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Just like all other truck brands, Toyota has their own classification system for naming their cab styles. It's important that you know what cab you have when purchasing tonneau covers or accessories so that you get one that will fit properly. In this article, we will walk you through the details of each Toyota cab so you can effectively identify your own.
Toyota Tundra Pickup Truck Cab Styles
1. Regular Cab
A regular cab has two doors (one on the passenger side and one on the drivers side). There are no back seats.
2. Double Cab
All four doors open in the same direction. The back doors is often smaller than the front doors and the handle is positioned differently, often towards the back of the door.
3. CrewMax Cab
All four doors open in the same direction and have handles the look identical.
There’s no denying that trucks are one of the most useful vehicles you can own. They can carry cargo, pull trailers, and transport passengers. The choice to own a truck often comes down to efficiency, and one of the primary benefits to having a truck is the bed. So, we suggest protecting your assets and maximizing the use of that soace
There are mountains of products available designed to accessorize your truck bed, the problem is wading through them to find the ones you need. In this article, I will help walk you through all of the potential problems that you could encounter and some of the best ways to avoid them and maximize the efficiency of your truck bed space.
Let’s start with some examples of common issues you may run into and some available solutions.
Your truck bed has been damaged from hauling cargo
This problem is not only aesthetic, but can accelerate damage beyond repair. Nicks and scratches in the protective coating can soon result in the spread of rust.
Solutions:
Truck Bed Mats
Truck bed mats are easy to install, cheap, and provide protection to the bottom of your truck bed and tailgate. The only downside to these is that the sides of your truck bed remain exposed.
Plastic Bed Plastic Liners
Plastic bed liners are quick and easy to install and provide full protection of your truck bed. They are made of high-density polyethylene, so they won't chip, crack, or fade during even the most extreme weather conditions. The liner’s one-piece construction provides additional protection against chemical leaks, since there are no seams or cracks. Take a look at our Bedliners.
Truck Bed Spray Liners
Spray liners provide a clean, permanent solution for protecting your truck bed. The Polyurethane Spray is applied to every mould and curve, providing a watertight seal, and the ultimate protection. Spray liners provide a textured, non-skid surface, and with no loss of cargo space.
2. Your cargo is exposed to the elements
Covering your cargo and protecting it from the elements can be easy with a tonneau cover, and there are many types so suite your specific needs.
Solutions:
Soft or Hard Roll-Up Tonneau Cover
Roll-up tonneau covers are a great addition to your truck bed, allowing you to cover and protect the cargo being stored or hauled. They easily roll up, providing full access of your truck bed without removing the cover, and they look slick. Take a look at our Roll-Up tonneau covers.
Soft or Hard Tri Fold Tonneau Cover
These covers provide exceptional protection, they look great, and are easy to use. The tri-fold design allows for easy access. Many of these models are also insulated to protect your cargo from extreme weather conditions. Learn more about Tri-Fold Tonneau Covers.
Hard Once-Piece Tonneau Cover
One piece covers are solid, they protect your cargo, and they are easy to install. Once installed, they provide easy access to your cargo. Hard covers are by far the strongest of the bunch, but they do come with their own drawbacks. Find out about our Hard Top Tonneau Covers.
There’s no way to prevent theft
Solutions:
Tonneau Cover
Many Tonneau covers are designed with locking systems to protect your storage. Your cargo can be easily stored, locked and protected with the right cover. We have a large selection of Tonneau Covers to choose from.
Truck Boxes
Truck Boxes come in all shapes and sizes to meet your specific needs, and they are designed to hold and protect your belongings. Many of these boxes are designed with advanced locking systems and are constructed of tough aluminum. They come in all shapes and sizes to match any need.
Organizing your storage is difficult
Solutions:
Truck Boxes
Multiple lid truck boxes allow you to organize and store your cargo, provide security for your belongings, and allow for easy access. There are many different box styles and shapes to suite your specific needs, and to help you organize your belongings. Many of these boxes are even designed to utilize and increase storage space, such as the UnderCover SwingCase, made to fit over your wheel well.
