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Started By
Message
Difference In Truck Bed Cover Materials
Posted on 3/28/17 at 8:28 am
Posted on 3/28/17 at 8:28 am
I am looking at purchasing a trifold hard truck bed cover. I think I am going to get a Gator (seems to have really good reviews).
My main question (in addition to any comments about choosing Gator) is: What's the difference between an aluminum cover and a fiberglass reinforced polymer top? They both support 300lbs and come with 2 year warranties. Does it basically come down to fiberglass not getting as hot as aluminum?
My main question (in addition to any comments about choosing Gator) is: What's the difference between an aluminum cover and a fiberglass reinforced polymer top? They both support 300lbs and come with 2 year warranties. Does it basically come down to fiberglass not getting as hot as aluminum?
This post was edited on 3/28/17 at 8:44 am
5
Posted on 3/28/17 at 9:09 am to Downtown Devin Brown
fiberglass is much heavier than aluminum. I bought the Bakflip MX4 and love it (which is aluminum).
Aluminum will also dent easier.
Aluminum will also dent easier.
This post was edited on 3/28/17 at 9:41 am
Posted on 3/28/17 at 9:14 am to Downtown Devin Brown
I like the retrax bed covers.
LINK /
LINK /
Posted on 3/28/17 at 9:43 am to doubletap
quote:
I like the retrax bed covers.
Don't do it. I had a Jack Rabbit & hated it. You lose a foot in the bed & it leaks like a sieve.
G2 Bakflip for the win
Posted on 3/28/17 at 10:11 am to Wtodd
I used to be on the retractable bed cover train but then realized that with a 5.5' bed to begin with, I wouldn't have much bed left.
Is Bakflip a better product than Gator? Do you find that the aluminum gets too damn hot in the summer down here?
Is Bakflip a better product than Gator? Do you find that the aluminum gets too damn hot in the summer down here?
Posted on 3/28/17 at 10:11 am to Wtodd
Bakflip VP is not a good bedcover. Does a good job of keeping the water out, but the latches are garbage. Thankfully everything that broke on it did so before the 1-year warranty expired.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 10:19 am to Downtown Devin Brown
quote:
Is Bakflip a better product than Gator?
IDK but I know that I really like my G2.
quote:
Do you find that the aluminum gets too damn hot in the summer down here?
On the outside? Everything is hot in the summer that's outside
Posted on 3/28/17 at 10:36 am to Downtown Devin Brown
quote:
Is Bakflip a better product than Gator?
They look identical to me.
quote:
Do you find that the aluminum gets too damn hot in the summer down here?
Not really. Whether its 110 degrees or 105 degrees at the point whats the difference? You cant go wrong with either choice.
This post was edited on 3/28/17 at 10:44 am
Posted on 3/28/17 at 11:44 am to Downtown Devin Brown
I had a fiberglass Undercover flex on a previous truck and after about a year and 1/2 the fibers started to show through the cover...and it leaked with any moderate rain.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 11:48 am to LSUdude73
My buddy has a gator and he is fighting with them to replace it. It leaks in several spots and the back seal on tailgate is falling apart and leaking. Their customer service is a joke he may sell it and get a backflip.
I have the backflip g2 and it's been great. No leaks and has held up how I wanted it to. Just a heads up on gator and their warranty.
I have the backflip g2 and it's been great. No leaks and has held up how I wanted it to. Just a heads up on gator and their warranty.
This post was edited on 3/28/17 at 11:49 am
Posted on 3/28/17 at 11:49 am to SRYB86
quote:
Bakflip VP is not a good bedcover. Does a good job of keeping the water out, but the latches are garbage. Thankfully everything that broke on it did so before the 1-year warranty expired.
Tell me about it. Mine flew off of my truck on the interstate a few months ago. Thankfully it missed the cars that were behind me. unfortunately it was run over by a couple of 18 wheelers and was so torn up I could not use it anymore.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 12:18 pm to Wtodd
quote:
Don't do it. I had a Jack Rabbit & hated it. You lose a foot in the bed & it leaks like a sieve.
