Tonneau Covers - Hard Roll-Up?

[yank283]

I have a 2025 on order. Is the consensus on tonneau covers that hard rollup type is the best with the only main con that it’s expensive? Going to be hauling a lot of bikes in the back and my original thought was to get a trifold, but the fact I won’t be able to see out the back window is making me have second thoughts. Are there any good trifold brands for bikes or should I just go with a more expensive roll up? Would love to go cheaper if it’s an option. Thanks

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[RDRahn]

I have the original OEM hard rollup tonneau. Since I was hauling some things around this past weekend, it is fresh in my mind. When rolled up, the back window is covered about half way. Plenty good for me because I rarely use the interior mirror, relying more on door mounted outside mirrors for all my driving.

My only disappointment has been with the felt padding on the underside that came loose from the heat. I reglued it and it has not been a problem since.

I do understand there may be other hard rollups that are not as expensive as the OEM.

My 2 cents...

 

[XL Hybrid Cactus Gray]

I have been happy with the Bak X4s.

Hard roll-up; only covers lower half of rear window when rolled up.

Had 1 issue early on with the opening slats groove disconnecting from each other, so it had a weird "shelf/step" look rather than flat/flush in 1 spot.

I had ordered through RealTruck and they got me a new Bak cover asap, free under warranty.

Would buy again.

 

[TonyS]

I have the hard roll up. Pros and cons

1) It looks nice and has a cool "FORD" logo showing when rolled up.
2) It's been pretty water tight
3) It seems sturdy
4) It blocks maybe a little less of the rear window than a trifold.

Cons
1) The absolutely useless two strips of felt on the underneath side of the cover fell off in less a year from getting warm. And I park in an attached garage. But the real problem is it leaves a sticky gooey residue behind. You can spend hours with goo gone cleaning it off or be careful to not touch the area where the felt was at when rolling it up.
2) It take up little more space in an already short bed than a hard trifold.
3) If ordering from Ford in your build order, you cannot get the roll up with the drop in bed liner. Not sure why. I had the drop in bed liner installed by the dealer and it works fine with the factory hard roll cover.

All considered, I would not order the roll up again and would instead get the hard trifold.

 

[Hunters Edge]

I don't know. For me we get snow and freezing rain. I watched a u-tube video comparison of several trucks. One happened to be the Santa Cruz which comes standard with a roll up tonneau cover. They couldn't use the bed because the cover was frozen.

I originally was going to order a soft tri-fold tonneau cover. Because of restraints and holding up the build I opted to look aftermarket. I ended up with a hard tri-fold which even though there are three panels it does not fold up completely. The last panel stays and the rest folds on top. It is easily though completely removed allowing the full use of the bed. It doesn't take long to reinstall after removal. So far I haven't had to remove it. I think it was like 360 from Amazon

I opted for hard because many threads or posts saying the soft at times flutters and makes noise. Also the hard also provided more security. For the price I could easily replace it down the road.

I understand your concern about covering up the back window. The few times you need the bed, just remove it and store it in the garage until you get home. Or buy a hitch transport and secure them behind the truck. Several options available.

 

[Paulyz]

I have a 2025 on order. Is the consensus on tonneau covers that hard rollup type is the best with the only main con that it’s expensive? Going to be hauling a lot of bikes in the back and my original thought was to get a trifold, but the fact I won’t be able to see out the back window is making me have second thoughts. Are there any good trifold brands for bikes or should I just go with a more expensive roll up? Would love to go cheaper if it’s an option. Thanks

I researched all these concerns as well and determined the hard roll up tonneau cover best way to go. Since I got my XLT AWD Ecoboost at such a good price & plan on keeping it a long time, I purchased the Truxedo Sentry hard roll up tonneau cover and i am completely satisfied with it.

 

[RobN]

The hard rollup was best for ME, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's best for EVERYONE. I tend to use my truck bed as a large trunk more than I use it as a truck, frequently opening the tailgate and only touching things behind the 2x6 I put in the slot near the rear to help keep things from sliding around. If I used it more like a truck more often, I might not want a tonneau cover at all.

I bought the Tuxedo Sentry, and I've been happy with it - had it for a year, now, and it still looks great, seems secure, is mostly water tight, and is easy to use.

When I hauled a mattress and some other things that took a lot of bed space, rather than just rolling it up I removed the cover so it wasn't taking up space at the window (I left it sideways in bottom of the bed, as it fit there with what I was hauling), so the end of the mattress was still on the tailgate. It took just a minute to remove or reinstall (leaving the side rails attached). It has quick-release attachments at the end near the cab, only accessible from underneath. I suspect that's a pretty common feature.

