Folding Bed Covers

"The Heath's" wrote in news:Q5Grj.69544$ snipped-for-privacy@bignews8.bellsouth.net:

I've got a folding bed cover from Lund on a 2000 F250 Super Duty and I like. I did need to add a locking tail gate handle to help keep the cover from being stolen. Checking my MPG many times before and after installation, the cover did raise my gas mileage 6 tenths of a mile per gallon. And, it does keep the bed dry.

I know your interested in a hard cover, but as security is not a major concern I have a hinged vinyl tonneau cover that's been on my truck for 9 years and still looks new. I've never had a leak even while traveling in hard driving rain. It lifts up like the hard covers do, but it gives you added the ability to also unsnap and roll up the cover so you can carry over size loads on the fly (like that unexpected 60" plasma TV purchase while you're out at the store) (joke), unlike the hard covers which need preferably 2 people to take off and leave at home while you do your business....Again, you trade the locking ability for versatility, but it works for me as I don't keep anything valuable back there.

Thanks for the input. My initial concern with vinyl was durability over time but it sure sounds like you haven't had a problem with that,,,, Does your truck sit outside or does it stay in the garage??

hmmm...not as easy to say as you would think. :)

The first 3 years it was exclusively outside. I then built a house with a 2 car garage and thought I would be able to garage it full time, but it didn't turn out that way. From December thru April, it still is exclusively outside as it's spot in the garage is occupied by snow equipment, so it takes a winter beating. The rest of the year, it's outside all day and garaged all night. So I guess you could say that it's taken a relatively good beating from the elements over it's life so far. It's still in perfect condition - No tears, frays, loose seams or the such. Unless you live in a bad area and are worried about vandals knifing it for fun or carry valuable back there that you would worry about......although I've used mine on trips all over with luggage, instruments and other things back there and I can say that no one every bothered it even overnight at hotels and rest areas.

BTW, they used to sell an zippered end piece with mesh windows for it that would snap on the back part and go around the lowered tailgate when it was in the lifted position which would in essence, create a off-the-ground tent out of the back of the truck....so you know it is watertight! :)

Good luck with whatever you choose...

IYM

The Sportsmasters vinyl cover _rocks_. I had one on my '99 SuperDuty longbed and I loved it.

I sold the truck a year and a half ago and the new owners were going to put in a fifth wheel hitch so they didn't want the tonneau. I removed and kept the cover and hardware, and it's for sale. If you're in the vicinity of western Massachusetts and have $125 I'll install it here in my driveway.

I would suggest you look at the Extang fulltilt one. The hinged slantside has several design flaws. The cover is hinged about an foot behind the cab instead at the front of the bed like the Extang. The lock at the back of the Slantside goes from side to side and hangs down far enough to interfere with sliding cargo into the bed. The Extang has two one on each side.

I appreciate all the input....I just picked up an Extang Hard Fold today and so far am fairly impressed with it. Although it was installed by the dealer (about 10 minutes), I'm sure that I could have done it myself in not much longer. Time will tell how well it performs as far as leaks, etc. I'll be sure to post my experiences after a couple of trips in the rain.