Hi,

I'd like to get some input on bed covers (tonneau). What I like is the hard cover that comes in sections and is lockable. The reason I like this sectional tonneau is because if I'm out somewhere and I need to haul something, I can remove the cover totally and store it in the bed or in the back seat and have plenty of room for the cargo in the bed. I don't want a hard cover that's one piece that lifts from the rear, for various reasons...mainly the reason I described above. I also don't want a soft cover that rolls up. Security is important to me, so that's why I like the hard plastic cover that can also be locked. It's also important that the bed under the cover be kept dry. If I take my truck on vacation, I don't want my wife chewing me out because something she bought got wet in the bed Another requirement is that there shouldn't be a need to drill holes for installation.

So basically, I'm looking for:
1. No drilling
2. Hard, folding or sectional cover.
3. Water tight (no leakage into the bed)
4. Locakble
5. Doesn't scratch the hell out of the truck during installation
6. Reasonable price

Now, who has some good info on this type of cover? I'm interested in real life experiences. Price of cover, easy to install/use, meets requirements mentioned above.

I saw this online, but I don't know how good it is and whether or not it leaks: http://www.kcovers.com/

Thanks

 

Take a look at a Retrax.

Mine should get here tommorrow.

www.rolltopcover.com

 

I posted a list of hard tonneau makers in the aftermarket sticky at the head of this forum. Page 4. Quite a few to look at, many with differtent options.
I eventually went with the Undercover. The LT Sportcover was not out for the 04 f150 when I wasn reday to buy, otherwise I might have gone with that.

 

The other thing I forget to mention is, I'd like to be able to install a ladder rack for temporary use occasionally...without much fuss. For example, I don't want to have to remove anything major associated with the cover to install the 2 posts of the ladder rack. I think some of these tracks that the cover uses will cover up the holes in the top of the bed where the ladder rack will go. I know you can't have it all, but I'd like to get as many of these requirements met to make life easier when I finally do buy a cover.

 

I think every hard or soft cover I have seen cover the stake holes. The only suggestion I would make is get a light weight cover that is easily removable.
There may be some covers that fit between the bed rails, but not many.

 

This is from the Installation Instructions:

"Every effort has been made to make the RETRAX™ weather-tight, however, the RETRAX™ is not waterproof. Use extra care to prevent damage to items during severe weather conditions or while entering a car wash."

That stinks. I think I was liking it up until that point.

 

lariatf150,

The FAQ on the Retrax website says that for an extra $50 they will modifiy the rails so the stake holes are not covered.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

Thanks for the input That www.kcovers.com site says you should be able to access the stake holes if you trim the seal a little. It also says that cover is not 'water-proof'...but they do say it's rare that you get water leaked in and they provide some customer stories about how well it keeps water out. I'm kinda leaning toward that cover. The retrax would be the most convenient, but I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons of each unit.

 

I installed the Advance folding cover on my Scab a couple of months ago, had most of the same "wish list" for a cover that you do. My take on the cover so far:

1. Love the functionality of the folding hard cover; easy to access things in the front of the truck, lockable, can carry large items on a moment's notice, etc.

2. Almost watertight, get only a few drips at the sides of the bed where the joints of the cover are.

3. Seems to be well built, no problems at all with it yet.

3. It was kind of a pain to install, took 3-4 hours to get it right. Lots of small pieces to clamp to the side of the bed (look closely at the kcover web site, very good photos there): 4 short tracks on each side with two clamps each. If removing the cover temporarily, you would not want to remove all of the hardware!

4. One thing I don't like is the two rubber seals on each side of the bed, these have to stay on even when the cover is removed. These use self-adhesive to stick to the top of the bed rails, plus the outer ones use 4 tiny screws each to help keep them in place. The screws pierce the plastic side cap only, not the metal below. Probably almost invisible if the seals were ever removed permanently.

5. To remove the cover, it does not simply lift off. Use a wrench to loosen two small bolts at the first hinge, then lift off. I carry the two small wrenches required for this in the truck in case I have to remove the cover unexpectedly.

All in all, I would purchase this cover again because of the functionality, just wish it was easier to install the hardware (a single track on each side?) and that it didn't have the permanently mounted rubber seals.

 

Thanks for that reply. Good info.

 

Check out my Undercover- I love it and it is completely weather tight. Pics are in my gallery, and I ordered it from www.versacover.com

 

Man, that Undercover looks great.

I wonder how that black Undercover would look on my white SuperCrew.

 

I think it would look pretty sweet - and I bet if you sand the cover a bit you could paint it, but black on white would be nice looking!!

 

Well, I'm about one or two clicks away from buyin' that thing.

 

yeah, that undercover may be the way i go! i want weather proof and it it!

of course, i have to buy my F-150 first