Access tonneau cover on Utilitrack Crew Cab

[rvandam]

After reading another thread (thanks corporalk) on the Access cover, in which Access stated that the rail would not interfere with the Utilitrack, I stopped by the local Access dealer today to have another look.

I really liked the sample they had on display, and after confirming once more that the installation would not interfere with the Utilitrack, I decided to order one. Lucky for me, they happened to have one in stock! 30 minutes later, it was installed (along with a tailgate 'gasket'). Cost for Access cover, installed: $405 + tax

So far, I really like it. From what I have seen on this forum, from the outside it it looks similar to the Truxedo. The mounting is done through a rail that sits just above the Utilitrack and is screwed into the bedside. My bed extender and divider still slide in the tracks as they did before the cover was installed. However, because the Access rail sticks out into the bed a little, you can no longer 'flip' the extender while it's in the bed. No biggie for me, I'll just slide the whole extender out of the rail, flip it, then reinsert into rail.

Here are some pictures. They aren't very good because of the crappy flash. I will try to make better ones later this week.

[corporalk]

Thanks rvandam for the post!
Access does sell a conversion kit (more or less spacer brackets) so the bed extender can "flip" in between the Access rails. Instead of shrinking the Access rail protrusion into the cargo area they opted to shrink the bed entender width to fit in between their rails. I wish the rails were designed to stay clear of the bed extender.

If you get a chance, take some more detailed pictures for me. I'm still deciding but leaning toward the Access cover.

Thanks,
Kevin

[pciley]

Still not clear... how does this cover compare to the Truxedo Low Profile? I'm in the market now but I don't want to bring the wrong one home and find out that I should have bought the other. Happens alot.

[rvandam]

Originally Posted by pciley

Still not clear... how does this cover compare to the Truxedo Low Profile? I'm in the market now but I don't want to bring the wrong one home and find out that I should have bought the other. Happens alot.

From what I've read, the Truxedo uses clamps that attach to the Utilitrack to mount itself, so you can no longer freely slide the accessories in the tracks. The Access cover doesn't touch the utilitrack at all.

I'll try to make some more pictures so you can decide for yourself.

[corporalk]

Originally Posted by pciley

Still not clear... how does this cover compare to the Truxedo Low Profile? I'm in the market now but I don't want to bring the wrong one home and find out that I should have bought the other. Happens alot.

You can install both the Truxedo and the Access cover to stay clear of the Utili-Track. The mounting rail profile is different between the two. Refer to my post in the other thread ACCESS Roll-Up Tonneau Installed !!!!

Truxedo has yet to respond to my two emails. Access was very quick to respond and assisted by giving me dimensions of the profile and other details about their product. I am impressed with the action I am seeing from Access. Truxedo needs to get their act together.

[rvandam]

Here are some more views of the Access cover.

Still like it a lot:
- Unrolls easily, even with the tailgate up
- Easy to close, and tighten with the velcro
- Looks like a factory option
- Option to 'lock' the cover, so it can only be opened if the tailgate is open
- and last but not least: leaves utilitrack accessible

[Pugsly]

your pictures make a great sales thread, I think you just sold me on getting one!!!!!!

now i know what mine would look like (silver CC with bed extender)

ThankS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[daschtick]

After looking closely at your pictures, it appears that both covers are nearly identical. While it is true that the Truxedo mounts to the UtiliTrac using clamps, I followed the advice of a few others on this forum, and mounted mine with self-tapping screws instead, effectively losing the clamps, and freeing the UtiliTrac up. In fact, my installation with screws looks identical to this photo of your Access Cover:

[fasteddy2020]

I want to thank everone in this thread for their input. I wanted a tonneau cover for a long time and because of the detailed pictures and advice everyone gave I ordered a tonneau cover Thursday and installed it Friday. Too bad it was a day after the snow we had around here. Shoveling the bed is not my favorite.

[Clint]

I just asked about this subject in another thread. The photos are great. How does these cover seal againt rain if the mount fits iside the rails as opposed to on top as most covers are mounted?

Clint

[Phish]

Originally Posted by Clint

I just asked about this subject in another thread. The photos are great. How does these cover seal againt rain if the mount fits inside the rails as opposed to on top as most covers are mounted?

Clint

The rails have pre-applied foam tape on the outside edges. When you install the rails, the tape gets very firmly squeezed between the rail and the bed. This should prevent any water from getting between the bed rails and the Access tonneau rails.

[Phish]

This is a copy of a post I made in the "I Searched" thread, but I figured it might be of interest in this thread too.

Last night I received and installed a new Access roll-up cover onto my LE KC. The cover looks to be quite well made, and the installation instructions were very clear and well thought out. The only downside (or significant upside, depending on your point of view) to this particular cover is the way that it's installed. You have to drill 10 1/4" holes (5 on each side) in the bed rail just above the utilitrack channels, upon which you fasten the aluminum rails with #12 sheet metal screws. The upside of this method is that the rails for the cover mount independent of the utilitrack, allowing relatively unencumbered use of any utilitrack accessories. The downside is drilling all of those 1/4" holes in your truck. I decided I'd rather have full use of the track rather than worrying about a series of relatively small holes along my bed rail. I just sprayed some waxy rustproofing on the screws before installing them. Should prevent any rust on the exposed sheetmetal.

From what I've read and seen, the Truxedo is mounted using the Utilitrack system, which eliminates the drilling, but takes a big chunk of the "Utili" out of the utilitrack system You could probably also mount it permanently ala the Access cover, but at least Truxedo was kind enough to give you the option.

Oh, one more thing about the Access cover that I both do and don't like is the way that you can unlock the tail bar by pressing down on a concealed button below the surface of the cover. If someone is familiar with the workings of the Access cover and you haven't secured it by sliding those little yellow "sliders" into place, then they could potentially get into your bed even if you had your tailgate locked. The Truxedo cover only allows the cover to be released IF the tailgate was down.. the only way you can access the underside latch mechanism (without a knife ). Again, the button on the Access cover could be handy in certain circumstances, but it could also be a serious security risk if those yellow locks aren't used religiously.

Overall I'm pretty happy with my purchase. I would much rather have had a folding hard cover (ala K-Cover), but I didn't want to drop the coin to buy one. I got the Access cover, shipped, for $350.. the K-Cover would have been at least twice that. For me, the roll-up soft cover was a good compromise since I wanted it primarily to keep snow/ice/water out of the bed and to possibly increase fuel economy while also allowing me quick access to the bed on impromptu Home Depot runs.

[rvandam]

Originally Posted by Clint

How does these cover seal againt rain if the mount fits iside the rails as opposed to on top as most covers are mounted?

I just took my Titan through the car wash for the first time after installing the Access cover. This is a touchless car wash, where they first subject your vehicle to a high-pressure deluge, then follow that with a miniature tornado to dry it.

I checked my bed, and there were just a few trickles that had gotten into the bed where the tailgate top meest the Access cover. I suspect this only happened because the carwash blows hard against the back of the truck, this normally wouldn't happen when you are driving it. The rest of the bed was bone dry.

[daschtick]

Originally Posted by Phish

From what I've read and seen, the Truxedo is mounted using the Utilitrack system, which eliminates the drilling, but takes a big chunk of the "Utili" out of the utilitrack system You could probably also mount it permanently ala the Access cover, but at least Truxedo was kind enough to give you the option.

Actually, my Truxedo is mounted with screws also, freeing up my UtiliTrac:

[Hardcore]

Hey Daschtick
I see you have the cleats on the rails. How does this work with the cover. Can you fliip them to get them off or do you slid them off the channels, or are they locked in the channels? Thanks...Frank