Folding Bed Covers

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.

http://www.sportmasters.com/tonneau.htm

IYM


"The Heath's" <nospam.RemoveThis@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:Q5Grj.69544$vt2.27380@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
> Anybody have any experiences (good or bad) with any of the folding bed
> covers that are becoming available???? In particular, we're interested in
> the Extang Folding Hard Cover.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Folding Bed Covers 

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??


<IYM> wrote in message
news:47b06156$0$1348$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere.com...
>I know your interested in a hard cover, but as security is not a major
>concern I have a hinged vinyl tonneau cover that's been on my truck for 9
>years and still looks new. I've never had a leak even while traveling in
>hard driving rain. It lifts up like the hard covers do, but it gives you
>added the ability to also unsnap and roll up the cover so you can carry
>over size loads on the fly (like that unexpected 60" plasma TV purchase
>while you're out at the store) (joke), unlike the hard covers which need
>preferably 2 people to take off and leave at home while you do your
>business....Again, you trade the locking ability for versatility, but it
>works for me as I don't keep anything valuable back there.
>
> http://www.sportmasters.com/tonneau.htm
>
> IYM
>
>
> "The Heath's" <nospam.RemoveThis@nospam.net> wrote in message
> news:Q5Grj.69544$vt2.27380@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
>> Anybody have any experiences (good or bad) with any of the folding bed
>> covers that are becoming available???? In particular, we're interested
>> in the Extang Folding Hard Cover.
>>
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Folding Bed Covers 

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 Heath's" <nospam.TakeThisOut@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:k53sj.84365$rc2.52642@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
> 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??
>
>
> <IYM> wrote in message
> news:47b06156$0$1348$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere.com...
>>I know your interested in a hard cover, but as security is not a major
>>concern I have a hinged vinyl tonneau cover that's been on my truck for 9
>>years and still looks new. I've never had a leak even while traveling in
>>hard driving rain. It lifts up like the hard covers do, but it gives you
>>added the ability to also unsnap and roll up the cover so you can carry
>>over size loads on the fly (like that unexpected 60" plasma TV purchase
>>while you're out at the store) (joke), unlike the hard covers which need
>>preferably 2 people to take off and leave at home while you do your
>>business....Again, you trade the locking ability for versatility, but it
>>works for me as I don't keep anything valuable back there.
>>
>> http://www.sportmasters.com/tonneau.htm
>>
>> IYM
>>
>>
>> "The Heath's" <nospam.TakeThisOut@nospam.net> wrote in message
>> news:Q5Grj.69544$vt2.27380@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
>>> Anybody have any experiences (good or bad) with any of the folding bed
>>> covers that are becoming available???? In particular, we're interested
>>> in the Extang Folding Hard Cover.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Folding Bed Covers 

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.

http://www.sportmasters.com/tonneau.htm
 >> Stay informed about: Folding Bed Covers 

murph101.TakeThisOut@webtv.net wrote:
> The Sportsmasters vinyl cover _rocks_. I had one on my '99 SuperDuty
> longbed and I loved it.
>

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.

http://www.extang.com/docs/fulltilt.html
 >> Stay informed about: Folding Bed Covers 

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.


"Bill Toth" <blackhole.DeleteThis@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:47bb6eeb$0$16672$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> murph101.DeleteThis@webtv.net wrote:
>> The Sportsmasters vinyl cover _rocks_. I had one on my '99 SuperDuty
>> longbed and I loved it.
>>
>
> 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.
>
> http://www.extang.com/docs/fulltilt.html
>
 >> Stay informed about: Folding Bed Covers