70PLUS RV Adventures: Tonneau Cover

Lots of options available. Flexible, sliding, folding.

I considered a "cap" but rejected the idea because of my minimal roof clearance in the garage.

I did not want a flexible cover---not enough security.

I did not want the sliding type as it foreclosed room in the front of the bed.

That left the folding option.

Cheapest option was the Extang Solid Fold 2.0. But that did not allow easy access to the front of the bed. And, it was somewhat easy to lift the rear panel an inch or so and see inside the bed.

Another very popular and possible choice was the BAKFlip. This provided good security and access to the front of the bed. I did not like the way it leaned up against the cab.

Final choice was the Extang Encore.

Buying the Extang Encore turned out to be more difficult than expected. I like to promote US manufacters, so being that Extang produces their products in Michigan, I decided to place and order with them directly on their website. In fine print, there was a warning "Please allow up to 20 business days for this item to be shipped." I kinda ignored the warning, thinking there was no way that a manufacturer who takes on line orders would not have inventory. Turns out, they do not have inventory and a few days after ordering I learned they only produce to orders and that my cover would not be shipped for another 30 days.

I searched for distributors having inventory and cancelled the Extang direct order. Calling Real Truck (Same Truck Hereo organization as Extang) I found they had no inventory, but they did have access to other distributors, so a unit was found in Arlington, TX. I was told this would be shipped directly to me.

The following day I get and email from Real Truck that I would get my cover in 30 days!. I called and they claimed a mistake was made and gave me a Fed Ex Tracking No. The unit had been shipped, but not to me, but rather to Real Truck's distribution center in Indiana.

Another call and I was promised they would contact Fed Ex and reroute, enroute. But they did not and the unit arrived in Indiana and was reshipped to me. An extra couple days of transit but several hours of phone calls.

I regretted not ordering from Amazon.

Unit arrived with a bit of minor damage. Packaging was not suited for Fed Ex Home rough delivery and was delivered upside down, despite markings "This side up". Plastic pieces on end of rails for water drains were broken.

Installation was actually easier than their instructions and I accomplished install by myself without much effort. Rails that support the cover are clamped to the bed rails of the truck with aluminum clamps. Track needs to be positioned so that it seals on sides, front and rear without interfering with tail gate. One person can install the rails--push in the clamps to hold them in place, turn over and place the rail, then manipulate clamps and tighten. Total install time was less than one hour. I chose not to install drain hoses as I did not want to cut holes in bed liner--and bed liner is corrugated so water drains out naturally in the channels. I tested with a pressure wand at car wash and the cover seals quite well.