Soft tonneau covers?

[jcbrandon]

Anybody have opinions on soft tonneau covers for overland use?

I've been thinking of getting one to protect my camping gear from the weather and casual theft. I want to retain the ability to carry tall loads when necessary and to access the truck bed from the sides so a tonneau might do the job.

Do these things hold up in the back country? Can they take washboard roads? Does the hardware jam?

And if you like yours, I would welcome a recommendation.

 

[truck mechanic]

I had 1 a few years ago, I liked it for the most part. That being said if you un snap it in the winter you had better have a heated shop to snap it back on. I found srinkage to be a major problem in the winter.
Paul

 

[Mc Taco]

I think that would be a great idea. In my current truck without a cap I use a tarp to keep the rain of my gear. PITA really. A cover that snaps in place would be easier, but all your gear will need to store below the bed rails. You've got the yacht so that might not be a problem.

 

[jcbrandon]

I agree that the snaps would be a pain especially as where I live the temperature often varies 45 degrees in a single day.

So I was actually thinking of one of the self-retracting types that slide in rails attached to the bed sides, then roll up toward the cab and self store. My concern is with the reliability of that hardware along the rails. Seems like it might not hold up to tough conditions.

 

[HenryJ]

I ran an Extang half cover for quite a few years. Half because it fit behind my over rail toolbox.

It uses an extruded aluminum frame and the cover hooks over a lip to attach.

It worked pretty well. Since then I needed more room and removed it for a Softopper.

 

[Finatic Angler]

I have an access cover on my chevy. It is great. Clamp on side rails that have work great. I have never had a problem with it.

 

[waterfalljoe@yahoo.com]

I have a 2008 Ford F350 long bed and I am impressed with the RollBak roll-up tonneau cover I put on. It may not be a soft cover by strict definition, but it has many of the advantages of the soft cover (ability to remove away from home base, quick removal, etc) with the security of a metal hard cover. It is largely weatherproof and installed easily--even along with a headache rack. I can post a pic if anyone is interested.
my 2 cents.

 

[BlueBomber]

I think it would work ok at protecting your gear, but I dont think its a good security measure. Someone could cut through the top and still get to your stuff.
That being said, I would try to make it myself. I think I saw instructions on how to make one from PVC and a plastic tarp.

 

[eugene]

I bought one of the $300 ones a local truck place sells, agricover is the name on it. Its velcro but has rails that clamp to the bed and has a solir peice sitting above the tailgate that stretches it in place.

 

[dbreid]

This is an interesting thread (and one I searched for answers to a while back). I have a couple trucks, one for more overland, and one for hard core rock crawling/more extreme trails. The Rock truck has an open bed (or what's left of the bed, and it was beaten, and sawed up with a sawzall... ) and I wanted to cover my gear only longer trips, and to have some sort of minor theft deterrent when parked getting gas and stuff. Mostly, the truck is stored indoors anyway, but when I drive to trails, I worry about all the recovery gear/tools/air tanks etc in the bed.

I went to a canvas shop last week and talked to them about what I wanted (simple, felxible, indestructible, easy access from any side, etc.) and wound up having a custom precontraint "sheet" made up with 2" velcro all around, and a few marine 1/4 turn fasteners to help hold it down on the corners. This should allow me to positively lock it on the highway, but easily lift up any corner to get at what's in the bed if I need.

I haven't picked it up yet, so I'll take pictures when it is finished, but I am excited!

-Dan