Rolling tonneau covers flapping question

[LibDan]

As I've watched my Maverick endlessly sit "In Production," it's given me plenty of time to check out the accessories and make a list of the things I'd eventually like to have. Tonneau covers are one of the things I haven't been able to decide about completely. I think I want one, and I'm pretty sure I don't want a trifold (not with only a 4.5' bed to start with), but I'm having a hard time deciding which kind of rolling cover I would want. I like both the TruXedo Pro X15 and the TruXedo Sentry CT because I like the canvas look and they get recommended a lot.

I suspect that most of the miles this truck gets will be from commuting back and forth to work, bed empty, mostly at speeds below 50 MPH. Occasionally, it will be used to haul home improvement or gardening supplies home or to take things like large appliances to the dump. If I ever get a kayak/small canoe, it will be used to haul those to water and back. For some of those functions, I want to be able to easily remove the cover entirely instead of just rolling it up. I do not live in a particularly high crime area, the truck will park in a garage over night, and has pretty safe parking at work.

I occasionally make 5+ hour inter-state drives, however, and this vehicle may be chosen for those purposes due to it's fuel efficiency or if I need to haul some sort of bed-required cargo. For some of those trips, 2 dogs may be coming along who would require the back seat, forcing all luggage into the bed (which, combined with bad weather, is one reason to get a tonneau cover). There is always the chance of a longer, overnight trip with both dogs and luggage where I'd have to park in a motel. This is one of the main things that makes a hard rolling tonneau cover attractive. Most of the time, however, the hard rolling cover would be unnecessary weight.

However, I've read here that all roll-up covers have issue with flapping, especially at highway speeds. I have not been able to determine, however, if this comment is directed only as soft roll-up tonneau covers or also applies to the hard ones. So, I'm asking - Do the hard roll-up covers flap as much at highway speeds as the soft roll-up covers do or do the metal slats add enough weight to prevent the flapping?

Since I've started a thread on this, I'm going to put my other questions out there. For any of you who have the TruXedo Pro X15, how badly does it flap at Interstate speeds?

From the point of view of Pro X5 vs. Sentry CT, does anyone have enough experience with both to be able to say whether and how much more fuel efficiency you get with the lighter tonneu cover, if any?

Edit to add: Can anyone tell me what the roll-up parts weigh for either the Sentry CT or the PRO X15 (not including mounting hardware, rails, packing material)? I asked RealTruck, but the lady on the chat could only find the shipping weight.

Finally, is there some factor that should be in my thinking that I've missed?

Thanks for your time and learned counsel.

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[Tiger Dude]

I've never noticed my soft rollup flapping, speeds to 95 mph
Edit: it's the Ford one, bought mostly with Fordpass points

 

[JP&R]

I have a KEKO brand Tonneau cover and there is some movement, but there’s absolutely no flapping

 

[710-oil-614]

I had the Truxedo Truxport Soft Roll on my Tremor and my OCD made sure it was always pulled taut.

It still flapped a little at speeds above 70mph but I never heard it in the cab, it was never a distraction, and it never bothered me or impacted the cover itself.

For my 2025 Lariat AWD Hybrid - I plan to get the Elevate TS rails + the Truxedo Pro X15 + Tuwa Rack.

Pretty much this like @ceugster:

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...levate-ts-rails-pro-x15-bed-rack-setup.50686/

 

[cory]

I bought a really cheap one on Amazon, I keep it taut and it really doesn't flap much but it does start to flutter at about 80. I don't think its really an issue. I bought a cheap one as the Texas sun is hard on stuff.

 

[LibDan]

I bought a really cheap one on Amazon, I keep it taut and it really doesn't flap much but it does start to flutter at about 80. I don't think its really an issue. I bought a cheap one as the Texas sun is hard on stuff.

I lived in Houston for three years, so I well know it. South Carolina sun isn't too kind either. I think the PRO X15 has a lifetime warranty though which is one of the things I liked a about it.

 

[billbillw]

I have the Sentry CT. Love it. I wouldn't say it flaps, but you can notice some very slight up and down movement at highway speeds. Barely noticeable through the rear-view mirror. There is no flapping noise.

 

[LibDan]

I have the Sentry CT. Love it. I wouldn't say it flaps, but you can notice some very slight up and down movement at highway speeds. Barely noticeable through the rear-view mirror. There is no flapping noise.

