I'm new to this - just bought my first truck, a 2003 Ext. Cab F-150. Purchased it with a Ford (brand on tag - don't know who makes it) tonneau cover. It's the type that fits in a groove along the rails on the sides and back and has 3 removeable cross bars to support it.

When you don't need/want the cover, you can roll it up to store behind the cab. As the cover has a plastic runner along the side (that fits in the groove of the rail to hold it down), it doesn't seem to roll up very tightly. I'm afraid if I roll it too tight that the plastic will snap. So when rolled, the cover is very loose.

Q1 - How tight can you roll this cover without fear of breaking the track?

When rolled up, the cover is secured by two straps. Each has two parts, one inside the truck pan and the other is left hanging between the pan and the cab. When the cover is being used, I find the two straps outside and hanging down behind the cab blow up and snap around in the wind. I don't want them to scratch my new paint.

Q2 - What is the best way to secure these straps so they don't blow/snap all over the place?

Sorry if these seem like novice questions - I am!

Keith

 

Hey there Krow and welcome to FTE!
I wouldn't worry much about cracking that vinyl runner. Even those are replaceable if they're damaged. Just roll it up to what you feel comfortable with. On a buddy's rig, he sometimes folds it and puts it under his seat.
When you leave it on the exterior rolled up, those straps are like whips! You can cut them down, then use a lighter to burn the nylon at the end of the straps. It gets VERY HOT, so use a rag to pull off any heavy stuff. That'll keep it from unravelling. Or if you have the Velcro type, you can get some velcro from a fabric store that doesn't have adhesive on it and sew it onto the straps to keep whipping to a minimum. Hope this helps. Talk with you later....

 

Thanks, Jim, for your reply. What I did with the exterior straps was tie them together. That seems to have stopped the whipping action. We'll see.

Do you know who makes this TC for Ford (has a "Ford" tag on the back right corner)? Its the one that has three cross and the tailgate bar. The cover fits in a groove at the front. I haven't taken it completely off but I think you have to slide it sideways to take it out of the front track. Then along the sides there is a vinyl strip that fits in a groove with a rubber sealer fitting into another groove just below it. I assume the vinyl is for strength and the rubber seal is to make it more watertight. Hasn't rained since I got it so I have no idea as to its weather worthiness. Fits nice and snug - at least for now as its only a week old! Hope it holds up.

Thanks again.

Keith

 

Hey there Keith! You may want to call your Ford dealer. There are so many parts and accessories that All manufacturers contract out. They should be able to give you the information you need.

On the cover itself, you are correct in the way it's removed from the frame. You won't have to worry about the water tightness of the cover. The ones Ford are using theses days are of much better quality than in previous years.

Good luck with your new purchase! I love it when anyone gets a new rig. Being it's your first truck, I'm sure you've got a few accessories you want to add to personalize it for yourself. You'll become hooked pretty easily if your not careful though! HEE HEE!
I'll talk with you later....

 

I have the Ford Tonneau as well. The maker of the FORD tonneau is LUND. I needed to replace a support bow and the Ford Accessories web associate had someone form LUND send me an email. Hope this helps.

 

Hi taotaoano

I have the XLT also. Still less than 2000 (1200 mi) km on it. We're leaving next week for a 3 week vacation and are taking the truck. Anxious to see how it performs on the "long haul".

I like the cover. I only wish they had used a different system for the tie straps. They were flapping in the wind, snapping against the back window. I tied them together and that seems to have fixed it. Velcro would have been better.

When you roll it up, how tight can you roll it without worrying about cracking the plastic strip? Can you roll it in cold weather? I heard somewhere that someone opened it in cold weather and had to take it off and bring it into the house to warm up before it was flexible enough to reseal. How do you find it?

I like to look of the cover. Much better than a snap system. But I'm beginning to regret not paying the extra $$$ and getting a slide system like Pace-Edwards. That would give more security as it's lockable. But then I heard they are sometimes noisy - rattling.

Keith