I need some help from those of you with covers on the back of your trucks. What do you like or not like about them? Here is why I ask.

My last truck had the 6.5' bed and in the summer I had a tool box and winter I had a roll up tonneau cover. My only complaints with this set up is that in the summer if it would rain anything in the bed during a vacation would get wet and in the winter the roll up cover was hard to snap. I found it easier to just remove the framework and lift it off as one.

My new truck has the 5.8 ft bed. I feel it's too short for a tool box since I would even have less carrying room. I was looking at the retractable tonneau covers but was told not to by a number of dealers here due to the winters with the snow and ice. That leaves me with 3 options.

1) Snap tonneau cover
2) Fiberglass tonneau cover
3) Fiberglass cap

I have never had 2 or 3 before. Both to me have the disadvantage that if I want to haul anything big in the bed I have to remove it and then find a place to store it.

On the other hand I want to get some kayaks and I can mount a rack on top of the cap to carry them compared to mounting a rack on the roof of the truck.

I like the second option the best but like the cap idea just for the kayak idea. With the second option I could easliy remove it and store it in the basement if I want. With the cap I need a larger storage space.

So lets hear it from people who have it and help me decide so I don't make a bad decision.

Not sure exactly what they are called but I've looked at and liked the ones that fold in 1/4s or 1/3s. Wonder if they would hold up to the weather? With the 5'er hitch in bed, a solid one would not work for me. I liked the folding type because I could leave part of the bed covered with camper hitched. One hasn't made it past window shopping yet though.

PS - A feature I liked was that it could be easily opened from either end or totally removed.

I have had the snap on installed on the last three trucks, it works for me because I can take it off and put it on easily by myself. It keeps my bed very dry too, don't know why yours wouldn't. Only downside is lack of security, but I haven't had any problems.

I have a hard plastic one from UnderCover. It works great and is MUCH cheaper than fiberglass version. I think it was like $600. Keeps things dry and while it does take 2 people to take it off it comes off easy. I rarely have mine on because I use my truck like a truck and haul a lot of stuff. My truck is also family vehicle and we use the lid when on long trips to store luggage and keep contents dry.

I've got a Retrax rollup cover on the diesel and love it. Rolls into a box that is about 6X6 in the front of the truck and can be locked in any position, so a fifth wheel would not be a problem.
Keeps stuff dry very well.
When hauling loads of mulch or whatever just roll it up then get a scoop or so and cover to keep it from flying all over the road. If hauling a taller box you can roll it out of the way and load against it or remove it.
I've only taken mine off once in the two and a half years I've had it and that was to haul motorcycles. While I could remove or install it alone in about 15minutes , it does go much easier with two people.

I've had fiberglass caps and fiberglass taneau covers. Both serve their purpose. A lot has to go with what you are hauling. I like the cap I have now since I can fit whatever I need to indside. But, there are limitations and I doubt I would go through the hassle of taking it off. Everything does stay dry and we can sleep back there is needed.

Do you have dogs? If so and they travel with you your decision is made unless they ride in the cab. I looked at some of the retractable ones for our last truck,but never got around to it. I liked the hard taneau cover. Two people could remove it, the color match was perfect and it kept stuff dry underneath.

I have truxedo roll up velco top. Works great - stays totally dry. Have had it on 3 years and it still looks like day 1. Velco makes it very easy to take on or off.

I have the Truxedo roll up (no snaps, velcro) style. http://www.truxedo.com/original/truxedo.html

It has worked great the last 2 years I've had mine. No problems in the winter trying to get the snaps snapped again. It's low profile and very easy to install and use.

I had a FG cap on my previous truck.

Pros: everything was dry, could haul canoes/kayaks on top with the rack, slept in the back many times, didn't have to worry about snow

Cons: had to take the cap off to get a load of mulch, more surface area to wax, shrinkage during the winter and trying to fasten the cover

With my F150 Super Crew we currently have an open bed, I am thinking about going with a soft tonneau so I can cover the bed but also roll it back for the over sized loads.

I haven't had a pickup in awhile, but I have been looking into buying one - still haven't gotten any dealer to offer me one at at a "can't pass it up" deal yet.

This thread reminds me of their downside. You've got that big bed with no weather or wind protection, and no security.

Which is exactly why my pickups didn't get used as much as they should have in the past. Do you folks with Crew cab pickups still have that problem? Maybe I should stick with my Suburban.

A long time ago, when the pickup was my primary vehicle, I bought an aluminum cap - which was nice, because it could be removed relatively easily - but still you didn't want to do it very often. They had fiberglass caps at the time, which looked better, but was way heavier and more expensive.

So I struggle where it appears everyone else is. I really like the roll up ones that retract into their own box but those are the ones the dealers here say don't work well due to the ice and snow build up.

I don't haul much in the box. The dogs ride in the cab and that's why we went with the crew cab this time around since it gave them more room. I guess with a cap I could put them in the back but then they wouldn't have heat and AC....:)

If it wasn't for the kayak idea I would probably go with the fiberglass cover since it offers security and matches the truck. Since I have the 5.8 ft box loading mulch is a challenge and he had to angle it so any cover other then the soft ones you can take off completly would be in the way and would need to be removed. Come to think of it I did hand load rocks from the side and that would be a pain with a cap on.

I could always go with the cap and then just pick up a trailer for the other stuff when I need to haul it.

I use an Extang Full tilt, best of all three. no snaps, rolls up and is hinged. can be removed in seconds by one and after three years not one issue. Some pics of mine:





AJ

ARE lids on the last three pickups. Pricy but worth it. The last to have had the power lock tied into the remote. If the truck is locked the lid is locked.

As far as heat and A/C, do you have sliding rear window? When I was in college a third person wanted to hitch a ride home for spring break. I told him that he had the back as the cab would be too crowded. I kept the window open for heat. He was a little chilly on the 4 hour ride from Maine to Boston. I didn't make him contribute to any gas money for his pain and suffering.

I had a FG ARE as they are cheaper than LEER.