If possible, Can Somebody post a non stock picture of the tri fold hard Tonneau cover?

[Jake]

Hey @ralphjjr I also looked into that Extang Encore cover at a 4X4 shop. They had a miniature display version. Had a nice lock on the front of it so you could then open up the front section. And as you can see in this picture you can also open up the rear section while the front is also opened. The 4X4 place told me the same thing, will not be made for the Gladiator. Saw a miniature back flip, was impressed by that one. But again could not open up the front end. Know of any other company that makes a cover that can also be opened from the front? Thanks

The only tonneau that I've found that allows access from the front directly is the Extang Encore Tonno. https://extang.com/encore-tonno
I reached out to Extang and they said that there are no plans to make that cover for the Gladiator. However, they do make it for the 2019 Chevy Colorado with a 5' bed. There are reports of other Colorado Tonneaus allegedly fitting the Gladiator.

None of the tonneau's we are seeing that fit the Gladiator have a feature like that. It's as you say, you'd have to roll up or fold up all the way to have "full" or "front" bed access.

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[JeepCares]

Thanks Alex @JeepCares. I just left the dealership. They pulled the one they have out of the box. And we looked at all of the parts and we looked at the detailed instructions and they also don’t know how it can open from the front like it says on the Mopar site. We both scratch our heads trying to figure this out. They have it on hold for me to buy as soon as someone can tell me how it can open from the front. And as I stated earlier the front end gets bolted down. So how can you open something up when it is bolted down? Love to know. Thanks

Hi Jake,
I did receive word back that there is an error on the Mopar site and you cannot open the tonneau cover from the front. I have been assured that this error will be corrected. I do apologize for the misinformation and hope this provides some clarity.
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[Jake]

Thanks. I went ahead and bought the cover. Will put it on my truck after I have ordered one and taken delivery of one. Just waiting to see a Gladiator in 2 other colors before I decide which color I will get. In the meantime I pick up a few accessories so I can put them on it once I get my truck.

 

[Tortooga Custom Works]

Hey @ralphjjr I also looked into that Extang Encore cover at a 4X4 shop. They had a miniature display version. Had a nice lock on the front of it so you could then open up the front section. And as you can see in this picture you can also open up the rear section while the front is also opened. The 4X4 place told me the same thing, will not be made for the Gladiator. Saw a miniature back flip, was impressed by that one. But again could not open up the front end. Know of any other company that makes a cover that can also be opened from the front? Thanks

I haven’t found another one
I am still very very very undecided about what to do. I’m rocking the roll up a little longer. I may opt for the mopar hard cover for a bit just to get one that really locks. That’s really messing with me.

 

[Tortooga Custom Works]

I looked over the instructions. It looks almost exactly like the BakFlip and Undercover. Neither of which you can access from the front without folding up from the rear. I came to the conclusion that they just meant you could open it all the way up to get to the front of the bed and not that you could access the front separately

more and more I'm leaning towards getting the mopar hard tonneau cover. Especially now that I see that it does not actually cover the side rails completely.

Also, the more I read and see pictures, I agree with what you said. The front part of the bed does NOT open up like the Extang Encore (which is not coming to the Gladiator anyway).
That makes this statement from the mopar description very confusing: "The front panel also opens for easy access to cargo stored in the front of the bed."

I think it just means that all 3 covers fold. Most hard tonneau's only fold 2 times. So the front is a pain to get at. But, based on the pictures and the instructions, it looks like the mopar hard cover actually has 4 panels. The front one is a small one with a hinge that then allows the 3 large panels to fold.... that's my theory. Maybe that's been covered already somewhere else. Anyway, I think my local dealership still has one. I will probably pick it up tomorrow.

Here is a picture of the mopar hard trifold that was posted some time ago in a different thread:

I have the 3 piece MOPAR hard top - viet well made and a perfect fit. Pretty close to the same style/build quality as the one on my F150. My dealer ordered it from MOPAR and I installed myself

 

[Jake]

Hey @ralphjjr I have a Mopar cover in my house. The front section will not open up at all. It gets bolted shut.

And FYI JeepCares told me that there was a miss print in their statement when I pointed this out to them. They said they were getting the miss print corrected.

 

[Tortooga Custom Works]

Hey @ralphjjr I have a Mopar cover in my house. The front section will not open up at all. It gets bolted shut.

