truck bed cover

[Battis]

I recently bought a Ford 150 PU. I don't want a cap over the bed, so I'm looking at the tonneau covers. There's different types - folding hard sections, soft rolling covers, retractable. I don't want to pay top dollar but I want one that will last (and made in the US).
Any suggestions?

[cwtebay]

If it's occasionally used, roll up. Used frequently, sectional. Constantly (ie basically a short SUV) hard cover.
Your order doesn't seem tall - but it is. It's almost like asking for steak and crab legs - locally grown and wild caught, but on a budget.
There are a vast number of covers available for an F-150 (what year?) but you get what you pay for. Starting at about a grand. I am currently on my 17th (18th??) F-150 and always buy a bed cover prior to selling them private treaty because I tend to destroy the bed in the 80ish thousand miles I put on them prior to upgrading. It seems like the sectional ones are more desirable for my last half dozen buyers. They have cost between $900 and $1200. Diamondback and Weathertek is what I have been using.

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[johnsonian09]

Hard roll up.

I like my rev industries one. Forget how much it was. But I believe it’s a USA company.

I use it multiple times a day for a few years now. If it broke I would buy it again. Ive even taken a nap on it. Probably not its intended use but it’s strong enough. Probably wouldn’t try standing on it tho.


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[Battis]

It's a 2020 truck. The last Ford truck I had was a 1976 F100 step side (shoulda hung on to that one). Basically, I want to keep camping equipment dry.

[M-Tecs]

I purchased this one last year. https://www.leer.com/ccrz__ProductDetails?sku=HF650M

I love it and for my needs it's the best I could find. I wanted lockable and waterproof.

[cwtebay]

You know - I had forgotten this in my first post. Go to a topper dealer or dealership with a trade in policy and ask. I got one for a ranch truck that way probably 15 years ago for $50.

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[steveu]

Roll up soft cover, then that way if you have a toolbox in the bed you can get to it! I’m on my second one.

[rockrat]

I have a roll up soft cover. Starting to show its age, but 19 years in the Colorado sun will do that.

[birdshot]

I made mine from plywood, in three sections, covered it in astroturf. I had to make ribs for the underside after grandson played on it.

[Baltimoreed]

If I had a full sized pickup id still want a lockable hard cover with the ability to move half of it out of the way. I built a diamondplate cover for my halfcab Tj’s bed. There is an aluminum box [as wide as the wheel wells and as deep] under the tonneau. When I close the tailgate I can use its lock to lock the bed up. Theres a piece of angle iron that overlaps the plate. Never understood convertibles, soft tops or soft tonneaus. Part of a vehicle’s requirement is to protect whatever you have in it. Why make it even easier for the thugs. 326560

[Budzilla 19]

Factory hard cover from Ram factory. Locks, and stand on it if necessary. Called an Undercover? Good luck however you go.

[snowwolfe]

Diamondback. I doubt there is a more secure cover on the market today. Installed one on my previous truck and was the first thing I did to my new truck

[Battis]

I'll probably only need the cover for camping, so a soft roll-up makes sense. But I'll probably change my mind.
I've had two PUs - the '76 F100 and a 1998 Chevy S10. This is the biggest truck we've had. Now I see the appeal - they're great, with lots of potential (towing, carrying stuff, and just being cool to drive). My wife loves driving it.

[15meter]

I'm on my second folding hard cover from this company:

https://theaamgroup.com/manufacturers/view/extang

When it's time for the next truck will probably go back for #3.

98% waterproof.

With a locking tailgate, it makes it reasonably secure. I feel safe(r) stopping at a restaurant or store with firearms in the box.

And they are made in the US.

[.429&H110]

In 2001 I found the last aluminum Tacoma shell in all NH
cost $100 a lot of money to a thrifty yankee.

I needed something to keep the snow out of the bed.
And I have slept in the thing on an air mattress, thrifty camper.
Beats sleeping in a tent in the rain.
Still have it, was rugged enough to carry a viking war canoe on top
canoe was longer than the Tacoma by seven feet, looked silly but it worked.
They don't make cheap tops anymore...

