Tonneau Cover

What tonneau cover should I go with. Don't really know the ups and downs of a soft or hard cover. Also whats better roll up or trifold?

 

Here's what you do: Decide what is best for your budgets and what you like aesthetically. Do you just want to cover the bed to protect stuff, or will you be going in and out of the bed all the time and need to use the full bed?

Some insist on hard cover, some like soft, some rollup, some not. Find out what will best suit your needs.

I have a soft cover, that flips into three sections. It was cheap, simple to install and it's very rare if I move it or try to fold it up.

 

What is the benefit of the hard cover to the soft cover? Is it just for looks?

I think that was my main concern if I went for soft if it would last.

 

yeah, everything starts with how much coin you have available to drop on this purchase. Once that is known, start looking for ones that fall within your budget. Soft covers are the cheapest and are better than nothing I guess, but hopefully you can afford something a bit more substantial.

 

As long as you wipe the soft cover every 3 - 6 months with armoral it will last and look new for many years.

 

Thats the crossroad I am at. I'm able to afford either or just was not sure if going with the more expensive was worth it.

 

I have an Amazon special, Gator EXT soft trifold. I'm happy with it over the last year and a half. First thing I bought for my truck.

 

Both will cover your stuff and keep the contents relatively dry, that is really not the concern. And any tonneau cover can be defeated from a thief's perspective. But think about it, a pocket knife gets someone into your soft cover in about 4 seconds. A good hard cover probably needs a small crow bar to be defeated.

 

Security. Soft covers can be slashed with a knife. Hard are generally made out of a metal that isn’t cutable.

 

I love the one I decided on last year. Aluminum roll up, easy to install, pretty secure, and very sleek.
BAK Revolver X4s

 

I was in your shoes and ended up browsing the forum and finding a local guy selling the 1k hardtop for less than half off in great shape. Was almost going to go with the soft-top because of the cost but preferred the look of the hardtop, along with added security if you want to load up with golf clubs, tools and have added tailgate security.(See tailgate theft thread). End of the day the looks, function and safety sell the hard. Only downside is its a bit heavier and for an older or shorter owner it may be difficult to remove by themselves.

 

I like my BakFlip MX4. Expensive, yes. But it looks good and functions well.

 

I went budget, TonnoPro Trifold. These have been great on my Tacoma, but I do not worry about security.

 

Just upgraded to MX4, from crappy oem hard cover. Best thing I did.

 

I had OEM for 5 years until it started to leak a lot at the folds.

Replaced it over the summer with Diamondback. No regrets
They're expensive yes but they were the only one on the market that many said were water tight.

I've never liked soft covers or the one piece.
The added security of Diamondback is nice as well.

 

Not sure why so many here poo-poo on the OEM cover. It is one heavy duty son of a gun and has served me well.

 

Same, the OEM cover is incredibly well built in my experience and offers great value if you can find one used.

 

I was fine with mine until it started having so many leak issues. I tried replacing the weather stripping but it still continued to leak. And it was not at the bed it was at the seams. Tested by having the tailgate open and hose on it to see where water got in.

It served me well for 5 years. But it got to the point the water inside was beginning to cause mold on the bed mat and algae on the sides of the bed. No matter what I tried water would get in but not dry out enough.

Was so bad to the point we had a storm and I had a veto pro PAC tool bag in the bed, there were puddles in that bag after and it was zippered closed.

Sad fact the more you open that cover the more the seals start to fail.

If you're not after water tight it's great. If you're after water tight from what I found researching comparing the retrax, bakflip and all other options none were water tight. And I was at the point if I'm spending that much I expect it water tight.
Knew someone with the Diamondback, he said he had no issues so I was sold. 4 months with it so far no regrets.

It's expensive yes and not for everyone. But if you're after lockable security and water tight it's the only thing on the market.

For what it's worth I'd have sooner gotten another OEM over bakflip or retrax

 

Lots of options out there. I went with Diamondback. Makes the whole bed a lockable toolbox.

 

These days thiefs would just slash soft covers just to check what's in the bed even if nothing is there. So that's the difference of soft and hard cover.