what tri-fold cover does everyone recommend?

Hey everyone, i know this topic is kinda beaten to death but i can't find any recent thread on the subject. I'm looking for a hard folding cover and can't decide between the Bakflip MX4, Extang solid fold 2.0, or the Rugged premium hard fold. Of course theres pros and cons to all and nobody makes the perfect cover but i just wanted to get everyones input if you're currently running one of these covers or have any experience with them.

 

Put a poll. Just installed a bakflip Mx4 on my truck. I love the clean look and quality.

 

have the same. it's great

sometimes I wish i had a diamondback but that was a bit pricey

 

I have the factory tri-fold cover. Not waterproof, but its water resistant. Perfect for locking up stuff and not worrying about someone stealing whatever is inside. Good for me but if you want a waterproof one, Id suggest getting a different bed cover.

 

@Sig45

 

Just installed the Gator SFX Tri-Fold on my truck last night. Pretty affordable as far as covers go but the quality seems to be there.

 

Undercover Ultra Flex, 5 year warranty that they will honor. I’m on my 3rd cover on 3 different trucks and love them. They have a regular flex but I love the matte black on the Ultra.

 

I ended up with the Truxedo Lo Pro roll up. Didn't want to lose that bed space in the 5' bed with that third fixed section against the cab.

 

It may not be so much the bed cover, but more so the bed design. This was after I installed my soft roll up cover and wanted to see how it sealed up. Along the rails is a nice seal, but the bed corners are where the light was coming in.

 

Bakflip F1 here. When F1 to prevent dents in the aluminum of the MX4.

 

One thing to consider is down the road if you'd like some kind of bedrack. There are limited options of bedracks that also work with tonneaus (KB voodoo is the most popular recommendation), but you might want to just make sure you don't block a future mod early on.

I have the OEM, but only because it came with my truck when I bought it.

 

Every place I tried to go to said that you should not install a trifold on a shortbed. They said they’re more susceptible to breaking and that bakflip won’t honor their warranty.

 

Most main line tonneau manufactures include 2 square sticky foam pads that fill those gaps.

 

loosen 2 bolts and the cover can be removed for full bed use.

 

I went with the Extang Solid Fold 2.0 and couldn't be happier. Incredibly simple install, even easier to remove after the fact. It is lightweight for what it is, but the quality isn't sacrificed. Happened to purchase during a promotion period and received a free set of Husky Liners.

 

Indeed, but then you have to store it somewhere. I use my bed often so it's not convenient. Simply a trade off of soft vs hard tonneau.

 

welcome to TW.

there is no consensus or you would have seen it already. they all have pros & cons, so if you want to make a right choice spend some time not just here but on tonneau seller sites that lay out the pros & cons for you.

here's mine:
Extang Encore 2.0
pros:
-quick mount or removal
-folds to middle from front or rear panel
-both those panels fold flat so won't block rear glass
-keys to ignition key
-well made, looks great
- fairly light
-had 2 years and has held up perfectly and i keep it outdoors in the sun

cons:
-fairly low security
-low water resistance (same as others)
-requires relocating bed rails with included bracketing (a big deal for some who use the mounts and require them in factory position)
-somewhat expensive (~$900 or so)

i would buy it again. if i required the factory bed rails in original position then i'd opt for another model.

 

Mine:
Undercover Flex
Pro:

• Quick and easy to remove/replace
• Supports to prevent touching the cab
• Slam latches
• Safety straps for use when partially open
• 50%is of bed use with no window blocking
• 90% bed use blocking rear window
• 100% use if removed (takes me about 3 minutes)
• Flat to rails so almost invisible from the sides when closed
• Secure - RFP panels and aluminum frame
• 5 year warranty for both function AND appearance
• Easy initial install
• Good customer service

Cons:

• Loss of use for utility rails
• Not perfectly sealed (resistant not proof)
• Must open tailgate to open cover
• Rail drain hoses need to be routed out of bed. I drilled new holes our between bed and cab

If I were to buy again, I would consider the Bak brand. Bak is a bit higher price for a Fiber Reinforced Panel. Covers are damn near identical but Bak rails leave part of the utility rail exposed for use while Undercover does not.

 

No the stock one. That thing is a POS. I've had about 10 pieces of plastic break off of it so far... and counting.