Lockable tonneau cover or shell?

bed cover

  • Tonneau

    Votes: 10 43.5%

  • Shell

    Votes: 13 56.5%
  • Total voters
    23
Tim

Tim

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Let’s say I sometimes have valuable gear in the truck bed overnight, or while parked at work...which balances security and usefulness best?
 
Neither will stop a determined thief. Not much will.

That being said I would err on the side of something that no one can peek into.

Most camper shells I've seen have windows. Windows let thieves window shop first.
 
Are you talking about the hard sliding tonneau covers? If so I'd go with that if not I'd go camper shell.
 
I have a camper shell that my grandfather had on the truck when i bought it. Window tint shop gladly put 5%limo tint on all the windows. Sure its a cheap little lock and rod system but its worked great

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
 
I've had a shell on my S-10. Very dry but difficult to remove if you need to haul a tall object.

My current truck is open bed. If I ever want to secure it my choice would be hard tonneau that folds flat against the cab or rolls up.
 
I voted for camper shell, you'll want a ladder rack, side doors are really nice.
Black spray paint on the inside of the windows looks nice and shiny on the outside, stops prying eyes in their tracks and you can scrape it off later if you decide to.
What model truck?
I have one for a 99 ford stepside for $200.
 
I have a Retrax OneXR on my Tacoma.... it's pretty solid and was about 90% watertight from the first install.
Between that and a locking tailgate, I figure it will keep prying eyes and fingers away, neither is going to deter a committed thief.

I have a Rubbermaid Actionpacker that I keep in the bed with random stuff (tow straps, ratchet straps, BOB) that I secure to the truck with a bike lock.
 
I have an undercover elite tonneau cover on my Silverado, second pickup I’ve had with that brand of top on it. It can be keyed to match your ignition key which is handy. Same company makes one with the capability of cross bar racks. I’ll eventually have that.
 
I'm looking at getting a soft top. Same size as a hard top, less expensive. Obviously just to keep the dogs dry not keep super valuable items in. I move too many tall items for a hard top. Bestop is the company if you're interested. Just an alternative.

https://www.bestop.com/supertop-for-truck/
 
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I've had a hard tonneau cover and a camper shell and the camper shell is way more tolerable. The tonneau makes it impossible to move anything taller than the bed without having to manhandle the whole thing off every time. My camper shell was much more practical.
 
I had a retrax roll top cover on my last Tacoma and have a camper shell on my Tundra now. Really like the room a camper shell gives but it can be annoying for odd shaped items. I’m going to be picking up a new Tacoma soon and will probably try one of the backflip covers. I know a couple people with them and they really like them.
 
I went with a Leer tonneau as well. You cant carry anything tall, but it sure is nice to have the extra space thats waterproof
 
I have a bakflip MX4 on my f-150. I love it, looks very clean and is easy to fold back if I need to put something taller in the bed. Also added about 1 to 1.5mpg by making the bed more aerodynamic.

Campers just scream “old man truck” to me.
 
Derek8404 said:
I have a bakflip MX4 on my f-150. I love it, looks very clean and is easy to fold back if I need to put something taller in the bed. Also added about 1 to 1.5mpg by making the bed more aerodynamic.

Campers just scream “old man truck” to me.
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Seriously worth the $950?

How secure would you say it is? Feel comfortable leaving a rifle in the bed while you're having lunch?
 
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Tim said:
Seriously worth the $950?

How secure would you say it is? Feel comfortable leaving a rifle in the bed while you're having lunch?
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I got it on sale from eBay a couple years ago and I think I paid 750-800 for it but yeah, I think it is worth it. It’s fairly secure and waterproof but like most things, it just keeps people honest. If a determined thief wanted in bad enough, it’s gonna happen. That said, I do feel comfortable leaving guns in it while I run in to eat somewhere but I probably wouldn’t anything in it overnight at a hotel or something like that.
 
Shell is more versatile, lint the windows or put up curtains. Don't have either one on my truck as I run a truck tool box on the back. Been thinking a hi back shell and making my 8' bed into a truck camper.

CD
 
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Either one is easy to get into if someone really wants to.
You'll be able to use your bed space more with a shell, and it can serve as shelter if needed or you wanted to set up camp in a remote area,
but you still can't move something tall like a refrigerator.
I have a hinged in front tonneau cover on my pickem up truck and many times havn't been able to move things I needed to.
 
I have a hard shell on mine. ARE I think. You can close the window, lock it, and still yank the tailgate open with very little effort. My truck (an ‘03) doesn’t have a lock on the tailgate itself.

The side windows were factory tinted, then I put another layer on myself. Provides a little security, especially at night. Also why I always put my sunshade up regardless of day/night temp. Keeps that much more light coming in to make anything visible.
 
Derek8404 said:
I have a bakflip MX4 on my f-150. I love it, looks very clean and is easy to fold back if I need to put something taller in the bed. Also added about 1 to 1.5mpg by making the bed more aerodynamic.
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I went ahead and ordered one of these.

How was the install? Their videos make it seem super easy.
 
Tim said:
I went ahead and ordered one of these.

How was the install? Their videos make it seem super easy.
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Awesome. I think you’ll be very happy with it. It was stupid easy to install, think it took me all of about 15mins doing it by myself. There are several clamps that hold the track to the bed and the cover snaps into place pretty easily.

It will come with these 2 plastic drains that go from the track, down to the rubber plugs in the bottom, front area of your bed. You have to cut, or drill a hole so the tubing can let the water than can accumulate in the track rails drain out of your bed. I decided to not do it and see if it was really necessary, figured I could always go back and add it later if a lot of water got in the bed. So far, so good; going on 2 years and it stays completely dry in the back.
 
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Tim said:
I went ahead and ordered one of these.

How was the install? Their videos make it seem super easy.
Click to expand...

How are you liking the cover? I still love mine, just made a 1600 mile trip and it pissed rain the entire way. All of my stuff was bone dry still when I reached my destination.
 
Derek8404 said:
How are you liking the cover? I still love mine, just made a 1600 mile trip and it pissed rain the entire way. All of my stuff was bone dry still when I reached my destination.
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I like it. Was fairly easy to install, although I did rip out the OEM drop-in bed liner in a fit of anger when the 2 wouldn't play nice together.

Seems secure, no issues with water after a couple of high-pressure sessions to get rid of about 300# of muddy red clay stuck to the undercarriage.
 
I've been reading and researching, and had settled on either a Fold-A-Cover G4 or an Extang Encore.
Both have the ability to open from the front.
Things that I like better about the Encore:

1. Being able to use the truck's key.
2. When open, there's nothing extra sticking up above the bed rail.
3. The front opening is a good bit larger than the G4.
4. I like the way it folds better than the G4.
5. Very quick and easy toolless removal and replacement.

I'm not saying the G4 wouldn't be nice, but my local dealer price-matching the on-line retailers settled it for me.

I ordered the Extang Encore from my nearby Trucker's Toy Store Wednesday, and they had it Thursday. :thumbsup:
 
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