After doing a moderately thorough search of F150 Online, I decided to just ask for advice.
I'm looking for a tonneau cover that meets the following criteria:
1. Weatherproof. It doesn't have to seal 100%, but it would be nice if stuff would stay dry on extended trips.
2. Secure. So, no fabric.
3. Allows full use of the bed, either due to ease of removal or a low-profile when rolled up.
Your 'standard' one-piece, heavy hinged tonneaus are out...I use the truck too much for hauling to be taking it on and off, and I have no place to store it. Fabric ones are also out. I was at first looking at a hard, roll-up style (like Retrax), but they take up a fairly large chunk of bed. The four-panel types would seem to fit the bill...but how secure are they?
What I'm not concerned about:
1. Appearance (if I want the truck to look good, I'll take it off)
2. Cost
Well, ok. I'm less concerned about cost than the first 3 items.
For instance, I'm looking heavily at kcover and advance cover right now. Anyone know if they would fit the bill as well as they seem? And which is better?
From what I've heard(from over the Sport Trac web site), the K-cover & the Advance cover are the same cover------just under different names & price only. My concern about these covers is the durability of the aluminum "skins" on the lids. Seems to me they could get damaged easly. IMO
I had the same requirements, and I'm going with the Undercover. It's light, and pops off easy. I don't want anything on my bed, but some times I need to keep things dry and secure.
I'd like to take the truck when I travel with my family, but I need to be able to keep luggage dry in the bed. With the Undercover it will be one big trunk, and I can easily remove and store it when I want my truck back.
Who knows, maybe I will see better gas milage and keep it on more than I think.
You may want to look at the Pace-Edwards retractable roll-top cover. I've heard great things about them. My buddy actually has one and when you flip the switch, it retracts and shows the entire truck bed just like that, and it's completely waterproof and durable. They're a little on the high side of the price spectrum, but they're a great cover. Check into it.
Just an FYI - the Retrax is easily removed if you so desire. I have one on my truck and usually end up removing it at least once a year to load the ATV in back and pull the camper at the same time.
__________________ We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. - George Orwell
On my truck, there are six clamps that hold it in place. I can have those removed in just a few minutes with a socket wrench. Then it is just a matter of lifting it off and storing it. If you want to store it more compactly, there are about six screws that you would want to remove as well (two holding the top cover onto the canister and I think two each holding the side rails onto the canister).
I can't answer the question for you, as I've never owned one.
I did a quick searched based on your criteria, and that's what I came up with.
In the 14 months I've owned my truck, I've had the following covers:
* ARE Z series topper (got rid of it, long story)
* Extang soft tonneau cover (Sold it to my buddy after owning it for 3 weeks - what a pain in the nuts to put the snaps back in)
* Pace Edwards roll top - not a bad cover, but I sold it last month because I finally realized I wanted a fiberglass lid (picking up my LS11 on Mon)
About the Pace Edwards - It's a nice cover, and it was handy having the use of almost the enitire bed without any fuss, however:
If it rained, or I went though the "touchless" The bedrug near the tailgate area was always soaking wet.
* My other complaint was that once in a while it openned by its self while I was driving.
I needed to adjust it every so often to make it fit properly.
Also, I didn't keep anything of value in my truckbed, because I didnt trust the "security" of the Pace Edwards.
If someone smashed the cover with their fist, I'm sure it would have openned right up.
My other complaint: If I had the sliding rear window open while driving, I could hear the stupid cover flopping loudly where it meets the tailgate, the noise drove me nuts.
Sometimes the boxes on our pick-ups arnt aligned 100% when they come from the factory, and mine was one of those.
You couldnt tell by looking, but when you install something as precise as a roll-top, the box has to be perfectly straight and aligned 100% to get the desired fit.
(as a result, the pace edwards never fit 100% as it should have)
If you look at these pics, it's difficult to tell the right rail never fit quite right, but if the alignment is off by even a hair, the fit won't be right.
If I was doing it again, I would've told the shop ahead of time "If it doesnt fit 100% like it should, then I dont want it"
Problem was, I ordered it from my friends business, and even tho the fit was off by a tiny bit, I thought it would be fine, but it always bothered me.
So now I'm going with an ARE LS11, and hopefully that will be the end of it.
Thanks guys.
I don't know how hard the install would be, but from what I read, there's no drilling with that cover (if I'm wrong, i'm sure someone will correct me)
It's probably 4 c-clamps, and an hours time to line everything up.
If your the least bit handy, I think the install would be simple.
I say save the 100 bucks and do it yourself.
Make sure you tell us how it went, and post some pics and a little write up about the cover.
Good luck
Habibi
PS--> I'll have my new cover on Monday, so check back here in the evening for some pics.
However, it is less than clear if there are modifications of the bedliner required. I have a over-rail liner by...Pendaliner? It came with the truck. Sorry, I should have specified that when I asked.
Most of these companies offer excellent support "before" you buy their product"
If I was you, I would telephone a rep at undercover, and ask that question.
My money says they will explain the install in the most helpfull and informative way they can.
Give it a shot, 2 minutes of your time, and they will answer your install questions better than any of us would be able to.
E.D. Industries Inc. - Rogersville, MO
TEL: (417) 753-8000 or (866) 900-8800
FAX: (417) 753-7999
E-mail: sales@undercoverinfo.com
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