BAKFlip or Extang Pickup bed Tonneaus

[yankeerider]

Roy-
Why a folding/sectional vs. a traditional rollup with a decent securing system? I have a 4 yo Truxedo lo-pro that looks like new, and is very easy to open and close. The support bows are fastened into the cover, it secures with a latch at the tailgate, and the sides secure with velcro that still grabs.

 

[dlauffenburger]

Roy,

My last truck had a Leer Tonneau cover which was excellent at keeping the bed dry but as you stated it was a PITA because they only lift so high and you loose some bed width from the lifting linkage.

I purchased the BakFlip F1 for my current truck and it is fantastic, it mounts very easily and so far has been very watertight, only a couple of drops of water around the tailgate. He advised that you have to install two drain tubes to allow the water to drain from the rails but it is not hard, but if your truck sits on an incline in your driveway, make sure you install the drains on the low side.

What i like about the Bakfip design: 1. you can fold it up part or all of the way; 2. When it is closed and you close your tailgate your items in the bed are secured, you can't open the cover unless the tailgate is open; 3. When i had the hard tonnuau cover if you wanted to get something out of the front of the bed you have to crawl on your hands and knees and to get to the front of the bed, with the Backflip system you just fold up the top as you walk forward.

I researched the Roll-Up metal systems and really liked the idea but i read some posts from users that ran into issues with them freezing up during the winter. If you live in an area that doesn't get a lot of rain/Sleet and then freezes it is not an issue, but they said that if you get rain that fills up the slots and then it freezes before the rain evaporates it would freeze up completely and you have to take it into a heated area to thaw.

Ford's OEM cover is actually the BakFlip F1 and they charge dearly for it (approx $1400), the Backflip comes in 3 different versions (SD, HD, and F1) basically the diffences are the material used on the skin of the cover and it's ability to withstand impact. I purchased the F1 due to it's dent resistance over the other two and it's ability to reflect heat and keep the bed contents cool. I purchased mine from the following website:

BakFlip F1 Tonneau Bed Cover 04-12 Ford F150 Pickup Truck Short Bed 5.5' (66") | eBay

They are basically a internet middleman, you pay them and they have the unit drop shipped from the factory, mine arrived in 3 days.

If you have any questions, please let me know.
Dave

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks for the response, gents!

As I'd written in an earlier post, I think the Bakflips are nice...just read mixed reports on it's longterm durability.
We just decided rather then spend $600-$800 on the tonneau, there were other things we need/want first.
BTW, we don't use credit cards...everything is paid for in full at time of purchase...just means we don't get everything we want until the cash is available. Sucks, in some respects, but works good for us.

 

[Diamondpilot]

\
BTW, we don't use credit cards...everything is paid for in full at time of purchase...just means we don't get everything we want until the cash is available. Sucks, in some respects, but works good for us.

Nice way to live. I am at that point in my life also. I have a home mortgage but have all the vehicles paid in full along with the toys. Its so nice having no bills. Even though I make about the same money I did in 2007 when I had debt I have much more money now not paying on all the toys and the interest that comes with it.

Chris

 

[Bird]

BTW, we don't use credit cards...everything is paid for in full at time of purchase...just means we don't get everything we want until the cash is available. Sucks, in some respects, but works good for us.

Certainly nothing wrong with that, but we find it much more convenient to use credit cards for nearly everything; don't have to guess at how much cash to carry, don't have to write checks, etc. and even get a little "cash back" bonus. BUT, of course that's only if you have the cash available in the bank and pay the credit card bills in full each month.

 

[RoyJackson]

Certainly nothing wrong with that, but we find it much more convenient to use credit cards for nearly everything; don't have to guess at how much cash to carry, don't have to write checks, etc. and even get a little "cash back" bonus. BUT, of course that's only if you have the cash available in the bank and pay the credit card bills in full each month.

I guess I'd better clarify my post. We carry debit cards...and we know what is in our accounts.
The vehicles aren't paid for cash (boy, I wish!)...they're on loans...that and the mortgage are about it.
One reason I'm putting off the bakflip is to save up for a PTO generator...something my wife and I both agree we need. We do not touch the retirement funds at all.

I was a fool for credit cards about 15-16 years ago...after we climbed out of that pit, we vowed not to jump back into it.
There is a downside to not using credit cards, BTW...you would think my credit score would be astronomical...it's not...just average (because we don't use credit enough).

Anyway, how we live works for us...

 

[Diamondpilot]

I guess I'd better clarify my post. We carry debit cards...and we know what is in our accounts.
The vehicles aren't paid for cash (boy, I wish!)...they're on loans...that and the mortgage are about it.
One reason I'm putting off the bakflip is to save up for a PTO generator...something my wife and I both agree we need. We do not touch the retirement funds at all.

I was a fool for credit cards about 15-16 years ago...after we climbed out of that pit, we vowed not to jump back into it.
There is a downside to not using credit cards, BTW...you would think my credit score would be astronomical...it's not...just average (because we don't use credit enough).

Anyway, how we live works for us...

I guess I should clarify also. I carry a few hundred in cash at all times and of course carry a debit card that I really do not use. What I do use is 2 credit cards but pay it off at the end of each month. All the gas goes on one with 3% cash back and another for everything else.

When I say I do not pay interest. I only buy what I can afford. I was a buy it now pay for it later guy but when the economy dumped I changed my ways. I was also the guy who bought a new car every 18-24 months. Not anymore. I have 2 2007's that are paid off and a 2006 that is paid off. I will have loans on new cars when the time comes to get them but the last one I bought, a 2008 Nissan Titan I paid off in about 20 months by skipping vacations, working extra, and getting a small bonus which made it all possible.

Chris

 

[Bird]

Anyway, how we live works for us...

And in the final analysis, that's all that counts.

I do have a debit card and it has been used to get cash from an ATM, but so long ago I can't even remember when.:laughing: But it's never used for anything else.

Our old car and truck are paid for and both in very good condition, so I have no idea if or when we'll ever trade vehicles. And we do have a mortgage. That has been the extent of our debt, except when I bought the little Toro ZTR last Spring, it came with a 3 year warranty, and they were offering 1.99% financing for 3 years, so I did that.:laughing: Of course I would not have bought it if I hadn't had the cash to pay for it at the time, and now each month, I try to decide whether to make the minimum payment or just pay it off, and so far I'm just making the minimum payment.

And yep, I understand, Roy. So I do have an excellent credit rating.

 

[phiferpharm]

My Avalanche had a melt-down this week, so I went and got a Dodge Longhorn. The main thing I liked on the Chevy was the three piece hard cover on the bed. I saw that the Tonneau Covers world is located in Ocala that has the composite version of the Bakflip. I'm going over and getting one installed next week. I hope it holds up as well as the top on the Avalanche did. It lasted 6 years with no problems.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Roy, I bought a Roll-n-Lock bed cover when I bought my 99 Silverado. A bit pricey, but well worth the money. The cover is stored in a box mounted at the front of the bed and rolls in and out. Has three stops where the cover locks in place at 1/4, 1/2, & 3/4 closed. Allows hauling of small or large items while covering the remainder of the truck bed. Ice and snow are not the cover's best friends, though. If the truck sits outside in the winter, better plan on leaving the cover rolled open, or accessing the bed only by the tailgate.