Soft Tonneau

Just bought new 2005 Tundra and am looking for a soft tonneau. The new
Tundras seem to come with rail caps. This seems to be an issue with some of
the more popular covers. Anyone with experience or suggestions here? I tried
(returned) the Access brand cover but it didn't seem to fit well with the
rail caps. I am afraid of the more traditional styles (snaps/J-hook) because
of the cold temperature shrinkage. I don't see many options...help.

I don't think you have much options on that cold temperature shrinkage.
To me any soft tonneau cover will shrink, pretty much any fabric will
shrink. I've been through 3 different types/brands of soft tonneau
covers and they all shrunk...(with each cover more expensive than the
last) I think you're limited in terms of soft tonneaus unless you get
the motorized retractable tonneau cover, but then you're getting close
to what it costs for a hard cover.

"Jeff menegus" <jeffmenegus@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:LNqdnbJsB-uoBXfeRVn-ug@comcast.com...[color=blue]
> Just bought new 2005 Tundra and am looking for a soft tonneau. The new
> Tundras seem to come with rail caps. This seems to be an issue with some
> of the more popular covers. Anyone with experience or suggestions here? I
> tried (returned) the Access brand cover but it didn't seem to fit well
> with the rail caps. I am afraid of the more traditional styles
> (snaps/J-hook) because of the cold temperature shrinkage. I don't see many
> options...help.
>[/color]

Do you intend to store anything that you wouldn't want stolen? I'm curious
as to the reason for a soft cover instead of a hard one.

One season in & I am having good luck on my 05 Taco with a Truxedo Low
pro ( rails and all). It has springloaded lenght tentioners and
"floating" velcro type side fasteners. Alot of thought went into this
system.good quality fabric.Not cheap ~$450

Kevin T

"Kevin T" <kgtracy@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1139517470.203859.8570@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> One season in & I am having good luck on my 05 Taco with a Truxedo Low
> pro ( rails and all). It has springloaded lenght tentioners and
> "floating" velcro type side fasteners. Alot of thought went into this
> system.good quality fabric.Not cheap ~$450
>
> Kevin T
>[/color]

I was just wondering about the OP's choice, because any soft cover is easily
sliced open, and there goes the tools, fishing tackle, whatever.

I've had a matching fiberglass topper/cap on 2 different PUs for years.
I just decieded to go the better looking low softcover route this time.
I used to haul band gear weekly to gigs. so PA amps whatever my PU was
perfect for the job. I play less now with less gear and I no longer
have my kids around to help remove the heavy cap on the odd occation I
need to load firewood wood/ lumber etc.. If someone wants to steal
stuff bad enuf they can break any add on lock latch/window easily. If
my stuff sits awhile in a bad area (Almost never ) I put the Most
valuable stuff in the access cab ( love those 2 doors) . It's not as
convenient as the cap for the music but overall I like my Truxedo Low
pro choise so far .

Kevin T

I agree with kevin. With soft covers, or for that matter any
convertibles and wranglers, you always have that threat of someone
ripping through the back to get at your stuff. But in reality I just
use it for 3 things: to cover my hideous looking bed with all it's
scratches and dents, to help sorta with gas mileage, and keep my gear
dry while driving in the rain. In reality anyone who wants at my stuff
don't have to slice anything, they just have to pop open my tailgate.
Now I think the best choice for the original post would be one of those
tonneau covers that you can lift like a hard top, but still be able to
roll up that fabric anytime you want. Kinda best of both worlds when
you don't have a locking rear tailgate.

"yippie" <yip.sun@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1139583381.958545.216320@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I agree with kevin. With soft covers, or for that matter any
> convertibles and wranglers, you always have that threat of someone
> ripping through the back to get at your stuff. But in reality I just
> use it for 3 things: to cover my hideous looking bed with all it's
> scratches and dents, to help sorta with gas mileage, and keep my gear
> dry while driving in the rain. In reality anyone who wants at my stuff
> don't have to slice anything, they just have to pop open my tailgate.
> Now I think the best choice for the original post would be one of those
> tonneau covers that you can lift like a hard top, but still be able to
> roll up that fabric anytime you want. Kinda best of both worlds when
> you don't have a locking rear tailgate.
>[/color]

The solution I want is a cap suspended over the truck in my garage, so I can
remove the hard Versacover and lower the cap into place when I have to carry
bulky musical equipment. This would involve pullies and reinforcing my
rafters. I'm putting this at number 847 on my list of stuff to do. :-)

