Tonneau cover or bed cap?

[ill]

I have a 2011 crew cab Tacoma and have been trying to figure out which I would rather have on the bed, a tonneau cover or a cap. I love having an open bed but too often I need to have that shit covered up.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Not mine, but essentially this is what I have

 

[outofyourmind]

I think it depends on what you are going to carry. @ill
some of those tonneau tilt up which is nice.


Looks like there are some that roll up and some that even are remote control.
That seems like the best idea to get it out of the way when you need to.

The cap you're kind of stuck with. It's hard to take on and off and heavy. If you ever want to haul something taller than it is, you're fucked.

 

[ill]

I would likely go with one of the trifold jawns if I went the route of tonneau covers.

The other issue I have is with carrying kayaks, which I will put in my truck bed. If I went the cap route, I could get crossbars there and carry my kayaks up top.

or I go tonneau and throw one of these bad boys on there

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

As a guy who has made dozens of vinyl tonneaus in my youth, I would say go with the hard cap, mainly for durability.

Jerks like to slash tunnies, or they pull up a section, toss in their garbage, and walk away. (A hard cover might be lockable.)

They wear out quicker at the stress points where they're fastened to the bed. And depending on the weather in your hood, you might be replacing a vinyl cover in 3-5 years.

Putting on and taking off certain soft covers can be a pain, especially if it's left in place for a long time. I had a vinyl cover that velcro'd to my bed; if I left it too long it pulled, and started to cause the velcro to slide up the bed. If I left it off too long, I could hardly get it back in place.

Lastly, no matter which type you choose, they have to have fasteners attached to the bed. Snaps are common for tunnies, or rails, and these have to be drilled into the body. Eventually, these might start to cause rust, or they simply wear out and need replacement. And depending on the skill level of the guy who installs the fasteners, you might have skid marks where his drill walked all over your paint job.

Good luck

 

[Fish]

First off if I was you I'd consider getting a real truck before I started adding stuff.

I have a vinyl trifold tonneau on my current truck. Factory item, came with it. The 2 before that I had ARE caps, they cost 2 grand or more.
The 2013 I had an aluminum trifold, came with it. The 2008 I had a fiberglass cover that hinged up from the front.

The fiberglass cover looks good and is waterproof but damn unhandy if you need to put something in the bed that's longer than the bed. No real way to tie the cover down as the lift cylinders are working against you. And you're limited to what you can fit in the bed.

Trifold aluminum and vinyl are great but really limited in what fits under them, just like the fiberglass. You can fold them though and have stuff sticking over the tailgate.

Camper shell is the best but a grand more to buy. I keep toying with the idea of putting mine back on, I still have it from my last truck trade. But it's green and my truck is silver and $500 to paint it. Also we're talking about getting a fifth wheel rv and hitting the road, so I'd have to take it back off for that. For what I actually have and what I do right now though the camper shell is the best option. The only drawbacks are it limits visibility a little since you're looking through 2 extra panes of glass out your rear view mirror and it takes longer to wash the truck with it on.

 

[Fish]

As a guy who has made dozens of vinyl tonneaus in my youth, I would say go with the hard cap, mainly for durability.

Jerks like to slash tunnies, or they pull up a section, toss in their garbage, and walk away. (A hard cover might be lockable.)

They wear out quicker at the stress points where they're fastened to the bed. And depending on the weather in your hood, you might be replacing a vinyl cover in 3-5 years.

Putting on and taking off certain soft covers can be a pain, especially if it's left in place for a long time. I had a vinyl cover that velcro'd to my bed; if I left it too long it pulled, and started to cause the velcro to slide up the bed. If I left it off too long, I could hardly get it back in place.

Lastly, no matter which type you choose, they have to have fasteners attached to the bed. Snaps are common for tunnies, or rails, and these have to be drilled into the body. Eventually, these might start to cause rust, or they simply wear out and need replacement. And depending on the skill level of the guy who installs the fasteners, you might have skid marks where his drill walked all over your paint job.

Good luck

Dude, you need to climb out of the 80's and look around and see what's available out there now...

 

[Rex Racer]

A cap will give you more space that is out of the weather, but like @outofyourmind mentioned it is not something you're likely to take off once it is installed so you'll probably want one that will accept some type of rack on top.

Tonneaus have always seemed useless to me, but that is probably because I'm a contractor and I would destroy one of those in no time. I would likely buy a solid flip up unit if I was in the market.

 

[outofyourmind]

If I went the cap route, I could get crossbars there and carry my kayaks up top.

When i read this my first thought was that it would be ungodly high @ill
But after pulling up a picture, it just might be the best thing all the way around.
Keep your stuff dry and have plenty of storage plus carry the kayaks.