Tool Boxes
Tool boxes are a great way to enhance your storage by providing a secure, organized space for tools and other belongings. Many of these boxes are designed to increase otherwise unused spaces to leave you with as much room as possible. The compartments in these boxes improve how you are able to organize your storage, and provide additional storage space.
Now that you have a basic idea of the problems that can come with truck beds, you can more accurately decide which accessories are right for you.
Tri-Fold Tonneau Covers are a unique style of tonneau cover that feature three folding panels. They are one of the most popular styles of tonneau cover for several reasons. They are available in both hard and soft styles, and each has several benefits. I walk through each of these in detail to help you come to a decision that you be happy with.
Pricing
Pricing is always a key factor when purchasing a tonneau cover. Everyone has a budget, and everyone has expenses and it is important to know what is available to your for the purchase. Tri-Fold Tonneau covers vary in price, starting as low as $799.99 for the Lund Hard Tri-Fold Cover, reaching up to $2,799.99 for the BAKFlip CS-F1 Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover and Rack Combo. It is this wide range in pricing and options that really make the Tri-Fold Tonneau cover popular. It means, even a low budget purchase can still buy into the style. The wide variety in pricing also means a wide variety in options and features, which allow a wide range of versatility in your choice based on your specific needs.
Waterproofing
Tri-Fold Tonneau Covers are some of the most weatherproof tonneau covers available. This is partially because of their three folding panels. While retractable covers have to slide along rails and roll up covers are lightweight and velcro into place, there are a lot more possible places for leaks to occur. Likewise, due to their impermanent and compact nature, they do not have as effective of water shedding systems.
Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover panels have weight to them, and when they fold over they make a consistent, firm seal. This ensures that the edges of the cover are well protected against even small streams of water. Likewise, because of their larger profile and more permanent panel fixture, they are able to have built in water drainage passageways and tubes. This helps ensure watershed is quickly funneled off the top of the cover and away from your truck bed.
Security
Tri-Fold Tonneau Covers, most specifically the Hard Tri-Fold, are the most secure covers you can buy. This is because rather than just a soft roll top or a retractable cover with tonnes of joints, there are only three or four breaks in the surface of the top. Many of the hard tri-folds are also designed with extra security at the joints. The hinges feature elbows and interlinked connections so that a thief with a knife can't simply push straight through and pry the panel open. Many of them also come standard with key lock features, and the quick keyless entry latches are always located behind the tailgate, so that you can secure them that way.
Versatility
Tri-Fold covers often offer multiple locking positions so that you can haul a wide variety of cargo. If everything you're carrying is small and needs protection, you can simply lock the cover in a fully closed position. They can also be secured at one or two other partially open positions. This allows you to store small fragile cargo at the front of your truck bed covered, and still be able to carry large items at the back of your bed. The covers can also be quickly removed if you need to haul all large gear, like quads or large furniture loads. Some covers will even secure against the back of your cab to offer you a tonne of space without having to remove the cover.
Durable, weatherproof, versatile and long-lasting, the Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover style is very popular. They are easy to clean and care forand they are available in wide variety of price ranges, so that you can find the perfect cover for your budget and application!
Trucks are undoubtedly one of the most useful vehicles due to their bed, which lets truck owners haul large cargo loads. Having a truck bed adds a lot of cargo space, but sometimes this added space isn’t enough for longer or larger items.
Whether you’re hauling lumber for a DIY project or like to spend time on the water with your canoe, a little extra might be needed to help carry such items with your pickup. If you need some additional cargo space occasionally or every day, there are a multitude of options available to help you out!
If you’re looking to haul motorcycles or quads and want a little extra security for your toys, a headache rack might be the option. Products like the Kargo Master Fleet Headache Rack are designed to help protect the back of your cab and rear window while also providing a secure hold for larger cargo. As a bonus, these racks can even provide a secure footing for added accessories like emergency lights or light bars.
