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FIberglass Tonneau Covers-any advice? - READ ONLY

42 messages,  Last post on May 02, 1999 at 3:42 PM

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Messages Page 5 of 5

#33 of 42 fold-a-cover by tungle

Feb 16, 1999 (10:24 pm)

Davydd and others,


I called Fold-A-Cover and some dealers around North East of Mass. They told me that the cover
will be 90% water tight, and no drillings is required like Davydd's post. It's also strong enough for one to stand on top. The price is about
$677.00. One dealer said that he could give it for
$600.00 if I'd prepay for it. What prices do you get?


Sorry, the price on my previous post must be for
a soft cover.


Tung

#34 of 42 Fold-A-Cover Pricing by Davydd

Feb 17, 1999 (3:25 am)

The California Concepts web site has the Fold-A-Cover full size truck short bed listed regular price $549 and special price $419 at...


http://www.calconcepts.com/prices2.html


But then again, by the time you pay shipping and installation it could very well be $600 plus via a dealer.


90% water tight is ambiguous. So I asked exactly what that meant. They said if you powerwash at a self-wash you will get some water leakage. Not clear about a normal rain.


The rail mount and panel installation is drill free but I think there might be some drilling to attach the locking devices.

#35 of 42 jerryg4 by jerryg4

Feb 24, 1999 (7:45 pm)

Other than the obvious (more room), what are the advantages of a tonneau over a cap or vice versa?
Are the tonneau's lockable? Easy to remove? Easy to access stuff at the forward end of the bed? I have a 1998 Ram SB with a cap but am considering switching to a tonneau to improve visibility. Does anyone recommend a brand that looks good on a Ram?
Thanks
Jerryg4

#36 of 42 kent123 by kent123

Feb 25, 1999 (3:28 am)

After looking hard at the fiberglass tonneau covers for my 99 Silverado (I started this topic), I ended up opting for the Pace Edwards Roll Top Cover ($649 installed) with a molded carpet bedliner ($199 from Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops).


The liner I installed myself last night, the Pace cover should be in sometime next week.


With the roll top, you can easily access stuff in the front of the bed and also haul stuff that's taller than the sides of the bed (the #1 factor against one-piece tonneaus that hinge in the front. Hard choice since the fiberglass tonneau painted to match is the more attractive choice.

#37 of 42 fish6 by fish6

Feb 25, 1999 (7:13 pm)

I too had a fiberglas lid as my first choice. $625
I bought my soft tonneau that has lifters that lift it just like the fiberglas...This cover can be removed from the truck in 1 minute . Unhook the lifters by pulling the pins...lift the cover right out of the ez hinges on the front and it is off. I really like it. See it at www.checkerpro.com

#38 of 42 fish6 by fish6

Feb 25, 1999 (7:15 pm)

Sorry.. I forgot to state the price I paid....$177 which includes the shipping to my home here in Minnesota. $159 + $18 shipping

#39 of 42 mwinter1 by mwinter1

Feb 26, 1999 (6:55 pm)

I'm deciding betweem the pace edwards roll top and a soft tonneau cover. For those who have the pace edwards: is it electronically opened and closed, does it lock the tailgate on the new '99 silverado or is that an option that you have to purchase. Finally, who do you think makes the best soft cover tonneau? Thanks.

#40 of 42 Fold-A-Cover by Davydd

Mar 27, 1999 (4:30 pm)

I saw and I bought the Fold-A-Cover previously discussed here. Will get one put on my Silverado Tuesday. I posted more info in the Silverado Cont'd topic. Will post my impressions after I get it put on.

#41 of 42 Fold-A-Cover Report by Davydd

Mar 31, 1999 (2:36 am)

I had the Fold-A-Cover installed on my Silverado today. I like it. It comes in in four sections attached together with continues hinges. It seems properly sealed all around including the hinges. The rear most cover locks the tailgate and opens by folding over the next panel. There are aluminum slide locks to hold it shut tight at the rails or to hold it folded over. The panel closest to the cab locks and opens separately. The other three panels all fold over the one panel near the cab so that your bed can be 3/4 open.


The panels are maded of black painted dimpled aluminum both sides with about a 1/2" hard sandwich material between. There is some drilling required to attach the two side rails. The panels rest on a vinyl seal along the rails.


Fold-A-Cover is a company located in Grand Rapids, MI. When I called them they said the local dealer is the Chevy Dealer. My understanding is the technician at the dealer had installed a few covers before mine. They estimated 4 hours. I don't think they took that long considering what they charged for installation. The Chevy Dealer sells it for $595 plus tax and labor. I've seen cheaper pricing mailorder online but don't think I would want to attempt to install it myself.


It has a low, flat profile and appears with panel, vinyl seal and rails to appear about one inch thick.


I figure most of the time I will only lift the rear panel to load groceries and the cab forward panel to store tools. Occasionally I will fold back all the panels to haul a large item. The advantages of the Fold-A-Cover over a fiberglass shell is that you can haul tall items and get at items that are toward the cab without having to unload stuff in the way. Compared to a rolling shutter type cover is that it is a hard shell and you don't have to open it all the way to get at items stored toward the cab.


                              

#42 of 42 Fold-A-Cover Update by Davydd

May 02, 1999 (3:42 pm)

I've gone through a couple of all day steady rains and the bed stayed dry. I parked facing slightly downhill so if any water did get in it would not drain out. I took my truck to one of those self-wash high pressure spray places and again the bed stayed dry. This was better than I expected. Fold-A-Cover told me about 90% dry whatever that means and that spray washes might get the truck bed wet. I'm satisfied.

Messages Page 5 of 5

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