suggestions for cover/cap/rack please

My original plan was to get a cap and have a rack of sorts on top of that. However, the added weight, decreased visability, high prices, and less mpg is kind of turning me off from it. I am thinking about a hard tonneau cover now with a roof rack on the cab. What do ya'll think?

I need to carry 10' conduit and maybe a 6, 10' ladder sometimes.
would a cab rack be able to carry this stuff ok?

 

I have almost the same setup that you have; I have a soft roll up cover, with a Thule roof rack set up.
The ladder is not a problem, but when you talk about the 10ft conduit, it is depand on the size, if just 3/4 or 1" conduit, it will not be a problem, but if you talk about the 4" or extension ladder, you will have to get this thing, see link below, this can help you carry the conduit, and this is what my set up. http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=10&sku=997
I am a electrician, and I have to carry extension ladder to do my work sometimes, and the Thule rack system do help me out a lot.
Hope this can help you out.

 

Here is a pic of my cover, (old shot before lift etc) the cover is an Undercover. It is the hard type, as for the other options.......well can't help there, but I am sure someone here will have a great idea mod.

 

I've got a BakFlip cover and it's garbage. Now, it is a first gen model and they've released their second gen which I've heard is better.

It's nice because it's low profile, but the thing just fell apart on me within 1 year in Arizona. I've still got it on the truck, but just because I can throw my golf clubs in the back and lock the tailgate. If I didn't golf, I'd get rid of it and look for something else.

 

I have a Bak Flip G2 (for generation 2) tonneau cover. The first generation ones are garbage because the rubber hinges deteriorated and the thing fell apart. I called their 800 number and actually talked to Ivan, the owner of Bak Industries. He's very helpful. I heard that if you have a G1 cover, he'll send you replacement G2 hinges with instructions on how to replace them. It's worth a try.

I really like my tonneau cover. It does not change the look of my truck, and is secure. You have to get a Pop-N-Lock for the tailgate. The tailgate must be opened to unlatch the cover from the underside. Some people like to be able to open the tonneau cover without opening the tailgate. I prefer this because I don't need an extra set of keys, and there is no lock on the cover, leaving it clean looking. That's just a matter of choice.

What I really like about it is that it flips completely up against the back of the cab so you have access to the entire box. That is important to me, because I have a 5' box, and I want to carry bicycles in a bike rack in the box. The other thing I really like is that the entire cover removes by unscrewing two knobs.

I originally wanted a hard roll up cover like a Pace Edwards, or Roll Bak, but the cansiter and the leading edge of those covers take up over 12" of the front of the box. Other hard flipping covers must be completely removed to get full box access. If I am travelling, and find a good buy on something that requres me to remove the cover to use the full length of my box, what am I going to do with my cover?

I wanted a hard, secure cover that gives me full access to the box without removing it. Bak Flip met those requrements. The fact that it completely removes in about a minutes is a bonus. My two complaints are: The corners of the ends of the side rails are rough and could have been finished a little better, and you lose the use of the box rails because the tonneau cover rails cover them. The first complaint can be fixed with a file. For the second complaint, I am thinking of bolting some Unistruts on top of the cover rails so I can use the cleats that came with the truck.

 

My cover is deteriorated beyond just the rubber hinges. The cover is warped -- imagine a King size mattress that a 600 pound guy has been sleeping on for the past 10 years. He gets up and there's a fancy little "V" groove in the middle. That's what mine looks like (please pardon the exaggeration). The latches have chipped and the the "pull cord" for releasing the latches has come out past the covers.

I've given up on it -- lol

I did try getting a new one from Bak, but they only offered a 5% discount, so I decided to save my money and eventually get a snugtop shell.

 

Too bad about your Bak Flip. I did get a good laugh imagining that 600 pound guy. Now I've got to get that picture out of my head! lol

I hope my Bak Flip does not see the same "V" groove fate as yours. How long have you had yours?

 

I have an ARE fiberglass cap with a Yakima rack on it. It isn't a problem to haul 10' ladders or lumber. It is nice to be able to carry your tools and not have to worry about rain or theft. I was thinking about a cover, but a couple of my tools (tablesaw, mitre saw) would not fit under the cover. The cap only weighs around 120lbs and have not noticed a significant decrease in mileage.

 

I've had mine for about 2.5 years now... I've heard the G2 is much better, so hopefully you'll be OK.

 

Right now I have an Access Roll-up bed cover. In the next few years I plan on getting a Leer bed cover.

 

Check out the Bakflip CS.
http://www.bakliner.com/cs-tonneau-rack-cargo-system.htm

 

holy crap, i didnt even know something like that existed- thats EXACTLY what i need!

any pictures of said cover? I have an 09 so pop-lock is not available yet since we have the cameras there.

any closer up pictures? how is visibility and security?

just like wing posted! thanks.

 

i didnt realize thats what the backflip was. are they lockable? only come in black? I like the sleek look of a single piece, but the versatility of the ones that fold.

 

they don't lock, however the mechanism to open the cover is located underneath the rear panel, which means you have to open the tailgate to latch the cover open.

You could lock the tailgate handle with a pop'n'lock, however I guess they don't make one to deal with the tailgate camera just yet.

 

They're lockable if you put a pop-n-lock latch on the tailgate (~$50 for the keyed or $99 for the electric). They only come in black.

 

do the electric ones need any space that they keyed ones do? the camera on the 09s is where the key normally goes on these things.

 

I don't think so but I'm not certain. I have a keyed one and no backup camera. Is it possible to remove the camera lens and move it to another location?

 

Hi, RoyB
The pop & lock they do not have the lock for 09, but the Dynolock dose, I have it install on my 09 Tacoma.
do a search in this forum, you will see my post, search for tailgate lock. you will see it. Also I post some photo when I do the installation.
It will lock & unlock when you lock up your doors, it hook up to the factory wiring.

http://www.dynolock.com/trtalo.html feel free to ask me the question of this lock, I install it, took me about total of 3 hours.

 

awesome, thanks wing. i was hoping i could find something like that. i hate carrying around extra keys all the time.