It's a '01 Dakota Quad cab. I understand from Rhino's web site that not drilling is the standard, must be a local shop practice. I am certainly not trying to knock Rhino Linings, but from what I have seen the Speedliner does appear to be a better product. I have recieved samples of each Line-x, Rhino, Perma-tech, Speedliner, and Ultimate linings which all have dealers in the area.
From what I have seen, the speedliner is the toughest, but retains a much better grip than line-x.
The colors look great, and they really don't have a fade problem. I am thinking about color matching my Forest Green. I have had a quote for $325 for black or the dark green to match. This is for under rail.
The only drawback I have seen is to do over the rail is hard to find. Some shops will do it, but don't guarantee it. The main reason they say this is because it tends to get picked and pulled at over the rail.
Spray-in liner: Line-X if you're actually going to use/abuse it. Soft Cover: I just took an Extang Black-Max off my truck. Looked good standing still, handled winter weather great, but I couldn't stand all the whipping around in the wind. Drove me nuts!. Snaping and unsnaping was a pain, but that's not as big a deal with a hinged cover. My dealer tells me Extang and TechStyle are the best for soft hinged. Looked at samples of both and TechStyle looks lighter than the Extang; which I already have a problem with. Ordered an Access soft roll-up. Bows roll with the cover and it's fully tension adjustable with an over center latch at the rear that doesn't interfere with the tailgate. True soft cover look, unlike Pace-Edwards and Roll-Top. Don't have it yet, so can't comment on how well (or not) it works. Showroom sample/demo was impressive. -- Don
I have had one on my 2K long bed rado for about 6 months. The bows also roll up with the cover and stow in about a 4" bundle against the cab - you can stow it in about 5 minutes, once you get the hang of it. The top only lifts up about 30 degrees, and I would prefer about a 45 degree lift. It has not waved or come off at high speeds. It has the traditional snaps which can be undone if you want to. I would also check out hinged soft tonneaus which connect and tilt at the front rail - the Berlin tilts about 16 inches back from the front rail. I wouldn't want anything but a hinged cover - makes the bed like a big trunk, especially with the BedRug installed, which I also recommend. Good Luck.
I've used Access covers on my last two trucks. Great product, you can adjust it drumhead-tight, no snaps to rip out, and they last and last, even up here in snow and ice abuse. Beats the heck out of the Pace Edwards I originally spent way too much money for!
What was your experience with the roll top cover. I have been thinking about getting one of those but have only seen the display at the shop where they sell them.
I had a "Pace-Edwards" roll top which I didn't care for -- noisy -- got obstructed with snow/ice (there are drain tubes, but they got clogged and the mechanism froze up in winter -- also required drilling holes) -- large items in the truck bed could slide and damage it in the "retracted" position. The side tracks "narrow" your truck bed quite a bit.
Since then I've had "Access" roll up covers on my last two trucks, and they are great. They get completely out of the way, look good, last well (my son still has my first one -- 7 years old and in perfect condition still), and stay drum-head tight in all seasons. Water is shed to the outside without tubes/drilling/etc needed on the Pace-Edwards design. No sliding tracks to fill with dirt/debris.
Thanks for the review on the access cover. I have been researching and have decided this is the one. Its nice to see an unbiased opinion. Thanks again.
Has anyone used or even seen the GM hard/folding/locking tonneau cover? I like that fact you can fold it up and take it off, but I would like to know more about it.
Ordered the Access cover on the 28th of May; it was sitting on my doorstep on Friday, June 1st. Bolted it on Sunday, drove to work Monday and couldn't be happier! Looks good and, like you said, even @ 75 mph it's drum tight. Thanks for the feedback. -- Don
Picking up my F-150 SuperCrew tonight. I've been reading everything I can on the subjects of bed protection (rugs, mats, spray-in, liners, etc) and the various types of bed covers. Lot's of possibilities!
For now, one question: when using a rubber bed mat, is the mat fastened to the bed? Lot's of folks talk about ease of removal, but I'm not clear if that includes removing a few screws or if the mat is heavy enough to just sit in the bed without any fasteners at all.
Then as respects a rubber mat for the tailgate, I guess that definitely requires drilling and screwing...right? or maybe some kind of velcro arrangement, but I would wonder about how well that would hold-up.
Your comments and a look at the Real Truck web-site has me very interested in the Access.
