I'm considering ordering the Extang Solid Fold for my new F150 2012 5.5 bed. It came with the bed caps or bed rails already installed, not sure if they come standard or not. It's my first truck and I love it!!!!!

Can someone answer a few questions?

1)The rail along the cab does not have a cap, does the Extang compensate for this or does the cover not lay flat against the cab rail? Will I have to add my own seal to keep water out?

2)The bed caps come down a bit further than the metal rail of the truck. Will I have to cut notches in the plastic caps so the cover latches can attach to the metal part of the rail and not the caps?

Thanks.

 

I called Extang and asked them directly. Here are the answers:

1) The front seal is thicker to compensate for the lack of a cab rail.

2) You do need to cut notches in the plastic bed cap so that the cover's latches can sit directly up against the metal rail of the truck.

I think I'm still going to order this even though I'm nervous about cutting the plastic bed caps. I'll post again if/after I install it.

 

I have the plastic bed rail caps on my F150, and I have an Extang Encore on my truck. Fits beautifully.

Maybe consider stepping up to the Encore instead of the Solid Fold cover.

 

Don't intend to hijack this thread but how is your encore in regards to being water tight?

 

Only time I seem to get any water in is when I go to the car wash and the high pressure water hits it from the side as the thing works it's way around the truck. Other than that, not an issue.

 

How wide are the rails on the encore? Does it seem like the rails take up too much space? Is it hard to attach/detach the rails if I wanted to leave them off in the summer?

 

They're about an inch wide, and install with 3 clamps that use a 1/2 inch bolt to tighten them. Uninstalling the rails is easy, and takes about 5 minutes. Installing is the key with the Encore. You have to make sure everything is lined up exactly right or the cover won't fit square on the bed and could cause issues with it latching shut, as things wouldn't be lined up right.

Install took me about 30 minutes, and I highly recommend a measuring tape, and an extra set of hands to hold the rails down tight and in place while you tighten the clamps down. The cover itself folds up and lifts off easily, and can be removed easily by one person. Weighs roughly 35lbs. I've taken mine off a few times to haul a lawn mower and some other larger items that needed the entire bed to be open.

 

+1 of the Encore.

While not completely waterproof...it meets my needs.

The front rail doesnt seal as completely as I would have like (probably installer error)...I suspect thats where a small amount of water gets in

 

One of the guys I know at Extang told me a good trick to get that front rail to seal. Get the front rail seal from the Extang Trifecta cover and install it with the Encore.