My wife and I are expecting our first child April 21st. (Girl) So I think a bed cover would come in handy because baby stuff fills the super cab quick. I use a ride to work car through the week but I use my truck for weekends and projects. I am going to need an esily removable cover. I had always thought that the hard tonneau, retractable or flip, was the way to go for the security. The soft covers seem to be cheaper though. So that sounds good as I don't know how long my wife will stay home with the baby (mabe years?). My question is, How many of you guys out there in F150 land have had things stolen from the back of the truck with a soft cover on? Do "bad guys" stick pocket knives in them for fun like they do jeep tops? Has anybody had one ripped open and lossed tools etc. ?

 

I've got a hard flip cover and I love it. It locks,doesnt leak when it rains, and nobody knows I have 3-4 grand worth of tools inside.
The down side is snow can pile on top and then it's hard to open (but that's ok cuz we don't get alot of snow in SoCal). Also after a good rain and some cold weather it can stick just a little. And the last down point, you have to take it off to hall anything tall (furniture or dirt bikes and stuff like that).
Congrats on the new tricycle motor!

 

get something like the Bakflip or Rollbak and you don't have to take it off when hauling anything tall/big.

 

[/IMG]I gotta vote for the Undercover. It's a good looking cover that is hard, strong and comes off quickly with the pull of two pins. Look at their website.

 

one think that can happen to a soft cover is if some ahole throws cigarette on it, it will burn a hole in the cover, happen to me... my next cover will be a hard one

 

I had a soft cover on my 1995 Ranger, I got a soft cover on my 2000 Dakota and now I have a soft cover on my 2008 F150. That is about 13 years with a soft cover. I have never had any damage to any of the covers. I live in a middle class suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. Not a rough area by any means, but certainly not a gated community either ;-)

Up side (besides initial cost) is that they are very light and, depending on the model, can be removed or rolled out of the way quickly when needed. Down side would be the security as well as I just like the looks of the hard covers painted to match the trucks. I would have a hard cover, but the ones I like are really a two person job to take off and that becomes a pain if you want to use your truck as a truck. Even the lighter hard covers that are easier to take off are so large that it has to have been a planned effort. You need to do it at home with some place to store it while you use the truck bed. With the traditional soft cover, you simply roll up the cover, take out a couple of ribs and either put them in the bed or in the back (I have a supercrew). Do what is needed and then roll it back out. Unfortunately that is all easier said than done when it is cold out. A few times with my prior trucks I have had to leave the cover rolled up for a few days until there is a sunny enough day to allow the cover to be restretched. Now, with the F150 I bought a TriFracta folding soft cover. For most needs I just fold it up which provides access to most of the bed. Even in the winter, it just folds back down. If it has to come off, it is easy to do by myself (just twist 2 *****), but unless whatever I am doing allows for space in the bed to store it, it stills needs planned so that it is removed at home. All said, however, I highly recommend the TriFecta.

 

This is an older post so I don't know if you're still looking, but a BedRug + Retractable cover = Amazing

I have the American Roll Cover from TruckCoversUSA.

Instead of having to remove it all the time it rolls up into a small canister at the cab end of the bed. This lets you haul stuff taller than the bed if necessary. It retracts out and locks in place. Can order with a keyless entry (so you only have to lock your tailgate if you want stuff locked in). The keyless entry has a small latch you pull that retracts the cover. I don't even use the key for mine anymore. Very durable and high quality material.


(older pic but shows it pulled out and locked in place)

 

Thanks Guys!
I have been without power (snow storm) for several days and unable to reply. I'll have to pick one soon. I had been leaning toward the BakFlip but haven't decided for sure yet. I'll post once I get a cover. Thanks again, especially for the pics. I am going to price those tow now and see where I stand.

 

Probably the best retractable cover on the market.

 

How are they in the cold? Does Snow and Ice make them stick?

 

Since you install these things for a living I'm glad to hear you say that.


I couldn't answer with 100% certainty since I live in a fairly warm area. On the nights we've had below freezing, though, I haven't had any problems at all. The only issue is with the keyless entry. It's a small latch you pull that retracts the cover. It is a little bit harder to pull but that's it.

 

I love my Extang Trifecta. Very sturdy and very easy to take off or just fold up.

I have never had any security problems myself, but it could be cut through very easily if someone wanted to get in the bed of the truck.

 

Really like my Undercover SE. It stayed perfectly dry throughout the monsoon season. It's there when I want it and almost completely gone (save for the small brackets) when I don't. One person can take it off.