Congratulations! That’s a good looking machine.
what engine and trailer towing set up did you get?
to your question, only thing I can offer is I have had 2 tonneau covers that I bought for myself and I have used or borrowed others trucks that had covers:
1. My brother had a dodge (he was an abused child
) and he had a one piece fiberglass top that had struts and it lifted up from the back and the sides overhang the bed rails.
Pros: it never froze shut, and it made an awesome top to shoot prairie dogs off of and a key lock.
Cons: it was aweful inconvenient to get anything out of beyond an arm reach. Mostly water tight but wind at speed could blow water up over bed rail (no seal) and into the bed
2. friend had a soft cover
Pro, you could get it out of way pretty easy (snaps like a boat cover)
Cons: he had it broke into many times and eventually gave up on repairs. Not durable and not much to stop someone from ripping it open.
3. Last Ford I had an extang tri fold solid aluminum cover.
It sat up on top of bed rails and was simple clamp on install. Light weight easy on / off. However could not fold flat up to cab. Froze to bed rails if left out. Solution was sleep a putty knife in the cab and just have to love it a little. To open it had spring tensions utters and in general was water tight until the seals began to age between the panel. No lock. Tailgate had to open to unlatch the cover. It was fine except the tailgate would freeze to the seal. Had to unlatch from each side and if trailer connected walking back and forth each time forget something after you close tailgate. Install was super easy. (Just clamps up front to hold it on
4. Current truck has a Lomax and it is really low profile and required install of a rail but the cover sits really low. Thru fold solid aluminum diamond plate. So far it has not froze shut but it’s only been out a few times in the 2 months I have had it. TBD but so far no leaks. If folds flat to cab and had brackets/stays that hold it away from cab so as not to damage the cab or window. Open mechanism is a string and it opens easy from one side. If f the sting breaks I suspect I will ask
@Runs With Scissors for some vocabulary lessons (he has mentored me previously
). So far so good but me and lomax still on honeymoon. Opens from. one side though so that is nice. Install was easy.
I bought both from etrailer and very happy with their service and product videos and i would buy from them again.
to me something’s to consider are:
1. Do you want it to fold flat to cab and do you car if it touches the cab?
2. Latch mechanism and how you want to open. I think if not pulling a trailer maybe doesn’t matter.
3. Do you have a camera on top of your cab looking into the bed and can you use that if a tonneau cover folded up?
4. Do you have a goose neck or fifth wheel and camera and or can you fold up and still use the goose’s neck or have to take the cover on off. (Ease of install would be a factor here IMO if plan to take on and off)
5. Do you care how it locks?
6. Is park outside and deal with snow, rain, ice, I’d not want to have it freeze shut regularly.
7. If you have expensive coolers that you are attached to, get measurements that it will fit before buying the cover. It will change if you add a bed mat or liner. (My previous truck this created a constraint is why I mention).
8. Do you plan to set stuff periodically on top of the cover? Some have weight ratings, some don’t.
9. The way they fit may depend on if have a bed liner or not. Get that figured out first.
I am not sure you asked for all that or still reading, but that’s what I would sort out before dropping a grand or more.
if still reading I hope it helps.
congrats on the new truck!
. Otherwise I’d look for the covers that are solid aluminum and weight rated
