2014+ Truck Bed / Tonneau Covers

[Cheverado]

I have checked mine and I find NO difference in mileage.

[ember1205]

I have neither expected, nor observed, any change in mileage with any truck I have ever used a tonneau on (including the current one).

[Eddie 70]

I have checked mine and I find NO difference in mileage.

 

 

I have neither expected, nor observed, any change in mileage with any truck I have ever used a tonneau on (including the current one).

 

 

Thanks for the reply guys. I was wanting to get a cover anyway, but was just curious if there was a mileage benefit also.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Eddie 70

[crewl1]

A mention of tonneau effect on aerodynamics is in this article. http://www.torquenews.com/397/gmc-busts-top-4-myths-truck-aerodynamics

[Gottsmoney]

Just read all 67 pages this afternoon (skimmed some but you get my point).

 

Details on my truck:

Crew Cab

Short Bed

GM Plastic Drop In Bed Liner

 

Wants in a cover:

1. Hard plastic or other material that closely resembles the side rails and wheel arch moldings

2. Holds up well to the elements (Northern Indiana)

3. Minimal water leakage (a few drops in the corners are no big deal, just don't want puddles)

4. Low Profile

5. $800 or less

 

Truck Uses:

- Daily Driver, mostly highway

- Ability to put golf clubs, luggage, coolers, groceries, etc. in the bed and secure them, won't be in and out of it or folding the cover on a daily basis

 

My last truck was a 07 Escalade EXT with the hard panels like the Avalanche and I was a big fan of those. I would like something similar in material and look but in a Tri-Fold instead of individual panels.

 

Other than looking at the issues addressed in the earlier pages, I was looking to see if anyone has any fitment issues for any of the THI company covers WITH the GM plastic drop in bed liner?

 

Sounds like a couple guys say the bed liner HELPS with getting the covers to seal on the standard beds. Just wanted to make sure they still fit fine with the liner on short beds.

[TruckDaddy]

$800 is a bit low for a hard cover, but these will be close:

 

Undercover Flex

Undercover Classic

Undercover SE

Bakflip G2

Bakflip Fibermax

Extang Solid Fold

Truck Gear by LINE-X Hard Folding Cover (same as a Baflip Fibermax, but has a lifetime warranty).

[ember1205]

The GM drop-in liner may help, may hurt, when it comes to any of the folding hard covers from THI. The issue you might run into is that there is a "rib" molded into the front wall of the liner (between the upright and the bulkhead wall). If this rib is too thick on either side, it could make it so that the mounting rail will sit too far back and prevent the tailgate from closing. If that's the case, you'll need to cut some of that rib down and reposition the liner (possibly meaning having to run the self-tapping screws through and making new holes).

 

You would be MUCH better off with an aftermarket drop-in liner that comes up and over the front rail. Or, you need a front rail cap and a spray-in liner (I'm giving very serious consideration to doing this on my truck). The rail being covered completely changes the geometry of where that cover needs to sit in order to be weathertight AND be positioned properly for maximum security.

The GM drop-in liner may help, may hurt, when it comes to any of the folding hard covers from THI. The issue you might run into is that there is a "rib" molded into the front wall of the liner (between the upright and the bulkhead wall). If this rib is too thick on either side, it could make it so that the mounting rail will sit too far back and prevent the tailgate from closing. If that's the case, you'll need to cut some of that rib down and reposition the liner (possibly meaning having to run the self-tapping screws through and making new holes).

 

You would be MUCH better off with an aftermarket drop-in liner that comes up and over the front rail. Or, you need a front rail cap and a spray-in liner (I'm giving very serious consideration to doing this on my truck). The rail being covered completely changes the geometry of where that cover needs to sit in order to be weathertight AND be positioned properly for maximum security.

