pickup bed cover ideas

I've seen pickups with various types of bed covers:
Soft tonneau
Hard tonneau
Aluminum caps (shells)
Fiberglass caps (shells)

Are there any other options? I want something that goes on/off easy. I won't need it on there very often, just for trips to keep luggage out of the weather and locked in. I've thought of a truck tool box, but they're not big enough to hold even 1 regular suit case. I was wondering if there's anything like a car roof top carrier that could be put in the bed of a pickup? A hard tonneau would be good, but they are pretty pricey.

It's sort of a personal choice. I used to have a fiberglass shell on our truck. Could even sleep in it when necessary. Now the camper stays on year round. Can sleep in that too.

How about a large plastic container that can be locked and securely fastened down. Might take a little looking but I'm sure they are out there.

Egon

egon - Thanks, that's a good idea. I'll check into one of those yard tool storage containers.

I also found a decent price on hard tonneau covers:

http://www.prestigious1.com/Tonneau.htm

Anyone know if these are "too cheap"?

<font color="blue"> Anyone know if these are "too cheap"?
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Unless you don't mind looking at primer grey. They require painting to match your truck. The painted version sells for $649. I've seen cheaper painted versions.

hazmat - Primer grey is fine since it won't be on most of the time. I have a cheap spray gun and could paint it good enough to suit me if I decide I need to have it match. The best price I can find around here for a matching color one is $750.

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Soft tonneau
Hard tonneau
Aluminum caps (shells)
Fiberglass caps (shells)

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At one time or another I've had all of those, except the fiberglass cap (my hard tonneau was fiberglass), and you left off "steel caps". I won't ever use the soft tonneau again because if you don't have some "ribs" across the bed to hold it up, water will collect and weigh it down in the middle, and the ribs are too much trouble to be worth it. My personal preference has been the two aluminum caps I've had that not only opened at the back, but also on either side - easier to get things out of the front without crawling inside from the rear.

I have seen a set-up that attaches to the hitch. They make a solid mount model and one that swings out. If I remember right they were under $400 bucks. They are watertight also.

Danny,
There is an RV dealer there in Richmond,Indiana that used to advertise truck caps for $99. That was some years ago though. They were an aluminum cap that only stuck up about 6-8" above the truck bed rails. It's a thought, if all you want is to protect the luggage during travelling.

Jerry, that sounds like exactly what I need. Any idea of the name of the RV place?

Hmmm, RV place in Richmond... could only be Tom Raper. Known the midwest over. Huge dealer [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Right, it was Tom Raper in Richmond. I thought the caps were made by Leer, can't remember now.

Well, I called Tom Raper in Richmond and sure enough, he has them for $99. But, they don't fit the 1999 or newer Chevy trucks, which is what I just bought. [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

I went to the Leer web site though, and they have what they call the 500 series hard tonneau, which they claim is priced more like the soft tonneaus. There are no actual prices on the web site though. I'll call the nearest dealer to me and find out.

I have one of these on my '99 Chevy Pace Edwards Roll-top I put it on the truck the day after it was "home." I had the truck ordered and had everything pre-ordered that I wanted to go on it. Haven't had a problem with it. Keeps out about 95% of all water and moisture. If you are moving it'll keep all moisture out. Just don't use your truck as a tool box w/ a tool box during the rainy season.....Wouldn't know why some of my tools are rusted would ya? [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

My wife lost her keys a couple of weeks ago. This included the key to the tonneau cover. We've been down to just my key. I've had all new house/car keys made but no one (well of the few places I went) had a blank for it. While I had the link up for Mosey I saw Pace Edwards had a customer support number. I called it. Called it. Real friendly folks. They are sending me out 2 new key blanks at no charge. Didn't ask for receipt, date of purchase, or anything. Was pleasantly surprised that a company will take care of a customer in a day &amp; age when not many companies do. [img]/forums/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Jim

"How about a large plastic container that can be locked and securely fastened down. Might take a little looking but I'm sure they are out there.

Egon "

I looked into this idea and couldn't find anything big enough. The biggest I can find are about 18"-20" for the width and height, so full size suitcases (which mine measure 22" tall) won't quite stand up or lay down in one. They're long enough, but not tall enough or wide enough.

I did find some "deck storage containers" at Target that are big enough, but they're not lockable and they just snap together, so even if I put a lock on the lid, it would be easy for someone to pop them apart again, so I wouldn't dare leave anything valuable in them and let the truck out of my sight for very long.

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it would be easy for someone to pop them apart again,

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Wouldn't a soft cover present the same opportunity?

Steve

"Wouldn't a soft cover present the same opportunity?

Steve"

Yeah, which is why I'm not interested in a soft tonneau. I might get a hard (fiberglass) tonneau. I can either get the one I mentioned earlier that's unpainted for $350 (plus shipping, which I don't know the cost of yet), or I found a place not far from me that has painted (to match any color) ones for $625. I'm still trying to decide.

Have you tried checking the local scrap yard?

Steve

I did call a couple scrap yards, but my chances of one having one to fit my truck is pretty slim, so no luck yet.

I found out the shipping is $175 for the unpainted one for $350, so that's a total of $525. I can get a Leer 500 series one for $625 + tax, = $662.50, which would be painted and installed for that price.

Basically $100.00 to paint and install it? Boy, it's a tough call. I guess it depends on how good you can paint and how bad you want to save the $$$. I would expect even a scrap yard one would run several hundred.

Tried eBay?

Steve

Steve - Yeah, I checked EBay. I'm leaning heavily toward the painted Leer, since it also has a better latch (the other one requires a key to open every time and the Leer has a handle that can either be unlocked or locked), plus the Leer mounts on with C-clamps and the other one requires drilling holes.

Using a key everytime would ensure the lid was locked all the time. On the other hand, those locks tend to wear out. From what you've described, I think I'd lean toward the painted one too.

Steve

so do you anyone knows how hard is a Hard Tonneau Covers? anyone knows this thing? and differentiate it from the soft one.

I don't think there are any covers that you would call "easy". If you want it to be secure, you have to do whatever it takes, depending on the type of cover you choose. That is just the choice you have to make - which is going to be the one you can live with.

There are a lot of options for tonneau covers. The soft ones are like the Jeep soft tops which are easy to use. The downside is it's easy to wear out and it doesn't ensure protection to your stuff. It is also prone to damage. The hard covers are also easy to use but isn't lightweight compared to the soft ones. By the way, I use the Bak-Flip for my truck.

A lot of spam posts here as well, admin. :)