Tonneau cover for Gen 3 - gator v extang v bak flip

Looking for some advice on a hardcover trifold tonneau cover.

Was all set to get the bak flip but read reviews on Amazon about it feeling cheap for the price it costs.

Found the gator fx and the extang 2.0 to have good reviews online.

Anyone with experience or advice on any 3 of these?

Thanks!

 

I have looked at both of those as I am in the market as well. I stumbled across this ones and I really like it:

https://www.peragon.com/ephp/orders/orderform/2016/Toyota/Tacoma/T3-QC

There are a couple members on here that use it and have given it good reviews. Just depends how badly you want to stick to trifold.

There are several threads on the forums regarding different tonneau covers, including the extang 2.0.

 

I just installed an Extang Encore. So far I really like it. Just FYI. Be prepared to install seals. They tend to leak. They tell you that they will leak a little, but there are things you can do to stop it. I finally got mine to seal up pretty good.

 

I have the Fold-A-Cover G4 and like it, suggest you add it to your list. Both ends fold up and lock.

 

Thanks for sharing! I added this to the list.

 

Thanks for sharing! How did you seal your cover to best prevent leakage?

 

How does it seal the bed? Fairly water proof?

 

It seems to seal really well, when I wash my truck with a power washer there's a few drops that get in at the tailgate end and that's probably due to the fact that I didn't install the tailgate seals that came with the cover. I have the OEM bed mat and have never seen water on it.

 

Hey, 2 more question. How was the install? Does it work with the bed rail? Thanks again!

 

Lots of good stuff in this section of TW, if you haven't gone over there: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/tonneau-covers-caps-and-shells.198/

 

I have a Backflip MX4 on my Duramax and it's the best cover I have ever had by a large margin. The OEM Tacoma Tri-Fold that came with my truck is a 10th as good!

 

Does the bak flip feel cheaply made to you? Cheap materials?

 

The install took a little longer than I expected to get everything aligned properly but not too bad. There are 4 brackets that slide into the bed rail to mount the cover but you have access to the rest of the bed rail to use cleats or other uses.

 

Originally, I was looking at the three hard covers you listed and ended up with a Gator Hybrid, instead, and am very happy. It's a trifold hard tonneau with a vinyl cover. https://gatorcovers.com/gator-hybrid-tonneau-cover.html

Things I like about it are:
1) Use of the factory bed rails is not impacted.
2) You can fold it twice and drive with 2/3 bed space or you can remove the two thumb screws (in less than 10 min), remove the cover completely (one person), and have full bed use.
3) It won't dent from hail. A coworker has a bak flip that is full of pings from small hail (didn't dent the truck, only the cover).
4) The hardcover assures me the vinyl will never sag and collect water.
5) It kept 97% of the water out of the bed with left out in pouring rain overnight and keeps 99% of the water out when driving in rain.
6) It sits on top of the bed rails so I don't lose the inch or two of space that you do with systems like the bak flip that sit flush with the rails. Given the fact that our beds are kinda shallow this was a big deal to me.
7) No drilling required.
8) It was significantly cheaper than the hard cover alternatives. I paid about $500 for mine.

Hope this helps!

 

bak mx4. Love it. Best looks. flush mount. no leaks. great utility

 

I went with the Extang Encore because I have an aluminum toolbox that sits in my bed that I needed access to. The first two panels fold towards the front and secure for loads in the bed or the third panel (closest to the cab) folds to the rear so I can access the box. If I need the whole bed, the whole thing comes off pretty easy. Unfortunately with the Extang you have to remove the Toyota bed rails, install a set of aluminum brackets on the bed rail holes, and install the Extang rails on the top of the bracket and the Toyota rails on the bottom of the brackets; you don't lose the Toyota rails, but they do sit substantially lower in the bed.

As part of your research I suggest you go on YouTube and look for installation videos for each of the products you are considering. Watching those was a huge help in deciding which cover to buy.

 

Not at all very stout and made solid, the only cover that I've had the was made more solid was the Diamonback SE but it was a PITA to get off.

 

Thank you everyone for the input! A lot of great suggestions and opinions here.

 

Love my backflip doesn’t feel cheap to me pretty rugged and seals pretty well

 

I used automotive grade weather stripping on the inside lip of the cover.