Thanks bilbillw. Follow-up. The folks on the chat at RealTruck couldn't tell me this, but maybe you can. Do you know how much the roll-up part weighs by itself (not including the rails, packing material, mounting hardware, etc.)? Thanks.

 

[Fish More]

I have installed the X15 Pro with elevate rails. When installing, I used butyl tape to seal the seams of the rails, also the trim pieces of the X15. I get alittle movement at freeway speeds, but no flapping of the cover. Also using the butyl tape, the bed of the truck stays very dry in heavy rain down pours. I have found that it is important to pull the cover tight from side to side when closing, this also helps to control the movement of the fabric.

 

[adboio]

i have the rough country soft roll-up cover (the one that's ~$200), and don't have much "flapping" even at interstate speeds. it certainly flaps a little, as expected for a fabric cover, but nowhere near enough to concern me or be annoying.

it's also pretty easy to take off completely, i don't do that often but the option is available.

my biggest gripe with this cover is the buckles on the end (closest to the rear window, which you use for securing the cover in "rolled-up" position) sometimes rattle and tap on the glass while i'm driving at high speeds. i'm sure i could come up with some sort of rubber band or velcro solution to lock them down, but it hasn't been annoying enough for me to put in the effort yet haha.

i'll also +1 your idea to get roll-up instead of trifold. my truck came with a trifold and i hated it, the last 1/3 of the bed was virtually unusable.. couldn't fit a bicycle, make hauling furniture quite painful... i ended up taking it off completely while i waited for my new roll-up to come in.

 

[Geppetto]

As I've watched my Maverick endlessly sit "In Production," it's given me plenty of time to check out the accessories and make a list of the things I'd eventually like to have. Tonneau covers are one of the things I haven't been able to decide about completely. I think I want one, and I'm pretty sure I don't want a trifold (not with only a 4.5' bed to start with), but I'm having a hard time deciding which kind of rolling cover I would want. I like both the TruXedo Pro X15 and the TruXedo Sentry CT because I like the canvas look and they get recommended a lot.

I suspect that most of the miles this truck gets will be from commuting back and forth to work, bed empty, mostly at speeds below 50 MPH. Occasionally, it will be used to haul home improvement or gardening supplies home or to take things like large appliances to the dump. If I ever get a kayak/small canoe, it will be used to haul those to water and back. For some of those functions, I want to be able to easily remove the cover entirely instead of just rolling it up. I do not live in a particularly high crime area, the truck will park in a garage over night, and has pretty safe parking at work.

I occasionally make 5+ hour inter-state drives, however, and this vehicle may be chosen for those purposes due to it's fuel efficiency or if I need to haul some sort of bed-required cargo. For some of those trips, 2 dogs may be coming along who would require the back seat, forcing all luggage into the bed (which, combined with bad weather, is one reason to get a tonneau cover). There is always the chance of a longer, overnight trip with both dogs and luggage where I'd have to park in a motel. This is one of the main things that makes a hard rolling tonneau cover attractive. Most of the time, however, the hard rolling cover would be unnecessary weight.

However, I've read here that all roll-up covers have issue with flapping, especially at highway speeds. I have not been able to determine, however, if this comment is directed only as soft roll-up tonneau covers or also applies to the hard ones. So, I'm asking - Do the hard roll-up covers flap as much at highway speeds as the soft roll-up covers do or do the metal slats add enough weight to prevent the flapping?

Since I've started a thread on this, I'm going to put my other questions out there. For any of you who have the TruXedo Pro X15, how badly does it flap at Interstate speeds?

From the point of view of Pro X5 vs. Sentry CT, does anyone have enough experience with both to be able to say whether and how much more fuel efficiency you get with the lighter tonneu cover, if any?

Edit to add: Can anyone tell me what the roll-up parts weigh for either the Sentry CT or the PRO X15 (not including mounting hardware, rails, packing material)? I asked RealTruck, but the lady on the chat could only find the shipping weight.

Finally, is there some factor that should be in my thinking that I've missed?

Thanks for your time and learned counsel.

I have a Tuxedo low profile roll up that is also easily removable. Doesn't flap but does vibrate some at high speeds. Never heard it in the cab.

 

[budpalumbo]

As I've watched my Maverick endlessly sit "In Production," it's given me plenty of time to check out the accessories and make a list of the things I'd eventually like to have. Tonneau covers are one of the things I haven't been able to decide about completely. I think I want one, and I'm pretty sure I don't want a trifold (not with only a 4.5' bed to start with), but I'm having a hard time deciding which kind of rolling cover I would want. I like both the TruXedo Pro X15 and the TruXedo Sentry CT because I like the canvas look and they get recommended a lot.

