Tonneau decision

Hyperion · 05-18-2006, 12:22 AM

Well I finally decided to part with some of my cash and ordered a Bakflip tonneau today.

I wanted a lockable cover with more security than vinyl without losing the use of the bed. This left me looking at the folding covers, retractables, and the peragon (cool design but what appears to be some serious flaws, like being unable to open the cover if the bed is loaded since the cover wouldn't be able to drop down).

Comparing the folding covers to the retractables the folding covers were less expensive, lighter, and easier to remove if necessary but the retractables seemed like they would be easier to open, better looking IMO, and I just like the design

If money were no object I would have probably really been considering one of these from Truck Covers USA. Really seems like the best built cover I have seen but I doubt that I will ever abuse my cover that much so a cheaper cover will do. Especially considering that I got my bakflip for almost a third the cost. ($515 from truckaddons.com, just call them and ask them to beat the price on autoanything.com with the 10% off coupon code (EMY06016). I would have been happy with the autoanything price but really saw no need to give the GREAT state of california another $50 of my money.)

I will let you all know if the cover can live up to my expectations once it arrives (est. 2-3 weeks)

baseballfanz · 05-18-2006, 02:04 AM

I hope you don't have the utility tracks, heard it has to be flip upside down for the Bak Flip to work. That's OK unless you have a sliding bed divider than the divider won't work anymore.

Hyperion · 05-18-2006, 11:45 AM

I have the tracks but none of the sliding accessories. I might see if I can modify the brackets to use the tracks but I don't have any problem with flipping them if I can't make it work.

FtWTitan · 06-21-2006, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyperion

I will let you all know if the cover can live up to my expectations once it arrives (est. 2-3 weeks)

Did you get your cover yet? If so, how do you like it?

Hyperion · 06-23-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FtWTitan

Did you get your cover yet? If so, how do you like it?

I have had my cover for a couple weeks now (still haven't gotten around to taking any pics....hopefully soon) and really couldn't be more satisfied. Here is my review that I ended up posting in a different thread

Quote:

I just got my bakflip (pics sometime after this weekend, I have just been way too busy) and so far I absolutely love the cover.

I chose bakflip because I liked the idea of having the entire bed available without removing the cover (If necessary one person could remove it in a matter of minutes, probalby similar to the fold-a-cover as it is only 2 bolts) and because it is extremly low- profile extends less than a quarter inch above the rails.

It is almost silent (only time I have heard any noise was at 80 mph with heavy crosswind, no radio, and back window down. I could hear the rubber along the sides flapping) and it actually cuts quite a bit of the wind noise from the back window at highway speeds.

I have no idea how bad it is to open when its been sitting in the sun as I park in a covered garage most of the time but this is going to be the same for any cover.

Fit is almost perfect. It sticks up just a hair at the joint between the first and second panel but this is getting pretty nitpicky and I don't think anyone will ever notice but me (I have since determined that this is due to the shocks pushing the first panel up so that the latches are pushed up against the rail rather than the cover pressing down on the rail. But like I said this is barely noticeable) and I wish the rubber down the sides would lay down just a little bit more as it doesn't sit flush with the bed rail the entire length of the cover. I think that this will get better after it has been on for a little bit longer as it appears to be a symptom of the rubber being bent up the wrong direction while it was shipped. (Still doesn't sit perfectly flush with the rail but is much better than when I first installed. The only improvement that I could see for this cover is making this rubber flap just a little longer so that it would rest on the bed rail)

Installation of the cover itself was an absolute breeze, took maybe 30 minutes. Removing my utilitrack to flip it on the other hand was an absolute nightmare as it took my grandfather and me 3 hours to remove 3 of the 18 bolts because I stripped them. The bolts are coated from head to tip in ****ing loctite and are an complete pain in the *** to remove. My advice is be patient and carefull because once stripped they are a hundred times worse.

