Tonneau cover vs topper.

[Jtholland]

I finally found and purchased my future full time TT, an Avion. 34w(10.6 meter), now all I need to complete my rig is a bed cover/topper. Any and all pros and cons of tonneau covers, fiberglass toppers, etc. , and why and what you use would be appreciated. Thanks JT

[GMFL]

Love my camper shell/topper. More room inside

[Jtholland]

What brand, and any upgrades, or mods? Thanks.

[GMFL]

Mine is a Leer because I got it for $500 off Craig’s List. ARE also make a nice shell. We haul our bucks on top of ours.
Upgrades
Top rack
Carpet inside
E lock which locks shell with truck remote
Led inside lights
Sliding front window

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Jtholland

I finally found and purchased my future full time TT, an Avion. 34w(10.6 meter), now all I need to complete my rig is a bed cover/topper. Any and all pros and cons of tonneau covers, fiberglass toppers, etc. , and why and what you use would be appreciated. Thanks JT

Okay, it comes down to two choices.
A hard Tonneau.
Pro: Looks great, good security, doesn't interfere with your vision.
Con: Hard to reach things in the front. Limited headroom, hard to remove to move a sofa or 30 bags of mulch!

Cap:
Pro: Lots of room. Easy to store large items, even room for a bed slide and bicycles!!
Con: Blocks your side view. Lets strangers see inside or break window. Looks like Grandpa's truck.

Optional:
Soft tonneau or rollup.
Less security, less headroom for large generators, leaks.

P.S. I have a hard Tonneau, a Leer 700. I love it except if I need to carry a sofa or washing machine.

[SteveSueMac]

Mollysdad has it about right. Gosh - I had a red 1970 Chevy CST-10 with one of those white painted aluminum caps - talk about gramps’ truck....

Anyway - I just recently swapped out my hard tonneau for a leer cap just to have more space for stuff. Loved the tonneau for all the reasons mentioned - need the space - and worry about break-ins - but honestly, you could pry open even a tight tonneau.....you just wouldn’t know if there’s a jackpot until you do.....

We’ll see....

[majorairhead]

We're capped. I don't like my bikes out in the rain.

[LuckyCloud]

Capped with a Leer. Bedrug in the bed. Same upgrades as listed above, I like ARE, but they didn't have as many options.

Actually sold a hard tonneau because I needed the space the cap provides.

[AirMiles]

I have an Access Lorado soft tonneau cover that works great for me. If it leaks, its never damaged anything carried in my truckbed. (I don't think it leaks.) I like that it rolls completely up so there is full access to the truck bed. I like reaching in over the sides to get things from the front of the truckbed, like my ladder in this picture: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post2205359 . I've had several of these on different trucks and prefer them over my past tonneau covers. Access brand is very high quality and out lasts your pickup even in the harsh cold (Wisconsin) and blazing sun (Florida). It stays soft and functional in both environments. It can get hot to the touch in the Florida sun.

I had a topper on one truck with opening side windows. Even with the opening side windows it was difficult to reach in to get anything out of the truck bed from the side windows. It was also difficult to crawl in to get items out of the front of the truck bed and tall items were sometimes challenging.

I had two trucks with roll-up hard covers. I didn't like that it takes about 12" of truckbed away from a shortbed pickup. You even lose more truck bed access under a tri-fold hard cover, which I never owned.

With these new trucks getting taller and taller, its getting harder to reach in to get things in the truck bed. My new truck has a granny step which is really handy for access. My new truck's running boards are short and do not extend under the truck bed which really hurts side access.

Of course there are pro's and con's to each cover and you will have to decide which one will work best for you. I'm very happy with my Access Lorado tonneau cover. https://www.accesscover.com/

[Jtholland]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

Okay, it comes down to two choices.
A hard Tonneau.
Pro: Looks great, good security, doesn't interfere with your vision.
Con: Hard to reach things in the front. Limited headroom, hard to remove to move a sofa or 30 bags of mulch!

Cap:
Pro: Lots of room. Easy to store large items, even room for a bed slide and bicycles!!
Con: Blocks your side view. Lets strangers see inside or break window. Looks like Grandpa's truck.

