Tonneau Cover and Bed Utility Rails

Hi all, Just picked up a 2018 Tundra CrewMax. First post here on Tundras after 20+ years of owning Tacomas and many years on TacomaWorld.

My question:
I am interested in a hard Tonneau. All manufacturers offer the option of WITH or WITHOUT utility rails. My truck does not currently have rails. Can anyone tell me if I buy the WITHOUT rails model, will it prevent me from adding rails in the future?

Thanks for any insight.

 

I bought my BakFlip secondhand so I’m not positive on this, but I think the WITH version just includes drop brackets to relocate your bed rails lower. Some brands may have different attachment options though depending on the presence of rails. Which make/model are you looking at?

 

Welcome to the forum. Depending on the brand/type, it should not affect you adding bed rails to the truck but you would need to use different clamps that work with rails.

 

It won’t prevent you from installing rails in the future, but you likely would have to get the brackets that attach the tonneau to the rails instead of the bed side.

 

^^This^^

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Jeez Ive never suffered over such a seemingly simple decision. They all seem to have issues.
I dont like the ones with the closing clamps on either side (extang solid fold) because you have to open the tailgate to close the lid. The backflip and armorflex flush types seem ok, but get bad reviews and can be easily opened with a coathanger. The Extang Encore seems to be what Toyota is labeling as OEM and seems so-so and also gets bad reviews.

My tacoma had an OEM trifold that sat on top of the bed rails and had a solid handle that would be hard to defeat. I liked it but cant seem to find that type for a Tundra.

 

I keep looking at Diamondback Covers.

 

Go for the Diamondback!

itnis one of the best purchases I have made. I have and still use the bed rails when I need.

 

Retrax pro XR. Best one you can get and can be installed by using factory rails or their clamps.

 

Me, too. Looks like they just went up $100 for the SE model.

 

I second the retrax pro!

 

For what it’s worth, mine came with the factory installed hard cover and I loved it. Only had it on a few months, and my only gripe was having to open the tailgate to latch/unlatch it…but it’s damn nice. I should probably sell it to someone who would use it rather than look at it in my garage every time I’m out there