Topper vs. Tonneau

[Sregorb]

Would love to hear all the pros/cons between getting a topper or a tonneau. I'm debating on which way to go and want to see if my desires are matching up with practical experiences. I plan on getting a camper too so this will further complicate things.....



Brian

geez, so much fun to have and so little time...

 

[Fireman Dave]

Brian,



I have a fiberglass tonneau cover. I had been planning to get a cap while the truck was on order, but I changed my mind at the last minute. Sometimes I wish I had a cap instead, and sometimes I wish I had nothing on it at all. Here's my thoughts after almost 2 years. But mostly, the cover works very well for me.



Pros: Locking it secures the bed since it hangs over the tailgate; Nobody can see what's under there (tools, shopping bags, etc... ; A little better visibility while driving; Everything stays completely dry under there.



Cons: Obviously limited as to what I can haul (height-wise); Heavy - would need at least 3 people if I want to remove it (although, this is also a pro in the snow); it's beating up my bedrails a little bit.



Sometimes I think about going to a cap, but the pros of the cover kind of outweigh the cons for me right now. A roll-up would eliminate my cons, but would also take away a couple of the pros. I use my bed pretty-much as a trunk - luggage, tools, etc... I don't haul gravel ar anything with it. I do haul firewood on camping trips, but that's about it for raw materials. A carbon fiber cover would be the ticket for me - something solid, yet lightweight and easy to remove.



Dave

 

[Oasis-3]

Tonneau Cover

I had one topper and it was in the yard more then on the truck.

I have had 5 trucks with Tonneau Covers.

I seem to use my truck to hall things and the tonneau works for me.

The snaps are hard to use when it is cold but the new covers you can open the tail gate with out undoing the snaps, and I tie a strap to most things so I donot have to climb under the cover to get things out.



It's all in how you use your truck.



Cliff

 

[ob1kobi]

I had the cap, I've had the hard tonneau cover, and wouldn't waste my money on either one of them again. I have the soft tonneau cover now, and love it. My opinion is that is much more verstitile than any of the other options, plus I think it looks the best too. A little trick if your trying to install them when it's cold, just throw it in the truck with the heat on for a few minutes. It'll loosen it up just enough.

 

[Ted Constantine]

I have a topper. i would be killed in the K9 rebellion if I put on a tonneau. I like running without anything but winter does not allow that. In my opinion toppers have there bonuses, tonneaus only have negatives for me.



I do run into issues with my cab-hi topper with taller items but a higher backed topper would be a major issue with the height of these trucks.



Ted

 

[JohnE]

been there, done that, got the hat

I had a cab high fiberglass topper on my S-10 pickup. It was exceptional quality, but the height was a limiting problem so it was on and off a few times. It sprouted legs one night and walked out of my back yard while off the pickup.



I have an extended height fiberglass toppper for the Ram. It currently hangs in the granary. I miss it now due to the snow in the box and added traction for slippery roads. That beast is <big>BIG</big> and heavy. The extended height make for great storage and wind deflector when pulling a TT, so I'm keeping it.



A hard tonneau? Not in my lifetime!



I'm going soft tonneau. I have a custom unit on order (2 months now) to go with my long bed and rail mount tool box. It is the most common box augmentation around town. I haven't heard a bad word on a soft cover. I am talking the velcro secured units, too. You will hear bad words on the snap top due to our winter temps and normal snow load.



-John

 

[schu777]

Just something else to keep in mind, having an aux tank in the back of the truck would make a difference in the choice of a topper/tonneau... I've been thinking what I want on my truck, yet I have no idea of which way to go or if I need it. I guess I'll have to see some what others have and what it is like on the truck.

 

[redneckdr]

tonneau

after two soft top tonneaus on my last two trucks, went with a customized ARE Lo Pro lid this time, and love it!! not the best pic, but see https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayimage.php?&photoid=84&width=2

i had it made without locks. it doesn't lap over the tailgate. i lock it down inside the bed on the sides with heavy truck hood latches. then with a power tailgate lock, have a huge locking trunk. when i want to haul something in the truck that's tall, i hold it down with tarp straps, or remove it... fairly easy and light.

 

[ftb87]

I have the oem fiberglass tonneau from D/C. The color match is exact (I negociated, when I purchased my truck... all options at dealers cost).



Pro's:

Protects luggage.

Locks.

Cant see whats underneath.

Add about 150lbs to the back of the truck (less bounce).

Easy to take off and store.



Con's:

Can't haul large items unless you take cover off.



Its a difficult decision, you should look at trucks that have one or the other on them and see what you like. Personally, I like the tonneau cover... because I travel alot with my family and everything is locked up and out of sight.



Frank

 

[roadranger]

Soft Tonneaus

I've had soft tonneaus on two trucks. Although they are very versatile- you can roll them up to haul tall items, and they are pretty watertight when covering the bed- they have a couple of major problems.



Heavy snow loads tend to stretch or rip them- then when you're doing the 75 mph speed limit they flap around and tug off the fasteners.

Sunlight exposure tends to shrink them up- pretty soon (2 yrs or so) you can't stretch them out enough to fasten down.



Velcro fasteners aren't strong enough to hold it down when high speed running, and the snap/twist fasteners are forever getting broken off.



Some days you just can't win!

 

[kwedberg]

This has not been mentioned, but have you considered a steel roll top? It can give you some of both worlds. You can still haul items as it easily rolls up, it locks for security, and stays pretty dry. We just had a heavy rain here and there is some moisture that gets in, but the majority of bed liner was still dry (95% of it).

 

[Sregorb]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the info! All my planning and logic/rationale just flew out the window when my mrs read the post and promptly 'informed' me what my choice was going to be.

Looks like it'll be a cab-high topper, clamp-down style... . something. I'll probably try the used market for a while and then buy new in Apr-May if I can't find what I'm looking for.



Thanks for all the info agian! Our camping, dog-hauling, vacationing lifestyle leans us toward the topper though.



Even though I wanted a hard top tonneau! :{





Brian

 

[JBraun]

tonneau covers

Has anybody put a soft tonneau cover on a truck with an over the rail tool box? I saw one at realtruck.com and they have one that they sell. It is the access tool box edition. Does anybody know anything about this or have any better ideas?

Thanks

Jason