Question: Tonneau cover to not to cover?

Hey,
I figured maybe someone on here would be able to give me a little info on my 2015 Tacoma AC 4x4?

I am trying to figure out a good replacement tonneau cover, as the one from the factory is crap.. Mine is bent, and doesn't really fit or lineup correctly, and i think i should just buy a new one.
I was also thinking maybe a cap, but, i really don't want to kill MPG.. and i remember the aluminum one on my grandfathers F100 being pretty heavy..

Can anyone give me an idea as to what i should expect to pay for one?
Also do they make a bed lock for these trucks, as mine doesn't have one, or a backup camera, i thought about seeing if i can find one at a salvage yard with a lock, but i can't seem to locate one. Anyone have any info they can share on where i can get a bed lock?

 

I have an Extang Black Max on my '13 DCLB, I've put a black max on all my previous trucks with no issues.

 

I bought a vinyl tri fold off ebay for around $150. Very happy with is so far. I would like to upgrade to a nicer one some day but its not in the budget right now.

 

An f100 must be 30 or 40 years as would be the aluminum shell. Yes they were heavy. The new fiberglass shells are light weight probably 150 lbs or a little more. Won’t make any noticeable difference in mpg. I get 19 mph highway with my 2009 V6, don’t think I’d get any more without the shell. There are tonneau people and there are shell people. I like shells. I think they are more versatile. I can get more stuff in it than you can get in a closed tonneau. I sleep in the back of mine on hunting and fishing trips. Go with what fits your needs best.

 

I have an Undercover Flex hard tri-fold, and have been very satisfied with it. I bought it when I bought the truck along with a pop-n-lock tailgate lock. Google for prices.

 

I believe it was a 1976 F100 Ranger.. with the I6... and a 3 speed manual..
Yeah it's old now, but when i was 18 and helping the old man put the cap on it.. Yeah heavy..


I'd prefer a cap.. But ultimately i have a wife to answer to, so likely a tonneau cover is what ill get.. Unless i find one used on here that's somewhat local..

 

I bought a used Advantage Hard Hat about 6 weeks ago for $250. I'm happy with it so far. I just need to replace the weather stripping on it since it doesn't have a perfectly even gap from front to back (the front weather seal is compressed to almost nothing so it sits lower than the rest of it). Eventually I want a cap though.

 

Here's my opinion on tonneau covers. The fiberglass 1 piece, painted to match, tonneaus look really nice and keep the water out really well. However, if you are ever in a situation where you unexpectedly need to haul something taller than the bed rails, you're screwed. Let's say you're 100 miles from home and you find a great deal on a motorcycle or ATV. Also, it takes 2 people to remove it.

I have a Extang folding tonneau that came off a Chevy Silverado. The problem I see with that is that it's a 3 piece cover and it only folds twice. So, you end up with 1/3 of your bed still covered. It's for sale.

I personally have a Bakflip tonneau on my Taco. It's awesome. You can fold it all the way up to the back of the cab, so with it completely folded, you only lose about 3" of bed space. If you really want it completely removed, it's just 2 thumb wheels and 1 person can easily lift it off. It doesn't keep the bed completely dry, but it's only a small amount of water that gets in and with a pop n lock, it's secure.

As for a cap, yes, they are nice to sleep in, and keep things dry, but they block visibility some, and if you want to haul something taller than the cab, you're really screwed. (Motorcycle, ATV, etc) And they take 4 people to remove, or a pulley lift system.

 

All very good points. That's one of the things I like about mine is that I can take it off in less than 2 minutes.

 

This is exactly what i am looking for.. I would love a Cap, but the cost of them paint matched from what i have seen is like 3K+ and i don't want to spend that kind of coin..

Is Extang the model or the manufacturer?
Also do you remember about what it cost?
Does it fit in the stock frame rails on the bed, or does it require you drill into it?

 

Extang is the manufacturer. It came with an '04 Silverado that I scrapped. It uses these pull down spring handles things to clamp it to the bed rails. Like I mentioned, though, the front 1/3 size panel stays clamped to the bed. If you need more than 2/3 of the bed, you have to completely remove it.

I found my Bakflip on Craigslist for $350. I bought it 30 minutes after I bought my truck.

 

Yep. Very good point. I find myself needing to lift or roll mine up way more than I realized, so I am glad that I have the tri-fold to do that. Like if I need to take the snow-blower up the street to use it at my grandmas, I just fold the soft cover back and toss it in. Not possible with that 1 piece. Or if I see something at HomeDepot or whatever, that I bought unexpected, I can still toss it in. I know the stocker isn't everyone's favorite but I feel like the 1 piece isn't as useful or versatile.

 

I personally don’t like tonneau covers. I think they defeat the purpose of owning a truck. Go buy a 4Runner.

I like caps and I have a Softopper I’ve had for two years and enjoy it. I can put it up when I need it, take it off when I don’t. It also stores well and it lightweight.

It does impact MPGs though. The Softopper weighs around 35lbs but the wind resistance is the killer, takes about 2mpgs off when its on.

Pop n Lock makes a locking tailgate handle. There are no factory locking tailgate handles for the 2nd Gen Tacoma.

You can get a back up camera with a Pop n Lock designed to fit the stock backup camera lense.

 

Yeah i don't have a backup camera..
Not really interested in putting one in either, i figure if i back into something, then i will just buff out the civic i ran over..
Otherwise, i mean that happened all the way back there, i am already too far from that accident to care.. LOL.. Jk.. I just don't need it.. the less electronics the better..

As per the soft topper, right now i have an OEM toyota Factory tri-fold that sucks.. It's bent, and leaks, and howls on the highway.. It was fine when i got it, but over time of the open, close thing, it just got sloppy.. so i need another one.. I really don't want to blow the 3K+ though on a cap, otherwise i would just get a cap.. if i find one used i might pick it up and color match it myself.. but a tri-fold sounds better..

 

I know exactly what you mean here..

 

Really?
The silverado bed is the same size?
I always thought they were wider? No?

 

I never had it on the Tacoma. I was just mentioning that I personally had one in my hands and how it works.

 

Softopper was $800 brand new.

Looks bad ass IMO (please excuse the filth):

 

Oh ok.. My bad, i misunderstood..