If your objective is to haul a canoe or kayak, something like the Thule XSporter might be a better option. This truck bed rack system is fully adjustable to make hauling anything simple, and even includes one-key lock cylinders to secure the rack to your bed. This rack clamps on without any drilling or modifications to your truck, and with its durable and lightweight aluminum construction and aerodynamic design, your ride remains smooth.
If you have a tonneau cover installed on your truck or plan on getting one in the future, truck bed racks like the Access Adarac or BAKFlip CS (Contractor Series) Truck Bed Rack/Tonneau Cover Combo are excellent choices. The Adarac is one of our best selling truck bed racks, and for good reason! The rack installs easily with no drilling and is completely adjustable to meet your needs. With the Adarac truck bed rack you can haul up to 500 pounds of additional cargo securely without losing any access to your tonneau cover.
There are many options available to suite any need. Check out our collection of Truck Bed Rack Systems to find out what’s available for you!
Starting your car in the early morning frost has never been easy, especially when frost covers the windows, and you still have to wait for it to warm up. This experience can be prevented with a Remote Starter from Auto Truck Depot. We can even save you time and hassle by installing it for you.
The Prime G6 (1-Way) Remote Starter is one of our top entry level remote starters. This unit has up to a 1,000 foot range 1-way and comes with 2 4-button remote transmitters. The Prime G6 is water and impact resistant and has programmable features such as turbo timer, remote start run times, and more.
The HC1 (1-Way) Remote Starter and HC2 (2-Way) Remote Starter packages have up to a 3,000 foot range and allow you complete control over your vehicle with your smartphone. Use your phone to start your vehicle and receive alerts 24/7 with either of these packages.
The Prime 705 (2-Way) Remote Starter provides up to a 3,000 foot range both ways with low-current outputs and software solutions designed, but not limited to push-to-start vehicles. The interactive LCD display provides confirmation and alerts, and this device is packed with features like remote start, lock/unlock, cold/hot start, drive lock, siren trigger, valet mode, and more.
The Prime T10 (2-Way) Remote Starter offers even more, with a 5,000 foot range, 4-button two-way LCD remote and and command verification via 4 LED lights. This device has features like keyless entry to lock/alarm or unlock/disalarm your vehicle, panic/car find, remote start, turbo timer, siren trigger, valet mode, and 2-way monitoring and alarms.
One of our most unique devices is the DroneMobile Add-On Module, which allows you to control your vehicle with any Android or iOS mobile device. This includes GPS tracking of your vehicle, remote start, and two-way alarms and vehicle monitoring. The DroneMobile can be added to most pre-existing remote starter packages to provide more features, all from your phone.
Remote Starters are reliable, and they will make your cold winter mornings a little bit easier. Whether for yourself or as a gift this holiday season, a remote starter is a great investment. To order, please contact us at:
BACKRACK is one North America's leading manufacturers of Cab Guards for pickup trucks. Their products are manufactured exclusively in Oakville, Ontario, and have been since 1988. BACKRACK focuses on their core line of products, meaning they do one thing extremely well. They offer high quality, Canadian-made truck racks at a competitive price. On top of that, with warehouses located strategically across North America, their turnaround time on orders is fast.
In this article, I will walk through everything you need to know about BACKRACK in order to start shopping for your own rack system. This includes a detailed discussion of their features as well as the accessories. It is important to note that each BACKRACK Cab Guard requires one of the three different styles of mounting brackets for installation. They sell the brackets separately to save their customers money. Instead of getting a standardized bracket with the rack at a higher cost and having to buy a second, specialized bracket, you can buy the one you need the first time.
The Multiple Uses of BACKRACK Products
Before we delve too deeply, I would like to briefly talk about the different functions of BACKRACK Cab Guards. One of the things that makes BACKRACK such a useful product is the fact that it does, indeed, serve more than one purpose.
