Bed cover recommendation

I ran mine out through the grommets in the front wall of the bed, so they drain out between bed and cab.

 

The steel bed trucks have that option. All of the composite bed trucks are without those grommets. That includes all of the tacomas as well.

Some people have made neat little threaded elbows and just slightly enlarge the existing drain holes, but I've never been that concerned with it.

 

Guess I'm a little outta' the loop. I had no idea the new trucks aren't made of metal?!

 

I decided on the BAK X4s. Looks good and I don't have to worry about it blocking the rear window when fully opened or flying off. Rolls up all the way and ties down with straps. BAK customer service is top notch!

 

I ordered one of these. They look like quite a few other rebranded covers i.e. Bison. Wanted to buy a Bison but wouldent ship to the USA. This appears to be one in the same.

 

I love my x4s. 7 months strong!

 

This is over $1K, but I installed the Retrax, man I love it. Super easy to install to!

 

Just installed my Tuxedo X15 roll up bed cover. Haven't driven with it yet but so far I really like it. Am hoping my motorcycle will still fit with it rolled up. Not super secure obviously but I like that it still gives me full use of the bed and can keep our stuff mostly dry when road tripping. Tie downs are hard to access but maybe thats an excuse to buy some billet tie down anchors. Added a bunch of photos which would have helped me when shopping for a cover. Its super low profile, material looks high end and the wife thinks its sharp.

 

A couple more. Sorry if this is too many photos but it would have helped me!

 

Thanks HMNYC, Have been mulling over choosing between the LoPro and the X15. The LoPro is $50 cheaper but on the web site they look pretty much the same tonneau, same hardware and look. They seem to state the LoPro is a lower profile, which I desire. Yours looks pretty low profile to me.

 

Thanks. I can’t imagine it being any more low profile than it is. Great so far. Only issue I’m having is I can’t latch it with the tailgate closed. I’m sure some fine adjustments will fix that.

 

The x15 is lower profile than the lo pro. The x15 has 15° rails, hence the name. I've used both on past trucks, really liked the x15. The material is really odd, but looks quite good.

 

Web site states the x15 is canvas and LoPro vinyl, and if I understand, the vinyl is shiny vs matte blk for canvas.

Appreciate your post - I want the lower profile.

 

That's right. It's a canvas with a vinyl under layer. Keeps it water resistant even though the canvas takes a while to dry after washing/rain.

The x15 has a nice matte look, while the lo pro is a leather grain shiny type of vinyl.

The x15 is definitely worth the extra few bucks!

 

Why’d you move away from using tri folds?

 

Do you garage your 3500? My retractable would freeze open/shut (no garage for the truck, just a covered carport)

 

Mine was fine 90% of the time. Typically it was the carwash days followed by sub 20F temps that were the culprit. I thought about a heat gun, then thought about the parts cracking or worse from the drastic swings in temp and thought better of it.

 

Just installed "North Mountain Soft Rollup" on my 23 Platinum. I love it! But I don't like the tri-folds because it blocks the rear window when all the way open, and the roller tops take away too much bed space IMO. Have been through 3 carwashes and several rains with no moisture in the bed. Only complaint is the cover itself doesn't sit as low as some of the others, but for $225 it's great so far! Installation is easy and took about 30-40 mins. No tapes and no drilling, just use the supplied mounting brackets(2 different sets, in case you have the rail system).

 

I may go a similar route on our 21 CM TRD Sport. Looked at a lot of options, but I think a soft roll might be just fine. Retrax is sweet but the canister is a deal breaker. Have a BAK roll up on another truck, and that’s been pretty good.

On the highway I see some on trucks flapping a bit. Is that your experience? Nature of the beast?

I guess you have to climb in the bed to roll it all the way back? Does it work fine driving with it partially back?

I do like how the video on Amazon shows a guy in a suit installing it.

 

It has some rippling while driving on the highway, but nowhere near "flapping". As far as rolling it up and back down....no you don't have to get in the bed to do this. You simply roll it up or down from either side of the vehicle. I do not recommend partially rolling it up, as there is no way to secure it. It can only be secured when fully open or closed. Hope it works out for ya!

 

Thanks! Just one more Q…does water puddle on it with heavy rain?

 

Yea, it does. Nothing to worry about in my opinion. If you live in a heavy snow area I would make sure to clear that off as it may cause some stretching, once again no proof, just my opinion.

 

When installing this particular cover, do any original parts have to be removed (specifically the side bed rail tracking system)?

 

The side rails are relocated about 1-2" lower, nothing is removed. The front rail is untouched. I've been running the X4S for about 7 months and am very happy with it

 

The install video says remove the factory rails first on each side. They get reattached with the BAK rails but lowered in subsequent steps.

 

Another vote for Diamondback. You get what you pay for...

 

Here's one for under $700 beans,it's made by Gator it folds only twice and locks at the base of the cabin this is a very low profile cover.
I've had it for about 5 years now and has withstood some pretty good winters here in N.E.
Rain,snow dosen't seep in but the auto car wash will a bit but not much.
My apologies that's its on a chevy but hopefully you get the picture.

 

I just purchased a retrax xr pro aluminum tonneau and the yakima overhaul hd system. Little more than I thought I wanted to spend but once it's done I will get on here and post some pics/thoughts. Good luck in finding your cover.