I Am Torn - Tonneau Or Canopy

[afflicted4]

got a sierra 2010 2500HD 6.0l crew

got it mostly for trailering our 30 footer

 

now I want to be able to use the bed and throw things in there and have it secured so nobody steals stuff from me

I also dont want too much weight weighing me down

but also want better fuel economy

 

oh the conundrum

 

any advice?

[BurroWDMS]

Get a high-top camper shell. It'll help direct some air over the top of that 30' trailer (assuming travel trailer?) instead of hitting the front like a brick and might help you with fuel mileage.

 

The downside is you lose the ability to take your truck anywhere with a height limit (parking garages, etc).

[oldmann]

Flat top camper shell. Aluminum is very light. I think the one on the work truck wieghs less than 125lbs and is 8' long. Yours would be lighter. Fiberglass is great looking, but weighs way more.

[afflicted4]

Flat top camper shell. Aluminum is very light. I think the one on the work truck wieghs less than 125lbs and is 8' long. Yours would be lighter. Fiberglass is great looking, but weighs way more.

 

 

thanks

but I meant better mileage whilist not towing a trailer...general city/hwy driving. a tonneau better or canopy?

I like the idea of a hard cover tonneau like the bakflip triple fold as it gives you security so nobody steals my shit, plus it gives you flexibility to also use the pickup bed for what it is meant for...hauling big tall things

[[email protected]]

Stop having a boring tuna, stop having a boring life. But, anyway, I would go with a hard tonneau cover myself.

[oldmann]

Get what you like. Don't expect better mileage. A trifold looks. Like a good idea.

[imollison]

In my last truck (2006 GMC Canyon) I had a Leer canope, thought it was great until I had to back up or do a shoulder check while passing......there were times it was great and others it was a pain in the a%$.

 

On the new truck (2008 2500HD CC), I have the Extang Tri-fold.....love it.....can lock it with the tail gate, keeps things dry, and most of all, I can fold it up, and leave it on the bed rails while towing my 5th wheel. Meaning I can trailer anywhere and still have a secure bed to carry stuff once there.

[afflicted4]

In my last truck (2006 GMC Canyon) I had a Leer canope, thought it was great until I had to back up or do a shoulder check while passing......there were times it was great and others it was a pain in the a%$.

 

On the new truck (2008 2500HD CC), I have the Extang Tri-fold.....love it.....can lock it with the tail gate, keeps things dry, and most of all, I can fold it up, and leave it on the bed rails while towing my 5th wheel. Meaning I can trailer anywhere and still have a secure bed to carry stuff once there.

 

 

Thanks immolision

that is the experience I was after...

with these hard tri fold covers like extang, where does the rain go? Cause I heard they are low profile...so the drips have to go somewhere

Say I just folded one plank from the trifold...does the folded plank stay down while driving over potholes or on high speeds? Or does it flap around banging up and down?

[tanked_darren]

CANOPY FOR THE WIN!

 

That way you can still move appliances. They don't wiegh a ton either, fiberglass man.

 

I know alot of people who buy tonneau covers and TOTALLY regret it down the road.

[fraiolib]

i have a gm-tri-fold that is just like the extang or tonneao pro but between the leather and the metal braces theres a thin piece of partical board that gives the entire thing some support. we flip one section all the time and never have a problem. the backflip is really nice but i dont like how it folds up. now the gm one we have was close to $1000 when we bought it. idk what they are now. i think we'd probly do the tonneou pro or extang if we had to do it all over again.

[imollison]

with these hard tri fold covers like extang, where does the rain go? Cause I heard they are low profile...so the drips have to go somewhere

Say I just folded one plank from the trifold...does the folded plank stay down while driving over potholes or on high speeds? Or does it flap around banging up and down

 

With the Tri-fold it sits on the bed rails.....rain will run off the sides, front or back depending on the angle the truck is sitting. You can not only fold one flap.....it is closed or opened. When opened it is held down with clips.

 

Almost forgot.....unlike a canopy while will take 2 or 4 people to remove and install, the Tri-fold can be installed/ removed by one person and only takes 2 minutes to do either.

[maxco]

I currently have a tri-fold tonneau and love it. its secures everything in the bed, pretty water tight and looks good. Comes off in about a minute and like someone said you can do it by yourself. The downside is you can't keep something out of the elements if it is taller.

 

For that reason I am getting a cap on my next truck (Sept 15) because I want to put my dogs back there. Both have their advantages, but just depends on what you need it for, the cap will provide you more storage space, but is more of a pain to see behind & remove.

[AGT]

I can't comment on the canopy or the tonneau as I am a fan of niether but understand your need for security.

 

When it comes to MPGs tho. I know that the theory of a closed bed being better with a tonneau has actually been disproven. The bed creates a closed vortex when moving from which all succeeding air travels over. The tonneau actually acted more like a spoiler on a nascar. It drove the back end down and with the pressure from the air.

 

In the end a tailgate net was effective in MPGs but only slightly

 

Source: Mythbusters show

 

Episode 43: Seasickness Cures, Finger in the Gun Barrel, Tailgate Gas Efficiency

 

•You save more gas with the tailgate down in a pickup truck: mythbusted. You save more gas with the tailgate up.

 

Episode 64: More Myths Revisited

•Tailgate Up or Down Revisited: in addition to tailgate up/down, also tested hardcover over pickup bed, tailgate removed, and tailgate mesh. Tailgate mesh was most efficient by 5%. busted

[fraiolib]

with these hard tri fold covers like extang, where does the rain go? Cause I heard they are low profile...so the drips have to go somewhere

Say I just folded one plank from the trifold...does the folded plank stay down while driving over potholes or on high speeds? Or does it flap around banging up and down

 

With the Tri-fold it sits on the bed rails.....rain will run off the sides, front or back depending on the angle the truck is sitting. You can not only fold one flap.....it is closed or opened. When opened it is held down with clips.

 

Almost forgot.....unlike a canopy while will take 2 or 4 people to remove and install, the Tri-fold can be installed/ removed by one person and only takes 2 minutes to do either.

 

you can fold only one of the two sections up and leave it. its not going any where we do it all the time. when we fold it all the way up most of the time we dont even buckle it. its been on for 2 years now and hasnt gone anywhere

[shocktrp]

I wish I bought this instead of the Undercover;

 

http://www.linexcover.com/features