The first is as a Cab Guard. The heavy duty steel frame and well constructed cross pieces are designed to take a hit. This means they will protect your cab from damage that could be caused by shifting cargo as well as keeping long items like ladders and lumber from contacting the cab, which will save you a lot of money on dents and paint scratches. The steel is run through a double protection process; first an electro-static dip and then a black powder coat finish. This leaves you with an extremely durable, sharp looking black coat that is resistant to scratches, peeling, and chipping. The guard also serves to protect your rear window from shattering, cracking, or chipping caused by impact. For more details on their coating process, check out the video below.
It's second, but no less important, purpose, is as a Rack. The frame and cross pieces offer tonnes of places for you to attach bungee cords or ratchet straps. Not only does this allow you to secure extra long cargo that wouldn't normally fit in your truck bed (lumber, ladders, etc.) it also gives you a convenient place to secure overly tall or wobbly cargo (barbecues, dressers, etc.) easily to the back of your cab. The connection will be much more secure, and you won't have to worry about finding a way to keep the strap near the top of the cargo while it hooks on way down below.
Finally, BACKRACK offers a wide variety of brackets that allow you to customise your Cab Guard in a vast number of ways to suit your needs. Is your vehicle a work truck that needs to have whips for visibility? Or perhaps you only need to mount some sort of light accessory. What about a 2 way antenna or landscaping tools? Whatever kind of work your truck needs to do, BACKRACK has you covered with in-house brackets and mounting accessories so that you don't need to go elsewhere to find some "universal" bracket that may not even fit. BACKRACK even makes their racks compatible with tonneau covers and toolboxes!
Alright, now that we have the very basic elements of BACKRACK out of the way, let's dive into the details of the product.
BACKRACK Truck Racks
BACKRACK is unique in that they try to focus their production energy on one main product. Their logic is that if a company focuses on too many different things, each product receives less attention and, therefore, lacks the highest quality that it could have. Because of this, BACKRACK produces nothing but Cab Guards and accessories that can be used with them.
All BACKRACK Cab Guards allow you a clear line of sight through the rear window of your vehicle. While some have a more full frame than others, none of the racks will fully obscure your view.
Backrack Original
The BACKRACK Original Style Cab Guard is designed to be the Jack-of-all-Trades of their Cab Guards. The idea behind the Original is a sleek, attractive design that looks professional, keeps your vehicle's profile down, while offering the fullest range of functionality and durability. As such, the Original is compatible with the greatest number of Mounting Brackets and accessories to give you the widest range of capabilities for your vehicle.
The Original's low profile allows you to park your vehicle inside your garage or indoor parkades without an issue, and it is compatible with virtually all of BACKRACK'S Mounting Brackets. But we will talk more about those later.
Finally, the Original is designed for an easy installation that takes an hour or less and requires no drilling or modification to your truck on most models. Time is money, so whether we are talking about a company vehicle or your own working pickup truck, BACKRACK believes that quick, reliable installation that is simple to figure out is of the utmost importance. Check out the video below for more details on the installation process.
BACKRACK Variant Racks
Beyond the Original, BACKRACK offers a few different styles of Cab Guards. These variant styles are engineered to be more effective in specific scenarios, so you can choose the rack that best suits the work your truck will be doing. These variants are constructed from the same materials and offer the same high quality, long lasting durability that the Original has. One of the biggest differences is that they often require a little bit of extra work when attaching BACKRACK accessories.
Louvered Rack
The BACKRACK Louvered Cab Guard offers the same durability, and rear window and cab protection as the rest of the BACKRACK line. The Louvered Rack does, however, offer increased protection from harmful UV rays. This is because the louvers are designed to reflect or absorb a lot of sunlight. That means not only will your window receive less damage over time from UV radiation, so will your interior fabrics and other surfaces, while still allowing a great view through your rear window. The Louvered Rack also protects the people in your vehicle from some of the UV radiation, and helps to keep some of the heat out, leaving you with a cooler cab.