You'll never be able to move a refrigerator though, but that's probably a good thing.

 

[outofyourmind]

I know there are lots of people with ideas on this.


@ktg8trgrl
@TemptressToo
@Winged_Wheel88
@moxie
@Shelby
@bonham
@Rex Racer
@outofyourmind
@B_dub
@romeo212000
@tnapucco
@KansasSooner
@Jtrain80
@BoomerNTX
@Wishbone
@MarkOU
@sooner78wakeboard
@Scapegoat
@Proud_Okie
@Wheat
@Goldbug
@Pariah
@BusSport
@8085sooner
@Nosferatu
@thunderc
@Kevin12773
@Vitamike
@PhilSimms11
@boltfan72
@SteelersPride
@packerzrule
@Used 2 B Hu
@Peter Gozintite
@TigerBait1971
@puckhead
@craigk217
@Inimical
@Manster7588
@Ewa PGH Fan
@pitman
@BoiseMike19
@BTHOtu
@BritishDolfan
@popeyecv64
@BigRedMoe
@gobigred
@gohusk
@Brasky
@huskers1217
@Tomhusker
@Skerpokes
@Stinky56
@Carnzo
@KingKoolKat75
@58crash
@Eugene Baker III
@AlaskaGuy
@Guns N Guitars
@fordman84
@TheRangerDude
@beardown07
@omarsrevenge
@thedddd
@TheDayMan
@lilchi721
@USCDoom
@Battlelyon
@darken65
@mcnabb7542
@Debbie Does
@ill
@Wild Turkey
@7Samurai13
@RobToxin
@RobBase
@Inquisitor95
@Hook'Em0608
@TexasExes98
@Codaxx
@Texas Jefe
@TexasExes98
@ElTexan
@bamabear82
@Bamabino
@Bandwagonbo2
@theSabanator20
@GoldRusher
@There is A Moose at 3rd
@Cowboyinexile
@boomtown
@Wedgie
@potzer25
@Harry Seaword
@MISKO
@fordman84
@JuiceTheGator
@douggie
@FaCe-LeE-uS
@NEhomer
@obxyankeefan
@LambeauLegs
@handicappers
@Balljim55
@DetroitDevil
@Tin Man
@Nasty_Magician
@bocomo007
@Guy Incognito
@OregonDucks
@Think McFly Think
@Ritzarmy
@UK Cowboy
@wlk3
@MilkSpiller22
@Shanemansj13
@mr.hockey4242
@Mebert
@Godstree
@steveringo
@Wamu
@VFL1995
@trojanfan12
@socaljim242
@BigKen
@TheRobotDevil
@Clayton
@ATL96Steeler
@Tubbs1518
@IndyAndy
@The Crimson King
@gandydancer
@SJ76
@Wings
@wildturkey
@DrewScott
@TrustMeIamRight
@MAIZEandBLUE09
@Wingingit
@mall3013
@Airraidtech
@clemtheslowson
@Judge Fudge
@Macho Grande
@Dolgevillefootballfan
@seahawksfan234
@DutchBird
@PEOPLESCHICKEN
@megalodon30
@batchaps4me
@BigAppleBadger
@Bojack_Horseman
@Sharkonabicycle
@cwerph
@Deep Creek
@olympicoscar
@Vyle203
@ericd7633
@iowajerms
@wingsauce7
@jwolt92
@nathans8823
@Full Potato
@Shower Fart
@Chris p Bacon
@God
@Midnightangel

 

[Fish]

When i read this my first thought was that it would be ungodly high @ill
But after pulling up a picture, it just might be the best thing all the way around.
Keep your stuff dry and have plenty of storage plus carry the kayaks.

You'll never be able to move a refrigerator though, but that's probably a good thing.

That's a ridiculous picture. Only an acrobat could get up on the tire and do that.

 

[Fish]

I know there are lots of people with ideas on this.