I suspect that most of the miles this truck gets will be from commuting back and forth to work, bed empty, mostly at speeds below 50 MPH. Occasionally, it will be used to haul home improvement or gardening supplies home or to take things like large appliances to the dump. If I ever get a kayak/small canoe, it will be used to haul those to water and back. For some of those functions, I want to be able to easily remove the cover entirely instead of just rolling it up. I do not live in a particularly high crime area, the truck will park in a garage over night, and has pretty safe parking at work.

I occasionally make 5+ hour inter-state drives, however, and this vehicle may be chosen for those purposes due to it's fuel efficiency or if I need to haul some sort of bed-required cargo. For some of those trips, 2 dogs may be coming along who would require the back seat, forcing all luggage into the bed (which, combined with bad weather, is one reason to get a tonneau cover). There is always the chance of a longer, overnight trip with both dogs and luggage where I'd have to park in a motel. This is one of the main things that makes a hard rolling tonneau cover attractive. Most of the time, however, the hard rolling cover would be unnecessary weight.

However, I've read here that all roll-up covers have issue with flapping, especially at highway speeds. I have not been able to determine, however, if this comment is directed only as soft roll-up tonneau covers or also applies to the hard ones. So, I'm asking - Do the hard roll-up covers flap as much at highway speeds as the soft roll-up covers do or do the metal slats add enough weight to prevent the flapping?

Since I've started a thread on this, I'm going to put my other questions out there. For any of you who have the TruXedo Pro X15, how badly does it flap at Interstate speeds?

From the point of view of Pro X5 vs. Sentry CT, does anyone have enough experience with both to be able to say whether and how much more fuel efficiency you get with the lighter tonneu cover, if any?

Edit to add: Can anyone tell me what the roll-up parts weigh for either the Sentry CT or the PRO X15 (not including mounting hardware, rails, packing material)? I asked RealTruck, but the lady on the chat could only find the shipping weight.

Finally, is there some factor that should be in my thinking that I've missed?

Thanks for your time and learned counsel.

I stopped reading and skimmed. I don't notice my cheap amazon (just pick one with a weird made up name, they are basically all the same) roll up flapping. Well, I see it in the rearview a little, but I can't hear it. Rear passengers have said they hear it. I like it, I thought if I did and it failed in a year or 2 I'd spend real money on one, but now I'll just keep buying these things if I need to. My only complaint is the hardware they come with is cheap junk (mechanic, so I'm picky).

I thought I would want to be able to remove it easily "cause I'll need the room"...I've hauled loads of furniture, moved, hauled engines, 2 kayaks, bikes, whatever and I have yet to think that maybe taking it off would work better. The soft roll up will also squish where something hits it, so removing hasn't been necessary. I did make sure it sits on top of the bed rails (see hauled engines) and just a bracket could be in a better location but never a real issue.

 

[CarWal16]

I looked at both TruXedo and BAK covers and finally opted for the Bak Revolver X4s Hard Roll Up Tonneau Cover. Absolutely NO FLAPPING, and I think it looks nice!

What really made me decide on the BAK was its security locking mechanism, which locks down every metal slat down for the entire length of each side rail. (Not sure how about TruXedos these days, but at the time I think it locked at the end of each rail and in the middle. I also don't like velcro, which the TruXedos had at the time I was researching).

 

[North Coast Joe]

I have the Truxedo TruXport Soft rollup. Yes, it flaps at times. I have minimized this by sitting the truck in the hot sun until the covers gets very soft and a bit saggy. Then I stretch it all along the Velcro seams on both sides from cab to tailgate, and that keeps the flapping to a very minimum, and mostly unheard in the cab.

 

[LibDan]

I looked at both TruXedo and BAK covers and finally opted for the Bak Revolver X4s Hard Roll Up Tonneau Cover. Absolutely NO FLAPPING, and I think it looks nice!

What really made me decide on the BAK was its security locking mechanism, which locks down every metal slat down for the entire length of each side rail. (Not sure how about TruXedos these days, but at the time I think it locked at the end of each rail and in the middle. I also don't like velcro, which the TruXedos had at the time I was researching).

I think TruXedo still uses velcro based on their install videos. How is the Bak secured? Is it just these locking mechanism. Your truck does look sharp in your photo. The tonneau cover is also not shiny vinyl which I like.

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