Tonneau or no Tonneau?

I like having one. Scored a peragon retractable for 300 bucks on Craigslist. Low profile and lockable. Keeps my gear secured and for the most part dry. It does leak through the breaks between the slats but I don’t normally keep things back there. I’m torn between a camper or a diamond back at the moment. I’d like to do a diamondback/RTT combo in the future but the available space of a shell is appealing.

 

My cover enables me to carry enough luggage on vacation for my family. It really increases the versatility of the truck.

 

So funny story, mom and brothers were flying into NC airport, I was driving down from NJ where I was stationed at the time to pick them up and head to my sisters. When they landed it started pouring, I didn't have a tonneau cover and no room in the truck with passengers improvised and put my bed mat on top of the bags to keep as much rain off as possible lol. The one time I could have really used a cover.

 

I have the oem cover, takes a couple minutes to take off. My back wishes I had waited and got the backflip.

 

I used a space blanket I keep in my first aid kit as a tarp with a cargo net when we were driving back from Tahoe and couldn’t close the tonneau. Worked out great.

 

Ive always preferred the low profile soft roll up covers for looks and quick access to the whole bed. But if u can afford one of those powered ones like in the pic, those look even better imo.

 

In my pic? No powered for me, bakflip mx4 or no cover. But I agree, they arent cheap.

 

I rock one, access vanish roll up. Easy to clean up and keep shiny, rolls out of the way to use the bed when I need it, and hides my precious stuffs

 

Love my Diamondback.

 

Ok. I thought all the covers that looked like that were powered. I looked into it. They are a nice cover. $899 at autoanything right now

 

Yep, still a decent bit of money for something I may never use. On the fence.

 

I use my cover all the time. I have a cheap Tyger roll up cover from Amazon and it’s held up great for a year in Alaska. Keeps the snow out of my bed in winter, keeps dirt and crap out in summer, and completely rolls out of the way when I need the height. And when it eventually gets damaged or wears out, I can replace it several times and still be money ahead compare to a hard cover.

 

A tonneau was the first thing purchased for my truck. Love having the ability to secure and protect gear/luggage/etc. in the bed. No, I don't live or park in high crime areas, nor leave things overnight, but for hauling beach gear, it works great for me. I have a Gator soft tonneau. Cheap and adequate for my needs.

One thing I don't understand about the Backflips is the way the front cover opens. Doesn't the center hinge impede on loading the front section? Not hating on it at all as it's a very popular with folks on the forum.

 

I have a trifold on both trucks. Originally I was fine with the open beds, but got tired of clearing leaves out of the bed & finding random trash left in the bed in parking lots. Yes, people think an open bed is a trash barrel for their convenience. Couldn't care if the bed is full of snow - winter weight. ...until you need to haul something in the winter & need to clear that snow & then load your stuff in a wet sloppy bed. That annoys me knowing there is such an easy simple solution to that time waster - a bed cover.

They (well some) are so easy on / off & having them saves me time from clearing the bed - why wouldn't I have one?
That's my take.

I haven't tested it, but I do wonder if having one would reduce the backdraft into the rear window when it's open. I know with no bed cover & an open back glass, I get wicked back draft into the window with leaves & whatever crap being blown in on me (wasting more time when I clean it all up from the cab).

Bed cover to save time keeping the truck clean. Saving time - the big win; you never get back lost time!

 

Just to chime in - I think it really depends what the truck will be used for. With the overland industry booming and many decking their rigs out to cater to that, a tonneau cover could potentially limit some of the accessories, such as specific bed racks. Although, I will say that Leitner Designs and a few other manufacturers are designing racks to cater in that area.

For myself and many of the guys here at Truck Brigade, if there's not a bed rack being installed, the truck has a tonneau cover. Just like the OP, I have the MX4 on my personal truck and really like it. It's low profile enough to provide a clean / stylish look and it's certainly functional. All about your lifestyle though!

 

Lol that’s quick thinking. Points for creativity. How did it work?

 

I have a in-expensive Tonno-Pro trifold, which takes very little time to put on or remove. I use it during the winter to keep snow out of the bed and on family trips for luggage. It was a few hundred bucks and is very dry, I highly recommend it.

 

I ran my tonneau up and over my cage to get the best of everything

 

I bought my truck on Friday and ordered a BakFlip MX4 on Monday.

 

Surprisingly well. Nothing inside the luggage was wet. Ghetto as hell though lol.