One question: if I'm reading the web info correctly, it appears that if you have a lockable tailgate, the Access cover gives you a fully locked bed. Is that correct?
I ordered a rubber bed mat from Cabelas and it has worked out fine. Just lays flat on the bed of the truck no problem. As for the tailgate cover, it was a rigid affair with molded in cup indents. Came with self drilling screws. I was a little reluctant to drill the tailgate but figured I wasn't going to be taking the cover off anytime soon.
What type of cover is the easiest for removal, but yet sturdy and will look good. I don't want to have the thing on all the time cause, come on, this IS a truck, not an SUV, but occasionly I would like to be able to cover stuff up. Any suggestions?
bed with a lockable tailgate; yes, it does; other than the obvious fact that any vinyl cover is easily victim to a knife. Certainly protects from the casual thief. Just got back this evening from a 5 day, Denver-Indianapolis-Frankfort,KY-Denver trip and this thing (Access) worked great. Less flutter than you could expect from anything other than a hard cover, instant access to the bed when I needed it, and no longer any urge to jump up and check on the stuff I had in the bed every 5 minutes during breakfast at Cracker Barrel. -- Don BTW -- If anyone's interested in a cheap, slightly used Black Max Extang for a S/B Silverado please let me know.
Do a search on the web, find the absolute lowest price you can, then goto www.carparts.com and they will beat that price by 10%. Thats what I did for my cc. Ended up $370 delivered for the crew-cab CPS and with $35 rebate, $335. -Eric
I bought a C3500 chassis cab and put a 10 dump bed on it. The mirrors that come standard on the truck don't extend quite far enough to see past the bed which overhangs the duals about 7" on each side. Anyone have a good source for aftermarket mirrors that would help me? I went to a local truck accessory place and they couldn't come up with any.
I chose a Roll N Lock. I wanted it lockable and secure but with the ability to cary tall/bulky things that wouldn't fit under a hinged hard cover. Roll N Lock was sturdier than Pace Edwards and had the built in lock to fasten gate to cover with one key. (no need to buy separate Pop Lock and gate locks) Its quiet, operates smoothly over the 8,000 miles I;ve used it. No snow on the gulf coast so I don't know about taht aspect. As for spray in liners....Before doing mine, I cut 2 x 6s to fit in the various bed slots, bored five 2 inch holes evenly spaced across the top edge of each one and rounded the edges with my router. They sprayed my boards and my 40+ year old tool box with the same stuff that went on the bed when they installed the Roll N Lock. the boards have been handy as the dickens for separating loads, tieing things in place etc and the finish. bed, box and boards is like brand new after a little over 8,000 miles of use.
I have a CM folding hard cover on a 2000 Sonoma Shorted Regular Cab. It was sold by my CM dealer but is made by Fold-A-Cover. It is not as sporty as some covers but is substantial and not only locks but also locks the tail gate. I installed it myself in about 3 hours. It folds up behind the cab but is not removable.
Ok, I've heard about the Roll& lock covers. What's the access cover. Do you have a website for them I can check it out. Not sure what kind of cover this is. It's not one of those snap covers is it?
Help. Getting a cover and spray in bedliner before winter (I HOPE)
To Scottorado The Fold-A-Cover is not water tight. The only time I get water in the bed is when I take my truck through a car wash. It comes in between the tail gate and the sides. This is not the fault of the cover but i wouldn't put anything in the bed that is water sensitive like computers or fine furniture.
We had about 70-80" of snow last winter and I didn't have any problems with the Access cover. I also took the truck through the car wash and never got a drop of water in - though I have heard stories of water leakage at the cab end. Might vary with the truck and the installer.
I recently purchased a 2001 Silverado that came with the aluminum alloy wheels. I am looking for some locking lugnuts to keep my wheels from being removed. Does Chevrolet make some aftermarket ones or another manufacturer?
Anybody have luck with this approach to carry kayaks? Any ladder racks with round crossbars that might hold my Yakima kayak saddles ? Has anybody used the GM "bed rack system" seen in the 2001 Silverado brochure ?
