Extang 2.0 VS Bakflip HD

Sorry for another tonneau cover post...
I'm looking for a solid tri-fold cover for my 6ft box Tacoma. It doesn't "need" to be 100% waterproof, but I'd like it to be solid, slick, stable, and durable.

Extang Tri-fold 2.0 = $1105 CAD ~$790US
Bakflip HD = $1260 CAD ~$900US

Question….I've read all the reviews on the Extang here on several forums, and in general, people seem to like it. My dealer and others nearby refuse to install them due to no confidence on fitment. I've own one for my 2012 and loved it. Also a bit annoying Extang now offers all these additional parts for an additional price to help with waterproofing, fitment, etc.

Is the Bakflip worth the extra $155? Is the cord release-style locks ever an issue? Is it as easy to install as the Extang which I hear is extremely fast and easy?

Thanks
Ps…I'm from Canada, so probably not worth for me to order through the US after shipping and exchange.

 

I've been looking at these too. From what I've read, the backflip doesn't allow you to use the adjustable bed cleats on the rails, where the extang does. And I would not pay any dealer to do the install. The way I see it, I'd rather install it myself, then I know how to remove/reinstall it.

Does that price for the extang include tax? If not, try TDOT Performance. They have it for just under $1000 and free shipping in Canada.

 

The bakflip allows you to use the side rails on the 2016. On the 2nd generation you couldn't use the bed rails.

 

Oh. Forgot to look what truck he had.

 

Yeah, before tax. I thought engineparts.ca guaranteed lowest price with free shipping (2 days), and Extang have fixed sales…just checked it out, that price is for a 2015 model.

 

bump

 

The only thing I'm starting to dislike with extangs new covers are that they seem to all be about an inch or so too short. Every time I install one I'm just waiting for a customer to come back bitching. That and some times on certain trucks the rear clamps are just in a bad placement. With that being said they are a nice cover. If that's the prices your quoted for only a little I would get the BAK flip, it has more functionality

 

Thanks for the perspective, much appreciated.

 

I realize no cover is 100% secure but I would be concerned with being able to open up the backflip in about 5 seconds using a coat hanger. Don't understand why they haven't done anything to defeat this (or have they?).

 

I'd rather someone try and open it with a coat hanger, would take a little while, then take a crow bar and just pry it up

 

I checked out reviews for both and ultimately ordered the extang 2.0. Just installed it yesterday. Very pleased. My reasons for getting it over the bakflip:

1. I wanted something easy to take off fully. I've tested this a couple of times now and can take the extang off the bed completely in just a minute or two. It's very easy to realign on the bed due to 1) the raised pattern on the edges of the bed as visual guides and 2) the brackets that stay mounted. I like that the bakflip goes up all the way, but again, taking off the extang 2.0 works great for me. I don't have a lot of situations where I'm away from my garage before I know that I need complete bed access. I'll know before I go.

2. I felt that the bakflip just has more mounted hardware going on. More stuff to get banged around on the sides. I have no direct experience with the bakflip, so this is all from looking at the install procedures online.

3. I like that the extang has full clearance over my rail mounted hardware (stock brackets right now, cross bar from kbvoodoo on its way). The bakflip seems like it sits lower and might cause issues with rail mounted hardware.

4. All the negative reviews of the bak group buy gave me pause. I tend to take online reviews with a grain of salt, but it factored in.

I agree with @Lawfarin that it seems like the extang is short. Not so short that there's a gap, but another half inch to an inch of cover wouldn't hurt. Regardless, I have full seal. Haven't tested heavily, but it's was raining pretty hard in Seattle throughout the day yesterday and the bed was dry this morning.

 

leaning towards the Extang…and being cheaper helps. It is a bit annoying it doesn't cover the back 1-2 inches…but I'm sure I could get over it.

 

@littlechilds the one thing that I'd say as a possible positive about the bakflip is that, as I understand it from video reviews, it will latch when slammed shut. It is a touch more effort to latch the extang 2.0. Hasn't bothered me any (it's literally just pulling down the two latches, which are both robust and , but I wanted to be fair to the bakflip's advantages.

You could actually reposition the extang a bit on mine and cover at least another half inch or more. I mounted the rear brackets for the latches about 1 inch from the end of the rails, but ONLY because I wanted to pop the stock rail end caps back in. There really isn't much need to keep those end caps in, so you can (and I did test this) shift the extang brackets back till they are flush with the end of the rail.

I can take some shots of this later on if it doesn't make sense just written out.

 

I would like to see that. Thanks.

The Solid Fold 2.0 mounted on the 5' bed looks like it lays flatter than on a 6' bed. Could just be me though.

 

The spring clamps on the extang can be difficult for older People, or someone with a disability or some type of arm/shoulder injury

 

@Lawfarin is right about this. At first I mounted the brackets so there was about an inch gap between the bracket top and the bottom of the tonneau. It was possible to close but I really had to pull on the spring clamps. I reattached the brackets higher up (using the lower set of mounting holes; see below) and that half an inch to an inch of rise makes it much easier to latch. It's still something that someone with arm or shoulder issues would find hard to do, I'm certain about that.

@Scooter62 / @littlechilds - here are a few other shots of the positioning and brackets:

Latching brackets & position on the truck bed

Below: you can see that it's sitting pretty far foward. I can move it back about another inch if I want to and will be doing this later after I address a gap in the bed (not related to the tonneau, just the bed construction).



Below: It's very close to the front of the bed. Again, can be moved back a bit.



Below: Originally I mounted the brackets like this so that I could put the end cap in the rails. There is still room to push these brackets back (arrow). After posting to this thread and taking pictures, I changed this. Note also that I mounted the brackets low in this shot (using the top bracket mount holes). I changed this (see below) so that it mounts higher and requires significantly less force to latch.



Below: Here I've repositioned the bracket to sit flush with the end of the rail and have moved it upwards using the bottom set of mounting holes. This requires less force to latch and I'll be able to shift the whole cover back towards the tailgate.



Gaps & Weatherstripping

While inspecting under the cover I noticed some daylight today. This is in the hinge closer to the front of the truck, but this issue is not specific to that location. It's trivial to fix.



Opening the cover up it was obvious that the weather stripping was not positioned properly on the rail and this resulted in the gap:



Sliding it down a bit solved the problem. It feels pretty secure in this position and I don't expect it to slide, but I'll check it out after some use.



There is also a gap that is due to the structure of the bed. I noticed an empty space under the front corners of the sides of the bed. This gap is not related to the tonneau. I don't know if water will get in there or not. If so I expect that some closed cell foam, weatherstripping, or silicone caulk (or all of the above ) will do the trick.

 

Water should only get in during a downpour or bad storm with driving winds. Car wash might to it. Should only be a little amount. I wouldn't put silicone there, foam should work fine

 

Toyota and extang both make filler pieces for the gap at the front of the bed. There're a few threads that cover this issue.

 

"altercation" has those installed. See the last picture.

 

Yep you're correct! Looks like the Extang foam pieces. I think Toyota ones are rubber and cover the other hole-could be wrong.