Anybody had the horrible roll up bed cover replaced?

[ShadowsPapa]

New I would make the dealer replace it. There have to be some on the lot that they did not screw up or show them pictures of mine.

I'm trying to gather good CLEAR photos of the cover as it should be. Last dealer pointed to one on their lot and said "see, they are all that way".
BS - but when they can point to others that sag, and they refuse to deal with it - what can you do?
TWO dealers did the same thing - "looks fine to us, see, they are all that way" as they point to others. Two dealers.
Last one at least looked at it and at least said "there's no adjustment, since there's no bulletin, we can't do anything for it"
They won't simply replace parts unless JEEP tells them to. No bulletin, no parts. Can't be adjusted.

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[txbillwright]

I'm trying to gather good CLEAR photos of the cover as it should be. Last dealer pointed to one on their lot and said "see, they are all that way".
BS - but when they can point to others that sag, and they refuse to deal with it - what can you do?
TWO dealers did the same thing - "looks fine to us, see, they are all that way" as they point to others. Two dealers.
Last one at least looked at it and at least said "there's no adjustment, since there's no bulletin, we can't do anything for it"
They won't simply replace parts unless JEEP tells them to. No bulletin, no parts. Can't be adjusted.

Call FCA, that is bullshit, customer service at FCA will take care of you.

I am really more of an FCA guy this is me with the CDO of FCA. My SRT8 in the foreground.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I need to get some good photos of mine and some good photos of those where covers fit correctly.
I also need to photograph the screwed up bolts at the front.
The zinc plating is off the bolt heads where the bit slipped and spun in the Torx head.
Didn't notice that until weeks later as I'd not had reason to roll the cover clear up until I tried to find a way to adjust it.
Winter here doesn't help - when it's cold things like these covers tend to pull a bit tighter, a good warm day in the 50s with the sun out should show just how loose it is.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Will get photo of the bolt heads messed up later - maybe it will get above 30 today.

 

[WildJD]

can you tell me more about this Gatehook fix? I’d be interested in doing that to mine.

OK... finally got to try my theoretical fix for the “weekend warrior” flip up end of the tonneau cover!
3” steel gate hooks, screwed into tonneau brace bar, directly above factory hole in tailgate pillar. Tighten or loosen gate hook screw to adjust tension on hooks. They lock in super tight... can’t even lift tonneau edge with tailgate down! With tailgate closed, tonneau is completely locked! Thief will cut tonneau long before breaking lid open! Box of 2 gate hooks $1.98! Paint ‘em black and they disappear! (Drill hole in brace slightly smaller than gate hook’s eye screw, it self taps in tightly. I bought plastic lined stop nuts for pointed tips, but didn’t use ‘em cuz the screw tips end up recessed in brace channel!) Hooks lie flat against brace when rolling up tonneau, no poking or interference at all. Simple, fast, cheap, effective! Only suggestion is buy American steel gate hooks, cheap (imported) hooks may snap when screwing them into brace!
Happy Gladiating! ;{

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Good that you listed SIZE for folks as they come in at least a half dozen different sizes, maybe a lot more as I have some that are barely an inch long - and some at least 4 or 5" up in my wood shop.
Otherwise people would be wondering - uh, which size works best? (of course they could measure but where's the fun in that?)

People kept saying "the end of the cover fits snug against the tailgate (look and you'll find at least two folks here have said that) - but no, not really. Even with my arthritis I can easily pull up on the end with the tail gate closed properly and the cover latched in place. Two thumbs and a bit of pressure and it opens right up. The only true way to prevent that is a latch. You can't make that tailgate and cover come together tight enough to prevent people from pulling up the end of that cover. And the end of the cover is flat, the tail gate where it seats against is flat -no wedge effect at all.

 

[Gatorized]

So I took my shot at the custom lock. Had some Dorman 1/4” screw rivets (#961-050D from o’reillys) that fit the hole in the bed everyone else is using with the gate hook. Bought some D-ring hangers (#122318) and bungee ball cords (#4003) from Lowe’s.
Drilled out the hangers to 1/4” and riveted them into the holes on either side of the bed. Looped the bungee ball cords over the tonneau support above the hangers twice to take up the slack and voila! Simple lock without permanently modifying the bed. I like the D-ring hangers because they don’t stick out where they could hang up or catch on you or items you are putting in the bed. The bungee cord balls can be adjusted for fit but only just got it installed so have not had a chance to experiment with that aspect. No sharp points that could poke through the tonneau. No holes to drill in the bed or tonneau.
It’s possible to pop up the rear flip panel of the tonneau if there is nothing to lock it down. This is not ‘locked’, Nothing will stop the determined knife wielding perp, but it is hopefully enough of a deterrent to discourage the casual attempt.

 

[PyrPatriot]

So if these are garbage why are the listed ones selling so quickly

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So if these are garbage why are the listed ones selling so quickly

They aren't garbage, only some of them are bad. I suspect most are fine. I was unlucky enough to get one that does not fit nicely and they f'd up the install by screwing up the bolt heads.

Like certain other issues - the cluster isn't garbage because a few folks have trouble with it....... the cover isn't garbage if you get one that fits nicely, which I have to hope most do.
Mine simply is loose and sags.

The locking bit is an aside that got tossed into this talk of people who have real issues with the cover - the locking or latching is an add-on people were doing in other threads and it snuck in here.

The real problem is the fit in some cases, the sagging in others, the wind whipping for some, etc.
Mine seals "ok" for an inexpesive factory-supplied cover. I don't think it whips in the wind - dunno, it sits so low I can't see it while driving!
But as my pics above show- it sags badly and holds water and thus ice.

