Best tonneau covers for dads?

[Evilemokid94]

I know the title is odd but my wife and I are expecting our first born in June, and we plan on using the truck more than our Cherokee for obvious room differences and my question is this, which tonneau is best for fathers who are storing strollers and other baby items in your bed? I’m torn between the roll up ba the tri fold soft on fastest way to get everything loaded while maintaining peace with the Mrs. and the little one. Comments and feedback please?

 

[wwalljr]

I know the title is odd but my wife and I are expecting our first born in June, and we plan on using the truck more than our Cherokee for obvious room differences and my question is this, which tonneau is best for fathers who are storing strollers and other baby items in your bed? I’m torn between the roll up ba the tri fold soft on fastest way to get everything loaded while maintaining peace with the Mrs. and the little one. Comments and feedback please?

One like this should work...

 

[19Jake]

Gator SFX soft tri-fold...$219 well spent!

 

[Runningwithbeers]

I'd think for the purposes of your question they'd all be pretty close to the same you'd not really need to open it up all that often for those items just drop the tail gate and get what you need. I'd probaly be primarily focused on which people thought was the best at keeping items dry so if you did get caught in a storm the stroller etc wouldn't be overly wet. I have a truxedo low pro that I like but it's too early to say how it would hold up to keeping stuff in the bed of the truck from getting wet if I was caught in a rain storm.

-Jay

 

[Evilemokid94]

One like this should work...
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Is that......plywood?

 

[Evilemokid94]

I'd think for the purposes of your question they'd all be pretty close to the same you'd not really need to open it up all that often for those items just drop the tail gate and get what you need. I'd probaly be primarily focused on which people thought was the best at keeping items dry so if you did get caught in a storm the stroller etc wouldn't be overly wet. I have a truxedo low pro that I like but it's too early to say how it would hold up to keeping stuff in the bed of the truck from getting wet if I was caught in a rain storm.

-Jay

Right, and I haven’t seen a lot of complaints about major leaking on any of the tonneau cover threads Iv view but at the very leak the stroller would only get slightly wet while in commute (I park in the garage when home)

 

[Evilemokid94]

Gator SFX soft tri-fold...$219 well spent!
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Did you order off amazon? This truck is gorgeous!

 

[Patsy1099]

I think based on use you should get one that will be economical and save the $$ where it can be better spent. You don’t need something you can stack 500lbs on top of etc. Trifold vs roll is negligible IMO. As previously stated look for a good seal so you can keep the family gear dry. Most decent covers will do that but you might need to add some 1/2” foam weather stripping to the left/right tailgate area to close the gap on these new tailgates. Pics below

 

[Wakesnowb]

I know the title is odd but my wife and I are expecting our first born in June, and we plan on using the truck more than our Cherokee for obvious room differences and my question is this, which tonneau is best for fathers who are storing strollers and other baby items in your bed? I’m torn between the roll up ba the tri fold soft on fastest way to get everything loaded while maintaining peace with the Mrs. and the little one. Comments and feedback please?

I am in the exact same situation as you with my little one arriving in May. My wife and I purchased a RAM for the family and I am hoping to pick it up this weekend. After much research on this forum, I decided to go with the Lomax hard tri-fold bed cover. I have it in the box and ready to install. The reason I went with the Lomax is because the users on this forum like it a lot and I like the hard nature of it. Should hold up to snow sitting on top also I hope. In addition, I have watched some videos on it and it will pop off very easy for when I need to hold large items and use the truck as a truck.
One thing I am also doing to help my wife (and the short nature of the bed) is I also purchased a AMP bed extender. This will not only allow extra bed space with the tailgate down but, just as important, we can flip it inside the tailgate and create a compartment for smaller items to fit close to the tailgate so that we do not need to get inside the bed to get the baby bags and stroller and such. It will be held close to the tailgate for easy access. It also fits under the bed covers. I have this sitting in a box ready to install as well. Here is a youtube video showing someone installing it with a baby stroller in the bed

 

[Evilemokid94]

I am in the exact same situation as you with my little one arriving in May. My wife and I purchased a RAM for the family and I am hoping to pick it up this weekend. After much research on this forum, I decided to go with the Lomax hard tri-fold bed cover. I have it in the box and ready to install. The reason I went with the Lomax is because the users on this forum like it a lot and I like the hard nature of it. Should hold up to snow sitting on top also I hope. In addition, I have watched some videos on it and it will pop off very easy for when I need to hold large items and use the truck as a truck.
One thing I am also doing to help my wife (and the short nature of the bed) is I also purchased a AMP bed extender. This will not only allow extra bed space with the tailgate down but, just as important, we can flip it inside the tailgate and create a compartment for smaller items to fit close to the tailgate so that we do not need to get inside the bed to get the baby bags and stroller and such. It will be held close to the tailgate for easy access. It also fits under the bed covers. I have this sitting in a box ready to install as well. Here is a youtube video showing someone installing it with a baby stroller in the bed

That is an awesome idea! I’m not quite sure it would fit our stroller as we went with the graco mods life stroller which is huge even when folded up but I would have to measure, but even with just the ability to hold everything towards the tailgate is a good idea. I’m leaning towards the gator tri fold but I had an el cheapo roll up (north mountain) on my 99 and I did like how easy it was to roll up and it was out of the way when I needed but I’m thinking worst case senario here with the stroller and baby gear which would be a rain storm or wind storm ect( indiana is an odd state for weather) and I think the tri would be best if I was in a rush.