Half-Louvered Rack
There is also a Half-Louvered Cab Guard option available. This version allows you some of the UV protection of the full Louvered Rack, but leaves the center of your rear window open. While still protecting it from damage, this gap allows you a less-obstructed view through your rear-window. The biggest weakness of the full Louvered Rack is that the louvers aren't as strong as cross pieces in other racks, leaving you with less to strap to. The Half-Louver offers a middle ground, with extra vertical supports that can be used to strap cargo to.
Safety Rack
Offering the most protection and the highest number of anchor points for strapping, the Safety Rack is perfect for a truck that really gets put through the paces. The two inch wire screen is constructed from 3/16" cold rolled wire that is welded at each and every joint. What does that mean? It means that the mesh is extremely durable. It means that each intersection piece of mesh can be used as an anchor point. It means that the entirety of your rear window and cab is protected from damage, while still offering you a great line of sight through your rear window and the maximum amount of versatility when strapping cargo to the rack.
Half-Safety Rack
Just like with the louvered series, the Safety Rack line also features a Half-Safety Rack. This rack offers your vehicle the ultimate in cab and window protection while giving your a clear space to see through for less visual distractions. The Safety series is by far the best option for cab and rear window protection.
Three Round Rack
BACKRACK's Three Round Cab Guard gives you exactly what the name suggests. Each side of the rack has three round, vertical support columns that both shield your rear window and offer a location to anchor your straps to. The Three Round is the perfect balance between the sleek, low profile look of the BACKRACK original and the cab and rear window protection of the Safety Rack.
Three Light Rack
BACKRACK's Three Light Cab Guard is designed to look professional and add style and functionality to the working truck. It offers mounting points across the lower half of the rack with light covers on each side. The lights themselves must be purchased separately, but once installed you will have a functioning set of lights that add visibility to your truck. This is a must have for anyone towing utility trailers or working on site with their vehicle.
The Mounting Brackets
The next most important step in setting up your BACKRACK Truck Rack is the mounting kit. BACKRACK doesn't include the mounting bracket because every truck and every situation is different. Some people will need to adapt their rack to a toolbox, and others to a tonneau cover, while others still won't need to adapt to anything. So, rather than selling you the rack with a standard bracket or a universal mounting kit and then requiring you to purchase a different mounting kit separately at greater cost to yourself, they have opted to lower the cost and sell them all separately. BACKRACK offers three different styles of mounting brackets to make sure their racks are compatible with a wide range of trucks.
Standard Bracket
Designed to mount your BACKRACK Truck Rack onto a standard pickup truck bed with no tonneau cover or toolbox, the Standard Bracket kit requires absolutely no drilling. It simply bolts into your Stake Pocket Holes in an hour or less. The Standard Bracket has a sleek design that offers a durable and secure mounting point that looks great.
Toolbox Bracket
The Toolbox Bracket allows you to install a BACKRACK Truck Rack on a pickup truck that has a toolbox installed. The bracket installs with no drilling in an hour or less, and then your toolbox sits on top. You drill through the bottom of the toolbox and into the bracket to ensure a secure hold without any damage or alteration to your truck.
This bracket can also be purchased in a low profile version, which keeps your toolbox flush with your bed rails. It does, however, require you to drill holes into the bed rails for mounting.
Tonneau Cover Bracket
The Tonneau Cover Adapter Bracket comes in two sizes, the 4000 Series and 5000 Series. The 4000 Series is designed for use with tonneau covers that install on tracks inside the bed rails, the adaptor raises your truck rack a small distance off your bed rails to allow clearance for the tonneau cover. The 5000 series does the same for tonneau covers that fold and rest on top of the rail, giving your rack extra height to ensure clearance so your tonneau cover can sit properly. This mounting bracket offers your truck bed maximum versatility, as it means you can use both your truck rack for long cargo and seal up your truck bed to keep smaller, more fragile cargo safe. For more details on the different bracket types and which one you need, check out the video below.
