Need Tonneau Decision Help

[TheTrueMoron]

I have been looking at tonneaus almost all day and I can't really find one that fits my needs and my price range. I've seen the Lund Genesis Tri-Fold cover and I like it except for one thing: it isn't a hard cover. I really need a cover that can lock so that I can store stuff in the bed of my truck. I see that this one latches from the inside. I have a few questions about it that I can't find answers to, so if anyone has any experience with these I would greatly appreciate it.

1. Can these be opened without the tailgate being let down first? If I can just install a locking tailgate latch to prevent people from opening the cover, I'd be mostly set.

2. How strong is the fabric? Can a knife be thrust into it easily?

3. Can it be easily grabbed and pulled up (probably breaking the clamps)?

4. How waterproof is it? I have a "spray-in" type bedliner and I think that might affect its ability to keep rain and dirt out.

 

For the second half of my curiosity, I was wondering if anyone knows of any locking hard folding tonneaus that are cheap. I have no use for a tilting one piece cover because I often put things in the bed that are taller than the cover, so that would just be a nuisance. I'm trying not to break my budget of $250 but I would be willing to spend $300 if it fulfilled my needs well enough. I just figured out that I need a cover and this sucks because I need it this week, which doesn't give me much time to shop and make decisions and is probably the reason this thread sounds so desperate.

[Zembonez]

Don't install a soft cover if you are looking for security. It will only keep the honest people out. They can all be easily opened from the outside if somebody wants in. (might cause damage to the cover on some but can still be done). A knife will go throug one like hot butter... They are mainly an appearance item and will keep stuff out of sight and relatively dry if that is what you are after. I got a tiny boost in fuel economy with mine for the few weeks I had it. Mine was an Access Lorado cover and it was quite well made.

 

Other than high pressure car washes, the cover kept the bed dry.

 

Just my 0.02 worth.

[99silveradoz71]

I've got an Extand Solid Fold, but it's a bit more pricey than what you're looking to spend. Love it so far in just shy of a year of ownership.

[Griffin86]

I have a Pace Edwards Jackrabbit and I really like it. It is hard plastic and spring loaded so it rolls up on its own.

[kilo5]

Like many mods to a truck, it's such a personal choice. We all have our own needs, but I would be surprised if you could find anything in the price range for $250-$300 that has any quality.

 

I have been using a G4-ELITE Fold A Cover for the last year. The advantages of the Fold A Cover are:

 

1. It's a hard Fold A Cover

 

2. It's lockable

 

3. Opens from the front or back. Can be open with the tailgate up or taken completely off

 

4. They advertise water resistant, but I haven't had any water leaks

 

If you don't find the information you are looking for on this thread, just search this site for tonneau , covers, or check out these threads: Folding Hard TonneauOptions , Typeof bed cover, ThoughtsOn Tonneau Covers.

[rogerf]

You won't find a hard-cover anywhere close to $250-$300, lucky to get a quality soft cover on that budget. If you like the Lund tri-fold, look at the Torza-top Hardhat. It's the same basic folding soft-top design but has a hard liner under the soft-top materals.

 

I had the same security concern on my truck when picking a cover. Like the tri-folds but can't have someting that can be cut with a knife. Got a Bakflip which is secure but leaks like a sive and has construction quality issues. If I had to choose again, no question would go with the Hard-hat.

[jbatt]

Can you get a cover like the avalanche has anywhere? One that you can remove each cover piece.

[rogerf]

Can you get a cover like the avalanche has anywhere? One that you can remove each cover piece.

None that I could find. The closest thing was the Bakflip that rides on removable tracks and is almost flush with the top of the bed rails when closed.