 

[Evilemokid94]

I think based on use you should get one that will be economical and save the $$ where it can be better spent. You don’t need something you can stack 500lbs on top of etc. Trifold vs roll is negligible IMO. As previously stated look for a good seal so you can keep the family gear dry. Most decent covers will do that but you might need to add some 1/2” foam weather stripping to the left/right tailgate area to close the gap on these new tailgates. Pics below

Would you say the on top bed rail cover is better at keeping the rain out or one that sits flush with the bed rails? Iv seen both for our trucks.

 

[wwalljr]

Is that......plywood?

I think so. It looks like it. I didn’t get time to run down to the parking lot to check for sure...

 

[Patsy1099]

Would you say the on top bed rail cover is better at keeping the rain out or one that sits flush with the bed rails? Iv seen both for our trucks.

Well it’s hard for me to speak to any one other than the one I have which is the Truxedo Sentry installed with the rambox and rails. I get zero water in the bed. I think it will be a combo of: cover design/installation/foam at the tailgate gap
You can read up on many of the popular covers here. Lots of good threads. I think it will come down to a matter of preference in the styling and function and price range. Is your budget $1000 or $250 or no budget? It makes the research process easier if you can eliminate choices based on price or style (fold vs roll). If you’re completely open to everything that it comes down to lots of reading to help you narrow the field. Tons of good choices.

Buy a good name. Check here for discount codes (moe, etc). Install it properly. Seal the tailgate. You should be good to go.

I still wouldn't drive around with electronics in the bed in the pouring rain but other than that you should be good!

 

[Jus Cruisin]

Gator SFX soft tri-fold...$219 well spent!
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Those soft covers work fine up north. The sun will destroy the vinyl in a year or 2 here in Florida.
The OP hasn't indicated his location so it may a or may not be a good buy.

 

[Evilemokid94]

Those soft covers work fine up north. The sun will destroy the vinyl in a year or 2 here in Florida.
The OP hasn't indicated his location so it may a or may not be a good buy.

Sorry I need to update my bio on what I have and where I’m from. I’m from central Indiana so we only sun for a few months

 

[JeffK2019]

While the soft covers are nice I would think the extra security of a hard cover is warranted. The last thing you want is to come out and find your baby items gone - I know strollers are not cheap! With that said you can spend $1,000 or more for some hard covers but I think a nice combo of security/price and also from what I have researched "keeping the bed dry" is the Lomax cover. At $675 delivered to you it's a pretty nice option. If you really want brownie points with the Mrs's, use the savings toward a Bedslide - drop the tailgate and pull the slide out, all the baby gear, stroller, Pak-n-Play, you name it all right there at her fingertips! Happy wife, happy life!

 

[Wakesnowb]

I think based on use you should get one that will be economical and save the $$ where it can be better spent. You don’t need something you can stack 500lbs on top of etc. Trifold vs roll is negligible IMO. As previously stated look for a good seal so you can keep the family gear dry. Most decent covers will do that but you might need to add some 1/2” foam weather stripping to the left/right tailgate area to close the gap on these new tailgates. Pics below

How did you adhere the weather stripping? Any issues with the adhesion?

 

[cotonymopar]

I love my access limited, comes with lights, access pole, and is tight and secure... I have had one on my trucks since 97... great customer service also!

 

[jkm312]

I installed a Lomax cover on my Laramie. Have been thru a couple of car washes and it is dry except near the tailgate. Then it is just splatters, nothing requiring a bilge pump. Most of that is from the opening between the tailgate and box side on the top. I have not been in any serious rain, but I cannot see how that would be worse than an automatic car wash blasting away. A little weather stripping and problem solved. Last cover I had on the previous truck was a soft cover from Access, it wasn't even close to dry. The Lomax folds up, can be driven not resting on the back of the cab, or completely removed by yourself with little effort. The contents in your bed are as secure as they can be in a pick up box. The panels are vinyl covered aluminum. Only thing to add is a battery operated LED bed light and a cargo bar to hold things in the back of the bed. Access is a good company to deal with. My 2 cents worth for what is it worth.

Give Luke a call at Truck Alterations in North Carolina, he has taken very good care of a lot of us here on this forum.

June will be here before you know it, congratulations to both you and your wife. Have fun with all of it, we did!

Now we are both Grandparents, and that even more fun!

 

[HeliPilot]

Lomax, we have had plenty of rain this week, my bed remained dry. Easily installed, and easily removed if needed.Luke provided extremely fast service too.