tonneau cover or topper?

[TooTallTom]

If what randerson says about the way MB conducted the test is true, I don't know that there would be any real world advantage to topper/ tonneau/ open box.

Also, I imagine that box length and cab height (relative to the floor of the box) would both have some bearing on mileage benefits of a particular configuration, and any benefit is probably pretty small.

[KatoMike]

One other thing to consider is the weight of a topper v. a tonneau cover. Your truck has a payload rating of around 1,600 lbs. (that is, you can carry 1,6000 lbs. - so if you have 3 200 lb. adult passengers, 600 lbs. of your payload capacity is used right there).

So, if you put a 200 lb topper on, the amount of cargo or people you can carry is lowered by 200 lbs.

[Ryan_V]

Mythbusters did a segment on truck beds and gas mileage. If I remember correctly, the best mileage was with no cover, tailgate up. Apparently it creates a vortex that pushes on the back of the cab, kind of like your own little I

tailwind. I don't have any recollection of how the other options fared...

That is correct! I believe a tonneau might help slightly.

[landscaper]

BOXMN

Yes i also back with my mirrors 90% of the time but its when the wife drives it.....

Contractor windows(the ones with 2 handles per window that open) that also have a sliding screen?

OR....the windows that open say...1-3" or so in the back with no handles. (open from inside) would that work also for air flow for dogs?

Carpet you mean a bed rug or the topper itself carpeted

Could you add your own lights in there?

[BoxMN]

Hey Landscaper, I back with mirrors about 10% of the time I just learned to turn around I guess, my buddies with real big trucks still give me heck about not using mirrors enough, haha!

I have the two handle without the screen, as when I got mine they were not available with the screen. Neighbor had a dealer tell him the ones with the screen were not as water tight, so he got the window like mine - but I am not sure about that, just what he was told.

Those little "flap" windows that I think you are talking about... I don't like them personally. Those toppers look a bit slicker but had buddies who had probs with the latching on them, but that is second hand info... On my passenger side I have the slider screen window that opens up half way the length of window, so almost half as long as my topper. I would put a piece of wood (hockey stick actually) under the corner of the rear window to open a space so the air would flow through nicely for the dogs. That is one advantage of the rear window having two handles, you can still latch the one side and leave the other side open a bit. Hope that makes sense...

Carpet - the inside of the topper itself gets carpeted with thin carpet. Keeps dust down, looks nice, and makesit quieter. I think it may be standard now, but was option when I got mine.

Yes you can add your own, and the topper dealer should/will run wiring with plugs for you, but they also will run wire for whatever type of setup you want - i.e. hot to battery, or just when key is turned, or just when you have lights on. My neighbors new Leer has nicely installed LED lights and he can add another set if he wants to the same wiring. I think he did his hot to the battery so he didn't need truck on or lights on to use them. You could do the same with a tonneau I would think, so you have some light under there.

[PurpleFloyd]

for everyone who has a topper..........How is it for backing up? Seeing out the back??

ALso do they seal up good..no wind/snow swirling around and getting in??

I have a tonneau on my ranger now....since the bed sides are not that tall it is kinda hard for hauling stuff. for my next truck--f150 i am kinda thinking about a LEER or ARE topper.

DRH1175

Do you have any pictures of your truck? I am thinking about getting the same thing ECOBOOST AND 6.5 but maybe in the FX4 model?

Hows ECO BOOST?

That is the one drawback. The topper i have does make it harder to see out the back and because it is a mid size with smaller mirrors it makes it a bunch more difficult to see when backing up my cargo trailer.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

I bought a new pick-up truck last November and as part of the purchase the dealer put on a new Access tonneau cover. My last two "trucks" were Tahoes and I miss having my stuff in the back, protected from the elements and theft.

I am satisfied with the Access cover. It is not completely waterproof in the bed of the truck but there are seals that you can buy and put on to seal it up. I haven't done that and probably won't. I use plastic storage containers which have worked well but it is sometimes hard to remember what is in which container ( I only use 3).

What I don't care for is that you have to either roll the cover completely to the front or lay down and try to pull the container to the rear of the bed. Not that big of a deal but I hadn't thought about that when I bought it. The other thing is that I cannot see the empty boat trailer when backing so using the mirrors is necessary.

I looked at Ford trucks that had the folding step built into the tailgate and didn't think there was need for that. (Wimpy!!). Wrong again as I soon found out that I can't seen to jump into the bed of the truck like I used to.

Gas Mileage: I think the cover helped with this, at least the Access web sight says it does but I don't think it makes much of a difference between toppers and the cover that I have. I just returned from a 1,250 round trip fishing trip and I battled 30 mph head winds most of the way. Not good for gas mileage any way you look at it.

Give some thought to what type of cover you want and get it. There will be positives and negatives to both.

Hope this helps.

