Gator soft Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover Install

The Fed-Ex guy dropped off a package today in my driveway. I was at work when my wife sent me this picture.

I ordered a Tri-Fold Soft Folding Tonneau from Gator Covers, got it for $230 w/ free shipping, couldn't really beat that price.

Link: http://gatorcovers.com/p-1338-gator-tri-fold-tonneau-cover.aspx

When I was looking at covers, I knew every cover wasn't going to guarantee that it would be completely waterproof, that is just unrealistic (if water wants in, it will get in). I also knew that I didn't want something that would be hard to remove completly and also make it fairly secure. I know that this soft cover can just be cut with a knife, however I don't ever plan on keeping anything very valuable in the bed.



Onto the install, this cover was packaged very well, with soft foam bags on both sides and corners, to protect the cover rail supports.

Install took about 30 mins and was fairly easy

What's included:

• Cover with rail supports
• 4 sets of stainless steel bracket inserts into factory bed rail system
• 2 Foam waterproofing squares (for cab bed rail)
• 96 inch of tailgate waterproofing seal (cut to fit)
• 8 stainless steel screws and washers (along with Allen key)

Next take the 'J' shaped bracket, upside down, take the metal backing, and place two screws and washers into the top holes of bracket, and just get them started, I believe I did about 4 finger turns on each screw.





Next step was to remove the cab facing bed rail, there are 5 T30 Torx screws under the bed rail, make sure you use the correct size torx bit, or you can strip the screw. I used a impact driver to remove and install the screws.

The cover came with two foam insulation squares, which are meant to be placed on the ends of the front cab rail.





After the installation the front rail bits snug against both sides of the bed rails. Making a tight fit, not sure if it's tight enough to be completely water tight, but not worries



Next is to remove end caps and tie down rail sliders





Slide in the backing plate of the brackets, here's where making them loose works wonders


Both sides slide them just guess where they should be, they can be moved when the cover is on


Place the cover completely folded on top of the bed rails as well as the cab rail. Line it up on both sides and make sure it is lined up evenly


Unfold the cover completely and line up the cover again. After this is done to your satisfaction, carefully fold the cover, you don't want to move it at all. NOTE: Unlock or Fold down both front side handles before you line up the cover

Now that the cover is lined up, and the handles are folded down line up the handle with the metal bracket. When they are lined up move the handle out of the way (DON'T LOCK THEM IN, IT WILL MOVE THE COVER). Tighten down the metal brackets on both the driver and passenger side.

Then adjust the handles as needed to make the cover as snug as you think it should be.




NOTE: Don't mind the LED strips underneath the bed rails, they are for another project SNEAK Peek for my next write-up

After both front handels are secured tight, move up to the top of the cover, and lightly tie the straps in a knot so they don't hang down in the bed when the cover is closed



Now fold down the cover and now it's time to work on the back handles, same with the front, adjust the metal brackets as needed, as well as adjusting handles to making them as tight as you want to.



Final step is to install the Tailgate weather stripping, I cut a small piece to see how I would like the stripping to be installed on the bottom of the tailgate crease as well as the sidewall crease



As you can tell, the weather stripping is fully compressed meaning that it creates the best seal it can when the tailgate is closed



Next is to measure the length that you want the weather stripping, here's the measurements I went with



Next is install the weather stripping





After the weather stripping is installed, firmly press down on the seal. Instruction say to wait 10 mins before the tailgate. My garage is heated, so what I did was installed the weather stripping in the garage, then pulled the truck out in 10 degree temp, waited some time and pressed on it firmly again, to ensure that it was stuck on there good.

Closed the tailgate and here are the final results





Overall the install was very easy, the cover looks awesome and just feels like it is very sturdy. I'm glad I went with this one.

In the next couple days I will remove all the snow from the bed, and take it to a car wash to do a water leakage test, to see actually how much water gets in.

Hope you guys find this helpful, and let me know if you have any questions.

 

Looks nice. Good write up also. Price is excellent.

 

Thank you man. Price was a main factor.

 

Excellent write up and pics!

Enjoy your new cover it looks awesome

 

Thanks a bunch man, just trying to document everything I do. Glad you liked it

 

Hey man, after having this cover for a few months now, how do you like it? Was it as water tight as you had hoped when you went thru the carwash?

Im looking at this same model and was curious how it worked in the end.

 

Hey man, I really like the cover it is very nice and we'll built. For the price you can't beat it. I have ran it through the car wash and haven't had any leaking at all. With that being said I did take my car to a self wash bay, and really focused on spraying the sides, front, and back of the cover where the cover meets the bed rails. I did experience a little leakage on the one side, nothing crazy, just a little puddle that got through.

I don't mind it being not 100%, really no removable tonneau cover is, companies can say all the want, but unless you run a gasket completely around the truck bed, if water wants in, it will get in.

All in all, put it through a PA winter, although we didn't get much snow, our one storm had 30 inches on the cover and it withstood that.

For the price you can't beat the quality and look of the cover.

100% recommend

Paul

 

@pbar617 Thank you for the information man. i am looking at ordering mine this weekend. Your review helped make the decision, so thank you.

I did have one more question, you said "Next step was to remove the cab facing bed rail, there are 5 T30 Torx screws under the bed rail, make sure you use the correct size torx bit, or you can strip the screw."

I found these screws on mine, but the question I had is, do they have washers or nuts on the other side, or are they just screws going in, because I cant manage to get my hand between the cab of the truck and the bed of the truck to find out how these are attached. Can you shed light on this?

 

Sweet man, glad I could help.

The 5 T30 screws are threaded into the frame of the bed. I used a impact driver to take the screws out, easy pizy

 

Thanks for the write up. I ordered it today.

 

Perfect man, you won't be disappointed. It is a high quality cover that doesn't break the bank.

 

@pbar617 I'm getting ready to order mine, and I have come across one other thing to ask. When your going down the road, at highway speeds 65 mph+. Does the cover make a lot of noise from flapping in the wind.

 

I have not noticed any noise whatsoever. The only time that I have was when I had my back window open, but that's expected. Even so it is not bad at all

 

@pbar617 Awesome man, I will be ordering mine tomorrow. I will follow-up with your thread when it comes in! Thanks for your assistance.

 

Thank you for the recommendation. I ordered mine last week, it came in friday without the mounting equipment. Thanks to your photos I was able to show them what I needed. I used Tonneaucoverworld.com and they corrected the issue within 10 minutes and over nighted the equipment to me. The best customer service around, from my experience. Here is mine installed, thank you again for your tips

 

Ah to bad they forgot the brackets. Glad I was able to help. How do you like it?

 

Are their any issues with the buckles at the cab when they are not in use? do they rub against anything or flap around?

 

@jason_beekeeper Not at all, they are really stiff, and dont really move at all. From what I have seen it doesnt rattle in the wind or move at all. They just chill there until you buckle them down. I can take a picture and post it here at lunch if that would help answer the question.

 

Not at all the buckels are pretty solid, they are tight to the cover and barely move

 

@jason_beekeeper
Please excuse the pollen, in the south it's crazy this time of year, but you can see how they literally stand up all the time.