Decisions.... Decisions

Looking for a bed cover. Any opinions on Tonneau vs. Topper?
Annnnnndd, GO...

 

Diamondback tonneau. This thing is super versatile and can be installed/removed by one person in minutes.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/tonneau-cover.420/#post-10843

 

Tonneu vs topper is a personal decision based on intended use. I've got my eye on a retractable tonneau myself. That way I still have the benefit of an open bed when I need it.

 

Sorry, this will be long, but trying to give you feedback. Like most things, I think it comes down to intended usage and personal preference.

I had an ARE LSII Tonneau cover on my old 2010 Tundra. I had it for 4 years, and let's just say the day after I purchased my new TRD Pro, I ordered the LSII, Bedrug and Dust baffle for the tailgate.

With my initial purchase of my 2010 Tundra, I came from 3 generations of 4Runners. One of the advantages of an SUV is the climate control for all the gear being, dust and water protection. I also tow my ski boat, or my camper/aluminum boat often and with that, the gear and kids, space was tight. With no more V8 in the 4Runner, I moved to a Tundra. The majority of my usage is recreation, with my favorite destination being 40 miles off pavement which means dust is a major issue, as are monsoons and keeping my equipment dry. So, after much research, I bought the LSII and it exceeded my expectations.

I can say that like you, I considered a cap. It certainly allows more storage space, but also has windows to see contents turning into a security issue. Especially after owning the tonneau, I see its benefits over the cap. the biggest being visibility. I think a cap creates a huge blindspot not just for normal driving conditions, but also including a trailer or boat driving forward or back. With the tonneau, I still see much of the road behind me. And let's face it, these crew cabs are huge. Adding a cap only makes it look goliath. I do see advantages, especially for those who may sleep inside it, but for me the tonneau was the right decision.

Some advantages are below.

· Purchased keyless entry which for about $120, I would highly recommend to everyone. It opens/locks with the Toyota's key fob and you never have to insert the tonneay key, or fight remembering if you locked it/worse forgetting to lock it and having whatever you may have left inside stolen.

· Security is also a benefit where I anticipated for storage at the boat ramp, even camping, but not beyond that. It was an unexpected benefit that shopping, tools and such can be left in the bed. Obviously you don't want to abuse it, but it's nice to know you can when in a pinch. I imagine someone could break in, but being hidden is half the battle. This also allowed me to keep my emergency kit with flares, tow straps, jumper cables', dedicated tool kit, water etc permanently in the back without fear of someone stealing it. This tonneau also overlaps the tailgate, so you don't have to lock the tailgate as to keep someone from stealing it. Also very convenient as you don't have to hunt for the key every time you need to pull the tailgate down.

· Durability was good as well. The paint matched perfectly and in 4 years there was no fading, or damage. This brings me to the rubber trim on the edge. I like the look of the crisp edge of the LSX more, and believe the LSII comes with the same option, but I was concerned that being fiberglass, it would chip easily. It is for this reason I included the rubber trim (painted), and in 4 years, not so much as a chip or flake. So, I went with it again. BTW, pics are of the vehicle were for selling, so you can see they both held up well.

· As indicated earlier, keeping the elements out is another reason for the tonneau. Anyone who owns a pickup knows dust and rain is a PIA. This was critical for me and the tonneau has a seal that goes between it and the bed rails. It also overlaps about a half inch. With the added dust baffle for the tailgate, this was very good at keeping the dust out. No tarps, blankets, or concern with rain.

· Another reason for the ARE LSII over the ARE LSX, or Leer for that matter was the hinge system. this is the only one I found with a full hinge at the front of the bed. The others have scissor hinges, that I felt would be weaker off road, not to mention add a failure point. Also, when raining, or coming off a storm, the LSX or Leer hinge actually pulls the end of the tonneau away from the cab as it lifts up, so the rain drains directly into the bed of the truck. With the LSII and the full hinge, it does not have this issue, but instead drains between the cab/bed.

· This brings me to the Bedrug. I'm not in construction, so this vehicle is solely for personal usage. As such, I don't really use it for anything that would stain, or damage the bedrug beyond your occasional rental equipment. I have never removed the bedrug since owning the vehicle, and decided to get it to help protect camping equipment/bed from sliding/banging around. Like the tonneau, I didn't skip a heartbeat and purchased the bedrug as well. They both are awesome for what I do.

· It's also supposed to increase gas mileage by up to 10%. I never had the opportunity to test, but the theory is sound.

· I did not get a light because they were only available in battery form. I found out almost immediately however this was necessary since the bed light was now obstructed by the tonneau. So, I bought a marine LED with about 15 LED's, made a mount and installed it on the tonneua itself, pointing down into the bed. I did this because putting lights under the bed rails would be blocked when this is packed full of gear, and just installing a strip light on the tonneau would serve to blind you rather than lighting up the area. I wired it to the accessory lights, so every time a door is open, it turns on. My only complaint about this is if you close the door, you only have a minute of light, but it is the most convenient solution anyway. This time I am considering a hood switch of sorts so it is independent of the doors and turns on every time I open the tonneau, but not sold just yet since the switch could be damaged and I have not looked for a viable location just yet .

· This does weigh about 100lbs, but any weight in a pickup helps traction in the back, and with the massive payload of the Tundra, it impacts nothing even with the boat on. It is supposed to come off fairly easily, but I never had a reason to take it off in the 4 years I owned it.

Here is the link to the tonneau. At the time I did considerable research and with its construction, this seemed like one the strongest and most durable out there, in terms of the color matched/painted units anyway. Its not just a fiberglass shell, it has a wafer design that can hold weight as well. http://www.4are.com/product/lsii/

In all, I recall questioning my original purchase of tonneau and bedrug might limit usage, but also be one of those mods that were a potential waste of money. I was quickly reassured however and truly amazed not just how good it looked, but also how well it performed in terms of usage and functionality. It exceeded my expectations with now having what amounts to an oversized trunk that was secure and safe from the elements. I used it well beyond my intended usage and as I said earlier, did not even blink after purchasing my TRD Pro, even calling ARE to confirm they had Burnt Orange just in case I found one of those. It's also interesting that in the past week, I already have missed having it on the new truck, so it just can't get here soon enough... Only two more weeks...

Anyway, a post this long should be illegal, but let me know if I somehow missed a key point or if you have questions.

 

I have BakFlip Fibermax and couldn't be happier. Looks great and will expose the whole bed in seconds. Best of both worlds.

 

Great review. Thanks for the input. Looks great on your rig, too.

 

Gas mileage get any better?

 

I have the bakflip fibermax and love it!

 

Not really but I do mostly city driving. It looks great though and is functionally much better than a tonneu.