Tonneau Cover thoughts?

[paulsharvey]

So, I kinda hate my self for it, but Im thinking about getting a Tonneau cover for my 2019 Ram 1500. I've had a hard cover that hinged up, on a work truck before, and hated it. I never had the old snap down soft-tarp type covers. Now, I come to realize I want to be able to keep stuff in the bed dry.

There used two be two options, the hard cover that made it impossible to haul anything large, and cost a fortune, or a flimsy one that offered zero theft protection, and flapped around in the wind. Now, there are tri folds, sliders, soft cover with a frame, and a lot more.

What do you have that you like?
Are any of cheap options worth having?

I'm not really concerned about theft protection for the most part, but when we take a family trip, I want to be able to pack our stuff in the back, safe from rain, wind, ect.

I do use my truck as a truck, but like many, it rarely has bigger then some bags of feed, gas cans, ect; but its not unusual to need to haul pipe, lumber, block, ect, so it needs to be able to fold/slide out of the way.

 

[bunyip]

I have a roller, prefer it to the snap down which always held water when it rained and stretched it even more, the roller has three indexed lock positions so you can have it partially open and also locks with a key and locks when I lock the vehicle as the is another lock incorporated in the tailgate, the channels drain externally too so no water in the tray.
Downside is that they cost almost $2k as opposed to about $300, more if you want the electric version.
Prices are AU$

 

[RickB]

I had never had or needed one until I bought my Canyon a little over a year ago. I bought the OEM trifold cover and am very happy. It was discounted well with a promotion tying accessories to a recent truck purchase. The only moisture that gets in the bed comes in the sides of the tailgate and that's not the fault of the cover. I can fold up and secure the cover to leave 2/3 of the bed open or take the whole thing off in less than a minute without tools. I'm a big fan.
If you check around I'm sure you can find a highly rated tri fold that won't bust your budget.
I didn't look into roll up covers but they seem to be a thing as well.

 

[Big Barn]

My Chevy short box had a Lock and Roll hard cover. The kind that works like a horizontal roll up door.

It was relatively theft proof but I never liked the look.

My 1968 elCamino had the tonneau with snaps down top edge of the box. To me THAT is the classic look.

This is what I have today. I don't particularly like it either.....

 

[SouthernSky]

I bought a 2019 Ram 1500 Big Horn for $25k during the big Enterprise COVID sell-off. First thing I did was shine up my old tool box from my F-150 and mounted it. Next thing was a Trifecta 2.0 folding cover that could be used with my toolbox.

It was a really good decision and cost effective. I can take it off easily in just a few minutes or just fold it back if I don’t need my full bed.

If there is a downside, it is when the cover is on and something rolls in the bed up to the back of the cab. It’s a tight belly crawl.

 

[mrmikey]

I've got a 2019 Ram Tradesman, on mine I have a trifold hard cover. When I bought it, it had a soft cover that was a pia and annoyed me to bits when I was driving by flapping in the wind and constantly drawing my eye to it. I find the trifold great, it's secure, easy to fold up against the cab and I only loose 6" or so of bed length...........Mike

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

I have a trifold on my F-250 and I love it. It keeps things dry when I need it, kept the fall leaves out of my box, I don't need to tie down trash bags for my bi-monthly trash runs. I can load a full pallet behind it when folded and like the others mentioned it removes and reinstalls in minutes without tools.

I don't have any problem with it flapping in the wind, when folded out the fabric is taut. When folded up, it metal frame lays on top stopping any wind from moving it.

As theft protection goes the only real deterrent is that thieves can't tell if it is an empty box or loaded with $5000 worth of tools so they aren't likely to cut into it just to find out.

 

[JethroB]

I have a three piece hard cover that came on the truck. I keep a hoe in the back for retrieving things that slide to the front. Too old to do the belly crawl anymore.

 

[MAD777]

I have Lomax hard trifold and love it. The two advantages of this over the similar competition is 1. Made in USA, 2. Completely removes in literally 10 seconds with no tools.

These two feature are unique to the brand and cost about the same.

Lomax Folding Hard Tonneau Covers Lineup | Tri Fold Truck Bed Covers

 

[Pixguy]

When I bought my F150 I bought a Bakflip. I still love it. Cover all, half or none. Pricey but worth it imo.

 

[bunyip]

Another point with my roller is that the frame can accept accessories such as a basket, bike rack, ladder rack etc, all made by the same manufacturer so command a hefty price but they are excellent quality.
I don't know who made mine but there are about 10 local manufacturers, all are good with anodized alloy frames and blinds with 316SS fittings.
Picking up a kamado next week so will be open halfway and box tied to tray mounted tracks, after that rubbish run to tip with it closed.

