Question for folks with rolling tonneau covers

[LibDan]

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.

LOL. The rear headrests didn't even make it out of the dealer lot before they were on the floor of the backseat.

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[LibDan]

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.

Growing up, Dad had a convertible and we never locked it. He always said that if someone wanted to get in it, they could, and you might as well not have to pay for a new top plus whatever they took/stole.

 

[LibDan]

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.

Thanks, that's useful info. I live in the suburbs of a medium-sized city in South Carolina. However, I work downtown. There is some crime to worry about though not at the level when I used to live in Houston. It is enough to give me pause. Where I grew up in a town of 1,800 people or even the big town in the county with 12,000, I wouldn't be worrying about crime.

 

[commadorebob]

Thanks, that's useful info. I live in the suburbs of a medium-sized city in South Carolina. However, I work downtown. There is some crime to worry about though not at the level when I used to live in Houston. It is enough to give me pause. Where I grew up in a town of 1,800 people or even the big town in the county with 12,000, I wouldn't be worrying about crime.

To be fair, when I drive into Montgomery, I keep more valuable items in the cab. That said, my bed is usually empty so it really depends how much you keep in there.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Thanks, that's useful info. I live in the suburbs of a medium-sized city in South Carolina. However, I work downtown. There is some crime to worry about though not at the level when I used to live in Houston. It is enough to give me pause. Where I grew up in a town of 1,800 people or even the big town in the county with 12,000, I wouldn't be worrying about crime.

What's most important?
Security, Appearance, Cost
Access and removal when needed.
How often will you be using the bed where you have to roll it up against the rear window? How proficient are you at using side mirrors?
Will whatever you're carrying in the bed be blocking the rear window regardless?
Here is a hard roller.

Yes, it getting up there in price. It's also more than vinyl, velcro and a frame.

 

[Darthie]

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

I'm gonna try a $200 cover.

I just put this one on and love it.

 

[LibDan]

What's most important?
Security, Appearance, Cost
Access and removal when needed.
How often will you be using the bed where you have to roll it up against the rear window? How proficient are you at using side mirrors?
Will whatever you're carrying in the bed be blocking the rear window regardless?

I'm not sure I have a bead on a lot of that really. I was running errands last weekend and having to keep tossing stuff in the cab (no tonneau). Was thinking, "It would be nice to be able to keep stuff securely in the bed" since I could see in future scenarios I could have a couple hundred dollars of stuff riding around back there. Maybe the soft vision block would be enough, maybe not. waffle waffle.

How often will I be using the bed? Having had less than a week of experience... I'm not sure. I can see myself in the future needing to haul away an appliance... unless free delivery comes with free haul away. Got to get some mulch in the Spring. But in 5 years, or 10? No idea.

Appearance is not a big factor for me., I prefer the canvas tops like the Truxedo Sentry CT, but I'm not married to them.

I'm OK with the side mirrors. I have the full 360 cameras for parking and backing. I think the loss of rear view would bother me most changing lanes.

It has occurred to me that if I get the cheaper option and it turns out to be the wrong choice, I'm probably going to want/need to get the hard cover. But If I get the hard cover and turn out not to need it, I won't feel I need to get the soft one. I'll just feel like I paid too much.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I'm not sure I have a bead on a lot of that really. I was running errands last weekend and having to keep tossing stuff in the cab (no tonneau). Was thinking, "It would be nice to be able to keep stuff securely in the bed" since I could see in future scenarios I could have a couple hundred dollars of stuff riding around back there. Maybe the soft vision block would be enough, maybe not. waffle waffle.

How often will I be using the bed? Having had less than a week of experience... I'm not sure. I can see myself in the future needing to haul away an appliance... unless free delivery comes with free haul away. Got to get some mulch in the Spring. But in 5 years, or 10? No idea.

Appearance is not a big factor for me., I prefer the canvas tops like the Truxedo Sentry CT, but I'm not married to them.

I'm OK with the side mirrors. I have the full 360 cameras for parking and backing. I think the loss of rear view would bother me most changing lanes.

It has occurred to me that if I get the cheaper option and it turns out to be the wrong choice, I'm probably going to want/need to get the hard cover. But If I get the hard cover and turn out not to need it, I won't feel I need to get the soft one. I'll just feel like I paid too much.

As far as security with a hardcover versus a soft cover. At what point do you feel you would be overspending for the security of a hardcover?

 

[LibDan]

As far as security with a hardcover versus a soft cover. At what point do you feel you would be overspending for the security of a hardcover?

That's a great question! Logically, the answer should be when the cost of anything stolen/damaged fell below the dollar amount of the price difference between the cost of soft and hard covers, but I'm not sure that's the right answer psychologically. I'll need to think about it.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Good Luck with whatever style you choose.
Check everything twice so this doesn't happen to you. This turned out to be a little more than fluttering.
Kind of funny but could have been deadly.

I wonder if the velcro was worn out?

 

[Headbanger]

Good Luck with whatever style you choose.
Check everything twice so this doesn't happen to you.
Kind of funny but could have been deadly.

I wonder if the velcro was worn out?

Damn!!

 

[Automan21]

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.

Nice wheels!

I have the Truxedo soft roll up cover and if need be I can totally pull off the cover and leave the rails. I doubt it will ever come to that.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Damn!!

Right!!!
I think of this video whenever I'm traveling behind a pickup truck with a soft tonneau cover that's fluttering a little in the wind.
It amazes me when I see those full pickup truck drop in plastic bed liners laying on the narrow shoulder side of the highway next to the jersey barrier. You realize how much wind turbulence there is to pull one of those improperly secured liners out of the bed.

 

[OneHappyTremor]

I’ve had this since not long after my July 2023 Tremor purchase, and it has served me well.

While I don’t have a rolled-up diameter measurement for you at this moment, I will say that it does roll up very compact and if I recall correctly it barely showed when I glanced out my rear window.

I don’t carry full loads except when on an occasional vacation, at which time it gets rolled up all the way to the window for loading. The only space it takes up when rolled back is the roll itself, plus the minimal sides of the installed rails.

It does produce some noise and a small area of cover up & down movement from air getting underneath while at freeway speeds, but that seems to be typical of these soft covers and doesn’t detract from its function.

I have considered the retractable Roll-N-Lock M-Series with its relatively compact “retracted” container, but have held off because the current 60qt ice chest that we use is about 1-2” too tall for that cover, and we can’t put it in the rear cab because that area is reserved for the kids:

There’s + & - for any type of cover, but as you have concluded you’ll just have to give it some thought and figure out what’ll work under the most possible uses in your case. Good luck buddy.

 

[MikeS1942]

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

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.

I purchased the hard rollup cover from Ford, it was installed at the build. I like it very much, because it allows you to place things on top of it without worry of damage. and it is high and dry. When rolled up, I lose about 1/3 of my rear view and about 8 inches above my bed. You don't lose any bed length, only about 6 inches above the bed rail. I am totally happy with mine.

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