Tonneau Cover Buying Guide

[Madmarty]

Any guidance yet on tonneau covers for MY2024 trucks? I assume the usual suspects will all be compatible or updated appropriately, but the websites I've viewed don't have any info. I'm a '23 orderer who got rolled into the first batch of '24s and hoping to have a cover ready to go by the time I get my sweaty hands on the truck. Still months to go but getting the build email has me antsy!

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[imboden013]

What is generally accepted as the cheapest tonneau cover that isn't complete trash?
Is it that soft roll one off amazing for 190?

I bought the TipTop soft roll up for $170. It leaks some up by the cab but not real bad. I think a good deal of leak is around seam where bed trim comes together. If I ever remove the cover for some reason I’m going to fill in the little channels where the bed seams together and a better molding next to the cab. I’ve had two hard trifolds on previous trucks that leaked one was a $1000 line-x so I choose the cheap route on my Mav.

 

[RuizMichael]

I bought the TipTop soft roll up for $170. It leaks some up by the cab but not real bad. I think a good deal of leak is around seam where bed trim comes together. If I ever remove the cover for some reason I’m going to fill in the little channels where the bed seams together and a better molding next to the cab. I’ve had two hard trifolds on previous trucks that leaked one was a $1000 line-x so I choose the cheap route on my Mav.

Do you mind linking it?

 

[imboden013]

Do you mind linking it?

Don’t know how to do a link, but I bought it from Amazon. I just looked at my purchase history and went to dealer that I bought my cover their price has jumped $50 now $220.

 

[bighap]

Any guidance yet on tonneau covers for MY2024 trucks? I assume the usual suspects will all be compatible or updated appropriately, but the websites I've viewed don't have any info.

There aren't any physical changes for 24 so everything will be compatible. Cover dealers will add 24 once they are in production.

 

[hdave]

Does anyone know the approximate box dimensions of a tri-fold tonneau cover?

I'm guessing about 75" x 24" x 12" and about 30 lbs?

 

[GreenLady]

Does anyone know the approximate box dimensions of a tri-fold tonneau cover?

I'm guessing about 75" x 24" x 12" and about 30 lbs?

I would say the soft trifold is app. 30 lbs. My Extang ALX was 30 lbs and I had to transport it sticking out the back. I bought this one after returning a BakFlip hard trifold which was 6‘ tall in the box and weighed 70 lbs which I couldn’t lift.

 

[scourgio]

@Realtruck I wonder if you can help me decide between 2 soft rollup covers. I'm looking at the Gator SRX and SR1 Pro. I saw somebody's Maverick in a parking lot. They had a Gator cover and it looked good and seemed to fit well. But I couldn't tell if it was the SRX or the SR1 Pro.

The SR1 Pro seems like it may be better quality based on its name and pricing. But the SRX has a better warrantee, so maybe it's better made? I feel silly trying to judge quality based on name and price. Can you share some insight?

In addition to quality, I wonder if there is any difference in the length of these covers. I read some reviews saying some covers are too short for the Maverick, which leads to excessive leaking. So, please also comment on the length, if you can.

 

[Realtruck]

@Realtruck I wonder if you can help me decide between 2 soft rollup covers. I'm looking at the Gator SRX and SR1 Pro. I saw somebody's Maverick in a parking lot. They had a Gator cover and it looked good and seemed to fit well. But I couldn't tell if it was the SRX or the SR1 Pro.

The SR1 Pro seems like it may be better quality based on its name and pricing. But the SRX has a better warrantee, so maybe it's better made? I feel silly trying to judge quality based on name and price. Can you share some insight?

In addition to quality, I wonder if there is any difference in the length of these covers. I read some reviews saying some covers are too short for the Maverick, which leads to excessive leaking. So, please also comment on the length, if you can.

The Gator SRX is an entry-level roll-up, backed by a Limited Lifetime (Structural) 10 Year (Tarp) warranty. The cover is an inside mount (.5" profile) and uses a manually adjusted, block tension controller. The Gator SR1 Pro is a top mount (1.5" profile), backed by a five-year warranty and uses a self-adjusting tension mechanism. If water resistance is your primary concern, I would recommend the SR1 Pro. If you would like to install a rack in the future then I would recommend the SRX.

Our marketing department decided to raise the warranty on the SRX to compete with the covers made in China.

Our covers lengths are based of the factory dimensions so if everything is installed correctly you shouldn't have any issues with excessive leaking. If you do, then it could be an install issue or a warranty issue.

 

[Nomadsoul]

Are the hard roll-up covers generally easy to remove if you need access to the whole bed? How heavy are they generally. Would a hard folding cover generally be easier/harder and lighter/heavier?
I've never had a cover on my trucks before, but I want to keep folding chairs and umbrellas in my bed for sporting events and don't want them in the elements all the time.

Please have you purchased one as of yet? I am considering BaK Revolver X2 but I am confused.

 

[sprubs]

do most of these covers mount to existing threaded holes in the bed? or do they attach some other way? I'm a complete newb to this and the number of options seems overwhelming. the general information at the start of this thread is useful but still lacking on "what things to look for" in a cover like how it mounts, how easy it is to remove and store, how much space it takes up if it folds or rolls up.

my wants:

• locking
• easy to remove and store -or- when folded/rolled up wouldn't get in the way of things I'm storing in the bed (eg bikes, lumber)
• reasonably durable
• doesn't limit my options too much in terms of adding other accessories (this is an unknown to me at this point)
• attractive

 

[Mabcim]

do most of these covers mount to existing threaded holes in the bed? or do they attach some other way? I'm a complete newb to this and the number of options seems overwhelming. the general information at the start of this thread is useful but still lacking on "what things to look for" in a cover like how it mounts, how easy it is to remove and store, how much space it takes up if it folds or rolls up.

my wants:

• locking
• easy to remove and store -or- when folded/rolled up wouldn't get in the way of things I'm storing in the bed (eg bikes, lumber)
• reasonably durable
• doesn't limit my options too much in terms of adding other accessories (this is an unknown to me at this point)
• attractive

I never had a truck before. My only bed cover experience is my dad’s truck back in the 80’s that was snapped on.

