Bed Cover while towing a fifth wheel
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New User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Monterey, CA
Bed Cover while towing a fifth wheel
I have a question for those that are towing with a fifth wheel, what covers are you using or would recommend?
<o></o>
I need a cover for my F-350 LB that will retract or fold out of the way and can be opened 4-6 times a week (I don’t think buttons, velcro or cloth will hold up, please correct me if I am wrong).
I would like it to be relatively easy to do (my wife will be the primary operator).
Last I would like to keep the cost down—any recommendations? <o></o>
<o></o>
I need a cover for my F-350 LB that will retract or fold out of the way and can be opened 4-6 times a week (I don’t think buttons, velcro or cloth will hold up, please correct me if I am wrong).
I would like it to be relatively easy to do (my wife will be the primary operator).
Last I would like to keep the cost down—any recommendations? <o></o>
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 260
Likes: 2
From: Apache, OK
I have a ROLL-N-LOCK bed cover. I really like it because:
1. It can be locked
2. It works like a roll up garage door which means it is aluminum and can’t be broken into with a pocketknife like a fabric cover.
It has positions that will allow you to drive with it fully close, ¼ open, ½ open, ¾ open, and fully open. When pulling the 5th wheel, I leave it in the ¾ open position. This gives come cover to my toolbox so that it is out of the rain and out of sight.
I paid $972 for it a year ago but must confess that I didn’t do any shopping.
http://www.rollnlock.com/
I’m happy with mine.
1. It can be locked
2. It works like a roll up garage door which means it is aluminum and can’t be broken into with a pocketknife like a fabric cover.
It has positions that will allow you to drive with it fully close, ¼ open, ½ open, ¾ open, and fully open. When pulling the 5th wheel, I leave it in the ¾ open position. This gives come cover to my toolbox so that it is out of the rain and out of sight.
I paid $972 for it a year ago but must confess that I didn’t do any shopping.
http://www.rollnlock.com/
I’m happy with mine.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
I have a Paragon, but I'm not completely happy with it. It looks grat, but it was a bear to install and it sure don't just roll in and out. It takes a bit of push to get it folded and a lot of grunt to extend it. But it LOOKS great! My son and I have adjusted and adjusted, but there's no way to just to give a little tug and let it fold itself in or out.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
I use a Truxedo Lo profile cover ($380), with the self adjusting velcro closures. I've had it on for 2 yrs. Very easy install. Adjusted to fit during install and has not needed another adjustment. It holds 2' of snow fine. Living in the Pacific NW, I got it to keep things dry while not hauling the 5th wheel. It does a remarkable job. While towing, it roles up to the front of the box and is secured by the provided elastic straps. When I drop the trailer, the cover rolls out and secures in under 1 min.
Granted it isn't 100% secure, but out of sight-out of mind is 90% of the battle.
Granted it isn't 100% secure, but out of sight-out of mind is 90% of the battle.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
Likes: 4
I've got the JackRabbit retracting bed cover. It's aluminum strips with a rubber coating. There's a box that extends about 8 inches into the front of the bed.
It can be opened and locked in positions at one foot increments. I also have an 18K Signature Series Reese hitch, so it is low enough that the bed cover can be completely closed with the hitch in the bed. I have it open to where it covers the bed in front of the hitch when towing, so it would be difficult for anyone to get in and mess with hitch pins or pin latch.
It has a lock.
If you shop around for this one, be aware that some of the dealers will charge for the cover and separately for the rails. Others will include the rails in the price. Make sure you compare prices with that consideration.
Installation was a breeze - about two hours with me and my wife. Just make sure you support the rails at the back of the bed when inserting them into the box at the front so they don't slide off the edge of the bed rails - that was the first little scratch on my right hand dually fender on my new '06.
It can be opened and locked in positions at one foot increments. I also have an 18K Signature Series Reese hitch, so it is low enough that the bed cover can be completely closed with the hitch in the bed. I have it open to where it covers the bed in front of the hitch when towing, so it would be difficult for anyone to get in and mess with hitch pins or pin latch.
It has a lock.
If you shop around for this one, be aware that some of the dealers will charge for the cover and separately for the rails. Others will include the rails in the price. Make sure you compare prices with that consideration.
Installation was a breeze - about two hours with me and my wife. Just make sure you support the rails at the back of the bed when inserting them into the box at the front so they don't slide off the edge of the bed rails - that was the first little scratch on my right hand dually fender on my new '06.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 1
From: Nothern Indiana
I had the tuxedo cover and didn't care for it. I now have the fold a top folding hard cover and like it alot. You can open it from eithier end and will fold up to the front to access the fifth wheel hitch.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 893
Likes: 8
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
i like my truxedo it has a 100% lifetime warrenty i talked a sales guy on the phone and he recommeded it over the access. he said that the truxedo has the better warrenty and are easy to deal with when turning in warrenty items and it was cheaper then the access by about $100
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 796
Likes: 0
From: North Idaho
I have a Truxedo Lo Pro and it works great. As for security, another plug for out of site- out of mind. You can lock the tailgate and unless someone trashes the cover, things in the box are pretty safe. The weather here has been really bad lately and driving in rain, snow and slush, I haven't had any of my tools in the box get wet. It installs in about 15 minutes and opens and closes in a matter of seconds.
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decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,703
Likes: 6
From: Right Behind You
Truxedo low profile here too. I love it, very east to open/close. It has helpup exceptionally well, For the first year that I had mine it would be opened/closed at last 3 times a day...I worked out of the back of my truck.
I looked at the rollnlock first...but couldn't spent the money for it.
Tim
I looked at the rollnlock first...but couldn't spent the money for it.
Tim
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
dhagg911 is right, the Truxedo Lo Profile has a lifetime warranty. It is also very durable. It rolls all the way up to allow you full use of your bed and when closed you have to open the tailgate to open the cover. It's easy to use too. It rolls up in a matter of seconds. I have the Lo Profile on my own truck and I can attest to its ease of use. I'm short and I have no problem opening and closing my cover.
http://www.truxedo.com/index.html
http://www.truxedo.com/index.html
decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,703
Likes: 6
From: Right Behind You
Originally Posted by thorseshoeing
Truxedo low profile here too. I love it, very east to open/close. It has helpup exceptionally well, For the first year that I had mine it would be opened/closed at last 3 times a day...I worked out of the back of my truck.
This is the one I have:
http://truckaddons.com/Catalog/subpa...lbox_cover.asp
Tim
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 1
From: Nothern Indiana
The only draw back to a roll-up is you can't open it from the front. With the fifth wheel in the truck I put a tool box in the front behind the cab and don't want to have to roll up the cover to get to the tools in front. Not that it was that hard to do but seems like it was either open all the way or trying to reach from the back to the front. I tried it for awhile but ended up getting the fold-a-cover for that reason.
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 148
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Originally Posted by firesoutmatt
The only draw back to a roll-up is you can't open it from the front. With the fifth wheel in the truck I put a tool box in the front behind the cab and don't want to have to roll up the cover to get to the tools in front. Not that it was that hard to do but seems like it was either open all the way or trying to reach from the back to the front. I tried it for awhile but ended up getting the fold-a-cover for that reason.
http://www.truxedo.com/deuce/deuce.html