A different kind of question about tonneau covers…

[PlayfulBird]

would I buy it again?? Absolutely not.

I would love to hear a bit more about why you bought it and why not again

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[07052021]

I have a Bak Revolver X4S from RealTruck on the forums. Alex gives a great discount and I love the tonneau. It sits pretty flush with the bed rails (I have OEM spray in liner), keeps water out well, and rolls up easily for transporting larger objects. Doesn't make much noise with my top off either. I've had soft/vinyl rolling covers and they flap around a lot in high winds.

 

[Coldtoes]

So, I don’t really want a tonneau cover on my truck, but with a kid on the way in the next few weeks, I am afraid that I am going to need a tonneau cover to haul stuff around… an anyone recomend a good truck bed cover for someone that does not want a truck bed cover? Is a soft topper going to be better suited for what I need?

TIA for any input!

I have a 6yr old and can say for sure you're going to want some sort of cover. As others have mentioned you don't want to try to cram a stroller in the back with the baby. Regarding a tonneau vs a softopper, that largely depends on how big of a stroller you have, and how much time you want to spend messing with it. For example, my wife and I found we used our BOB "jogging" stroller 99% of the time and almost never used the Graco. The BOB was just so much easier to use. At the time we had an Explorer and I could fold the bob in half and just stick it in without even collapsing it the rest of the way. With a Softopper you could do the same, might even be able to leave it fully open. With a tonneau, you're going to have to fully collapse it and possibly take the back wheels off each time. That isn't hard to do, but it's one more step to mess with.
I have both a softopper and a hard rollup tonnaeu cover (BAK Revolver X4s). Most of the time I keep my tonneau cover on and swap out the softopper when camping or similar. They are both great options with their plusses and minuses. Greater storage vs greater security. If I had to choose just one for your case I would probably go with the softopper because of the stroller storage, but if that isn't an issue, I'd go with the Revolver. I highly recommend both.

 

[Jut60]

I’ve had the Tyger soft roll up nearing two years now, things stay dry, easy to use, and still in good shape. I leave a couple boards in place for the bed partition/plywood holder. When I have just a few items for the kiddos they stay at the back, between the partition and the tailgate and are covered. Easy enough to roll up to put in larger items and cover back up or leave rolled up. It doesn’t block your view out the back when rolled up which is a concern I had with the tri-folds. If security is a concern, maybe look into one of the hard roll up covers as a thought. I originally wanted a hard roll up, but for the cost savings to try the cheap route, it’s worked great.

 

[RJinPV]

I think tonneau covers are needed because they protect what you carry from the elements and prying eyes. With a child on the way I think you'll need one.

Now, for a person that needs a cover but doesn't want a cover, then you want one that can easily be removed when you don't want it. I had a hard tri-fold Extang on my Ram and it was a PITA to remove. Most other brands of that design will likely be too. I would vote for the soft rollups. That is because they roll up to be almost not there and they are usually easy to remove. The Bestop seem to be a good choice, either fabric. The Rugged ridge Armis and Truxedo soft rollups are good. I think even their hard roll ups are easily removed. Use Youtube to research the various brands because they will show you features and how easy each are to remove. The Mopar soft rollup is the only one that doesn't require rails on top of your bed sides. So when it is removed the only thing left are two small clips near the rear of the bed. Almost like you never had it on in the first place. But it is one of the most expensive rollups.

 

[NewGladdyOWNR]

I just bought this from Quadratec, because the price was nice. I had a tri-fold but you will have limitations with what you can haul so I decided to switch to the roll up. Obviously not installed yet, but I’ll post some pics when I put it on.

https://www.quadratec.com/p/tactik/lock-roll-up-tonneau-cover-gladiator-jt

 

[IPRoutes]

Bestop Ez-Roll TWILL.

Bestop does offer a cheaper version of the Ez-Roll…

That is what I have. And since I have a premium twill soft top, the Bestop Twill is an exact match and looks like a factory install.

 

[Cruizer8]

Another option to look into would be the Fas-Top. I bought one when I got the Gladiator because I wanted the best off all worlds. Regular soft tonneau for daily use as well as a softopper for when I have bigger things that need to stay out of the elements. I have 3 kids and every time we travel or go camping the extra space from the topper makes a world of difference.

 

[gb33]

I've tried just about every brand and type of cover out there on all my previous trucks. The Bakflip Revolver X4S is the only one I've ever been totally satisfied with. Folders never give you enough room and you'll find yourself removing it more often than you'd like. Soft covers don't provide any peace of mind that your equipment is secure. The Revolver has a soft top but supported by metal underneath. It can support loads of up to 400 pounds, and is pretty secure. Then, when you need to utilize your bed, it rolls up real nice and compact, providing access to the entire bed without the hassle of having to remove your cover. By far the best I've found.

 

[Camaroboi13]

Bought the cheapest soft tri fold on eBay I could find. Came out to about 160 shipped after taxes. Serves its purpose.

 

[BobcatBruno]

I also have a BAKFlip Revolver X4s. I’ve had them on my last few trucks. They are really sturdy and have an awesome look. Never had a problem with water getting in. Their customer service is also outstanding.

 

[BeepBeep]

I’m satisfied with my Truxedo sentry CT. Everything is always dry and secure. I especially like it with my bedrug.

https://truxedo.com/sentry-ct/2022/jeep/gladiator

 

[Riding with Gladys]

I have the bak revolvr hard roll up. Used it to replace Mopar trifold for visibility when rolled/folded up. Easy install, no vibration at speed like some of the soft versions. Also compatible with the xtrusion overland rack I have on order.

 

[John in the Woods]

Big amen to getting a tonneau cover and not trying to pack gear in the cab near the kids. I had a folding chair go from the back of the cab and through the windshield of an old Ranger during an unplanned deer culling event, and it was pure luck that I didn't lose my head in the process.

I've been running the soft roll-up Mopar cover from day one, and it's great at dust and raid and privacy. If I had young kids and all that expensive gear with me in busy parking lots, I'd go with a hard cover that can lock. A few great ones have been mentioned here. Just get one with a good reputation that you don't mind looking at. I'll bet once its on, you'll never take it off.

 

[Osteodoc08]

I love my Roll N Lock XT. Still small drips here and there but definitely a good product. I’ve had mine on for a year now. No issues. I installed at home in 2 hours. Most of that was chasing the mounting threads on the truck with a tap due to overspray when the Line X was installed

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