 

[MaverickMark]

I have a 2025 on order. Is the consensus on tonneau covers that hard rollup type is the best with the only main con that it’s expensive? Going to be hauling a lot of bikes in the back and my original thought was to get a trifold, but the fact I won’t be able to see out the back window is making me have second thoughts. Are there any good trifold brands for bikes or should I just go with a more expensive roll up? Would love to go cheaper if it’s an option. Thanks

I have the hard roll up that I got through Ford accessories. It doesn't have the Ford logo when rolled up. It doesn't have felt like some do, so I don't have that issue. There is a Ford logo at the back left corner of the cover. It fits flush and looks great. I love it, no complaints.

I have a 2025 on order. Is the consensus on tonneau covers that hard rollup type is the best with the only main con that it’s expensive? Going to be hauling a lot of bikes in the back and my original thought was to get a trifold, but the fact I won’t be able to see out the back window is making me have second thoughts. Are there any good trifold brands for bikes or should I just go with a more expensive roll up? Would love to go cheaper if it’s an option. Thanks

I have the hard roll up that I ordered through Ford accessories. Mine doesn't have the Ford logo when you roll it up. Mine also doesn't have felt like some people's do. Many ita a newer version, I don't know. It has the Ford logo on top in the back left corner. I love it. It looks good and fits flush.

 

[Dochatley]

I love my hard tri fold. Had a soft roll up and it would make noise all the time going down highway. Yes it will block rear window but I to use my side mirrors most of the time so no issues.

 

[Vettereddie]

Hard roll-up is the best of both worlds in most cases (more secure than soft, blocks less rear view than trifold, 95% bed access when rolled up).

Looks like Ford fixed the issues with felt coming unglued on the earlier Bakflips, your choices are pretty much that or the Sentry / Sentry CT (canvas instead of vinyl). I've got the Sentry CT and the main difference is the Bakflip Revolver uses a weatherstrip solution for the side channel sealing, Sentry uses Velcro. The Bakflip may be slightly more secure with the side locking rail design, the Sentry only locks with the slam latch on the rear by the tailgate so the sides can be lifted a bit (maybe 1-2 inches) if you're really trying. I believe both need the cover rolled back slightly to close the tailgate.

 

[yank283]

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions, much appreciated! I did notice that some of the hard “trifolds” were actually bifolds. So I’ll definitely stay away from those

 

[Husker Mav]

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions, much appreciated! I did notice that some of the hard “trifolds” were actually bifolds. So I’ll definitely stay away from those

I recently put in my order for a Maverick Lariet Hybrid. I told dealer that I wanted the Truxedo Hard roll up cover. He tried to talk me into the soft roll up which is half the price of the hard roll up. He sells a lot of trucks in Nebraska and said very few pickup owners opt for hard cover. I don’t live in a high crime area, but I’m concerned about someone cutting open the soft cover when we are traveling to other parts of the country.

 

[Tbone289]

I have a 2025 on order. Is the consensus on tonneau covers that hard rollup type is the best with the only main con that it’s expensive? Going to be hauling a lot of bikes in the back and my original thought was to get a trifold, but the fact I won’t be able to see out the back window is making me have second thoughts. Are there any good trifold brands for bikes or should I just go with a more expensive roll up? Would love to go cheaper if it’s an option. Thanks

It appears to me that the hard rollups when rolled up not only cover a portion of the rear window, but also don't cover up much less of the bed area than my hard tri-fold does folded. So my question would be, how much of the bed do you need open for hauling bikes? I opted for a non-flip-up style of tri-fold because it takes up less area when folded than a flip-up does (not flipped up), and if I needed the bed completely open I would just remove the tonneau and it wouldn't obscure the back window. Mine (Lomax) is very easy and quick to remove and re-install, and if you want the maximum amount of open bed without obscuring the window, that's the way to do it.

I did notice that some of the hard “trifolds” were actually bifolds. So I’ll definitely stay away from those

A tri-fold item is an item that folds twice into three sections. I've never seen a tri-fold tonneau that didn't have 3 panels (like a tri-fold wallet, 3 panels and two hinges). Are you saying that a hard trifold with three panels that doesn't flip up is a bi-fold? Those have been called tri-fold much longer than flip-up tonneaus have been available...

 

[Gray Goose]

I opted for a non-flip-up style of tri-fold because it takes up less area when folded than a flip-up does (not flipped up), and if I needed the bed completely open I would just remove the tonneau and it wouldn't obscure the back window. Mine (Lomax) is very easy and quick to remove and re-install.

Ditto, I have a two hinge-three panel hard cover. A good value at ~$300.

 

[PeteSJCA]

I bought the Truxedo Sentry CT about 18 months ago. No regrets!

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