Tonneau cover? Good or Bad?

[Doughboy21kd]

I might be interested in selling my canopy and getting a tonneau cover? But i dont know anyone have any input on this for me? Good idea? Bad idea? If so why?



Whats a good cover if i do it?



I been looking at Pace edwards... .



I am wanting a soft cover, but weather proof... . I do not want a hard one.....

 

[CStraface]

I would say keep the canopy. I think soft covers look cheesy. Although I have seen some nice new roll up ones, but I would just rather keep the canopy.

 

[Larry Willard]

I had a cap on my truck for a long time prior to getting the fifth wheel. After that it was a pain taking it on and off, so I ended up using nothing. That was a pain trying to keep things dry. Currently I am on the 2nd year using the Agri-cover from Genos. It has been totally water proof, and rolls up easily when not need and while towing the trailer. When (if) I get another truck this type will be used on it.

Larry

 

[Graphite 6]

I've got the Truxedo,and love it. I'ts tough material, very realible in all kinds of weather, and mine has been through it all here where we live. Instant access to your bed. As with all things there are trade offs, this suits me, I've had a canopy before, and my neighbor has a flush mounted hard top, so I've had experience with them all in one way or another. Brad

 

[Doughboy21kd]

What are some of the Pro's and what are some Con's of the canopy or cover?... .



Some examples if you could please.

 

[gitchesum]

Soft is definately easier to remove and store than the canopy. The ability to carry large items would limited to times you have the canopy off.



I had a soft cover. I liked it, but I never saw an improvement in mileage over no cover.

Try to get one that tilts up to get stuff in and out, makes it much easier.

 

[JVolpe]

I have had caps and hard tonneaus on number of trucks. I had a SnugLid XL on my current truck for a short time. The new style SnugLid single lock kept leaking around the lock. I returned it and ran without one for over a year. I had a Undercover hard tonneau installed about six months ago and really like it. It is not as pretty as the Snuglids or some other fiberglass tonneaus, but it is really better all around and much cheaper. It is very light and designed to be removed very easy. I can remove it myself in 5 minutes and hang it in the garage if needed. http://www.undercoverinfo.com/



EDIT: Just saw you have a long bed, I think Undercover only has short bed tonneaus for Dodge currently.



I never really saw any mileage different with a tonneau, maybe because I always had a bed full with the cover that was not there without it.



#ad

 

[GEdwards]

The soft roll ups are the way to go. Like the Truxedo.



That allows you to put things in the back or keep stuff try quickly.



I personally despise canopys or toppers.



I personally own a truck to haul toys(like snowmobiles, dirt bikes, ATVs, etc) in the back. You lose this ability with a canopy.



My other pet peave is nothing ever stays in one place in the back of a pickup, especially a rough riding Cummins. So you end up crawling into the back of the truck or reaching through the side window and scratching the side of your truck.



I have nothing, but a tonneau would be handy once in a while.



Also, a canopy ruins the lines of a truck. If you want a canopy, buy a Surburban or an Excursion IMO.



I have buddys with toppers and I just can't understand why?



What do you use a canopy for? You can get a camper to sleep in back. You get tool boxes for tools. You can use a tonneau to keep most stuff underneath. Dogs should probably be in crates anyways. I can not figure out why you would want one.



Just my 2 cents.

 

[Doughboy21kd]

Thats what i looking at was a TRUXEDO Soft roll up

 

[Teacher]

If you get the Pace Edwards cover, you have the best of both worlds. When you want to use your canopy, just take the cover that hides the rolltop off, place your canopy on and use it. When you don't want the canopy on, take it off, then reinstall the (two screws) the rolltop cover and you are back where you started.

 

[BSkinner]

I've been trying to decide what to put on my new truck. Hard or soft tonneau or topper?



I've had a couple of toppers. They're handy for sheltering larger/taller objects (including me). The big downside for me is that the back glass is always dirty. I travel a lot of dirt roads and the back glass is always obscured. In fact, a topper does a pretty good job of obscuring vision to the rear even when it's clean. Also, they are a real pain to remove and re-install and, of course, are the most expensive option.



