Is the OEM Stealth Black Running Board & Tonneau Cover any good?

I'll be picking up my QS TRD OR at the end of the week and was thinking of installing running boards to the truck. Looks like Toyota only has two running boards available for the Tacoma, Stealth Black & the SS one. Anyone have any experience with the Stealth Black ones?

Or recommend any other brands that I should look into?

Any advice on the OEM Tri-Fold Tonneau cover? I haven't inquired about the cover at my dealership yet but is it true that if the Truck doesn't automatically come with the cover that you can't get it?

 

I have the tri-fold cover. If you are looking for one to stand on, this probably isn't it. However, it works great. When the tailgate is locked, you can't open it. It is reasonably water/dust resistant and is light weight. It also comes off easily. There are a lot of third party options out there. My dad uses the Velcro style cover. I like it but, it isn't as secure and is a pain to get on straight. My friend has a snug top, it is more water proof since it goes all the way over the rails. However, if you want to use the bed for larger items, you have to take it off and it is bolted down and heavy - and harder to store as it is the same size as the bed. All in all, I would get the OEM again.
The only other one I was considering was the diamondback - heavy. But looks amazing and you can stand on it. https://youtu.be/cyG9e5o9DEY

It is true that if it doesn't come with the cover you can't add it without replacing the bed sides. It uses cut outs and bars that aren't there on the standard.

 

I had the stealth black ones installed as they protect the rocker panel better than the tube steps. They also stick out slightly past the door width, so there's some protection from other cars parked next to you.

For the OEM tonneau cover, I would not buy it. The unit doesn't seal that well or evenly front to back. It is easy to open even with tailgate locked and you don't have open access to the front third of your box. In addition, the bed rails are modified to accommodate the bed cover, so if you change your mind later on and remove it, your bed rails will have missing sections. The backflip units are much better IMO. They fold all the way up to give you 98% of your open bed access and hey sit flush within the bed rails. No trifold cover is 100% waterproof but I was able to follow some tips on this site for the MX4 backflip and it works awesome and has minimal water ingress.

Good luck on your decision.

 

I've heard mixed things about the availability of the factory cover. Lots of people have noted that they wanted to buy one from Toyota, but were told that they can't and that it's only available if it's on the truck when it's delivered. However, I ordered the factory cover, and the truck arrived without it when I took delivery. I brought the truck back a week later, and it was installed by the dealer, so I'm not sure how that all works. I did order the cover when I ordered the truck, but it was definitely installed by the dealer and not some "factory specified addition".

 

Toyota OEM accessories can be available in certain parts of the US yet not others, for example Southeast region is notorious for having a much heavier in house parts support system than the region I work in, being Cincinnati region. With you being in Canada the support system may be entirely different, no idea.

-Signed,
A lowly parts guy peon

 

Yeah that makes sense. Kinda frustrating though that you wouldn't be able to get OEM parts just because you didn't make the original order with them.

 

Believe me, as a guy that wanted the OEM cover and can't get it through us is VERY frustrating.

 

This is kinda funny to me. I wanted a truck WITHOUT the factory cover, and I had to pull some serious strings to find one that didn't have it installed already. I didn't want my bed rails cut up.

This is in the Boston region.