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If you have one, what type did you pick and why? Not looking for brands just opinion on hard vs soft covers. Any regrets? What do you carry under one besides the hitch (for 5ers owners).
In the past I had hard covers. They last and provide some security.
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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.
We have a hard cover on our pick up and like the way it works. For the most part, it keeps things clean and dry, and opens and locks with our remote control. It can slide back partially and will hold in place (good for taking 40# propane tanks to get refilled).
However, this summer we are going to install an auxiliary fuel tank in the bed of the pick up. Our current cover limits the options regarding the type and size of auxiliary fuel tank that will fit behind the hitch because the tonneau cover rolls up into a canister that sits under the cover where a fuel tank would go.
We carry our water softener, wood for leveling, and a folding table in the bed of the truck.
If I had to do it again, I would have installed the auxiliary fuel tank first, and then worried about a cover later. Who knew?
-- Edited by Barb and Frank on Friday 5th of April 2019 02:41:00 PM
We use a trifold hard cover. When closed (not towing) it keeps the UV rays off our air ride hitch's air bags. When open it does not interfere with the fifth wheel hitch or pin box at all. Since it folds forward behind the cab would interfere with an in bed auxiliary fuel tank ... so if that's what you want, maybe not a good choice. Cost a bit less than $1000 and self installed in 30 mins.
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Ron and Janice
2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system
2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114 LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW
As noted hard is better for security. We had a tri fold one and had to get rid of it...measure carefully to ensure enough clearance when it is folded. Ours was fine going down the highway but on sharp turns in CG or mountains the 5ver swung over the folded cover and only had a half inch of clearance. Doesn’t take much of a non level site or switchback on mountain roads to drag the underside of the BR over the cover and scrape it up. We replaced with a soft cover which allowed for covering hitch but that lowered the bed rail to BR clearance. Our solution was to upgrade to the 5500HD truck with hauler bed...although weight and rear axle load was a bigger factor than the clearance. Even with the hauler bed we occasionally have clearance issues requiring careful backing to avoid.
I have a 4 section hard cover on my F350. It has locks on both ends which allows me to fold up the cab end when filling up the 50 gal aux tank that sits right behind the cab. What I like about my Transfer Flow is that the filler sits below the top of the bed rail and is protected from the elements by the cover. On the 15th I will have my hitch installed by New Horizons, which I'm expecting to also sit below the top of the bed rail. While in tow mode the quad cover will be completely folded behind the cab over the tank. Should I need to fill up the tank while towing (I'm looking to do most of my fill-ups while unhitched), I can still raise all 4 sections enough to allow for the fill. My whole purpose in getting the quad hard cover was to give me a clean line of sight from inside the cab to the hitch. The truck originally came with a tri-fold and it just didn't give me enough visibility. A quad fold gives me those few extra inches and allows me to seem most of the hitch area from the cab. Plus, there's the extra protection from the elements and some measure of security for everything in the bed. Mind you I haven't started towing yet. That actually starts on the 19th when I take the Summit to Acorn RV Resort near the factory. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that theory will translate into reality.
Hans
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2019 NH Summit 37IK3S
2019 F350 King Ranch Dually w/ Air Lift Air Ride, 50 gal TransferFlow Aux Tank
Fulltime Class of 2019
'I'm too old to be wrong, but I could be wrong about that.'
I have a 4 section hard cover on my F350. It has locks on both ends which allows me to fold up the cab end when filling up the 50 gal aux tank that sits right behind the cab. What I like about my Transfer Flow is that the filler sits below the top of the bed rail and is protected from the elements by the cover. On the 15th I will have my hitch installed by New Horizons, which I'm expecting to also sit below the top of the bed rail. While in tow mode the quad cover will be completely folded behind the cab over the tank. Should I need to fill up the tank while towing (I'm looking to do most of my fill-ups while unhitched), I can still raise all 4 sections enough to allow for the fill. My whole purpose in getting the quad hard cover was to give me a clean line of sight from inside the cab to the hitch. The truck originally came with a tri-fold and it just didn't give me enough visibility. A quad fold gives me those few extra inches and allows me to seem most of the hitch area from the cab. Plus, there's the extra protection from the elements and some measure of security for everything in the bed. Mind you I haven't started towing yet. That actually starts on the 19th when I take the Summit to Acorn RV Resort near the factory. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that theory will translate into reality.
Hans
Sounds interesting ... what is the brand and cost?
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Ron and Janice
2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system
2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114 LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW
Olderthandirt, yours sounds like the one we have that came with our new to us RAM3500. My concern is all four panels folded causing clearance issue like Neil mentioned. Second issue is access when folded. We are looking at fuel tank/tool box combo and folded or not, it seems more inconvenient than a rollup tonneau. You'd have to flip all four panels to get into toolbox or refuel the aux fuel tank if needed. I'd like to keep everything under whatever kind of tonneau we decide on if, be it the one we have, or something different.
Brian & Cindy, the panels on my quad are not as thick as those on the tri-fold I started out with, and from a structural standpoint they probably don't need to be. Still, with all four folded up ontop of the fuel tank area, the entire thickness is less than the tri-fold folded up. I'm hoping the smaller panel length and lesser total thickness of the quad vs. the tri-fold will preclude any clearance issues. I will find out the week of the 15th. TransferFlow does make a combo that sits below the rail top so you should be good there. Good luck with whatever you decide to go with.
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2019 NH Summit 37IK3S
2019 F350 King Ranch Dually w/ Air Lift Air Ride, 50 gal TransferFlow Aux Tank
Fulltime Class of 2019
'I'm too old to be wrong, but I could be wrong about that.'
