Fold A Cover G4 Elite and snow/ice plus some comparisons

Hi All - first posting after reading for a few months now. I've been looking for a cover for my double cab long bed and am definitely leaning towards the Fold A Cover G4 Elite. Still in consideration are the Extang Solid Fold as well as an Undercover SE.

The Fold A Cover will see snow and ice and I was wondering if the panels will freeze and it can't be folded? In a heavy ice storm, that can be expected, but with a light dusting or some ice, does it lock up? How about Extangs, same thing?

Also, can you open the tailgate with only unlocking the panel? Or do you have to fold the panel out of the way?

The pros for the Fold A Cover as I see them in my head;
1) Open both ends.
2) No tailgate lock needed.
3) Can open with tailgate closed.

The cons:
1) Need a tool to remove.
2) Not completely water tight, seals may wear eventually.

Now the Extang is easier to remove, but you can't open the one end plus you have to open the tailgate to flip up the panel. Potential same issues with ice/snow in the hinges, and not completely water tight.

And the Undercover doesn't fold, but keeps the elements out, shouldn't be too hard to take off, and locks the tailgate.

Will probably purchase through truck alterations as they have a TW discount on the fold a cover. But the discount lists the Fold A Cover G4, but is that the G4 Elite?

Thanks in advance for your input!
HD

 

I have fold a cover on my 2011 DC Tacoma. Tailgate opens fine without opening cover. As per ice/snow, I can't answer that as of yet. No snow or ice here yet.

 

On the folda cover, you can open the tail gate without lifting the G4, only if you do not install the loop on the inside of the tail gate. Then you do not have the locking (barely) tail gate either.

 

I didn't install the loop, I use pop n lock.

 

I was answering the OP's question below.

"Also, can you open the tailgate with only unlocking the panel? Or do you have to fold the panel out of the way?"

How do you like the pop n lock?
I open my tail gate a hundred times a day, It has to be solid.

 

As for pop n lock, so far it works fine, but it does feel a little flimsy. For 50 dollars and very easy install, its does what it is supposed to do. There have been a lot of complaints about pop n lock, but I believe the newer ones have been upgraded. I have bed extender, and without pop n lock, it would of been very easy to steal. The tailgate has to be open to remove bed extender.