Hyperion · 06-26-2006, 01:58 AM

Finally got around to taking some pics of my cover. The rail mounts to the bed rail using three brackets. Everything is nice and low to the rails and IMO matches the rail caps pretty well. Currently I just have the drain hoses just routed to the front of the bed. These definetly seem to work as they have had quite a bit of water in them when I have washed my truck. Some water has entered the bed during washing but not much considering I have turned the hose right on the joint of truck and cover. You can also see that I have flipped my utilitrack rails, I have also included a pic of one of the utilitrack bolts after I hacked it up with a dremel in order to remove after stripping the torx head (you can see some of the d@mn locktite still on the lower bolt).

Hyperion · 06-26-2006, 02:03 AM

rest of pics

FtWTitan · 06-27-2006, 03:51 PM

Looks really good, man. Thanks for the pics and the analysis. I will definitely be getting one in the near future

jaho1979 · 06-27-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyperion

rest of pics

Flipping the rails was a pain in the a$$!!! I luckily didn't strip any bolts, but you are right about the locktite! Once they were flipped, I had the cover on 30 minutes, very easy.

To your earlier comment on the jacks and the center panel not sitting flush...my cover was rattling badly because of this. I discovered the jacks just unscrew in about 10 seconds per side (leaving the ends clipped on), and I keep them in the cab for quick access if I need the entire bed. Sits flush and no more rattling.

Very nice cover, I am happy with it.

TitanBlue · 07-10-2006, 08:42 PM

Hyperion

Thanks for putting up the pix, it helped me a lot. I ordered my Bakflip last week. Looks simple, clean, easier to open than hard top and able to get out of the way on rare occaision I need to. Wanted a Rollnlock, but stiil wonder about water and ice damage in a rolling design. Thanks again...

Hyperion · 07-11-2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanBlue

Hyperion

Thanks for putting up the pix, it helped me a lot. I ordered my Bakflip last week. Looks simple, clean, easier to open than hard top and able to get out of the way on rare occaision I need to. Wanted a Rollnlock, but stiil wonder about water and ice damage in a rolling design. Thanks again...

No Problem...Hope you like your new cover. Let us know how the install goes. Don't know if you will have to deal with flipping the Utilitrack rails but if you do I hope it goes easier for you than me. I considered the roll-ups as well and heard from some people that the cover often iced up and was unusable in winter and from others who have said they never had any problems.

KYDeepwater · 07-12-2006, 05:22 AM

You could check out www.checkerpro.com they have a flush-mount fiberglass and aluminum cover that has strap that lock from the inside. They look good because they are flush mount, and are easy to remove if needed. I have had them on my last four trucks. They can be painted, have Rhino, etc. put on it, or put vinyl on like I did. Pricing is pretty good too.

WayneE · 07-26-2006, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KYDeepwater

You could check out www.checkerpro.com they have a flush-mount fiberglass and aluminum cover that has strap that lock from the inside. They look good because they are flush mount, and are easy to remove if needed. I have had them on my last four trucks. They can be painted, have Rhino, etc. put on it, or put vinyl on like I did. Pricing is pretty good too.

Do you have any pics? Fit? Utilitrack issues? How easy is it to remove if you have to haul larger cargo?

Thanks!

TitanBlue · 07-27-2006, 08:46 PM

Love the BakFlip. My major Mod is later going to use Stainless Steel Pop Rivets to hold it to the Bed, Eliminating the Aluminum Clamps. Mostly appearance reasons, but I don't think clamps fit as far up onto the actual metal prtion of bed as I would like. Rivets every 6" should hold up very well, willlook at using Black silicone to enhance the sealing ability and add holding strength to assembly Will use very large spring clamps to hold during install. Tight fit for rivet gun under edge of bed and ral.

Nascar Fan · 07-29-2006, 06:02 AM

I also flipped my uni-trak system to put on a cover. But, if you just remove the spacer bar that runs along the top of the bed divider it will fit like a glove. Now I have the cover and divider.