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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Accessories -> Truck Bed Cover
Post Info TOPIC: Truck Bed Cover
Neil and Connie


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Truck Bed Cover
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I'm in the market for a cover for our truck bed and wanted to see if anybody has a better suggestion than what I've found so far.

Due to limited clearance between the bed rails on the F450 and the bottom of the New Horizons bedroom I want something that sticks up above the bed rails as little as possible.

The Retrax and RollBack and similar don't stick up at all but with the aux tank in the front of the bed this type won't fit.

The TriFold hard cover and similar that fold up would fit over the top of the aux tank but when folded for towing are too tall on the forward 1/4 of the bed where the stack sits…I had one of these and loved it but had to get rid of it.

Swapping to a hauler bed would be the optimum solution as it has more clearance…but since the hauler weighs 500-800 pounds more than the pickup bed that's a no go due to rear axle limit…swapping to a new truck with a hauler bed would also work but a truck swap is way more money than I want to spend.

With all of that…it looks like the roll up type from Truxedo is the best solution from my research…they have a relatively new model called the Lo Pro QT that only sticks up about 3/4 of an inch higher than the bed rails.

Does anybody know of another roll up type solution that either fits entirely below the bed rails or that adds less than 3/4 of an inch to bed rail height? From looking at the way the Retrax/RollBack are designed; if they had a model that instead of rolling up at the front of the bed instead pulled rearward and out of the side brackets to be rolled up separately and bungeed to the bed separately would be ideal; but that isn't one of their options; and I haven't found anything that rolls up and raises the bed rail height less than 3/4 inch.

Thanks.



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BiggarView


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Perhaps you might consider this idea... http://rvkenandlee.blogspot.com/2012/11/wow-we-have-new-truck-bed.html

Best of hauler bed clearance and pickup utility, with a cover to boot!... just a thought.

Brian



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Neil and Connie


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We know Lee and Ken and followed their issues back then. Their big issue was the rig shutting the bed rails so hey got  it cut down. Our trailer is almost the same as theirs and we don't have the problem; looking at their rig at the New Horizons rally I thought their kingpin is mounted too high on the frame. 

It cost them 10 grand to get the bed cut down if I remember correctly, which is also more than we want to spend (although it is less than a hauler bed would be). 

We are fine with our current clearance but just don't want to give up any of it to install a bed cover. 

Good suggestion though. 



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Second Chance


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Neil,

I will have to switch out my UnderCover Classic later this year when I install a fifth wheel hitch and have some of the same concerns. A coworker of mine was advised by the truck and trailer company she's dealing with (horse trailers) to go with a roll-up tonneau cover with her goose-neck setup. I think I'll be heading over to the same place to check them out. My concerns about the other designs are: 1) the space taken at the front of the bed by the retractables (and how far some of the rails come in from the sides of the bed with this type), 2) both the clearance to the front of the hitch when folded and the height of the stacked tri-folds, and 3) security on all of them (my UnderCover Classic is very secure - especially with a locking tailgate). The UnderCover Classic comes off in less than 10 minutes - but you can't take it with you when towing a fifth wheel... looks like a roll-up is in our future.

Rob

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Neil and Connie


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We originally had one of the 3 panel fold up hard ones and loved the cover…but when it was folded it sits across the front third of the bed and was too high so not enough clearance.

The Retrax and similar are out for us since they have the roll up bin in the front top of the bed right where my aux tank is.

So…roll up soft cover it is. I was going to go with Truxedo but found another brand that is engineered just about the same as the Truxedo and is only 1/2 instead of 3/4 inch higher than the rales. I think I'm likely going with this one…it's cheaper than the Truxedo anyway. http://www.accesscover.com/comparecovers/ and I'm looking at the Access Vanish from Agricover. Phone number is 888.585.6126 and the main web site is http://www.agricover.com. 

Either the Truxedo or Access Vanish rolls up into a bundle about 5 or 6 inches in diameter right behind the cab so it will fit in front of/over our aux tank. I just need to verify that the fill connection for the tank won't interfere with it.

 

 

 



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The Junkman


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I have a roll up one.. not sure of the brand.. about $500.. works perfect for my rving needs..

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Glenn West


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My hauler bed only 6k installed. Give you all the clearance you need and not break the bank. Not as fancy as the custom ones but serves us well

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Neil and Connie


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I think we are going with the Truxedo as it gets consistently better recommendations than others. Looked at an Extang that had no profile but reviews say it leaks and doesn't fit well. The Truxedo is 3/4 inch higher than the bed rails but rails up nicely for travel. 

 

 



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Neil and Connie


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A hauler bed would add weight to the rear axle that we don't have capacity for or else I would get one. 



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LandYachty


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We have a Tonno Pro trifold and love it with our fifth wheel.  It is the softcover and we have no problem with the fifth wheel traveling over it.  

We have had (over the years) 2 other types of covers and by far this is the best.  It stick up 4 1/2" off the bed rail when folded forward.

I also bought on Amazon a locking handle for our truck.  We realize that someone could slit the cover with a knife and get into the bed but this would keep the honest folks from looking.



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The Junkman


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Just checked mine.. it's a extang.. sits about 1" above the rail.. roll up. real handy.. quality seems ok.

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Glenn West


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Neil and Connie wrote:

A hauler bed would add weight to the rear axle that we don't have capacity for or else I would get one. 

 Your rear axle will support more pin weight than it is rated at by Dodge/GM/Ford. But don't take my word for  it. Go to manufacturer of axles, bearings and check on ratings. Only limit is your tires. Hot shoters have done this for years with no problems.



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Neil and Connie


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LandYachty wrote:

We have a Tonno Pro trifold and love it with our fifth wheel.  It is the softcover and we have no problem with the fifth wheel traveling over it.  

We have had (over the years) 2 other types of covers and by far this is the best.  It stick up 4 1/2" off the bed rail when folded forward.

I also bought on Amazon a locking handle for our truck.  We realize that someone could slit the cover with a knife and get into the bed but this would keep the honest folks from looking.

 The 4.5 height is too much for our rig, that's why I had to get rid of the trifold we had before and am looking at rollups. 



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Neil and Connie


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Glenn West wrote:
 Your rear axle will support more pin weight than it is rated at by Dodge/GM/Ford. But don't take my word for  it. Go to manufacturer of axles, bearings and check on ratings. Only limit is your tires. Hot shoters have done this for years with no problems.

 You may be right but the reading is still there for a reason so I'm leery of just blowing it off. The hauler bed would put us about 1300 over. We are ok witre loads and as an engineer I know there is some safety factor in the rated load but exactly how much is unknown. 



-- Edited by Neil and Connie on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 02:00:07 PM

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