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The best bed cover?
- Thread starter Ranko
- Start date
n8zcc
Well-Known Member
You left the door open awfully wide. What is best for you, hardcover or softcover, tri-fold or roll-up. Does your truck have RAM boxes or the multifunction split tailgate?
Water tight doesn't exist
Gren71
Well-Known Member
my complaints with tonneau covers are..
-they take up too much interior bed space with bulky rail systems just to keep cover low profile
-they let in a lot of water / air while driving
-they are inconvenient to use when solid, despite being the most sealed
-the covers, when folded back, still cover 1/3 of the bed making it harder to use the 6ft of bed space.
This QUAD FOLD cover solves most of my complaints. Its the first time ive seen a quad fold and ive been pleasantly surprised by how nice its worked. I always add an additional strip of thick weather stripping along the cab side of the bed to help keep these sealed. I did have to modify the rear connectors to have them connect to my cargo rails. But that was my preference and not strictly needed.
-they take up too much interior bed space with bulky rail systems just to keep cover low profile
-they let in a lot of water / air while driving
-they are inconvenient to use when solid, despite being the most sealed
-the covers, when folded back, still cover 1/3 of the bed making it harder to use the 6ft of bed space.
This QUAD FOLD cover solves most of my complaints. Its the first time ive seen a quad fold and ive been pleasantly surprised by how nice its worked. I always add an additional strip of thick weather stripping along the cab side of the bed to help keep these sealed. I did have to modify the rear connectors to have them connect to my cargo rails. But that was my preference and not strictly needed.
That's why you just do a soft roll up. No bed space lost. Even your quad fold takes up useable bed space when open. Every tonneau, even the over the rail hard ones, aren't sealed completely. Dirt, dust, water still get in.
My low profile Gator ETX soft roll up doesn't have bulky rails. Doesn't let in a lot of water, but water does get in during heavy rain and car washes. Can't prevent dust from getting in, that's just the nature of tonneau covers and bed caps. And as already mentioned, didn't take up any bed space when rolled up
Gren71
Well-Known Member
Ill agree with that %100. I had a soft roll up initially and LOVED it. I had to swap to my current quad fold because I have to remove my cover every two or three weeks, nine months out of the year to swap out for my soft topper. When I pull my camper, the dogs go in the bed of the truck with the soft topper, but I don’t want to leave it on full-time. The soft roll up was by far the best cover I had but it was a PITA to put on and takeoff over and over… Where the quad fold is much faster and easier.
The roll up I had
LOWRMPG
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Actually they pretty much do, not saying you could submerge the bed, but I've had plenty that allowed nearly zero water in - to the point I would put suitcases and boxes in the back with no issue. BAK for example, I don't remember any water getting in the bed in 5 years.
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I once had a hard tri-fold that had brackets that connected to the cab. It took up very little space. Peragon has a hard tri-fold that has quick releases to easily take it off.
I went back to a roll-up on my '25. Convenience of not having to climb in the bed to secure it. I love the retractables, but those canisters are bulky, and you lose bed space horizontally and vertically.
I went back to a roll-up on my '25. Convenience of not having to climb in the bed to secure it. I love the retractables, but those canisters are bulky, and you lose bed space horizontally and vertically.
"Pretty much" and "nearly" says it all. My comment stands
beetlespin
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This cover is probably as water tight as you can get. It sits on top of the rails and forms a great seal. The outside is fabric like material and holds up well.
tonneaucoversworld.com
2022 Dodge Ram 1500 Extang Trifecta Signature 2.0 Soft Folding Tonneau Cover | RealTruck
RealTruck ships the 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 Extang Trifecta Signature 2.0 Soft Folding Tonneau Cover fast and free within the lower 48 United States. Take advantage of our product experts, image galleries, and legendary customer service to get the right part with no hassle.
tonneaucoversworld.com
LOWRMPG
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Oh you're that kind of forum poster, have a great year.
Yeah, just like are the kind that tries to contradict someone,because you think you know more, when all you end up doing is confirming what they said.
Blackdog.Tx
Active Member
As others said, best is subjective depending on your requirements. I have had both soft and hard covers.
My experience:
Tri fold soft cover - currently on for 4 years, that came on the truck when I bought my 2020 Limited used.
- Easy on off when I need full bed access for rock, mulch, etc.
- keeps anything I need dry, luggage, camp gear, etc.
- anything will get dusty when I travel dusty roads (I bag luggage in the bed, mostly for dust or if I know I'm in a tropical storm - otherwise uncovered on streets and remains dry and clean)
BAK FLIP Fibermax - tri fold hard cover - Had BAKFLIP on 4 RAM trucks - I loved the BAK.
- I felt secure when I spent time in cities with no theft from bed (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, rural towns/aka tweekerville)
- I'm sure a pry bar and motivation would gain access, but BAK discourages theft (as do other hard covers)
- Folds up and braces against back window for easy access hauling in full bed.
- Still pretty easy to remove. Not easy as soft, but rarely ever needed to remove it.
- Drier than soft
- Still get dust on dusty roads.. so I bagged backpacks when in desert.
- I transferred the BAK cover from one RAM to the next... finally selling it when it started to show cracks after 8 years of hard use - I could have used until failure likely many more years, but RAM changed bed slightly and I planned new top.
- BAKs are pretty expensive
When I got this truck, I thought I'd be replacing with a hard cover, but soon learned I didn't need the security since I don't travel with load as much. With soft cover, I take anything of value out at night and watch the truck when parked... minor inconvenience.
