Advance/K-Cover or BakFlip?

[CB_Titan]

Anyone have personal experience with both covers? Not necessarily owned both, but seen both installed in person?

I have a Crew Cab LE so naturally I'm dealing with the utili-track. The Advance is nice in that it is designed to bolt directly to the track. However, you lose a lot of flexibility in terms of where you can place or slide the cleats.

On the other hand, with the BakFlip you flip the side tracks and lose no movement of the cleats. But you do lose the bed divider and extender. Neither of which I own so I suppose that isn't really an issue.

With the Advance folded you are left with the front foot or so of the bed still unavailable to tall objects.

The BakFlip, however, folds complete up to the cab of the truck. Bad for visibility but if you need the space chances are whatever you are hauling would do that anyway.

The Advance allows you to open the cover closest to the cab. Easy access to items stored there.

The BakFlip, from what I can tell, only allows you to start from the tailgate and work your way back. A little less convenient.

The Advance appears to allow the opening of the cover with the tailgate up. Through the use of keys, I believe. I like the convenience and security.

With the BakFlip is the only way to open the cover by first opening the tailgate? It appears you must open the tailgate and pull on a lever. Is there no locking mechanism accessed via the top of the cover accessible with the tailgate closed?

The Advance cover locally is $750 plus tax. I won't be buying it locally. I have found it online for roughly $550 shipped.

The BakFlip locally is $630 plus tax (free installation this month). Online it is roughly $600 shipped.

Anyone willing to chime in with general thoughts or address any of my specific comments? Perhaps some of the issues I state are irrelevant in normal usage but that is something only someone who has owned a tonneau cover can answer.

[baseballfanz]

I have the Advance Cover, really like it. As for the cleats, yes you loose a few spot put there's still enough room on the track to use it. It don't need to slide on and off, you can put it in any location easily by turning it a little to the side than put it on and tighten up. Also something I like is I can open the tailgate with out poping up the cover and vice versa.
BTW Welcome to Titan Talk.

[CB_Titan]

Originally Posted by baseballfanz

BTW Welcome to Titan Talk.

Thanks.

I bought my Titan October 2005 and have been lurking since early 2006. Never had much to contribute though since mine is completely stock.

This is an extraordinary place. Within minutes of lurking and searching here I found that my complaints about the Titan were all common and to be fixed via tech bulletins. The dealership certainly made no mention of the tech bulletins when I told them my complaints at my first oil change. I was armed and ready the next time though.

[gchu]

Originally Posted by baseballfanz

I have the Advance Cover, really like it. As for the cleats, yes you loose a few spot put there's still enough room on the track to use it. It don't need to slide on and off, you can put it in any location easily by turning it a little to the side than put it on and tighten up. Also something I like is I can open the tailgate with out poping up the cover and vice versa.
BTW Welcome to Titan Talk.

Can you post pics of the install? I was going to get a truxedo Lo Pro again, but was considering going to a hard tonneau cover. What do the clamps look like for the advance cover?

[jaho1979]

I have the bakflip, and I really like it. I did have to flip the utilitrack rails, but its not a big deal. Your comparison is pretty good, except for one thing. The bed extender still works with the Bakflip, it just sits at an angle when extended (see attached pictures). I know you said you didn't have this, but I wanted to clear it up for others. The other accessories will not work as you mentioned.

The cover is first rate, and extremely watertight. I have been extremely satisfied with this cover, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality cover. The only small quibble I have is that you have to open the tailgate to open the cover, but that's not a big deal.

The tailgate can also be opened on mine without opening the cover.

[TitanBlue]

On my BakFlip, I removed the 6 brackets and pop-riveted the rail with 1/8" dia SS Rivets. 1 about every 12", doubled up at point of pistons attaching.

Much cleaner looking, like it was not an afterthought.

Got to pay close attention drilling, as not much steel overlaps downward for a lip for the rivets to go through, but it does work.

[Lurchdubious]

Originally Posted by jaho1979

I have the bakflip, and I really like it. I did have to flip the utilitrack rails, but its not a big deal. Your comparison is pretty good, except for one thing. The bed extender still works with the Bakflip, it just sits at an angle when extended (see attached pictures). I know you said you didn't have this, but I wanted to clear it up for others. The other accessories will not work as you mentioned.

The cover is first rate, and extremely watertight. I have been extremely satisfied with this cover, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality cover. The only small quibble I have is that you have to open the tailgate to open the cover, but that's not a big deal.

The tailgate can also be opened on mine without opening the cover.

i also love the bakflip; it's everything i wanted in a cover you can get it cheaper than $600~mine was $546 shipped, and i know that some other folks got theirs for closer to $500. when i was searching for mine the pics said it all, so you can check these out if ya want:

Recommendations for soft tonneau cover

[jaho1979]

Originally Posted by TitanBlue

On my BakFlip, I removed the 6 brackets and pop-riveted the rail with 1/8" dia SS Rivets. 1 about every 12", doubled up at point of pistons attaching.

Much cleaner looking, like it was not an afterthought.

Got to pay close attention drilling, as not much steel overlaps downward for a lip for the rivets to go through, but it does work.

That's a good idea. Do you have the utilitrac, and did you have to flip them still?

[tshank]

I have the Advance cover and really like it, installation was a snap with the Utilitrack.

[Machado7]

Check out this thread and my G2 Bakflip pics and chart/ comparison. I think Bakflip has really listened to owners and got this thing right this time (but not perfect).

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/tita...s-bakflip.html