Undercover Questions......from a prospective buyer

[LexTalonis]

So far the undercover seems like the best bet for a functional locking hard cover that is easy to remove and doesn't waste valuable bed space with rails or canisters. Some thoughts I am having: I know you can't have an over the rail bedliner. However I want my rails protected when I am not using the cover could a thin brush on or psray on liner work there? Also, what about popup tie downs. would these be too high profile for the Undercover to seal? I am just trying to have the best of both worlds, a functional "trunk" and a functional bed.

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[creed123]

Hi,
I just installed one of these tonight for a customer at my shop and it's great. It goes on in about twenty minutes and fits GREAT, it's a good choice, our customer was very pleased.

[vader716]

I can only tell you from an 04 owner's perspective.

I don't think any pop ups on the rails will work. A spray on liner will work fine to protect the rails. The 04s have rail caps included and they are no problem.

Anything above a flat surface would be a problem.

I love mine though. Highly recommended.

[dzervit]

Another two thumbs up from an Undercover owner. No way you'll have anything sticking up out of the bedrails. Unless it's like ¼ inch or something, but then you'll just mess with the seal of the cover.

[snappylips]

Originally posted by LexTalonis
Some thoughts I am having:

I know you can't have an over the rail bedliner. However I want my rails protected when I am not using the cover could a thin brush on or psray on liner work there?

Also, what about popup tie downs. would these be too high profile for the Undercover to seal?

Hey Lex,

My '03 XLT came with plastic rail protectors, yours didn't?

As far as pop-up's go, if you were to trim the holes in the rail protectors big enough for the pop-up's, I don't see where there would be a problem. Like dzervit said, I guess it all depends on how high the tie-down sits when in it's "down" position. You could always trim the seal of the cover, but it may compromise it's ability to keep the bed sealed.

SL

[snappylips]

Oops

[LittleTow]

Another vote for the Undercover, I wasnt really sold on putting any type of cover/cap on my truck but the wife insisted we needed it, so far were both VERY happy with the quality, easy install, etc. I would think youd have the plastic rail caps as well does your truck NOT have them? I would agree with Snappylips that if you had the pop-ups (which I had on another truck & they work really good) you could trim the caps so the pop-up sat inside a cutout thus they wouldnt stick up to high, the gasket on the Undercover is fairly thick Id guess 3/8" or so.

[LexTalonis]

My '03 XLT came with plastic rail protectors, yours didn't?

My truck does indeed have the rail protectors. I was under the impression that if an over the rails bedliner would not work with an undercover (as I read on there site), that the rail protectors would have to come off. From what I have just read though, that is not the case, which I am thrilled to find out!

I am not so concerned with the tie downs anymore either, since I just found some quick clamp on types I can carry if needed.


Thanks for all the help guys. I have a few other mods first (mainly step bars so my tiny girlfriend can get in without ruining herself or my upholstery), then I will definitely pick one up.

[snappylips]

Originally posted by LexTalonis
My truck does indeed have the rail protectors. I was under the impression that if an over the rails bedliner would not work with an undercover (as I read on there site), that the rail protectors would have to come off. From what I have just read though, that is not the case, which I am thrilled to find out!

The reason the Undercover won't work with an "over the rail"(OTR) type bedliner is because a typical OTR bedliner is a one piece, slide in unit. Most, if not all, OTR bedliners block all access to the bottom of the rails, and the cover [b]requires{/B] access to the bottom of the rails to mount the brackets.

One of the nice things about the Undercover is how it conceals the bed rail protectors when it's down. I think you'll be very happy with it--until it's dark outside and you need to get something out of the bed. With the cover open, the cargo light is useless. Add "Install bed lights" to your mod list.

SL

[LexTalonis]

One of the nice things about the Undercover is how it conceals the bed rail protectors when it's down. I think you'll be very happy with it--until it's dark outside and you need to get something out of the bed. With the cover open, the cargo light is useless. Add "Install bed lights" to your mod list.

Wow there's something blatantly obvious that never occured to me.

I read one post on here about the auto grade rop lights being used for bed ligthing, I may try that.

Any other suggestions?

[ericd]

I had a fiberglass cover on a '99 I owned a few years back. For lighting, I picked up a couple black dome lights from ebay. Don't know what Ford product they were out of, but they have a center light with the two maplights. (Looked identical to my interior dome except black.)

Attached one to the drivers rear of the bed (on the verticle surface), and the other to the passengers front, then wired them to a micro-switch at the front of the bed. Open lid=light on. Worked like a charm. I had a bedrug in it too, so hiding the wires was cake.

E...

EDIT - Guess they were from a 'Stang, cuz they look exactly like this.

[LittleTow]

Definite Mustang dome light - its exactly the same as on my 2000 stang, I even went out to the garage & took a look just for a "sanity check" as I havent driven it in like 9 months or so. Should be able to pick one up online or at a salvage (junk) yard for a couple of bucks.

[kd4crs]

My Ford underrail bedliner had to be notched to allow the Undercover brackets to mount up next to the stake pockets.