Looking at options, this seems very trick - undoubtedly well more than I'd like to spend. Does anyone have one or have any experience with this or a comparable bed cover? If so, how much usable space does the spiral canister take up? On the more realistic side of things, as far as the snap systems go, does anyone know where I can find some reviews on the quality of the various offerings? I don't think I like the idea of a fiberglass top as items like my fuel cans, tool box will not fit it seems. Tried google, dieselstop, etc... and did not find much in the form of objective reviews.

TIA

 

Don't know the brand but I considered the roll-up slat style covers quite a bit and knew several people who really like the system and real locking security and tidiness. The snap-ons seem problematic in many ways but are cheaper. Some people like the one piece, hinge at the front toneaus but they seem real limiting to me and I've seen people struggle with them on race weekends.

We ended up just leaving the bed open and throwing stuff of any shap and size in it and then moving items that needed locking up into the cab overnight. My dad is buying my truck in a few weeks and put a nice fibreglass cap with openable, locking side windows on it for my holiday trip and I am loving it. Wish I'd done that before.

 

I've been looking at the Retrax lexan sliding cover for a while now and have decided that I'll not spend the $800+ on it, even though it's really, really, really cool! I hardly ever put a lot of bulky items in the bed and if I do it's usually a full bed needing all available space. My plan is custom making my own quick release lexan cover with hood pins and an aerodynamic rear spoiler (lund Backdraft)...that way for the few times I'll ever put bulky items in the bed I can lift a lightweight, rigid cover off by myself and store it in the garage. But most of the time the cover will be on, giving aerodynamic aid and saving on gas....

P.S. - I'd love to put some undertrays under the cab section after seeing the gains Popular Science got with aero work on a full size Chevy....We're talking mpg in the high 20's with a V8.

 

I looked into that a few months ago. There are a couple of the hard covers that roll up in a cylinder at the front of the bed. They all seem to be too expensive for me (around a grand) and I am not sure that I like losing the space.
What I saw, and that I have read good things about on the Tundra Solutions web site is the Access Tonneau Cover:
http://www.tonneaucoversworld....s.htm

It looks nice, doesn't have the stupid braces accross the bed all the time, and is somewhat reasonably priced (I think around $500)
If I get anything as a tonneau cover, this will most likely be it.

hth.

Edit: I thought about a fiberglass cap, as Lee mentioned, but I often load really big stuff, or have mulch dumped in and I don't want to have to deal with removing the cap when I have to do this.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> site is the Access Tonneau Cover:
http://www.tonneaucoversworld....s.htm

It looks nice, doesn't have the stupid braces accross the bed all the time, and is somewhat reasonably priced (I think around $500)
If I get anything as a tonneau cover, this will most likely be it.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

That looks like a pretty smart item that gives flexibility to cover a lot of bases and an appropriate price range.

 

and I just noticed that they added latches so that if your tailgate locks, you can lock the whole thing (not that a soft cover would stop a determined thief...)
and the price for the Tundra is actually $400. I need to order one soon.

 

Thanks for the ideas guys. I hadn't thought about the camper lid Lee, its actually a good idea - probably more of a down the road thing. Can either of you guys see the images on the accessworld site? Every image there is a broken link for me. Sebastian, if you know, is this the thick padded type or the vinyl tarp type? I don't know it really matters but since I can't see it and you say there are no braces, I wonder if a tarp type will just flap in the wind. If you have any visual descriptions, please let me know. This seems like a very good option at 419.00 for the Ford.

I had found some snap and rail types for 230.00 but have no information on their quality (http://www.carcoversdirect.com/tonneau_covers.php)

Thanks again!

 

there are braces, but they roll up along with the top when you retract it. Let me look for the manufacturer web site, they had some movies type thing to demo it.

there ya go:
http://www.accesscover.com/

 

Thanks, that's good stuff. Will definately read up on that site.

 

I'm leaning towards a rigid bed cover that folds out of the way. http://truck-bed-covers.com/fo...s.htm. They offer the flexibility of a roll-up tonneau, but they are rigid aluminum and lockable, offering much better security.

 

Have never seen it. However, we decided on an Extang tip up that can also be rolled up. There are no snaps on this version either. The bows can be removed or you can lift the unit off the front track with one hand. Stays up with a pair of hydraulic lifts and has done well for us so far. Might note some warranties are good-this one comes with a 10 year on the frame and 3 on the vinyl.
Just my 2 cents

 

I think I found these last night while looking on line. Its funny, when I posted this originally, I couldn't find prices on the Retrax but feared everything else was far more price-worthy. Now it seems like they are 720-830 or so and seems like alot of good options are 550-650 .... it doesn't seem that crazy expensive in comparison for what you get (but I do like this 400 buck option, I must say). Well, I'll keep on clicking on links until I make up my mind. Thanks guys for all the suggestions/ideas.

 

My Dad has one on his Dakota. Its a POS. (its a locking/latching retractable)

The drainage lines get very quickly clogged and start spreading water everywhere and smelling stuff up.

Just recently the latch stopped working and only one side will latch.