the truck profile while keeping my stuff out of sight. I currently have a fiberglass lid on my truck and it's a royal pain to take off. Not as hard as a canopy, but, awfully heavy.

I've been eying the Diamondback series of covers for my truck. They have a tri fold version. What appeals to me is that I can put a boat on top of the cover and have my gear under cover. But, they are pricey. I am looking for a used one.

 

[iveofione]

Not germane to this conversation but if you are planning to buy a canopy to camp out of I urge you to get one that is higher than cab high. The A.R.E. canopy on my Casa tapers from 42'' at the front to 52'' at the rear. That 10'' difference is the difference between comfort and confinement. I can't stand up in it of course but I can get dressed without being a contortionist and I can sit upright at the back without hitting the ceiling. The downside for me is that the canopy won't easily accommodate a roof rack and is not flat enough to support solar panels. I can live without the roof rack because I am too old to strap stuff on the roof to begin with. And as for the solar panels, I have Command hooks on the canopy that will hold the solar panels and kickstands for setting them up away from the truck and in the sun.

 

[Fourbtgait]

You mentioned one thing, possibly adding a rack system.
Several years ago i went with a soft cover, same company has rack systems. Bed rails stay in place, takes me 10 minutes to install or remove the racks. Cover fully functional.
I notice now they have hard covers also, maybe will fit with racks as well.

Truck Bed Covers | Pickup Truck Bed Cover & Tarp | Agri-Cover Lineup

Manufacturer of truck bed covers and tarp systems. A pickup truck bed cover is the easiest and most versatile way to cover your pickup truck bed.

www.agricover.com

 

[Josh]

You mentioned one thing, possibly adding a rack system.

This is more of a "well, maybe?" thing for me. I don't have any plans at the moment for a rack system because I don't have a use for it at the moment. But if everything else was equal (price, quality, etc) between two tonneau covers, going with the one that kept the bed rails clear in case I changed my mind down the road wouldn't be bad.

 

[Brute]

I've had a truck with a canopy and I know that it means I'll almost never take it off (because it's a PITA) and thus never use it for many truck things. Canopies are cool and useful. But on some level they make a truck into a less convenient Surburban.

but will prevent you from helping your neighbors move...