[Gottsmoney]

$800 is a bit low for a hard cover, but these will be close:

 

Undercover Flex

Undercover Classic

Undercover SE

Bakflip G2

Bakflip Fibermax

Extang Solid Fold

Truck Gear by LINE-X Hard Folding Cover (same as a Baflip Fibermax, but has a lifetime warranty).

That's basically the advertised price of the G2 and Undercover Flex that I've seen. I like the looks of those since they sit pretty flush with the bed rails. Very mixed reviews on both.

[ember1205]

$800 is a bit low for a hard cover, but these will be close:

 

Undercover Flex

Undercover Classic

Undercover SE

Bakflip G2

Bakflip Fibermax

Extang Solid Fold

Truck Gear by LINE-X Hard Folding Cover (same as a Baflip Fibermax, but has a lifetime warranty).

 

 

My G2 was $719 to my door through Amazon. Watch for sales from the various vendors.

[Gottsmoney]

The GM drop-in liner may help, may hurt, when it comes to any of the folding hard covers from THI. The issue you might run into is that there is a "rib" molded into the front wall of the liner (between the upright and the bulkhead wall). If this rib is too thick on either side, it could make it so that the mounting rail will sit too far back and prevent the tailgate from closing. If that's the case, you'll need to cut some of that rib down and reposition the liner (possibly meaning having to run the self-tapping screws through and making new holes).

 

You would be MUCH better off with an aftermarket drop-in liner that comes up and over the front rail. Or, you need a front rail cap and a spray-in liner (I'm giving very serious consideration to doing this on my truck). The rail being covered completely changes the geometry of where that cover needs to sit in order to be weathertight AND be positioned properly for maximum security.

The drop in liner isn't something I would have bought so it's not something that I would replace. The cover is more important than the liner. The truck had one added at the dealer when new and has been in place since. I just bought the truck last weekend so I'm in the information gather process right now before I go out and drop cash on accessories.

[TruckDaddy]

 

 

My G2 was $719 to my door through Amazon. Watch for sales from the various vendors.

 

Just be careful who you buy from if you want to have a warranty. The paragraph below is cut and pasted from Bak's website:

 

Warranty registration and factory support is only available for BAK Industries products purchased as new through an Authorized BAK Industries dealer.

Products purchased at discounted rates on auction sites such as Ebay and Craigslist, to name a few, will not be covered under factory warranty under any circumstance. BAK Industries is unable to verify whether products sold through Auction Sites are new, used, or refurbished, and as such, we are unfortunately unable to warranty such purchases. We advise using caution when buying through auction sites as you'll be doing so at your own risk.

[ember1205]

 

 

Just be careful who you buy from if you want to have a warranty. The paragraph below is cut and pasted from Bak's website:

 

Warranty registration and factory support is only available for BAK Industries products purchased as new through an Authorized BAK Industries dealer.

Products purchased at discounted rates on auction sites such as Ebay and Craigslist, to name a few, will not be covered under factory warranty under any circumstance. BAK Industries is unable to verify whether products sold through Auction Sites are new, used, or refurbished, and as such, we are unfortunately unable to warranty such purchases. We advise using caution when buying through auction sites as you'll be doing so at your own risk.

 

 

You do realize that the first time that paragraph was added to this thread that I was the one that posted it, right?

[TruckDaddy]

 

You do realize that the first time that paragraph was added to this thread that I was the one that posted it, right?

 

 

No, I didn't realize that! It's become a loooong thread!

[ember1205]

 

 

No, I didn't realize that! It's become a loooong thread!

 

My apologies... Everything is blurred together...

 

I actually posted that paragraph into a -different- thread (one that I started regarding the terrible fitment of their covers on the standard and long beds combined with bad customer service).

[crewl1]

Does the drop in liner fit under the rails? If so most of the folding covers should work, but routing the drain tubes on some may require drilling.

I have an Extang Solid Fold 2.0 that does not require additional side rails or a drain tube.

I was able to get it for $760 from an authorized dealer and it was shipped directly from Extang.