G2 Bakflip for the win
Retract is not a jack rabbit, at least not in terms of leaking. You do loose a foot of the bed in a sense but not for sheet goods up to about 1/4 of the bed height. I've had a solid bed cover before but not a trifold, so I can't compare that but I'd choose my current powertrax again, hands down, over anything else I've had or my friends have had.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 12:28 pm to dlambe5
quote:
Is Bakflip a better product than Gator?
They look identical to me.
Shoot they might even be the same product. Their websites are very similarly designed (as well as tonneau cover world). I feel like the same company might own them all.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 12:48 pm to Downtown Devin Brown
BakFlip F1
I have this tri fold cover and love it. Its solid and strong. It is pretty water proof, came with some drains i installed to direct the water out of the bed. It gets pretty warm to the touch in the direct sunlight but the inside stas a decent temp.
Also put a LED strip with a switch in the bed so i can
light it up if need be.
I have this tri fold cover and love it. Its solid and strong. It is pretty water proof, came with some drains i installed to direct the water out of the bed. It gets pretty warm to the touch in the direct sunlight but the inside stas a decent temp.
Also put a LED strip with a switch in the bed so i can
light it up if need be.
This post was edited on 3/28/17 at 12:49 pm
Posted on 3/28/17 at 12:53 pm to mdomingue
quote:
I've had a solid bed cover before but not a trifold
I've had both and a retractable one. The solid is virtually "leak free" but you have only 1 option for hauling stuff; it's open or closed.
Tri-fold - I can't recall my G2 ever leaking, so if it has it's been minor. I have several options when hauling tall stuff.
Retractable - gives you the most options when hauling but like I said, my Jack Rabbit leaked terribly and I lost a foot of bed space (where it rolled up). Also too many moving parts and parts to keep adjusted.
IMO, the G2 is far and away the best option.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 2:26 pm to Wtodd
quote:
The solid is virtually "leak free" but you have only 1 option for hauling stuff; it's open or closed.
My solid one leaked. At the hinges and at the latch. Both of those would have been resolvable with slight design changes. Hauling things that are taller than or longer than the bed (assuming you don't want the gate down) are an issue with the solid cover, you are correct. Even when open, it's a problem.
I have no experience with a trifold, but I could see the benefits if it is well built.
The retrax brand of retractables is superior to any of the other I looked at and the powertrax offered me a powered open and close and you can open the gate with the top closed. If you need the full bed length open top to bottom, it's not what you want, though.
quote:
IMO, the G2 is far and away the best option.
If I have friends looking for a trifold, I'll keep this in mind.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 4:51 pm to mdomingue
I've had a Bizon (just like a back flip) for about two years. No problems. Very minimal leakage.
ETA: Looks like they are not making them any more....... Wonder if Backflip sued them.
ETA: Looks like they are not making them any more....... Wonder if Backflip sued them.
This post was edited on 3/28/17 at 5:01 pm
Posted on 5/2/17 at 12:50 pm to Downtown Devin Brown
So I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a Bakflip G2 ... thanks for the info fellas!
Posted on 5/2/17 at 1:11 pm to Downtown Devin Brown
quote:
So I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a Bakflip G2
You won't be disappointed
Posted on 5/2/17 at 1:38 pm to Wtodd
Should have gotten the MX4
It's pretty much the same as the G2, but with an improved tailgate seal that doesn't require you to lift the cover to close the tailgate.
My MX4 also has built in buckles to secure the folded panels that my old G2 didn't have. I had to use 2 bungee cords when it was open and I was driving.
It's pretty much the same as the G2, but with an improved tailgate seal that doesn't require you to lift the cover to close the tailgate.
My MX4 also has built in buckles to secure the folded panels that my old G2 didn't have. I had to use 2 bungee cords when it was open and I was driving.
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