Buying an Extang Encore

I have been agonizing over this pending purchase for weeks now and have finally settled on the Extang Encore Tri-Fold over the G4 Elite Fold-a-Cover.

I need / want access to stuff right behind the cab -- that is the main reason why I chose to look at these two. I like everything about the G4 except the install. It seems the Encore (even while lowering the rails) is the easier install and it can be removed.

Sure I could be wrong, but I am tired of debating it and its time for action.

So -- since all the major websites list the Encore for the same price ($899), are there any vendors on here that want to get my business by cutting me a little deal? Any group buys, discount coupon codes, or anything that can help me decide on where to spend my dollars?

I don't really need it until early March, so I can wait a couple of weeks if you know some discounts are coming down the line...

Thanks!

 

Subscribed... I'm in the market and considering an Encore as well.

 

FYI that RealTruck is extending their "phone sale" by one day. Called (and you HAVE to call) just to see what they would give me and the guy knocked off 10%. So I pulled the trigger on the Extang Encore for a total of $809.10 (with free shipping).

That's a good enough deal for me.

 

How is that Encore working out for you? I'm in the exact same boat debating over the Encore or the G4. Both seem like nice covers and either would probably will be sufficient for what I'd like.

I know what you mean about spending hours and hours researching and trying to find the best option. Its time that I just pick one and run with it. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the Extang.

Thanks,
Tom

 

Well Tom, that is a question that has lots of long answers -- so bear with me. For starters, my truck is in Colorado with my son (at school) -- and so I don't have a good grasp of what the daily good or bad things are. Here is what I can say:

1. All the times that I have used the truck and the Extang, it has been great. We have hauled his stuff to and from Colorado and back to Texas -- and of course when the family travels to Denver to see him / go skiing and everything stays relatively dry. Easy to take off too.

Full disclosure: I did not drill holes in the bed for the drain tubes like so many do. I positioned the Extang drain tubes to drain out under the truck bed mat that I also bought. I would imagine drilling holes and installing the drain tubes that way will make a huge difference -- just wasn't what I wanted to do in a brand new truck.

With the truck bed mat, the wet stays mostly on the floor underneath it. The mat stays relatively dry. We place our stuff in the bed in cheap plastic tubs to keep whatever water is in the bed out. A bit of overkill but I don't care.

2. The Extang won't keep thieves out -- at all. Not sure any tonneau can do that except maybe the hard core metal ones.

3. Since we don't use it everyday, we get no real use of opening the front panel behind the cab (truck bed is just too small to worry about it in my opinion).

If you are planning to get smaller stuff in and out of your bed each day, I would look hard at the G4 or the Bakflip as they have those utility boxes that fit right in. We do like how easy it is to take the Extang off.

I don't hate the Extang at all -- it does what I need it to do. I have no expectations things in the back will be bone dry, or be protected from being stolen -- so I have compensated with quick and easy fixes that make it work for me.

I guess bottom line is, if I were the one driving the truck everyday -- and was hauling my living around in the back -- I would get something bigger and badder for sure. If not, and you just want to access to the back of your truck for smaller stuff behind the cab -- then I would get the G4 / Bakflip and a box insert.

 

Thanks for the detailed review and providing your opinions on the Extang. I understand that water and thieves can find their way into just about any cover and I've come to accept that. I don't plan on keeping anything of value back there for any length of time, but want to have the ability to cover and secure (to some extent) anything that I may be hauling at the moment.

With that being said, I guess the Extang is still on my list and I think that the final decision on the cover I choose may come down to the one that I can get the best deal on. I still am contemplating the G4, although it appears that the Extang is much easier to remove and doesn't require any tools.

Thanks again!

Tom

 

I've been reading and researching, and decided to go with the Extang Encore myself. Things that I like better about the Encore:

1. Being able to use the truck's key.
2. When open, there's nothing extra sticking up above the bed rail.
3. The front opening is a good bit larger than the G4.
4. I like the way it folds better than the G4.
5. Very quick and easy toolless removal and replacement.

I'm not saying they G4 wouldn't be nice, but my local dealer price-matching the on-line retailers settled it for me.

 

I ordered the Extang Encore from my nearby Trucker's Toy Store Wednesday, and they had it Thursday.

I won't get the truck until sometime next week. I went ahead and ordered the tonneau, thinking that it would take a week or so to get here. I try to support my local businesses. Makes it easy when they'll price match the online sellers.

 

Update: The dealership called me this morning and informed me that the truck was being delivered today. I went up there this afternoon. Look what followed me home:



Can we keep it?

 

I installed the Extang Encore tonneau cover this afternoon. Took me right at 2 hours. I was working alone, and not in a hurry. I give it a 10.