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Roll Up Tonneau Covers - Does More Money Equal a Better Cover?

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roegs

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I hate to think about how many Access tonneau Covers I've purchased in my lifetime. Every time I got a new truck (which is another story) I purchased a new Access tonneau cover. This time around as I price covers I'm seeing some really good reviews for roll up tonneau covers that are less than half the price of both Access and Truxedo covers. One of these is the Gator ETX at $219 from Amazon. I want something that will withstand hot summers and well below zero winters. I've always had good luck with Access, but if I can get a comparable cover for a much lower price (and better warranty!) I'd just as soon put that money into some other type of accessory. Thoughts?
 
Usually you get what you pay for. I ordered a Truxedo roll up cover and I like the quality. However if you see one on Amazon that interest you, why not order it and if doesn't look well made, just return it?
 
I haven't found the more money= better quality to be true across the board with tonneau covers. I bought a top of the line truxedo cover and a middle of the road Lund. Both seemed equally made and had their shortcomings. Favorite cover so far is the cheapest, Gator ETX roll up as you mentioned above. Easy to install, less than $200 when you can get it on sale, and sits really flush with the bed.
 
CdnHO said:
Usually you get what you pay for. I ordered a Truxedo roll up cover and I like the quality. However if you see one on Amazon that interest you, why not order it and if doesn't look well made, just return it?
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I had a Truxedo on my last truck. The cover started to separate from the aluminum bars and eventually totally came apart. I used it for about 3 years and it was junk after that.
I had an Extang on the turck before that, and the plastic parts came apart too soon. I limped along for about 3 years on that one before I junked it.
I went to a Retrax MX this time; seems to be very high quality and others have said they are the best long term. Disadvantages are high cost and some loss of space at the front of the box.
So, in a way, I went the other way; when I had quality issues with the mid priced options, I decided to spend more this time to see if I would get more quality.
So far, so good, but time will tell!

B
 
Wish I could find some negative reviews on the Gator ETX cover....it would make this decision easier for me. :rolleyes:

Like CdnHO said, I may just have to order one. Problem is that the true test of a cover is how the fabric and velcro hold up down the road. Sun and super cold temps seem to be the real test for these covers, which is what I always appreciated about Access Covers. Some reviews I read on Gator said that Truxedo makes the covers for Gator, but I've not seen anything to back that up.
 
For soft covers....come on guys I know there is variation but not a whole lot. And as soon as one mfger adds a feature the others are close behind. Yes the cheapest one probably has some issues but the most expensive one is not superior.

I have a Lund Genesis Elite. Vinyl is thick, it has a couple gaskets front and back to shed water and keep it dry, easy to use clips to tie it back. Rock Auto sells them for $200 and change. I've had Truxedo before and honestly no difference other than a logo.
 
On my second cheaper roll up.
Went with the cheapest I could fond on Amazon for my 1500. Lasted 5 years or more.
Didn't spend much more on the one for my 2500. I went with the Gator brand.
Happy with both. Would not hesitate to go cheap again.
 
Gator and Bak are the same company FYI.

When comparing prices on covers a few trucks back, I got the best price from a live chat with gator through their website
 
Talked (chatted) with Gator and they are associated with BAK as Rockcrawler mentioned. Also, the Gator ETX is an Amazon only version of the Gator SRX. The EXT is thinner vinyl and some less expensive hardware. My only concern with the ETX (SRX) is I prefer an adjustable tension adjustment vs the cam system used by the ETX (SRX). I really like the Gator SR2 as it had a nice adjustment system and a thicker vinyl. Problem is its around $360 and at that point I'm getting close to a Truxedo or Access cover. Shopping / looking is half the fun, so I'll keep looking. Also want to check out the Lunds mentioned by Frank.
 
In the ones I’ve had you kinda get what you pay for. I had a truxedo cheaper version and while it did its job and never really leaked. It was noisy going down the highway and didn’t look the best.