[schutzen-jager]

need a replacement for the canvas on my 2 decade old Truxedo roll up + price is big consideration for this senior citizen - all advice welcome - thanks in advance -

[Sasquatch-1]

I have a hard cover on my 2003 Ford Super Crew. It is nice and keeps the weather out. Fairly secure, even though I believe you could pop it open with a long screwdriver. Biggest downside is if you want to get something big or something like bulk mulch, you have to take the cover off. Not all that easy.

I have known people who have had the sectional hardcovers that basically fit within the frame of the bed and they can let moisture in in heavy rains. It is not a lot, but it does let some in.

Hope this helps.

[winelover]

I installed a Bak-Flip on my wife's long bed Colorado pickup. IIRC, they are made in Springfield, Mo. She loves it. She uses her pickup for transporting four kayaks, at a time. Flip-up panels also protect the rear window. Lock the tailgate and the top is pretty secure from theft.

http://www.baktonneau.com/

Winelover

[white eagle]

I use a soft top from Truxedo? anyway it rolls up and has cross bars to support it
my second one on my 150's
love them

[David2011]

I got one from AM-Autoparts through eBay 14 months ago. It's a tri-fold cover with an aluminum frame and it unlatches from inside the bed. If your tailgate is locked it provides at least some security. It does allow a little water in during heavy rains; more seepage than deluge. I normally transport large RC airplanes and carry them on a rolling platform so they're well away from any water that gets in. So far I've been very happy with it and at around $400 I thought it was reasonably priced for what I got. I have the 6-1/2' narrow bed so my choices were limited but this company had one that fit well. I did have to modify the hold down blocks on one end but that was specific to the medium length narrow bed. I ended up drilling the inside of the bed and bolting the latch blocks in instead of being able to utilize the clamp type installation. It was well packed and all of the vinyl surfaces were turned to the inside so even though the box was damaged in shipping it the vinyl was undamaged.


https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_dkr=1&iconV2Request=true&_blrs=recall_filtering&_ssn=am-autoparts&store_name=amautoparts&_oac=1&_nkw=bed%20cover%20ford%20f150

[Rapier]

My experiance with bed covers, several types, is thay all suck. So I just went down and bought a new Yukon XL Denali with a sealing and locking 12' roof carrier that I used when I had to carry five or six folks on a trip, no leaks, no break ins. Easy, peasy, every body in the wagon, and away we go down the road, in style. Only thing with them, is when the electronics start to screw up, and they will, pull the eject handle.

[10x]

Had a hard cover on my 5'5" truck box, It was a pain the the posterior.
not to mention there are gravel roads here and a rock can bounce off a trailer and take out the rear window after bouncing on the cover. Had this happen twice. $1100 for the rear window, $1500 for a hard fibreglass cap. Far less expensive that replacing the rear window. Put a lexan rear window in the Cap. Drilled the cap and put a carry rack on it.
Had the hard cover freeze solid a couple of times too and could not get it open.

[dverna]

I have had two. A BakFlip on an F350 and and a Rough Country on a F150. Both hard tri-folds.

If you ride dusty roads the bed and stuff in it will be covered in dust. They shed water OK...not perfect but very well. Nothing stops the dust.

I will never buy another one but I live where I travel 5 miles to get to a paved road.

I wonder if a cap will work to keep the dust out?

[10x]

I have had two. A BakFlip on an F350 and and a Rough Country on a F150. Both hard tri-folds.

If you ride dusty roads the bed and stuff in it will be covered in dust. They shed water OK...not perfect but very well. Nothing stops the dust.

I will never buy another one but I live where I travel 5 miles to get to a paved road.

I wonder if a cap will work to keep the dust out?

A cap is much better at keeping dust out. You do have to find a way to seal the tailgate. I have found that opening the front window on the cap keeps up air pressure inside the cap reducing dust leaks

[Battis]

I priced out caps - average price was around $4000. Ouch. I just got a Rough Country bed mat, and the soft roll-up cover is on the way. Should be all I need. I had caps on the two PUs I owned - F100 and Chevy S10 - and I found that I used the beds like a garage. I need a garage.
My son in law has a tri-fold cover and he says it's great when it comes to clearing snow off, but I like snow in the bed for the weight.

On a side note - the F150 I just got has a trailer back up assist feature. I don't have a trailer, but it looks interesting.