 

[ning]

I've had a steel shell on mine with barn doors in the back since I got my truck in late '96, except a few times I've taken it off to carry something really big. I love being able to keep stuff in there back (in the winter my truck resembles a ski shop crossed with a saw shop).

I don't really "get" hard shell tonneau covers; I suppose they're slightly easier to remove than my shell (though I've got a system that makes it easy as long as I'm doing it at home) and it's a lot more convenient to carry big stuff under a shell and camping trips are a snap.

 

[Jstpssng]

My Colorado came with a soft tonneau which I really like as it keeps everything in the bed dry. It very quickly became storage every time that it rained. I currently have my snowsled on back, and it was easy to roll the cover up and tie it off.

The drawback is that I can't use my rack with side rails, which I really miss. I've been thinking about ways to mount the cover to the side rails.

 

[BravoXray]

When I bought a '91 F150 years ago, it had a 3 piece hard cover on the 8' bed. I hated it, seemed like everything I hauled was just a little too tall to fit under it. Yanked it off and put on a fiberglass Leer cap (topper?) and was much happier with it. Had one put on my '06 F150 the day after I bought it and I wouldn't ever get another toneau type cover.

 

[oosik]

I had a Truxedo LO PRO on my 2002 Ford F150. Traded it in on my current truck - 2018 Ram Power Wagon ( Taco Wagon ). I have a Truxedo LO PRO on the Taco Wagon.

So ....... you could say I've had this brand roll up tonneau cover for almost 20 years. Does a good job of keeping the truck bed dry and dust free.

This is the best picture of the current cover.

 

[TractorGuy]

I found a deal on a hinged Under Cover brand years back. I can't imagine not having a cover. We haul our trash off once per week. The cover makes it possible to do without worry of littering.

The drawback is having to remove the cover to haul anything tall. It is light enough the wife and I can pick it up off the bed. It has gas struts and brackets to snap them in stow for removal. The hinges are just slots and tabs with split rings.

 

[shooterdon]

I have a three piece hard cover that came on the truck. I keep a hoe in the back for retrieving things that slide to the front. Too old to do the belly crawl anymore.

Same here...but I bought a tri-fold hard cover on the internet...but have an old how in the bed.

I think I paid $600 and it folds up, or comes off. I can handle the weight alone. It is not 100% waterproof but good enough and dust will get into it. I am happy with it. Sorry but cannot recall the name or where I purchased it.

I had a Bak-Flip on another truck that cost a lot more but was no better and much more difficult to remove.

 

[Carl_NH]

I had the dealer put a Tonneau Pro on my 2018 tundra - inexpensive $250 and it doesn't leak and handles snow loads too. It's a two minute job to fold up to haul larger stuff, and 5 minutes to take on/off. https://www.tonnopro.com/tri-fold-bed-covers

I had a Leer cap on my old Tundra - like it but it was a PIA to take on/off on the occasion I needed to haul something tall.

Was going to get another Leer cap for my 2018 Tundra so I didn't want to invest a lot in this Tonneau cover but now think I will just stick with this cover - has done the job at a low cost.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve tried them all it seems. At work I’ve used trucks with toppers. Toppers are nice but are in the way if hauling something big. Any kind of cover that rolls up and uses snaps or other similar system is terrible in the winter. The cover get smaller and it’s a ***** to get it rehooked up. The best I had was a type that rolled up like a window shade at the front in a box a a hard trifold. None of them are watertight.

 

[LouNY]

I have had several covers on my pickups including the snap type originals that worked good when tight and sagged when hot and wouldn't snap from being to tight in the cold, then the velco type that worked but needed repositioning often.
Then I gpt a trifold on my "15" which sat on the bed rails, you could fold the rear two panels up onto the front panel to be able to use 2/3's of the bed or loosen two clamps and easily remove the whole cover, It did a good job of covering the bed and keeping out any water.
On my "19" I have a 4 section we can call a trifold in that the rear 3 sections can fold up onto the front and open up almost 3/4's of the bed and also can be opened up the forth flod and has a couple of rods to hold it up which opens most of the bed up for use and it also comes clear off with two clamps, this one sitts down flush with the bed in a rail system which clamps to the bed side. This makes for a clean installation which may look better to some.
I prefer the style which sets on the bed rails it gives an additional inch of height clearance under the cover, it also seems to keep more moisture out of the bead especially at the tailgate area. Also I worry about the rail system in the winter icing up,
This is to my mind a very nice cover that folds up good and comes off easily;
LOMAX Stance Hard Cover | Vertical Folding Truck Tonneau Covers