Saw some at the parts counter of my Chevy dealer last week. Don't know who makes them but they were in GM parts plastic package & had GM part number. Rick
Locking lug nuts for the PF-9 wheels are probably going to be impossible to find unless GM markets them. Problem is the center cap screws onto the outer thread of the nuts. Sorry if I'm telling you something you already know. 'Course that only applies to the 1500. -- Don
I was wondering what people's insights are on the Extang soft tonneau cover. It seems to be a good product, easy to install, easy to take down and it has a pretty good warranty. Any thoughts on it? The price runs about $200 which is about right for most tonneau covers. You can also choose between snap and snapless versions.
Thanks, The Merg
P.S. I gotta say though that I do like the Access Roll-up cover. The two downsides I see with it is the velcro closure and the price ($400+).
Just gotta say that I recently got a Line-X liner put in my Ford Ranger and it is great. The dealer did a terrific job putting it in. They removed all the bed bolts, tie down hooks, and screws from the tailgate first before spraying on the liner and then put them back in afterwards. Overall, it looks wonderful and is definitely doing the job.
Ive had an extang snap cover on my Ranger for over 2 full years and for the most part Im pleased, though I'll try somethig else for my next truck. It's only developed one or two barely noticable tiny nicks, though it spends most of it time on the truck exposed to the elements instead of folded up and stored away. And those minor scars are due to owner abuse and negligence, not defects. In fact, the cover still doesnt leak despite the cuts because it's made of multiple layers of very strong parachute grade material, and nothing has cut it all the way through yet.
Things to look out for: First, it will be a pain to work with in very cold weather, just like any soft cover other than those hinged ones. Either leave it on or off all winter, because when it sinks below 40 you might as well not even try to get it on. The fabric will shrink, making it hard to snap on. Tiny tears have formed around a couple of the buttons because the tension on the cover is so great in cold weather that it overstresses the fabric. However, like I said, they haven't gone all the way through the fabric and though its been tough to use at times, its been useful through two winters.
Also, the rubber insulation strip underneath the bar that goes over the tailgate will eventually work its way loose. They say you can open the tailgate whenever you want without removing that bar and have no problems, but eventually the repeated rubbing pulls the insulation off, especially if you have a tailgate protector. Youll have to get some strong rubber cement and put it back on. To avoid this in the first place try to lift that bar up an inch or so when opening and closing the tailgate or take it off completely.
I dont know whether the manufacturer claims it to be water tight, but I've checked underneath after some pretty heavy rain storms and I couldn't find a drop in the bed.
I do wish the support bows locked in place like Ive seen on other covers. They just slide onto brackets bolted to the sides of the bed but don't have a locking mechanism. They've started to slide out of place on occasion on hard starts or stops. If they locked they would also be sturdier for holding heavy grocery bags or luggage in place.
You're lucky you got an under the rail cover. Mine is over the rail. That's what came with the truck, and I like having a liner and didn't see any point in going to the expense of getting rid of it and finding an under the rail version. So it took about twice the normal time to install my cover because the liner had to be notched so the c-clamps to hold the rails in place could be attatched to the bed. It also doesnt look as clean as trucks with an under-rail liner/soft cover combo do. I paid about 60 bucks over the price of 200, but I think it was worth it just because of the difficulty of making those cuts.
Overall, the Extang has done the job well, keeping cargo dry and proving in the process to be very tough and durable. The three-year warranty is a very big plus. It's the convenience of use that is sometimes a problem. Its a pain in the [non-permissible content removed] in cold weather and all those snaps take awhile to button, so I leave it on the truck almost all the time unless it absoltely has to come off.
Next time I'll probably either get a hard cover or, more likely, a hinged soft cover so I get the best of both worlds...easy all-weather use but the versatility of a soft cover. Im not a fan of caps... I think they make it look more like an SUV when I want it to look like a pickup. PS: Hehehe no offense intended to all you guys with caps!=)
I don't have an under-the-rail liner. My spray-in is over-the-rail. Will the Extang still work (i.e. - will the rails seal to the bed rail still even with a liner) with the over-the-rail liner. According to their website, the cover works with bed liners, but it does not specify over-the-rail or under-the-rail.
With slip in over the rail liners It just takes you extra time to assemble or cost you more money if you plan on having done. Notches need to be cut where the c-clamps for the rails of the cover will attatch to the bed rail.
Not sure about spray-ons. Don't think you can cut those... once they're on theyre on for life See the crucial thing is that little lip that protrudes inward from the top of the bed rail because that's where those clamps are fastened. Can you still see the lip on yours or is it completely hidden by the liner?