The Accessories
Now that we've talked about the various different kinds of racks, I'm going to go through and discuss the accessories. It is important to note that the accessories available are almost exclusively Mounting Brackets. This means that they can be added to your truck rack to provide a platform for things like lights, whips, antennae, and tools. They do not, however, come with those pieces, they are just the mounting brackets.
Each mounting bracket is designed to bolt into existing holes in the BACKRACK Original Style Cab Guard. If you want to install them on the other Cab Guard Styles, you will have to do some minor drilling and cutting on the vertical frame posts to allow the brackets the space to bolt on to. Center mount brackets are excluded from this, as they mount using a clamp system, which may not be compatible with all truck racks. Make sure to check the details of each bracket before purchasing to avoid any compatibility issues.
Light Mount Brackets, like the 10 1/2" Base Light Mount are designed to install on on the top of the vertical support bars. Once installed they provide a base (also available in 6 1/2" and 16" x 7" sizes) on top of which your light mounts. Each base has a hole in the center so that the wiring for your light can pass through without crimping or being damaged.
If lights aren't what you're looking for, you can also get an Antenna Bracket so that you can mount the antenna for a two way radio to help keep in touch with your crew. If you are working on site in a construction zone or a mine and need your truck to be visible, BACKRACK offers a Whip Mount Bracket so that you can mount mining or buggy whips to your truck.
The best part is they are fully customisable. If you really like symmetry, you can get two identical brackets that will support two identical lights. You can also mix and match between sizes and styles as you see fit. Lights and a mine whip, two lights, or a mine whip and antenna. The options are endless, and you can customise them to perfectly match your needs. Keep in mind, however, that each post can only support one bracket of a single type.
The 5 Tool and 11 Tool Landscaping Tool Racks are other available add ons. These racks are perfect for hauling around a variety of large and small handled tools so that you can get them to the job site securely without taking up extra cargo space in your truck bed. You can still secure larger or longer cargo to your truck rack with this accessory on it, however it may limit some cargo capacity.
Truck Bed Add Ons
BACKRACK offers two accessories that do not attach to the Cab Guard. They do, however, work in concert with the truck racks to provide a more effective method of hauling large cargo.
Side Rail
BACKRACK's Side Rail add ons are a great pairing with a Truck Rack or on their own. They offer your truck an extra space to strap cargo to, as well as a support to keep gear off of your bed rails to prevent damage. But these side rails aren't just a pretty looking accessory. The heavy gauge HRPO tubing is fully welded on to an angular base that runs the length of the truck for extra durability. They are available for 6.5 and 8 foot truck beds, and they're even available in a model compatible with toolboxes so that you can get the most use out of your truck. They install easily with no drilling by bolting into the Stake Pocket Holes. They are even styled after the BACKRACK Truck Racks so that the angles match to keep your truck looking flawless.
Rear Bar
To complement their side rails, BACKRACK also offers a Rear Bar that can be used to strap long cargo like ladders securely and fully outside of your truck bed, leaving you with as much storage space as possible. Just like the rest of their products, the Rear Bar is designed to protect your tailgate from damage. The bar includes two mounting hooks that are lined up perfectly with the vertical supports of BACKRACK Truck Racks to make mounting ladders or lumber easier. It also allows you to have a tonneau cover closed and in use on your truck bed, so that you don't have to choose between one or the other.
Hopefully I have been able to provide you with a clear, and thorough discussion of BACKRACK products. The most important takeaway is that these products are organized in a "build-your-own" style that allows you to maximize your customization to suit the situation of your truck and lifestyle. Thanks for reading, and we'll catch you in the next article.