I decided when I bought my Dodge that I didn't want a topper so I went through the researching process on tonneaus. The soft covers are the cheapest but don't have the security of the hard covers. The one piece hard covers weren't in the running. I bought an "Advance Cover" (pics in reader's rigs) and have been very pleased. It seals very well, even dust. "Fold a Cover" looks to be the same cover but made by a different company (in the same city, I think). These are priced between toppers and soft covers.



I really prefer the tonneaus. I like the visibility out of the truck. But, sometimes, like today, I need a topper. I've got to haul some pretty expensive lab equipment to CO. Most of the equipment is in the cab but the rest is in the box with the "Advance Cover" folded up. Some of the stuff is too tall to fit under the cover. So, I have to wait for clear weather to make the trip. So, it looks like I might buy a soft cover and the cheapest (Unicover) topper for those few times I need it. Unicover (I think that's the name. Ugly, aluminum, boxy toppers) are the cheapest covers made which is fine as it would be stored on the ground in the back yard most of the time. I don't think the "Advance Cover"/topper combination would work due to all of the mounting hardware but I think the soft cover might.



Bob

 

[Byershome]

I have both.



I use the topper to haul the dogs or on long trips for semi-secure and dry storage.



I use the Access tonneau the rest of the time. It keeps things pretty dry, is easy to remove or just rolls up out of the way and helps with fuel milage.

 

[JThiessen]

BSkinner, can you run with that Advance cover halfway open? I can use my Roll'n Lock in partially open positions which is really nice when I'm towing the 5'er. But due to cost, I'm considering putting something different on my new truck.

 

[BSkinner]

BSkinner, can you run with that Advance cover halfway open? I can use my Roll'n Lock in partially open positions which is really nice when I'm towing the 5'er. But due to cost, I'm considering putting something different on my new truck.

Nope. The cover should be put all the way forward and secured.



Bob

 

[Kennywould]

I have an Xtang tilt up, like it a lot when I don't need it on it comes off in one piece. You can roll it up but I usually just remove it in one piece. My . 02. Ken

 

[Forrest Nearing]

Also, a canopy ruins the lines of a truck. If you want a canopy, buy a Surburban or an Excursion IMO.

the're selling those w/ Cummins in them now!??!?



SWEET!!!!

 

[CowboyDodge]

I have a soft tonneau cover on my truck it is ok but it is a pain to snap when it is cool out if the sun out it is ok I have custom cove by Advantage



http://www.advantagetruckaccessories.com/

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

You definately want one like the literider that Geno's sells. I've had the snap style in the past and up here in Michigan if you took it off in winter you couldn't put it back on until spring it was so tight. The literider works great no matter the time of year. There's an adjustment at the front that let's you loosen/tighten the tonneau up (although I haven't had to adjust it yet). You can roll it up or put it back down in literally seconds. I hauls motorcycles in the back of mine almost weekly and I wouldn't ever have a different style of tonneau. I've had a cap in the past and had to remove it regularly to haul overheight items and I wouldn't get one again.

 

[CKimball]

I love my hard cover. it is great to keep stuff out of sight and it looks great. like having a HUGE trunk that can hold almost anything. . true story: drove to Texas a couple of months ago and was gettin fuel and this old guy walks up to me and says "what a waste of a nice truck"!!!... and I thought huh?... then he looks at my plates and laughs hard... I thought geezz gezze whats the deal... . he says. . "I shoulda known... yer truck was way too clean and you boys out there dont use yer trucks as trucks!!"... I laughed and lifted the cover to show him a bed FULL of firewood that I keep back there for camping and leave in all the time. bein all proud I show him... . he says... if thats what call "using your truck!!!..... I just laughed... I guess you would havehad to have been there...

cameron

 

[SMolteberg]

I got a Literider soft cover from Agricovers here, just love it! Holds up great, and with the adjustable tension and velcro fastners it's perfect here in Norway with rapid weatherchanges during the winter. No problem with the snowload either. My best upgrade on the truck, wouldn't live without it.