Yeah, the bed rail lip is still there. The spray-in completely molds to the contours of the bed (it's only about a 1/4" thick). My concern was mostly if the frame of the bedrail would seal to the bed rails if there was a liner there...
The rail of the cover seals to whatever's there...rather it's a slip in liner, a spray in, rail caps, or just the bed itself. I've had it on a slip-in liner for a couple years and I've never seen water get into the bed.
Hello everyone, I just ordered a 2002 Ford Longbed crew cab and am searching for a shell and a liner. Out of the box I am thinking rhino liner with a snugtop. I have no idea how much to spend on these items so some guidence would be appreciated. Also anyone who would suggest other brands is welcome. Lastley as far as caps are concerned are there major differences with the 2002 model year? Will I have any trouble finding one that perfectly matches my truck?
I am trying to find a source for getting a quad cab Tundra 4X4 modified to add a camper-type shell to bed that is tied together with cab so there is internal access between cab and bed. The goal is to get a hybrid vehicle with interior similar to Sequoia SUV but with utility of the pickup bed of the Tundra.
Closest I've ever seen is cab extenders. From the side they look like those racerback things except they're enclosed and have built-in storage space for items you want protected from weather but dont want in the passenger compartment. Any cap will have an optional opening that lines up with the sliding rear window of your truck so you can reach the bed for stuff you need. Now if you mean to say you want your Tundra converted completely into an SUV hybrid with no barriers between the bed and the cab, well, my guess is that would be so impractical as to not be doable. That would involve somehow getting rid of the rear wall of the cab, which is an important part of the structure, and then connecting the bed to the body. I think you may be best off settling for a cap with an opening for the rear slider. Hybrids on the market with the system you described such as the new Avalanche were designed that way from inception.
I had an ARE CH model cap put on my truck. The color is a very close match. They take the paint code off of the truck and paint that color on the cap. Very good fit and quality seems fine. No leaks at all, even in heavy downpours.
See what cap dealers are in your area, as to what brands they carry, and go from there. Good luck, Bob
Comments
They didnt have to drill any holes in my silverado for my rhino liner
I love mine works great have had it for over a yr
Ryan
From what I have seen, the speedliner is the toughest, but retains a much better grip than line-x.
The colors look great, and they really don't have a fade problem. I am thinking about color matching my Forest Green. I have had a quote for $325 for black or the dark green to match. This is for under rail.
The only drawback I have seen is to do over the rail is hard to find. Some shops will do it, but don't guarantee it. The main reason they say this is because it tends to get picked and pulled at over the rail.
Thanks for the help,
Jeff
Soft Cover: I just took an Extang Black-Max off my truck. Looked good standing still, handled winter weather great, but I couldn't stand all the whipping around in the wind. Drove me nuts!. Snaping and unsnaping was a pain, but that's not as big a deal with a hinged cover. My dealer tells me Extang and TechStyle are the best for soft hinged. Looked at samples of both and TechStyle looks lighter than the Extang; which I already have a problem with. Ordered an Access soft roll-up. Bows roll with the cover and it's fully tension adjustable with an over center latch at the rear that doesn't interfere with the tailgate. True soft cover look, unlike Pace-Edwards and Roll-Top. Don't have it yet, so can't comment on how well (or not) it works. Showroom sample/demo was impressive.
-- Don
Hans
Since then I've had "Access" roll up covers on my last two trucks, and they are great. They get completely out of the way, look good, last well (my son still has my first one -- 7 years old and in perfect condition still), and stay drum-head tight in all seasons. Water is shed to the outside without tubes/drilling/etc needed on the Pace-Edwards design. No sliding tracks to fill with dirt/debris.
Hans
Thanks,
Scott
-- Don
For now, one question: when using a rubber bed mat, is the mat fastened to the bed? Lot's of folks talk about ease of removal, but I'm not clear if that includes removing a few screws or if the mat is heavy enough to just sit in the bed without any fasteners at all.
Then as respects a rubber mat for the tailgate, I guess that definitely requires drilling and screwing...right? or maybe some kind of velcro arrangement, but I would wonder about how well that would hold-up.
Thanks.
One question: if I'm reading the web info correctly, it appears that if you have a lockable tailgate, the Access cover gives you a fully locked bed. Is that correct?
Thanks.
