Tonneau Behavior

[Fred Piering]

I purchased my First Truck ever, in February. A 2024 Maverick XLT FX4 with 4 K towing package. (First Ford was a 1952 sedan, a barn find my mom bought me when I was a Junior in High School.) Purchased off the lot so had more than I wanted but missing some things I would have liked, but I could have it now!
Accordingly, I joined the Maverick Truck Club which has been a GodSend for a novice. A plethora of information and help!
My first addition was a 3 section fabric tonneau cover, a Gator brand purchased from Real Truck. So here is my question?:
I noticed when driving down the road, the cover billows up, undulating like there is a fight or maybe wild sex going on under the cover!
Is this normal?

Thanks

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[Jeff D.]

Fred, I have a hard cover on my Maverick, so it doesn't move at all. I did have soft covers on my previous Ram trucks and they did act the way you mentioned.

On those, I could adjust the tension to reduce the billowing effect at highway speeds, but never eliminate it completely.

Whether yours is normal or not might depend on the degree of movement. Too much and I'd guess it may take it's toll on the fabric eventually.

Good luck.

 

[Fred Piering]

Fred, I have a hard cover on my Maverick, so it doesn't move at all. I did have soft covers on my previous Ram trucks and they did act the way you mentioned.

On those, I could adjust the tension to reduce the billowing effect at highway speeds, but never eliminate it completely.

Whether yours is normal or not might depend on the degree of movement. Too much and I'd guess it may take it's toll on the fabric eventually.

Good luck.

Jeff:
Thanks. I'll look and see if there is a way to increase the tension.
Fred

 

[fossil]

looking at your photo you can see the cross bars clearly, not a good sign. probably not much you can do about that to tighten the fabric. maybe the hot Florida sun will help.

 

[CurtisB]

I finally have some money put aside to get a tonneau cover. I'm going to go the 3 panel hard cover route. I have had soft covers before. Air sucks into every crevice or hole while driving and causes the fabric to flutter. Not going through that again. Now I know I'm going to hear from those who like their soft covers and I am glad you do. Just my two cents and personal experience. If you can, save an additional $100 or so dollars and get a hard top.

 

[Bob The Builder]

I have the frugal Amazon soft try fold that billows a little going down the road. About the same actually as the much more expensive Trifecta I had on the Ranger which leads me to believe some billowing is the nature of the beast when it comes to soft tonneaus. I could not care less about it.

Wild sex going on under the cover while driving down the road most likely would not be considered "normal" especially at my age.

 

[cclark]

I have the same one and it does the same thing. Not to worry, it's air coming up from underneath the truck from the front drain holes in the bed. As per the instructions don't overtighten the front clamps, you'll bend the bed frame rails.

 

[Jeff D.]

Wild sex going on under the cover while driving down the road most likely would not be considered "normal" especially at my age.

Rug burns are bad enough, but that spray in bedliner would be brutal!

 

[Fred Piering]

Thank you all for your helpful comments and sharing your experiences.
For now, I think I will just fold it up and only lay it down when I have something to protect from the rain. Probably start saving up for a hard cover.
Thanks again.
Fred

 

[HoiToid]

I purchased my First Truck ever, in February. A 2024 Maverick XLT FX4 with 4 K towing package. (First Ford was a 1952 sedan, a barn find my mom bought me when I was a Junior in High School.) Purchased off the lot so had more than I wanted but missing some things I would have liked, but I could have it now!
Accordingly, I joined the Maverick Truck Club which has been a GodSend for a novice. A plethora of information and help!
My first addition was a 3 section fabric tonneau cover, a Gator brand purchased from Real Truck. So here is my question?:
I noticed when driving down the road, the cover billows up, undulating like there is a fight or maybe wild sex going on under the cover!
Is this normal?

Thanks

I have the Gator SFX , at 45-55mph it looks like a circus tent getting ready to fly off any minute. Not good~~~ especially over time is gonna eventually rip loose from the frame( i hope to get 6 months out of it before its ruined). I've put gasket weatherstripping around tailgate enclosure to cut down on air entry. Next step is a thin weatherstripping along the outside edge of tonneau on side bedrails at "folding hinge points" to hopefully block air entry at highway speeds. Very disappointed with this Extang soft tri-fold( bad purchase decision on my part; i read reviews and some even said that it didn't billow much; they must have not been reviewing this Extang SFX softTri-fold);
my TonnoPro soft tri-fold on 22 year old Ranger is much much better.

 

[TedTX]

The back seats are too cramped for wild fun. So glad the cover is useful. Miss the days of bench seats front and back, can comfortably sleep two.

 

[AltoMavDad]

I got the Extang Trifecta soft cover and will be returning it for a hard cover. I get too much flutter at highway speeds.

 

[HoiToid]

I've put weatherstripping around tailgate to keep "suction" of air more diminished, and will put a strip of weatherstripping along outer edge of existing cover gaskets on bedrailsto see what h appens

 

[CurtisB]

I finally have some extra money put aside and I am getting a hard tri-fold. Pricing seems reasonable. I had a truck before with a soft cover and I hated the "turtle shell" look once you started driving.

 

[CTYankee]

For now, I think I will just fold it up and only lay it down when I have something to protect from the rain. Probably start saving up for a hard cover.
Thanks again.
Fred

I'd recommend just living with the fluttering until you can replace it. As a former tonneau cover dealer, the only tonneau cover any of our customers reported stolen was a trifold the customer left open. Loosen two wingnuts and the cover is gone.

At least if it's closed, the locked tailgate keeps the would-be thief from taking it. It's no use to him if it's been cut.

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