@ktg8trgrl
@TemptressToo
@Winged_Wheel88
@moxie
@Shelby
@bonham
@Rex Racer
@outofyourmind
@B_dub
@romeo212000
@tnapucco
@KansasSooner
@Jtrain80
@BoomerNTX
@Wishbone
@MarkOU
@sooner78wakeboard
@Scapegoat
@Proud_Okie
@Wheat
@Goldbug
@Pariah
@BusSport
@8085sooner
@Nosferatu
@thunderc
@Kevin12773
@Vitamike
@PhilSimms11
@boltfan72
@SteelersPride
@packerzrule
@Used 2 B Hu
@Peter Gozintite
@TigerBait1971
@puckhead
@craigk217
@Inimical
@Manster7588
@Ewa PGH Fan
@pitman
@BoiseMike19
@BTHOtu
@BritishDolfan
@popeyecv64
@BigRedMoe
@gobigred
@gohusk
@Brasky
@huskers1217
@Tomhusker
@Skerpokes
@Stinky56
@Carnzo
@KingKoolKat75
@58crash
@Eugene Baker III
@AlaskaGuy
@Guns N Guitars
@fordman84
@TheRangerDude
@beardown07
@omarsrevenge
@thedddd
@TheDayMan
@lilchi721
@USCDoom
@Battlelyon
@darken65
@mcnabb7542
@Debbie Does
@ill
@Wild Turkey
@7Samurai13
@RobToxin
@RobBase
@Inquisitor95
@Hook'Em0608
@TexasExes98
@Codaxx
@Texas Jefe
@TexasExes98
@ElTexan
@bamabear82
@Bamabino
@Bandwagonbo2
@theSabanator20
@GoldRusher
@There is A Moose at 3rd
@Cowboyinexile
@boomtown
@Wedgie
@potzer25
@Harry Seaword
@MISKO
@fordman84
@JuiceTheGator
@douggie
@FaCe-LeE-uS
@NEhomer
@obxyankeefan
@LambeauLegs
@handicappers
@Balljim55
@DetroitDevil
@Tin Man
@Nasty_Magician
@bocomo007
@Guy Incognito
@OregonDucks
@Think McFly Think
@Ritzarmy
@UK Cowboy
@wlk3
@MilkSpiller22
@Shanemansj13
@mr.hockey4242
@Mebert
@Godstree
@steveringo
@Wamu
@VFL1995
@trojanfan12
@socaljim242
@BigKen
@TheRobotDevil
@Clayton
@ATL96Steeler
@Tubbs1518
@IndyAndy
@The Crimson King
@gandydancer
@SJ76
@Wings
@wildturkey
@DrewScott
@TrustMeIamRight
@MAIZEandBLUE09
@Wingingit
@mall3013
@Airraidtech
@clemtheslowson
@Judge Fudge
@Macho Grande
@Dolgevillefootballfan
@seahawksfan234
@DutchBird
@PEOPLESCHICKEN
@megalodon30
@batchaps4me
@BigAppleBadger
@Bojack_Horseman
@Sharkonabicycle
@cwerph
@Deep Creek
@olympicoscar
@Vyle203
@ericd7633
@iowajerms
@wingsauce7
@jwolt92
@nathans8823
@Full Potato
@Shower Fart
@Chris p Bacon
@God
@Midnightangel

Go fuck yourself, damn you should be banned from the entire internet.

 

[DHoey]

I used to think canopies were lame as fuck, then I got one for work, had to keep tools dry and such. Now, I wouldn't own a truck without one. I take it off in the summer when I don't have to worry about shit getting wet, and put it on in the winter when I have all my fishing and hunting stuff back there. Makes packing and unpacking a breeze.

 

[Fish]

I used to think canopies were lame as fuck, then I got one for work, had to keep tools dry and such. Now, I wouldn't own a truck without one. I take it off in the summer when I don't have to worry about shit getting wet, and put it on in the winter when I have all my fishing and hunting stuff back there. Makes packing and unpacking a breeze.

Canopies? Do you live in a foreign land? WTF is canopies?

 

[Tin Man]

Put a camper-style cap on the bed of the 1969 F100 I used to own and drove across the USA and back in 1980. No regrets. Indeed, having a cap on it reduced the number of favors asked of me and my truck by more than half.

 

[DHoey]

Canopies? Do you live in a foreign land? WTF is canopies?

A canopy is what goes on the bed of your truck....I have no clue why you guys are talking about a "cap" on a truck....Is that like a fucking baseball hat?

 

[Godstree]

I would go for a cap like the one pictured. I have never been much f a fan of the covers.

The cap can be made into a great camper on the cheap.

 

[Rex Racer]

That's a ridiculous picture. Only an acrobat could get up on the tire and do that.

Uh, I get up on my rear tires all the time to deal with the stuff I load on my trac racs and I'm about as far from an acrobat at this point of my life as it gets. I also have a real truck

 

[batchaps4me]

I love camper shells but, IMHO the fist question has to be what are you going to be using your truck to haul. if it is a rare thing to need to remove it, my personal choice is an aluminum shell. Light durable and lockable. Even if you need to remove it, two teen aged boys could lift it off. Whatever you get, make sure it is functional for your needs.

 

[Rex Racer]

A canopy is what goes on the bed of your truck....I have no clue why you guys are talking about a "cap" on a truck....Is that like a fucking baseball hat?

It's called a bed cap.

 

[DHoey]

It's called a bed cap.

Must be a regional thing.