And FYI JeepCares told me that there was a miss print in their statement when I pointed this out to them. They said they were getting the miss print corrected.

Bolted right at the front right? But isn’t there a hinge a few inches away from it? So technically you could fold, from the back, 3 times? Rear-most section over middle section, rear and middle over the front, and then one more half fold against the back of the cab?

This is all wild speculation on my part lol

 

[Gobi Wan K]

more and more I'm leaning towards getting the mopar hard tonneau cover. Especially now that I see that it does not actually cover the side rails completely.

Also, the more I read and see pictures, I agree with what you said. The front part of the bed does NOT open up like the Extang Encore (which is not coming to the Gladiator anyway).
That makes this statement from the mopar description very confusing: "The front panel also opens for easy access to cargo stored in the front of the bed."

I think it just means that all 3 covers fold. Most hard tonneau's only fold 2 times. So the front is a pain to get at. But, based on the pictures and the instructions, it looks like the mopar hard cover actually has 4 panels. The front one is a small one with a hinge that then allows the 3 large panels to fold.... that's my theory. Maybe that's been covered already somewhere else. Anyway, I think my local dealership still has one. I will probably pick it up tomorrow.

Yes, it looks like it functions just like a BakFlip or Undercover Flex. So the 3 panels can stand up on the short panel at the front. The thing I don't know is if there is a provision to keep it up so almost the full bed can be used. I like the Undercover Flex better than the BakFlip because the BakFlip leans against the back of the cab. I'm not sure how well that will work going between hard, soft and no top. The Undercover Flex supports itself and doesn't rest on the cab.

BakFlip had not released theirs yet and I need to see if Undercover flex will send me the instillation instructions to see how it mounts. So far the Mopar one looks to be best as it uses mounting points in the bed rails where my current Undercover Flex uses clamps to hold the frame to the bed rails.

 

[Jeepers!]

Pretty sure the Mopar is a BakFlip MX4

 

[Gobi Wan K]

Here is the Undercover Flex in the full open position. You can see the struts on either side that hold it up

 

[Jake]

Hey @ralphjjr and @Gobi Wan K you are both correct. You could flip the 3 sections forward right where that last short panel is. That panel is about 5 inches. But there is nothing to hold it forward. I suppose you could get creative and make some sort of rod or rods to hold it in place. But do so at your own risk. I know Jeep would then wash their hands of any and all liability in case of accidents. But hey if the Backflip folks can design such a simple rod then I bet you could too, not rocket science here.

And @ralphjjr that small panel gets bolted to the rail frames, one bolt on each side.

 

[Gobi Wan K]

@ralphjjr

Here are the vehicle specific instructions for the Undercover Flex. I plan to order this one as soon as I actually order my JT. It mounts to the bed rails essentially the same way the Mopar one does with out using clamps. Having the struts to hold it in the full open position is important to me especially with the short 5 foot bed of the JT.

I tried to upload the general instructions but the pdf is too large. Here is the website link:

https://undercoverinfo.com/undercover-flex/2020/jeep/gladiator

 

[Tortooga Custom Works]

@ralphjjr

Here are the vehicle specific instructions for the Undercover Flex. I plan to order this one as soon as I actually order my JT. It mounts to the bed rails essentially the same way the Mopar one does with out using clamps. Having the struts to hold it in the full open position is important to me especially with the short 5 foot bed of the JT.

I tried to upload the general instructions but the pdf is too large. Here is the website link:

https://undercoverinfo.com/undercover-flex/2020/jeep/gladiator

I'm like a ping-pong... I think I like this one better....
In the video (with the colorado) it does not show to have the struts... although the pictures do show struts on that ram.
I'm chatting with them now to get some clarification, and possibly pictures.

 

[Tortooga Custom Works]

Ohh - they are not struts. They are just a piece of metal that holds it in position. You have to fold it up...

 

[Gobi Wan K]

@ralphjjr

I called them struts for lack of a better word. They are actually like the gas springs for a hatch back with out the gas or spring part. They use the same ball end to make the connection and the end that attaches to the cover when in the up position has a little red lever to release them to fold back into their storage hook.
The general instructions show the struts and it is key part of this top. I didn't even consider them not being there. i didn't watch any of the videos on the site to see.

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