truck opinions, please

[270man]

Guys,

Can't argue against any of your comments. Each type of cover -- hard Tonneau lid or shell camper -- has its advantanges and disadvantages. I've had a shell camper before, so guess I won't ever know about the lid. Rapier and I found the same price on the hard, tri-fold lid. Just before I decided on the cab-high shell, I checked the tri-fold out and the quoted price was $800.

After 3 trips in my truck with lots of gear and an open bed, I'm convinced I made the right decision -- for me. My junk soared above the bed sides on all three of those trips. The single, center handle is probably better but I have friends with dual handles and they seem to have no problems with them. All of them should be kept clean and lubed.

270man

[Rapier]

270,
A clarification.

Sorry, I made a mistake, I do not have a Fold N Lock, I have a G4 Elite FoldaCover. As pictured here:

http://www.foldacover.com/Products/V...1/Default.aspx

I looked at the Fold N Lock and decided not to buy it VS the FoldaCover. But Fold N Lock stuck in my head.

Your comment about three folding sections made me think, wait a minute, I do not have a three folder. It actually has 4 folding sections. The FoldaCover front section folds front to rear, the three rear sections fold rear to front and both front and rear sections have a key lock with the rear section also locking the tailgate.
CRS, CRS.....
Ed

[270man]

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions on the choice between a hard tonneau bed cover vs a camper shell. I now have the cab-high shell installed on my Chevy Silverado and think I'll be happy with it. Just returned from a backcountry trip and my gear rose above the top of the bed sides. Packing would have been more difficult with only a tonneau.

Another reason I chose the shell camper is that I carry a canoe a couple of times each year. The only way I could see that a tonneau would work is to remove it and install a temporary "ladder" rack in the bed rail slots. Turned out these aren't real cheap -- at least the ones I checked. With the camper shell, a rack can be attached to the camper and even the top of the truck cab. I prefer not to do the latter and just use foam blocks if they are needed. A permanent rack installation on the shell camper is acceptable.

The place I bought my shell has a rack unit that bolts onto the shell but I was quoted a price over $400 -- too high for my limited needs. I won't need the rack for another 6 months, so I have plenty of time to check out options. If you have any ideas, please reply to the posts.

270man

[dovehunter]

I love my fiberglass cab-high camper shell but wish now that I had spent the extra money and bought one that is higher at the rear so I could haul taller stuff - maybe with my next truck.

[Rapier]

Yep, any truck cover is a problem as you know going in that it will not work for every application.
Glad you like the new shell.
Ed

[rainydays]

Well for me I went the route of a shell(topper), at least for awhile, till it became quite evident that when my wife drove the truck, having to use mirrors to back up....Well it wasn't good for the truck or anything behind the truck. A tonneau cover saved our marriage.

[skeet]

Originally Posted by rainydays

Well for me I went the route of a shell(topper), at least for awhile, till it became quite evident that when my wife drove the truck, having to use mirrors to back up....Well it wasn't good for the truck or anything behind the truck. A tonneau cover saved our marriage.

What?? a woman that uses a rear view mirror??..much less knows what it's for!!.. And put a trailer back of ya..they dont even know what the difference is ..just drive the same way.. Whatever is back there has to watch out for itself!! LOL... I must admit..there are some women who use mirrors..I saw one on the Baltimore Beltway one morning..doing her eyelashes ...at 70 MPH..looking in the mirror of course