There are at least three (3) other threads on how people made them latch - that's not indicating a horrible cover, that's their CHOICE.
Most people won't even know that you can lift up the back end of those covers - most will assume it's like others and you have to have the tail gate open. So if people quit advertising hey - did you know you can simply open these up with the tailgate closed, the average truck person will assume you can't get into it because most covers, you can't.

 

[ryan-g186]

They aren't garbage, only some of them are bad. I suspect most are fine. I was unlucky enough to get one that does not fit nicely and they f'd up the install by screwing up the bolt heads.

Like certain other issues - the cluster isn't garbage because a few folks have trouble with it....... the cover isn't garbage if you get one that fits nicely, which I have to hope most do.
Mine simply is loose and sags.

The locking bit is an aside that got tossed into this talk of people who have real issues with the cover - the locking or latching is an add-on people were doing in other threads and it snuck in here.

The real problem is the fit in some cases, the sagging in others, the wind whipping for some, etc.
Mine seals "ok" for an inexpesive factory-supplied cover. I don't think it whips in the wind - dunno, it sits so low I can't see it while driving!
But as my pics above show- it sags badly and holds water and thus ice.

There are at least three (3) other threads on how people made them latch - that's not indicating a horrible cover, that's their CHOICE.
Most people won't even know that you can lift up the back end of those covers - most will assume it's like others and you have to have the tail gate open. So if people quit advertising hey - did you know you can simply open these up with the tailgate closed, the average truck person will assume you can't get into it because most covers, you can't.

Will get photo of the bolt heads messed up later - maybe it will get above 30 today.

Damn man. That’s some real sag. How’s the dealership stuff going? Took the gladiator in for an earl change and the manager asked how the trifold was doing. It’s doing great...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Damn man. That’s some real sag. How’s the dealership stuff going? Took the gladiator in for an earl change and the manager asked how the trifold was doing. It’s doing great...

Can't wait for warm weather when things loosen up and expand - how much will it sag then? It's cold and stiff now.
I'm trying to get photos of GOOD tight covers, and then will have to get Jeep involved because the dealerships - two of them - I have talked to and shown it to say "nothing we can do, there's no bulletin or notice on it" and the point to one on their lot that also isn't tight (but isn't as loose as this one) They won't do anything unless Jeep tells them there are problems.
So for now, I'm stuck. The weather isn't helping any.

 

[Gatorized]

Can't wait for warm weather when things loosen up and expand - how much will it sag then? It's cold and stiff now.
I'm trying to get photos of GOOD tight covers, and then will have to get Jeep involved because the dealerships - two of them - I have talked to and shown it to say "nothing we can do, there's no bulletin or notice on it" and the point to one on their lot that also isn't tight (but isn't as loose as this one) They won't do anything unless Jeep tells them there are problems.
So for now, I'm stuck. The weather isn't helping any.

I thought I had seen posts of tonneaus being replaced due to loose fit (flapping/fluttering on highway?).

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I thought I had seen posts of tonneaus being replaced due to loose fit (flapping/fluttering on highway?).

You may have - likely the flapping on the highway. HOWEVER, the dealer must be willing to see this sagging as a problem and be willing to do something about it. This is Iowa, dealers here suck. At least central Iowa. They don't see that sagging as an issue because there is no bulletin on it and they aren't willing to call it a problem - FCA may deny it and they are stuck. You have to get past the row or banks of service writers first and if you can't get past the rows of service writers, you are stuck.
Trust me - you people that don't live in Iowa are lucky as far as dealerships go. Heck, one in Granger even told me that the key fob I had couldn't be reprogrammed into my WJ because "once they are programmed, that's it, we can't add or change anything" so I have also given up on Granger Motors - a small town non-corporate dealer for Jeep stuff (same place the sales guy didn't know the differences between a Rubicon and an Overland)
I took my key FOBs and WJ to a safe and lock company and in 2 minutes he had THREE key fobs programmed in and didn't charge me a dime. (well, I also bought a safe from them, so that might have helped)

 

[Gatorized]

Wonder if there is any adjustability in the cab end mounts where the arms attach on the tonneau? Or perhaps elongate the holes on the tailgate end mounts or maybe the tonneau piece that snaps in can be moved towards the cab so it tightens up the fit. Mine has to be tugged a bit rearward to get the connection to line up and fits very snug.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Wonder if there is any adjustability in the cab end mounts where the arms attach on the tonneau? Or perhaps elongate the holes on the tailgate end mounts or maybe the tonneau piece that snaps in can be moved towards the cab so it tightens up the fit. Mine has to be tugged a bit rearward to get the connection to line up and fits very snug.

I took the screws clear out of the rear latches where they screw to the box - they are factory threaded holes. No slide in the latch "striker"/bracket.
The front bolts solid - nothing found there either. (those are the bolts they messed up at the factory, looks like their bit kept slipping in the bolt, maybe they cross-threaded them or something)

One dealer DID look to see if there was any adjustment - he had a guy come out and look (apparently they had never seen these as far as working on them as I could tell he was scratching his head and it took him a bit to figure out how it worked)
Their conclusion - no adjustment, this must just be how they are. At least they had a guy check - but all he did was what I already did.

The spots on the box, front and back, are factory holes.
The cover itself - everything is riveted and there are no slots or adjustments.
I noted that with the tail gate down, cover closed, if I pull back really really hard I can take some of that sag out. But not all.
Can't say I have to pull back hard, but I do have to pull a little bit and line things up before I can put the latched in and close the back end of it. The latches don't really put any pull on it. They keep it in place, it's not rattle-loose, but it's not a pull, either.

Still trying to collect pictures of the tight covers and will eventually have to find a way to contact Jeep about this as it's obvious our dealership shops are not that swift when it comes to JT.

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