Question: Tonneau cover to not to cover?

I have an Access tonneau cover. Reasonable price and it has lasted quite a while. Had it on my last tacoma and transferred it to my current Tacoma. It’s around 6 years old. You can get keyed locks or electronic locks for the tailgate handle. Pop n lock or dyno lock make them.

 

Psshhh.. Mine is worse right now.. with all the salt and sand on the roads, mine is starting to look like the desert brown color you can get the new one in.. (Hearing aide brown)

 

+1 for the Softopper.

Here is a photo of mine on the truck, but folded down.

With boot.


Without boot


Softopper removed but the rails left on the truck.


I don't have one with the sides rolled up, but it looks awesome that way! I think your main concern with a ST is security. No locks and if someone really wants in, they may resort to cutting the canvas or vinyl windows. I live in BFE so security wasn't a big deal to me.

 

To me the caps are more like 4runners than a tonneau cover. It really comes down to personal preference. I have had a 4 runner and the Tacoma. I have owed a cap on a truck but I have never had one on a Tacoma. Right now I am trying to decide on a Tonneau cover or a cap. I can see the pro's and con's of each. I do a lot of hunting on public land and I have to keep my truck parked all day in one spot with me over a mile from it. I usually have an extra climbing stand and a scent box with a Honda generator. I really only need it for hunting season and buying a new top and matching the trucks paint is just to much for that protection when a tonneau would work.

 

Man..
That last pic on the beach.. it's 19 degrees outside right now, we got crushed with snow, and my poor white truck looks hearing aide brown..

 

Well let me get the salt out and rub a bit more. That was taken the first weekend of November. I was still fishing in shorts and no sleeves!

 

And where is the photo with it up?!?!

Most important part

 

Dick!

 

I figured you had it "covered"

 

Wooo!

I take it thats black? Or grey?

 

Grey, not many floating around. Especially not on the SW's. I think I only found one photo prior to buying mine.

 

I'll address pros and cons of my Undercover. Love it love it love it. One piece fiberglass that you can jump up and down on all day, keeps the bed dry as the Sahara, locks tight including unable to open tailgate with it locked. On the con side it does have to be removed with 2 people but it's only a 5-minute job at most (have never needed to remove it for anything so I'm guessing on the time for removal). Have loaded riding mowers, roto-tiller and my recumbent bicycle without needing to remove it. Quality product that I'd advise finding out on-line who carries them locally and go to the shop to look at all that is offered style-wise. Dollars you're talking $500 - $1000 I believe.

 

I like it!
All colors look great on white (hence why its the greatest vehicle color evar!)

 

Was honestly contemplating buying a rollup until i figure out what the hell path i want to take with this truck.. right now it is more a concern about keeping my tools and toys dry, than it is about them being stolen.. I have a full security system at my house to stop that.. "Guns" and cameras.. But, a cheap solution would be nice.. Eventually maybe moving to a full fiberglass cap, or that cool soft cap thing.. but i really do want a locking solution so i don't have to worry if i have something in the bed when i go somewhere..

Was thinking maybe..

https://www.realtruck.com/gator-sr1-roll-up-tonneau-cover/R184494P2015Y608MA.html


What do you guys all think?

 

+1 for softoppers over the tonneau cover. Just installed mine a couple weeks ago (I also got grey - don't have to worry about fading/road salt as much as with black). I don't think I would ever own another truck without one. Open it up to haul the muddy dogs or my tools in the rain. Close it down to load up my dirtbike or furniture/etc. One thing to consider - I have a crew cab so I do have room to lock stuff up if I need to. Coming from a hand-me-down Sierra with a hard tonneau cover pre-installed... the softopper is 1000 times more useful if security isn't your biggest concern. The only thing that sort of sucks about the softopper is that you can't really fold it up or down if its really cold outside without risking the vinyl windows cracking... but even then you can just unzip the windows and take them off completely before folding and problem solved.

 

You now have plenty of info on the advantages, disadvantages, security, no security, convenience, pain in the ass, etc. Anything you get is going to be a compromise of good and bad. You need to decide your priorities and pick what's best for you. For me, my priorities were, security by out of sight, and convenience of using the full bed at any time. Although a folding tonneau could probably be opened fairly easy by a smart thief, most thiefs aren't that smart. The fact that nobody knows what's in there is a deterrent. I don't keep $2,000 worth of tools in there, but I am fairly confidant that the miscellaneous stuff will be there when I come back.