Bed Cover Recommendations
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 10,107
Likes: 96
From: Hempstead, TX
I love my Jack Rabbit. It has a key lockable position every 12", has a good seal against the tailgate - even with the step, retracts easily and sits almost flush (around 1/8" at most above tops of bed rails). It does a great job of keeping the stuff in my bed dry and secure. Yes, it does require a bit more maintenance, but that involves applying a little lithium grease to the rails twice a year, and removing two screws that secure the lid to the can and cleaning any debris from inside the can and verifying that the drain lines are clear. If you don't spend much time parked under trees, there won't be much to clean. (In reality, even if you do park under trees, I don't believe there will be much effort required.) As far as usable taken away from the front of the bed, I believe mine is around 8" or so. I have an 8' box, so that isn't normally an issue for me.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 34
From: Annandale, VA
I have the Ford version of the Backflip HD. I really like the cover, but it does get pretty hot in the sun. The reason why I went this cover is b/c Ford covers their covers under the bumper to bumper warranty of the truck.
Additionally, the Bakflip covers come off the bed with 2 *****, which I really like. I haul an ATV in the bed an the canisters for the roll up covers are more difficult to remove.
Additionally, the Bakflip covers come off the bed with 2 *****, which I really like. I haul an ATV in the bed an the canisters for the roll up covers are more difficult to remove.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,239
Likes: 4,257
From: Kaysville Utah
I have a Truxedo on my truck. It has 131,000 miles on it. It has worked fine to keep tools and stuff dry and out of sight and still lets me hook up the Gooseneck trail in a minute.
My only complaint is the velcro sides have lost their grip. I need to get some new velcro and replace the sides.
My only complaint is the velcro sides have lost their grip. I need to get some new velcro and replace the sides.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Delaware
Thanks for all the input guys. We've got a tool box in the garage that we are trying to decide if we are going to use it on this truck - which of course would rule out the use of any cover. With the under the seat storage and the fact that it's a bit of a pain to hook up the fifth wheel when its on the truck we are not sure we really need/want it on this truck. I'm not really sure why the other half wants a locking cover, as we don't normally keep anything in the bed. I'm kind of leaning towards a soft top roll up - as the ones that fold up will block the back window when the 5'er is hitched. The rolling hard top ones can take up a good bit of the bed space. Our B&W sits totally below the bed.
Now for the million dollar question - do any of you really see much of an improvement in fuel mileage with a cover??
Now for the million dollar question - do any of you really see much of an improvement in fuel mileage with a cover??
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,762
Likes: 115
Thanks for all the input guys. We've got a tool box in the garage that we are trying to decide if we are going to use it on this truck - which of course would rule out the use of any cover. With the under the seat storage and the fact that it's a bit of a pain to hook up the fifth wheel when its on the truck we are not sure we really need/want it on this truck. I'm not really sure why the other half wants a locking cover, as we don't normally keep anything in the bed. I'm kind of leaning towards a soft top roll up - as the ones that fold up will block the back window when the 5'er is hitched. The rolling hard top ones can take up a good bit of the bed space. Our B&W sits totally below the bed.
Now for the million dollar question - do any of you really see much of an improvement in fuel mileage with a cover??
Now for the million dollar question - do any of you really see much of an improvement in fuel mileage with a cover??
I haven't seen a measurable improvement and I have run several trucks thousands of miles before putting a cover on it. There might be an improvement if you always have "stuff" in the bed that could catch the wind - I typically do not.
Also, you can use some of the rolling covers with a toolbox. The covers just doesn't roll out all the way, which isn't an issue with most of the covers. You do have to cut the side rails, which means if you decide to NOT run a toolbox you have to get full size rails again...
Of you would need to measure to make sure the 5th wheel still fits with the toolbox and the cannister. IIRC, one company made an integrated toolbox with the cannister to hold the rolled up top cover in it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,762
Likes: 115
Another way to look at it, is if it made any kind of difference, all pickup manufacturers would have some sort of tonneau as standard equipment on their trucks. They have done some pretty weird and crazy things to get an extra .25 MPG for CAFE reasons that I gotta believe if a tonneau made even .25 mpg or better yet a noticeable 1 mpg difference, don't you think they would be standard on all pickups? (At least the vinyl Tonneaus?)
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tseekins
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
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RickBetterley
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