I have had 2 extang revolutions and loved both of them. 8’ and 6’4 beds. Hell even talked my dad into getting one and he loves it.
Much sleeker, quiet and never leaks any water regardless of rain or while washing.
 
roegs said:
I hate to think about how many Access tonneau Covers I've purchased in my lifetime. Every time I got a new truck (which is another story) I purchased a new Access tonneau cover. This time around as I price covers I'm seeing some really good reviews for roll up tonneau covers that are less than half the price of both Access and Truxedo covers. One of these is the Gator ETX at $219 from Amazon. I want something that will withstand hot summers and well below zero winters. I've always had good luck with Access, but if I can get a comparable cover for a much lower price (and better warranty!) I'd just as soon put that money into some other type of accessory. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I love my roll up Tonneau.
 
Regardless of the cover you choose, check with Luke at Truck Alterations. I ordered an Undercover ArmorFlex from him on Friday morning, and it arrived Saturday. Best price I could find as well.
 
Just as closure from my perspective (OP), I believe there is some advantage to more expensive roll up covers. I looked a couple different ones, and the main difference appears to be in the tonneau material and its construction.. One other difference is tension mechanism. Less expensive covers use a cam mechanism for tension. More expensive use a threaded mechanism that allows for more granular control of the cover tension. From a material standpoint. stitching was nicer and appered to be better on more expensive covers. As I read reviews, owners of less expensive covers were inquiring about replacement material right around the 4 year mark. Just from my own experience with Access Covers, they still look great at the 4 year mark. The actual frame (rails) seemed to be equally good on both ends of the cost spectrum. So what did I do? I ordered a new Access Cover Lorado. As others have mentioned, there are some good discounts available on covers. While one of the less expensive covers certainly would have worked for me, I've had zero problems with Access Covers I've owned over the years. That includes latching and unlatching frozen velcro (from car washes) at temperatures well below zero. This is all my two cents on the topic and YMMV.
 
After having a RetraxPro MX on my 1500 I again went with Retrax for this one. Installed a Retrax PowerTraxPro MX last night and as before really like these. Super secure, good quality and this time electric. Wife's request since she can't reach the manual handle over the Ramboxes.
 
Let's beat this horse a bit longer....

Still torn on this whole tonneau thing. No soft cover is really secure. If they want in they will cut it. I didn't spend a lot on the last one (can't for the life of me think of what brand/model it is and don't have the truck here) and it has gone almost 10 years. It is super low profile and uses bars to clip into the side rails - no velcro. It is pretty much at the end of it's life however.

Do I do a roll up? I like the bed space if needed. Do I want to deal with frozen velcro or a PITA bar system? A trifold may be nice in that sense. I suppose I could just take it off if I need the entire bed.

The gator ETX is enticing with good reviews and stellar pricing.




Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 
whitexc said:
Let's beat this horse a bit longer....

Still torn on this whole tonneau thing. No soft cover is really secure. If they want in they will cut it. I didn't spend a lot on the last one (can't for the life of me think of what brand/model it is and don't have the truck here) and it has gone almost 10 years. It is super low profile and uses bars to clip into the side rails - no velcro. It is pretty much at the end of it's life however.

Do I do a roll up? I like the bed space if needed. Do I want to deal with frozen velcro or a PITA bar system? A trifold may be nice in that sense. I suppose I could just take it off if I need the entire bed.

The gator ETX is enticing with good reviews and stellar pricing.




Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Trifold is my favorite, cheap as hell 300$ and i can take it off in seconds with no tools so if i impulse buy away from home and need the bed space i have it no issues
 
I ended up going with a TruXedo TruXport roll up through Tonneaucoversworld.com.
Easy ordering, beat Amazon pricing and should be here tomorrow. More parts and no truck....yet.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 
I spent some time wringing my hands over this same thing when I got my Ram. Once I decided not to go with a fiberglass cap, I decided a Gator ETX soft tri fold. (I thought I wanted a hard tri fold, but the soft was about $300 less than the hard...) I figured for about $200 if it didn't last, or I didn't like it, I'd just buy the other one later. Now that I have used it through a summer and most of 2 winters, I can say I am happy with it. Seems to be holding up just fine.
 
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