Optional:
Soft tonneau or rollup.
Less security, less headroom for large generators, leaks.

P.S. I have a hard Tonneau, a Leer 700. I love it except if I need to carry a sofa or washing machine.

I’m looking hard at a retraction pro so I can put bike racks, canoe toter if I want, rolls up so I’ll have a 7’ bed to haul whatever in. JT

[nvestysly]

This subject seemed very familiar (and recent) and I planned to point the OP toward a thread of the same subject... only to find the OP created the other thread too. Perhaps asking the same or similar question will result in better, more useful information.

Here's a link to the other thread for anyone interested:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...es-191494.html

[gypsydad]

I have had Trifold covers on my last 2 TV's. Never had any leaks; purchased both from Ford. Not a hassle to take off or install if I need to, which happened only once when I was moving a lot of furniture and needed the entire bed. I like it because it is very secure when locked, strong, and I can open/access 1/3 to 2/3rds of the bed by just folding open. When I use Thule adjustable racks for my kayaks, I have to leave it open 2/3rds, and if it is a long trip, I will cover the exposed cargo in the bed with plastic tarp and stretch netting. Works fine. I have often considered getting a topper like Lear or ARE with rack on top for kayaks, but have not pulled the trigger...like others mention there are some concerns with this approach also in loss of outside vision from the cab and "grandpas truck" look, but that last part doesn't bother me so much anymore...I'm a grandpa now anyway...x7!

[Dtrentr]

[ATTACH]335688
Ready to roll. Z series ARE and a bedslide 1500CG. Boondocking next week so the generator and solar panel and lots of water loaded up

[Al and Missy]

I have had two tri-folds and one topper. The tri-folds allowed simple removal and installation for when I needed to haul tall items, but they limited space and leaked at the folds.

I now have a Century Ultrasport topper. I ordered it with roof rack rail inserts, fixed side windows, sliding front window, carpet, and LED light. I installed accessory hangers (for clothes on hangers), a switch in line with the LED light, and an electric lock that connected to my central locking system. The Century seems to be as well made as the ARE and LEER, but is less expensive.

If I got a do over, I'd get the Century again.

Al

[fubar201]

I have had BakFlip's on my last 2 trucks. My current version is an MX4. I like the (nominal) security and the ability to use as a truck when I need to. Recommended and no association.

https://bakflip.com/p/bakflip-mx4-tonneau-cover/

[Jtholland]

Originally Posted by nvestysly

This subject seemed very familiar (and recent) and I planned to point the OP toward a thread of the same subject... only to find the OP created the other thread too. Perhaps asking the same or similar question will result in better, more useful information.

Here's a link to the other thread for anyone interested:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...es-191494.html

So far so good this time. I value ideas from anyone, as long as they’re good ideas. In the old thread I named TV and full time. We sold our home last summer and are now apartment dwellers for maybe 2 years max. Just bought my future home Tuesday and gathering info on the what and why in bed covers/caps for that expressed purpose. So appreciate any good ideas anyone has. Thanks, JT

[rmkrum]

Tacoma came with a one piece hard tonneau cover. Prior had a cab high topper. Hate the access issues and lack of height and space under the tonneau.
Next truck, probably a Tundra, will have a cab-high topper. Besides it flat looks better, imho.

[Jtholland]

Originally Posted by Dtrentr

[ATTACH]335688
Ready to roll. Z series ARE and a bedslide 1500CG. Boondocking next week so the generator and solar panel and lots of water loaded up

How much clearance between bedslide and top of liftgate opening?

[Dan and Liz]

We’ve had both. Cab-high topper offers a lot more flexibility for us. It mostly depends on how you plan to use the truck. And I really like the “grandpa’s truck” look — at least it gets a lot of compliments!

[Jtholland]

Originally Posted by Dan and Liz

We’ve had both. Cab-high topper offers a lot more flexibility for us. It mostly depends on how you plan to use the truck. And I really like the “grandpa’s truck” look — at least it gets a lot of compliments!

I hear ya. I’ve been a P-paw for 17 years in May, and proud of it.