"Kevin T" <kgtracy@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1139517470.203859.8570@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> One season in & I am having good luck on my 05 Taco with a Truxedo Low
> pro ( rails and all). It has springloaded lenght tentioners and
> "floating" velcro type side fasteners. Alot of thought went into this
> system.good quality fabric.Not cheap ~$450
>
> Kevin T
>[/color]

I've tried an Access brand cover and an Extang RT cover because I wanted the
rollup feature. This combats the cold issue fairly well (so I've seen on
friend's trucks). Unfortunetly I had to return both of these because they
didn't seem to work with the Toyota factory rail caps (which seem thick).
I've seen that the Truxedo has a Toyota rail option that looks like it might
work. Evidently Access and Extang hadn't figured this out yet! Does your
truck have these rail caps? If you do then I assume that Truxedo has truly
resolved the cap thickness issue. Please let me know.

On a side note, I'm not worried about security. I just want to keep the
occasionsal bag of dog food, cement, etc. from getting wet on those rainy
days as well as keeping snow out of the bed and improving some on the gas
mileage. I'm not thrilled with a hard cover because I'm not sure when or
where I will need to remove it. Where would I put a hard top when I'm at the
Home Depot? I don't want a cover that requires drilling the truck either.
Thanks for all the posts...

-Jeff

"Jeff menegus" <jeffmenegus@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:WcWdnXVNHJXOOHPeRVn-sA@comcast.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Kevin T" <kgtracy@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1139517470.203859.8570@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>> One season in & I am having good luck on my 05 Taco with a Truxedo Low
>> pro ( rails and all). It has springloaded lenght tentioners and
>> "floating" velcro type side fasteners. Alot of thought went into this
>> system.good quality fabric.Not cheap ~$450
>>
>> Kevin T
>>[/color]
>
> I've tried an Access brand cover and an Extang RT cover because I wanted
> the rollup feature. This combats the cold issue fairly well (so I've seen
> on friend's trucks). Unfortunetly I had to return both of these because
> they didn't seem to work with the Toyota factory rail caps (which seem
> thick). I've seen that the Truxedo has a Toyota rail option that looks
> like it might work. Evidently Access and Extang hadn't figured this out
> yet! Does your truck have these rail caps? If you do then I assume that
> Truxedo has truly resolved the cap thickness issue. Please let me know.
>
> On a side note, I'm not worried about security. I just want to keep the
> occasionsal bag of dog food, cement, etc. from getting wet on those rainy
> days as well as keeping snow out of the bed and improving some on the gas
> mileage. I'm not thrilled with a hard cover because I'm not sure when or
> where I will need to remove it. Where would I put a hard top when I'm at
> the Home Depot? I don't want a cover that requires drilling the truck
> either. Thanks for all the posts...
>
> -Jeff
>[/color]

FYI, the Versacover (hard top) requires no drilling. Easy to remove without
help. You must shop more impulsively than I do. If something at HD leaps
into the shopping cart, it's usually a hand tool, or 18 packages of screws
that I figure I'll need someday. :-) You must be getting impulsive with
lawn tractors or refrigerators if you're worried about surprises that
require removing a hard top.

[yellerteef]

I also have the Truxedo Lo Pro on my 2002 Taco. I went for an oil change the other day and picked up a lock for the tail gate. (about 29.95) Had it installed and stopped worrying about someone just opening the tailgate to get my stuff. I reccomend the Truxedo Lo Pro as an attractive bed cover for your truck. Shines up nice with some ArmourAll but takes a few days to work the wrinkles out. Like another poster said, if they want your stuff bad enough, they'll get it, cover or no cover.

"I've seen that the Truxedo has a Toyota rail option that looks like it
might
work. Evidently Access and Extang hadn't figured this out yet! Does
your
truck have these rail caps? If you do then I assume that Truxedo has
truly
resolved the cap thickness issue. Please let me know.

On a side note, I'm not worried about security. I just want to keep the

occasionsal bag of dog food, cement, etc. from getting wet on those
rainy
days as well as keeping snow out of the bed and improving some on the
gas
mileage. I'm not thrilled with a hard cover because I'm not sure when
or
where I will need to remove it. Where would I put a hard top when I'm
at the
Home Depot? I don't want a cover that requires drilling the truck
either.
Thanks for all the posts.."


-Jeff

Yes Truxedo has the rail caps issues woked out. But the 1st version I
got did'nt fit right towards the tailgate and drove me nuts trying to
make it fit. Get this! The side rail mounts are not parrallel all the
way to the tailgate! They do a ~10degree taper narowing at the end. I
had to call & get different side mounting hardware They (Support ) were
very good / knowledable of the problem and shipped replacements free in
a couple days days to NJ.

Just had 16 inches of heavy snow on it... saved my PA gear ;)

Kevin T