Retractable Covers

American work cover

 

It is a tight fit for big hands. Its a dirty job but someone has to do it. It almost gushes itself clean with a little fiddling.

 

Was thinking of putting a stiff brush sweep across the slot to keep the offensive debris out. Okay, okay...

 

This is a nice setup - I did the same with the T-slots on my Retrax using Rhino Rack adapters, but I bet I paid a lot more for the same dern thing!

 

I did that with an RV sweep (on the right), I just cut it down to size. Seems to get 95% of the debris out.

Seal on the left keeps leaves out from between the cab and bed.

 

Just ordered the TCUSA Roll Cover yesterday. Mostly Casey’s fault!

 

Doing this mod ASAP! Thanks @Saltyhero13

 

I love the looks of this tonneau, I’m actually looking for the Work Jr. version now to see if I can find one used. $2,800 new!!!

 

Another option is that you can add the Work Jr cover later. It isn’t any cheaper but it does spread it out. I’ve considered it a couple times on my 2008 but never did it. I think i may end up with a rack on this truck so the tool box would be in the way

 

And welcome from the PNW!
There was a DC cover in the marketplace for CHEAP but i think in TN. You can cut the rails down for a Crewmax…

 

That is good to know, thank you.

Fun trivia fact, apparently no one else on earth makes a tool box that rides on top of the bedsides like the Truck Covers “Jr.” toolbox. I had the opportunity for a cheap used retractable a while back but wanted to passed on it as I couldn’t find a toolbox to go on it.

Currently have a Fold-a-Cover that has been great, but years of exposure and getting beat to crap by hail means it’s time for replacement and I’m going retractable this time.

 

Thanks! I was on one of the other Tundra forums for a few years but the site traffic was rather anemic. I found the marketplace post you were talking about I think, it’s in northern Virginia unfortunately.

 

Kinda left field here, but have you considered the “Decked” option for your needs? One of the things they boast about is the inability to reach tools that slide to middle of the traditional lateral toolbox, plus the visibility+security component. I know with a cover, you lose height when it’s closed, but maybe it’s a less expensive possibility?
I was actually going to see if there was some way to buy one drawer and replace my backseat with it. My fur babies wouldn’t mind a mattress pad to kick back on vs. a truck seat.

 

I have the Pace Edwards full metal jacket rolling cover. I like it a lot. Very heavy duty and the price was right on CL. $150 but was too long I needed to cut the side rails down a bit. Not much rain in SD so not worried about intrusion.

 

The problem I have with the decked system is that i am often hauling things in my bed that need the full depth - gravel, dirt, bark, wood chips, etc. With the drawers my useable volume is half or less. It also seems like there’s a lot of wasted space with that system as well, between the drawers and in some of the nooks and crannies.
The TCUSA Work Cover JR is a shallow toolbox - only ~10” front-to-back and ~5” tall. Just enough to hold basic essentials when you don’t have a lot of good storage in the cab, or to supplement it.

I do like your idea of doing a drawer system in place of the back seat. I’ve seen similar setups. With how far the rear doors open on the crewmax, access wouldn’t be an issue. But, for me, i need to have functional back seats for passengers. So that’s out of the options.

 

I’m in a similar boat; the Decked system would be counterproductive and not at all what I need. I regularly need most or all of the height/vertical space beneath the tonneau and a Decked system would just keep me from using my truck bed at all.

 

The decked drawers make more sense to me with a cap rather than with a tonneau. I don’t understand the point of the tonneau if you have decked drawers. The bed becomes useless for all but very low profile gear.

I am thinking about getting a swing case toolbox after my TC roll cover shows up. Since it fits against the side of the bed over the wheel well, it would be out of the way when I need to haul larger items. It would fit a lot of the tools I have under the rear seat. And the TC cover would make it actually secure.

 

I hear you on the cap, @Terndrerrr and you make a good point.
It looks like from his pics, @Saltyhero13 could speak to the practicality. It seems to me it’s handy for tool hauling and some stuff on top you don’t want wind blown or otherwise visible for an opportunist pluck.
I *almost* went this route, but opted for a truckslide instead. I just wasn’t sure if much of my “standard” stuff would fit in those drawers. If I ever need to haul a big batch of sand, gravel, etc., the trailer will be behind me. I like the site maneuverability and lower working height for that purpose anyway.
I wonder if anyone has created a thread about standard goals for a truck… Hunting/Fishing, Overlander, PreLander, Tool Hauler, etc.?

 

Regarding Decked, I concur with all of the criticisms, concerns, and comments aired by the various posters. Utility will be based on individual use cases.

If you need the bed space, the shallow 10 inches of remaining bed depth may not be enough even with netting. The system is also eating some payload too and its not a cheap system either.

Decked does have some "dead space" in its design where the support spines are located and the drawers narrow towards the bottom. I look at the system as an organizing storage system that can offer an additional layer of security with the lock options.

A bed cap is not an option for me, so for cargo expansion I have the option of mounting a roof top cargo box above the bed rails on the tonneau. Its goofy looking but overall I wanted a flexible modular system and it works for me, though I have been eyeballing the Leitner system.

https://youtu.be/99iCQwV4aCg

 

I liked the candor in this vid and as per usual, @Saltyhero13 doesn’t disappoint with the wisdom. I was shoring up cash for the Yakima Overhaul HD system, but it looks like I have some homework to do.

 

Hey @Saltyhero13 - just exchanged emails with Leitner; awesome product, but they don’t have any rack footing solutions compatible with the bed rail T slotting found on the Retrax MX series retractable covers. Unanswered requests from Rhino Rack. Sounds like I’m back to the Yakima Overhaul HD for my Weekend Warrior/PreLander truck purposes.

 

@AlrightAlrightAlright Apologies for the confusion, yes Leitner would be in lieu of the cover. The only companies I know of that make rails compatible with the Ultragroove are Thule, Yakima and Rhino

 

I can definitely see that being an awesome option, dude! I’m thinking I might put my three Rhino crossbars, et al on the Marketplace. Got those for (future) gravel bike outings, but I think the Yakima HD rack could accommodate those with the top retracted. Measuring, pondering, squinting and lawn chair time ahead for me! Thanks again for the info.

 

Finally picking this thing up on Friday! Looking forward to it. I'm planning a trip out West. The idea is to have 3 Plano trunks with all our camping gear, a Dometic cooler on a slide, and mounts fab'd up for a shovel, axe, traction boards, and fire extinguisher.. I will probably also get a swing out toolbox. It will be nice having the security of the TCUSA cover.