If I had to do a new cover, it would come down to cost/quality. I like the BAK. But for my needs now, I would do a soft cover for less.
My experience:
Tri fold soft cover - currently on for 4 years, that came on the truck when I bought my 2020 Limited used.
- Easy on off when I need full bed access for rock, mulch, etc.
- keeps anything I need dry, luggage, camp gear, etc.
- anything will get dusty when I travel dusty roads (I bag luggage in the bed, mostly for dust or if I know I'm in a tropical storm - otherwise uncovered on streets and remains dry and clean)
BAK FLIP Fibermax - tri fold hard cover - Had BAKFLIP on 4 RAM trucks - I loved the BAK.
- I felt secure when I spent time in cities with no theft from bed (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, rural towns/aka tweekerville)
- I'm sure a pry bar and motivation would gain access, but BAK discourages theft (as do other hard covers)
- Folds up and braces against back window for easy access hauling in full bed.
- Still pretty easy to remove. Not easy as soft, but rarely ever needed to remove it.
- Drier than soft
- Still get dust on dusty roads.. so I bagged backpacks when in desert.
- I transferred the BAK cover from one RAM to the next... finally selling it when it started to show cracks after 8 years of hard use - I could have used until failure likely many more years, but RAM changed bed slightly and I planned new top.
- BAKs are pretty expensive
When I got this truck, I thought I'd be replacing with a hard cover, but soon learned I didn't need the security since I don't travel with load as much. With soft cover, I take anything of value out at night and watch the truck when parked... minor inconvenience.
If I had to do a new cover, it would come down to cost/quality. I like the BAK. But for my needs now, I would do a soft cover for less.
Last edited:
BlueHemi1500
Active Member
I have had this cover on my truck for about 18 months or so.
I used to have an HD truck with an 8 ft bed and I had a similar cover, and loved it so this prompted this purchase for the current truck.
Some water leakage but not horrible. As several stated most covers will let in some water/dust/dirt. Knowing that allows for taking steps, I use plastic tubs or large garden trash bags to keep items dry. Very easy to take off when I need to use the whole bed to haul stuff. My truck earns its keep. Once you get used to taking off and reinstalling can be done in about 10 minutes or less to reinstall. I take my time, to make sure it's square and in the proper position. The factory seals are really effective so far.
I got mine from Amazon as a return, so I saved a bunch of money. I would buy it again without hesitation.
realtruck.com
As noted this is a very subjective decision. Your wants and needs will also vary. Take a look around at trucks in parking lots and take note of what you like and do not like, visit dealers and ask questions.
BlueHemi1500
I used to have an HD truck with an 8 ft bed and I had a similar cover, and loved it so this prompted this purchase for the current truck.
Some water leakage but not horrible. As several stated most covers will let in some water/dust/dirt. Knowing that allows for taking steps, I use plastic tubs or large garden trash bags to keep items dry. Very easy to take off when I need to use the whole bed to haul stuff. My truck earns its keep. Once you get used to taking off and reinstalling can be done in about 10 minutes or less to reinstall. I take my time, to make sure it's square and in the proper position. The factory seals are really effective so far.
I got mine from Amazon as a return, so I saved a bunch of money. I would buy it again without hesitation.
2020 Dodge Ram 1500 Extang Trifecta 2.0 Soft Folding Tonneau Cover | RealTruck
RealTruck ships the 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 Extang Trifecta 2.0 Soft Folding Tonneau Cover fast and free within the lower 48 United States. Take advantage of our product experts, image galleries, and legendary customer service to get the right part with no hassle.
realtruck.com
As noted this is a very subjective decision. Your wants and needs will also vary. Take a look around at trucks in parking lots and take note of what you like and do not like, visit dealers and ask questions.
BlueHemi1500
nc_beagle
Ram Guru
I've got a BakFlip MX4 tri-fold cover and have had very little water leakage even in extremely hard rains. When it has leaked (about 2 or 3 times) it's been maybe a tablespoon or two, at the corners, not in the middle. It does not take up that much bed space when folded up (maybe six inches? Certainly not 1/3 of the bed.) and the rails take up very little space. I will say that if you don't have the digital rearview mirror, you obviously lose use of the mirror when it's folded against the back window. But I've been extremely happy with this cover. I've had it about three years now.
HemiDude
Spends too much time on here
As stated above, your options are limited only by cash and needs. You can buy anything from a cheap vinyl cover to locking roll-ups, and everything in between, and any of those could serve your purpose. I've had a few styles and prefer the tri-fold that I have now. If I never had to load anything taller than the bedsides I might even have a fiberglass one-piece, painted to match the truck. Spell out your expected usage and the guys here will be more then happy help you spend your money 
MLB12
Active Member
I'm on my 4th BAK Industries Revolver series.
The pricing is reasonable, they are very watertight, with the tailgate closed it's almost impossible to breach it. And best of all the Revolver takes up absolutely no bed space.
The pricing is reasonable, they are very watertight, with the tailgate closed it's almost impossible to breach it. And best of all the Revolver takes up absolutely no bed space.
Coastieman24
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Just got a TonnoFlip brand hard quad-fold on its way to me. 2025 1500 Laramie RamBox (with tie down rails). Appeared good quality, $850. BAK wanted $1300 for a darn near identical cover. I’ll be sure to post back in here with my experience. I’ve had soft roll up, trifold soft…liked them both. It really is all about how you use the bed of the truck.
