Fold-A-Cover Questions

71GMC_3/4T · January 16, 2005

Okay, I'm thinking I'd like to get one, but I have a few questions first.

1. How does it attach to the bed? I read that you have to drill a couple holes in the tailgate, no problem with that. Will I need a locking tailgate latch handle? How does it attach to the sides and front?

2. My bed has Rhino-Liner, over the rails. Will that be any problem for the Fold-a-Cover?

3. People say it helps fuel mileage. Any stats to go with that? For example, what type of increase at hi-way speeds? I know it varies, but I'm just curious what gains others are getting (and to help convince the wifey!).

4. I assume they are only available in black? How hot do they get in the summer? Will they hold up to blazing sun at high altitudes like CO?

5. Do they sit flush with the bed, or do they stick up above the bed rails?

6. Do they look like they'll last in the long run?

7. The best price I've found is $577 and change, free shipping, on the 'net. Anybody found a better deal? Would a local dealer be able to compete? Anybody to definitely avoid buying one from, due to bad experiences?

Thanks in advance folks, I ain't worthy...

Jim

billyhay · January 16, 2005

1. The side rails of the cover bolt to the bed rails of the truck through the stake pockets. The cover then gets bolted to the rails between the 1st and 2nd panels. The cover then locks in place with those bolts and sliding tabs that go into the stake pockets, 6 latching points total. The front of the cover seals along the front of the bed on some weatherstripping. The back has a plastic piece that gets double side taped to the tailgate. The cover then goes over this to make the seal. It comes with a very small and cheap hook that you can mount on your tailgate. You have to drill to put it on, and it doesn't look very strong, so I did not use it. I bought a tailgate lock so my tailgate locks independently of the cover. It is much more secure, and no drilling required.

2. I have Line-X over the rail and it is no problem.

3. Don't expect a whole lot. I didn't even have the truck for a week before I put the cover on, so I can't really compare.

4. Only in black, doesn't get anywhere near as hot as I thought it would. Seems to be a non issue.

5. It sits on top of the bed rails.

6. My friend had one on his last truck for four years and it still looked new. It was the first thing he bought for his new truck, that was good enough to sell me on it.

7. I paid $613 shipped to my door. I asked the Line-X guy if he could come close I would buy it from him. He said he couldn't even get the cover for that price.

Overall, I am very happy with it. Some water does get in sometimes. It has never been enough to even fill a shot glass. I don't have the tailgate seal yet, so the water that does get in may even be coming in between the sidewalls of the bed and the tailgate. It will take a few hours to install, and the instructions are very poor.

71GMC_3/4T · January 16, 2005

THANKS BillyHay!!!

Very thorough answers.

Enough to convince me to get one.

My last pickup (just sold her this morning) had a snugtop topper. It was nice, but hard to see through and I never usually put anything in the bed that would have been higher than the bed rails anyway, except dogs. Now they can ride on the folded down back seat of the new truck. Probably won't take much to convince them to ride with their "pack mates" instead.

Jim

hvac1000 · January 17, 2005

Have had 2 so far. The new ones have a plastic grab piece for the tailgate. It is held in place by tape. Once you put it on do not gxpect to remove it. That tape that is used is VERY strong. I love my Fold A Cover.

Kgry · January 17, 2005

Just had one installed a few months ago, it kicks ass. Gone through my first snow and -0 temps with it. It's held up real nice.

71GMC_3/4T · January 17, 2005

Bought one yesterday online from Truck-bed-covers.com. The price was a little higher than the 577 from truckaddons.com, but I read lots of bad comments about truckaddons.com here in the forums. They also have a bad reputation from the BBB. Thanks to the forum here I didn't buy from truckaddons!

dogzapper · January 17, 2005

You'll absolutely love it.

I've had one on my 2003 Chevy Z-71 EC/SB since the truck was about a week old. The versatility is amazing.

I put three 2X4s across the bed (in the bed holders) and my tools ride up front. The Fold-A-Cover's front lid, of course, allows instant access to the tools. Just try that with a clam-shell tonneau cover -- they hinge in front and the access is impossible.

We've folded the three back sections forward to haul a refrigerator and a bunch of cabinents. Again, very difficult with a hard tonneau.

We hunt and last December, we killed an Asian water buffalo and a yak in Central Oregon. The carcasses weighed 944 pounds in total and were very bulky. No problem; we just folded the three back sections forward and started filling the bed. The pile of tied-down critter parts loomed about three feet above the top of the bed.

The fiberglass clam-shell covers look cool on a driveway truck and the plastic/fabric rollups give you visions of 1950. But when it comes to an outright user-friendly tonneau, you've chosen the absolute best in Fold-A-Cover.

If I sold my truck tomorrow, I would instantly buy another Z-71 (a new crew cab, this time). Then, I'd have a sprayed-in bed liner installed (over the rail). My third act would be to buy a new Fold-A-Cover.

Steve