For the majority, there is a metal lip under the bed caps that they clamp to. Pick any cover and look up their install instructions online.

Only super expensive ones have an actual lock. Which conflicts with the other items on your list (like easy removal). Most covers have releases that are under the cover, requiring you to open the tailgate before releasing the cover’s latch. So the ‘lock’ is your tailgate being locked.

IMO - The easiest to remove and store would be a roll up. Something the Truxedo Pro X15, which is a soft cover.
The trifolds probably give the best bed access, but block the window, and are probably too awkward/heavy to remove.
The roll ups do not use too much space, when rolled up, and should be fine for things like bikes.
Just about anything works for lumber.

Durability is subjective, but most have 3 or 5 year warranties.

Every cover has a pro and con depending on the accessory you want to add. If you want help with this one, you would need to specify which accessories you are thinking. I would search these forums for the accessory you are planning, so you get info from the person would used it.

Attractive is a personal choice as well. Cheaper covers sit more on top of the bed, so they ‘stick up’. Many sit on rails, kind of inset slightly, for a more flush look. Some are more flush that others, depends on the angle of the rail sides.

Soft vs Hard is a factor for ‘security’. Depends on your concerns with that.

In the end, debated between BAK X4S and Truxedo Pro X15. I choose the X15 because it was cheaper, sits pretty close to flush, easy to remove, and minimal left over bed when rolled up. I had some fitment issues and couldn’t stretch it enough to stop flapping at 45mph. And pressing down the Velcro was a little bothersome. Others on here say they have very minimal to no flapping, so I do believe most of my issues was fitment. I used RealTruck’s 30 day exchange and got the X4S. I love it. No flapping. Can open and close the tailgate without touching the cover (for X15 you have to release the cover, close the tailgate, then re-latch the cover; which I knew going in, but didn’t think I‘d mind because of the cost difference to X4S). No pressing of the Velcro sides after unrolling.

Many people are happy with both of those. I also have a lot like the Sentry CT.

 

[sprubs]

I never had a truck before. My only bed cover experience is my dad’s truck back in the 80’s that was snapped on.

For the majority, there is a metal lip under the bed caps that they clamp to. Pick any cover and look up their install instructions online.

Only super expensive ones have an actual lock. Which conflicts with the other items on your list (like easy removal). Most covers have releases that are under the cover, requiring you to open the tailgate before releasing the cover’s latch. So the ‘lock’ is your tailgate being locked.

IMO - The easiest to remove and store would be a roll up. Something the Truxedo Pro X15, which is a soft cover.
The trifolds probably give the best bed access, but block the window, and are probably too awkward/heavy to remove.
The roll ups do not use too much space, when rolled up, and should be fine for things like bikes.
Just about anything works for lumber.

Durability is subjective, but most have 3 or 5 year warranties.

Every cover has a pro and con depending on the accessory you want to add. If you want help with this one, you would need to specify which accessories you are thinking. I would search these forums for the accessory you are planning, so you get info from the person would used it.

Attractive is a personal choice as well. Cheaper covers sit more on top of the bed, so they ‘stick up’. Many sit on rails, kind of inset slightly, for a more flush look. Some are more flush that others, depends on the angle of the rail sides.

Soft vs Hard is a factor for ‘security’. Depends on your concerns with that.

In the end, debated between BAK X4S and Truxedo Pro X15. I choose the X15 because it was cheaper, sits pretty close to flush, easy to remove, and minimal left over bed when rolled up. I had some fitment issues and couldn’t stretch it enough to stop flapping at 45mph. And pressing down the Velcro was a little bothersome. Others on here say they have very minimal to no flapping, so I do believe most of my issues was fitment. I used RealTruck’s 30 day exchange and got the X4S. I love it. No flapping. Can open and close the tailgate without touching the cover (for X15 you have to release the cover, close the tailgate, then re-latch the cover; which I knew going in, but didn’t think I‘d mind because of the cost difference to X4S). No pressing of the Velcro sides after unrolling.

Many people are happy with both of those. I also have a lot like the Sentry CT.

are most of the mounting schemes "non-permanent"? as in, nothing is permanently altered and you could always take it off and everything would be how it was?

 

[Mabcim]

are most of the mounting schemes "non-permanent"? as in, nothing is permanently altered and you could always take it off and everything would be how it was?

That is what I’ve seen for everyone one I’ve looked it.
There is a seal you stick to the front edge of the bed, so you would have to clean and glue residue off.

 

[JonB]

Just got my truck, trying to figure out options. Thanks @Realtruck for being so awesome and helpful

Water resistance and security are my two biggest concerns, but I'm also trying to be frugal. Looking at tri-fold designs, are there any that allow you to open it from both directions (cab side and tailgate side)? I've seen friends with similar features on full-size pickups.

For my case, I'm thinking about the Gator hard top tri-fold and the Tonno Pro tri-fold. Any thoughts, especially on the Tonno Pro?

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