-- Don
BTW -- If anyone's interested in a cheap, slightly used Black Max Extang for a S/B Silverado please let me know.
-Eric
John
Gulfguy
01 GMC 2500HD Crew Cab
8.1-Allison-3.73 locker
Black/grey leatehr
Help. Getting a cover and spray in bedliner before winter (I HOPE)
Truckchic
'01 GMC Sierra K1500
No snaps, velcro instead. Rolls up towards the cab. Great for cold weather. Had one on my Ranger.
How water water tight is the Fold a Cover?
Thanks,
Scott-o-rado
The Fold-A-Cover is not water tight. The only time I get water in the bed is when I take my truck through a car wash. It comes in between the tail gate and the sides. This is not the fault of the cover but i wouldn't put anything in the bed that is water sensitive like computers or fine furniture.
Truckchic
Steve.
Rick
-- Don
They will be put on a WAAG Sportster center grille guard.
John
piaa
Thanks,
The Merg
P.S. I gotta say though that I do like the Access Roll-up cover. The two downsides I see with it is the velcro closure and the price ($400+).
- The Merg
Things to look out for: First, it will be a pain to work with in very cold weather, just like any soft cover other than those hinged ones. Either leave it on or off all winter, because when it sinks below 40 you might as well not even try to get it on. The fabric will shrink, making it hard to snap on. Tiny tears have formed around a couple of the buttons because the tension on the cover is so great in cold weather that it overstresses the fabric. However, like I said, they haven't gone all the way through the fabric and though its been tough to use at times, its been useful through two winters.
Also, the rubber insulation strip underneath the bar that goes over the tailgate will eventually work its way loose. They say you can open the tailgate whenever you want without removing that bar and have no problems, but eventually the repeated rubbing pulls the insulation off, especially if you have a tailgate protector. Youll have to get some strong rubber cement and put it back on. To avoid this in the first place try to lift that bar up an inch or so when opening and closing the tailgate or take it off completely.
I dont know whether the manufacturer claims it to be water tight, but I've checked underneath after some pretty heavy rain storms and I couldn't find a drop in the bed.
I do wish the support bows locked in place like Ive seen on other covers. They just slide onto brackets bolted to the sides of the bed but don't have a locking mechanism. They've started to slide out of place on occasion on hard starts or stops. If they locked they would also be sturdier for holding heavy grocery bags or luggage in place.
You're lucky you got an under the rail cover. Mine is over the rail. That's what came with the truck, and I like having a liner and didn't see any point in going to the expense of getting rid of it and finding an under the rail version. So it took about twice the normal time to install my cover because the liner had to be notched so the c-clamps to hold the rails in place could be attatched to the bed. It also doesnt look as clean as trucks with an under-rail liner/soft cover combo do. I paid about 60 bucks over the price of 200, but I think it was worth it just because of the difficulty of making those cuts.
Overall, the Extang has done the job well, keeping cargo dry and proving in the process to be very tough and durable. The three-year warranty is a very big plus. It's the convenience of use that is sometimes a problem. Its a pain in the [non-permissible content removed] in cold weather and all those snaps take awhile to button, so I leave it on the truck almost all the time unless it absoltely has to come off.
Next time I'll probably either get a hard cover or, more likely, a hinged soft cover so I get the best of both worlds...easy all-weather use but the versatility of a soft cover. Im not a fan of caps... I think they make it look more like an SUV when I want it to look like a pickup.
PS: Hehehe no offense intended to all you guys with caps!=)
I don't have an under-the-rail liner. My spray-in is over-the-rail. Will the Extang still work (i.e. - will the rails seal to the bed rail still even with a liner) with the over-the-rail liner. According to their website, the cover works with bed liners, but it does not specify over-the-rail or under-the-rail.
Thanks,
The Merg
Not sure about spray-ons. Don't think you can cut those... once they're on theyre on for life See the crucial thing is that little lip that protrudes inward from the top of the bed rail because that's where those clamps are fastened. Can you still see the lip on yours or is it completely hidden by the liner?
Yeah, the bed rail lip is still there. The spray-in completely molds to the contours of the bed (it's only about a 1/4" thick). My concern was mostly if the frame of the bedrail would seal to the bed rails if there was a liner there...
- The Merg
-- Don
ed
See what cap dealers are in your area, as to what brands they carry, and go from there.
Good luck,
Bob