Mike

[311Hemi]

I have a Leer on the back of my 03' Dodge Ram, and I like having a topper....especially with the dogs. I had the Access roll up cover before the topper and thought it was great for a roll up, but I can store a bunch more with the topper. I really like being able to keep the dogs out of the elements, especially in late season. I know the insulated covers work fine, but the topper is helpful in keeping gear dry as well if you run with dogs for hunting and I don't have too keep everything in the cab.

My truck sits up pretty high and I rely on my side mirrors when backing up 90% of the time. I have forgotten I even have a rear view mirror (useless as kennels are always in there) and I don't open the bed/topper window when backing up most of the time. My wife hates driving the truck....but that's not just because of the topper. I know it's not easy for her to maneuver.....heck....she could not make it through the bank teller window without giving my black truck a nice racing stripe down the side.

My Leer topper is the one that looks nice and sleek, all one piece of glass down the side and opens at the rear for air flow by a crank inside of the topper. This topper looks great IMO, but besides ventilation the windows offer no benefit and I have created a drawer/roller system to make thing easier to unload. Side access windows would be a great addition and make it so much easier to unload gear. I do have screens for the windows to keep bugs out. I also agree with the carpet inside and lights, I like those features. I have considered selling mine to find one with side access windows, it would be that nice. This topper came with the truck when I bought it.

I don't have a trailer, so there are times where the topper is an issue. Take this spring. I need to get a couple loads of mulch and need to take my topper off to do so. I usually have a buddy come over to give me a hand, but I am currently working on a lift system in the garage so I can pull if off myself. Something to consider.

[TooTallTom]

What I don't care for is that you have to either roll the cover completely to the front or lay down and try to pull the container to the rear of the bed. Not that big of a deal but I hadn't thought about that when I bought it.

Mike, do you have tie-down loops near your tailgate? If so, just rig a piece of rope with a cheap carabiner on one or both ends that will fit (I got mine at Wally World) to go from one loop to the other. Make sure it's long enough so that you can put the containers between the rope and the tailgate the long way, but not so long that the rope is hanging to the bed and the containers slide over it. If you pack a cooler or something with a handle, put that in the middle and run the rope through the inboard handle to keep it up nice and high.

I got sick of crawling into my topper after coolers, so now I have a piece of rope just tied off to one side. If I don't need to use it, it just piles behind a wheel well. When I do, I just clip into the loop on the other side. Easy peasy.

[BoxMN]

Re: the getting items from topper or tonneau... here is my million dollar idea Put a bicycle hook on the top end of an old hockey stick. Ta DA! You have your new truck-bed-box-container-cooler-grabber! It works slick as heck, I have been using mine for about 10 years. There is NOTHING this thing can't grab. It has been known to puncture a can or two of a case o beer when I was first "learning" to use it but now I am a veteran... haha! And if you leave the blade on the stick, you are always ready if you are at a fight and a hockey game breaks out.... ok, lame joke, but seriously nobody with a topper ot tonneau should be without this. Or you can "buy" one at truck store for about $30... ha!

[311Hemi]

No need to puncture cans of beer...just have some drawers (made to size to fit a case of beer!)!! Plus, the top rolls out making it easier to get at stuff, although my current roller design isn't the best. Also need to tip the kennels on their side to remove them.

I like the hockey stick idea, I will put that one to use!

This was a pic of the system unfinished....but useable.

[TooTallTom]

BoxMN, I love me a multi-purpose tool. I might have to hook something like that up. Maybe make the blade of the stick exchangeable for a pruning-saw blade.

311Hemi, another benefit to your system is that it gets the dogs up into air that might be moving around a bit more, and gives them a view. I'm sure they appreciate that. I've been meaning to ask, are you a Ford guy, or do you prefer Chevys?

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

TooTall,

Thanks for the idea!! This new pick-up thing has me thinking about different ways to make the modifications I need. I think I forgot to throw the cargo net in the Tahoe when I traded it so maybe I can do something with that.

Mike

[TooTallTom]

TooTall,

Thanks for the idea!! This new pick-up thing has me thinking about different ways to make the modifications I need. I think I forgot to throw the cargo net in the Tahoe when I traded it so maybe I can do something with that.

Mike

Hammock?

[DRH1175]

I sure like the idea of the topper when I think of hunting. To be able to keep the muddy dogs out of the elements. And out of the clean truck would be a must. As far as my new EcoBoost I love it! I have the max tow so I have a payload of 1900#. The Trailer mirrors Rock they are so big and show you everything. I also bought the Back up Camera so no cares in the world for what is behind me as I can see everything! The engine is un-believable! I can't wait to hook it up to my travel trailer to see the torque. so far the power is incredible. I just can't believe that this is a 3.5L V6. It has so much more power than any V8 I have ever driven. I will try to snap some pictures soon.

[landscaper]

sounds good! and sounds like the truck i would like to get!!

cant wait to see the pictures!!