Question for folks with rolling tonneau covers

[LibDan]

I’m looking for measurements as to how big around your tonneau covers are when rolled all the way up? (I’m trying to work out how much rear visibility and bed length I’d lose.) Please say what brand and model you have (or at least if it is a hard or soft rolling cover), but don’t worry about price or detaching it though.

Second question: how much bed width do you lose to the mounting rails?

Edit: Additional Question:

When you do need to roll up the cover, presumably it is because you are wanting to put something in the bed that is a bit taller. In those cases, how often does the cargo end up obstructing the rear view such that it doesn't matter how much of it is blocked by the tonneau?

Second Edit: Thank you to everyone who gave me their impressions and all the pictures. I decided to go with the TruXedo Sentry CT. (I really liked the canvas look over vinyl.). I went with the hard rolling cover because it seemed to me that I would be less likely to regret it later. It helps that after looking at everyone's pictures I realized that the size of the rolled up top is not the same as the amount of window it will block. Once I confirmed that, things got easier.


Thanks

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[mbcorson]

Man, it rolls back lower than the back headrests. The loss of bed space is negligible maybe 4". Actually would prolly protect the rear window a bit if you're packing a lot. The mounting rails intrude the bed maybe 1 inch. I got mine from Autosaver88 on ebay for like $128 shipped. Was crucial in transporting christmas across 3 states. A must buy imo.

 

[paneubert]

Depends on if you mean a soft rolling cover versus one that has more "ribbing". Like the Ford Official rolling cover that has a ton of hard crossbeams that roll up like a pile of sticks.

I have a soft rolling cover that is maybe.....4 inches in diameter? 5? It does not block my rear window much at all when rolled up. The rails cause me to lose about an inch on each side for the cover to roll over and be supported by. Barely noticeable.

 

[Cherokee]

https://www.roughcountry.com/produc...MIq9GdiemKiwMVVPKUCR2W3BIoEAQYASABEgLXxvD_BwE

I'm gonna try a $200 cover.

 

[LibDan]

https://www.roughcountry.com/produc...MIq9GdiemKiwMVVPKUCR2W3BIoEAQYASABEgLXxvD_BwE

I'm gonna try a $200 cover.

Sorry, but I don’t understand how this answers my question.

 

[Cherokee]

Sorry, but I don’t understand how this answers my question.

It had videos of how it worked and how small when rolled up, twenty minute install, takes one inch in side the bed, Look a little deeper.

 

[Prickly Pear]

I've got the Ford soft roll up and although I don't have a rolled up diameter right now, I can say I loose just a little bit of visibility when it is flat. It sits about 1.5 inches higher than the sides of the bed, and you might not think that would make a difference but I do notice it when I look out the rear view mirror.

 

[Tvin87]

Not the best picture but you can see how much of the window is obstructed with my soft rollup. It's just a cheap knockoff from Amazon.

 

[ShadowChas]

I’m looking for measurements as to how big around your tonneau covers are when rolled all the way up? (I’m trying to work out how much rear visibility and bed length I’d lose.) Please say what brand and model you have (or at least if it is a hard or soft rolling cover), but don’t worry about price or detaching it though.

Second question: how much bed width do you lose to the mounting rails?

Thanks

This was the ford branded soft rollup & you can see only the clamps protrude into the bed & rolls up not blocking view, but can be pushed fairly tight if you need to use the whole bed

 

[LibDan]

Follow-up question: When you do need to roll up the cover, presumably it is because you are wanting to put something in the bed that is a bit taller. In those cases, how often does the cargo end up obstructing the rear view such that it doesn't matter how much of it is blocked by the tonneau?

@ShadowChas @Tvin87 @Prickly Pear @paneubert @mbcorson

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Tvin87,
Neat wheels.
Those are the biggest car stops I have ever seen.

 

[LibDan]

I know, I know. But I’ve been chewing over the hard cover or soft cover for a couple of months now. I know I want a rolling one, but that’s as far as I get. And, unfortunately, it is a several hundred dollar difference.

The soft is lighter to remove, squishes up for maximum bed space, obstructs the rear view the least, and costs like half as much. However, it also provides far less theft security and can’t be used as a table/shelf when the truck is parked. The hard cover provides much better security plus the convenience of supporting some weight. However, it also obstructs rear view more (but I’m not sure exactly how much), takes up more horizontal bed space when rolled up, weighs more during dismount, and costs twice as much.

Having never had a trucklette before, I’m not sure how those factors play out. But I can measure my usable rear window (about 10.5”), and if I can get the real world measurements of the rolls, I can at least get a solid bead on the rear view blockage and how much of my already-small bed I lose. Hence the question.

 

[commadorebob]

I have the soft cover. Maybe 4" of blockage (it's 25 degrees outside and I am not going to go get exact measurements). The only time I have it rolled up is when I'm hauling something that would block the rear view in and of itself.

I live in a suburban area of Central Alabama and the soft cover provides enough token resistance that I'm not overly concerned about security, even while traveling. Most crime is crime of opportunity so simply having it out of sight keeps your likelihood of being targeted low.

 

[Tim d]

I’m looking for measurements as to how big around your tonneau covers are when rolled all the way up? (I’m trying to work out how much rear visibility and bed length I’d lose.) Please say what brand and model you have (or at least if it is a hard or soft rolling cover), but don’t worry about price or detaching it though.

Second question: how much bed width do you lose to the mounting rails?

Edit: Additional Question:

When you do need to roll up the cover, presumably it is because you are wanting to put something in the bed that is a bit taller. In those cases, how often does the cargo end up obstructing the rear view such that it doesn't matter how much of it is blocked by the tonneau?


Thanks

The rear visibility of the maverick is so bad I doubt a rolled tonneau will make it much worse.in my ram i drop the tailgate and see everything,I can't even tell the tailgate is dropped in our maverick when looking thru the rear window. I've gotten used to the backup camera,which helps ,and also take the rear headrests out,which helps a little.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I know, I know. But I’ve been chewing over the hard cover or soft cover for a couple of months now. I know I want a rolling one, but that’s as far as I get. And, unfortunately, it is a several hundred dollar difference.

The soft is lighter to remove, squishes up for maximum bed space, obstructs the rear view the least, and costs like half as much. However, it also provides far less theft security and can’t be used as a table/shelf when the truck is parked. The hard cover provides much better security plus the convenience of supporting some weight. However, it also obstructs rear view more (but I’m not sure exactly how much), takes up more horizontal bed space when rolled up, weighs more during dismount, and costs twice as much.

Having never had a trucklette before, I’m not sure how those factors play out. But I can measure my usable rear window (about 10.5”), and if I can get the real world measurements of the rolls, I can at least get a solid bead on the rear view blockage and how much of my already-small bed I lose. Hence the question.

For me it was anything except a soft cover.
I didn't want a soft cover because of the fact it can be sliced sliced into by anybody walking by even if it's just for fun. Then you have the cost to replacing it.
I never locked the doors on my convertible whether the top is up or down and I keep nothing in the glove compartment.

Thinking about something like this happening, would bother me less than how much of the rear window it covers on the times it's rolled up.

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