Retractable Tonneau Covers are among the most expensive styles of cover. So what is it that makes them so desirable? Why would you pay, in some cases, over a thousand dollars more for one of these versus a Soft Roll-Up Tonneau Cover, or other style? In this article, I will be exploring the many reasons why retractable tonneau covers are worth the extra money.
The first, and simplest reason for the expense is their ease of use and versatility. Retractable tonneau covers have the most lockable positions out of all the tonneau styles. This means you can have half of your bed covered to allow access to your fifth wheel hitch so you can get your trailer out to the camp site while keeping your cargo safe from the elements as you drive out. Likewise, there are various other positions that the top can be locked in, often as many as every 12". Perhaps you need to haul something large but you also want to carry cardboard boxes and you're worried about rain.
And yes, while it is true that you can get some partially open locking positions in the Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover style, there aren't as many. Another benefit to the retractable tonneau covers is that they are much easier to use. When you're folding up a Tri-Fold cover, there's a lot of latching and unlatching that needs to be done, and while it can be folded from one side it is an awkward process to get it folded up to the front. With retractable tonneau covers, all you have to do is fold down your tailgate, release the quick catches and keep a light grip on the pull line until it has fully retracted. It takes seconds rather than minutes with almost no work on your part.
Security is another benefit to the retractable tonneau covers. While all tonneau covers offer your truck bed added security, you won't get any better that with retractable covers. Many retractable tonneau covers lock against the tailgate to ensure they cannot be opened while you're away from the truck. The Pace Edwards JackRabbithas tonnes of rigid, laminated aluminum panels. Unlike in Tri-Fold Covers, there are no visible seams between them when the cover is closed, which means no weak points for thieves to try and cut through, as they are all covered over and interlocking.
Finally, storability is always key with tonneau covers. The retractable style cover rolls up into a small canister at the front of your truck bed, taking up very little space. The compact, enclosed storage also keeps your cover out of the sunlight when you aren't using it, which helps protect it from UV damage. If you need to move the cover to another truck or you have a very large piece of cargo you need to haul, the retractable tonneau covers can be removed quickly and easily. Their clamp on style allows you to simply undo the mounting clamps to remove both the canister and the rails, and requires no drilling to install on your vehicle. The only other cover style that offers this much versatility and compact design are the Roll-Up Tonneau Covers, which are inexpensive but not nearly as secure or long lasting.
The durability, versatility, and usability of Retractable Tonneau Covers is unparalleled. Yes, you will be spending more money. But you'll be buying a product that will last longer, take you further, and do more work for you than any other cover. Check out our collection of Retractable Tonneau Covers, browse our website to compare them with the rest of our wide selection of covers, and if you still have any question don't hesitate to contact us!
Tonneau covers are one of the most worthy investments to make for a pickup truck. They are versatile, extremely useful, and they protect your cargo from weather, theft, and other physical damage. But choosing the right cover can be difficult, and there are a lot of things to consider, as can be seen in one of our previous posts, Top 10 Questions. While all of the products we carry are top of the line, a new cover has just hit the shelves that we are very excited about.
Roll-N-Lock has recently released their newest member of their retractable tonneau covers, the A-Series. Similar to the M-Series, the A-Series features a horde of new, premium features that will ensure security and ease of use. While many tonneau covers boast security, none have eliminated weak spots and perfected durability more effectively than the Roll-N-Lock A-Series, without the hassle of snaps or heavy, awkward panels. Let me walk you through some of the best features of the A-Series and why you should seriously consider this cover if you're in the market for a new tonneau cover.
Powder-Coated Aluminum Cover Body
Why is aluminum so commonly used in truck bed tonneau covers? The answer is simple. Lightweight, rustproof durability. Aluminum is one of the lightest metals, so tonneau covers that use it are very easy to maneuver and operate. Aluminum doesn't rust, so you can be sure that this cover is going to stay strong and looking good for years on end. And to top it all off, Roll-N-Lock powder coats their aluminum to give it a clean, black look that is scratch resistant and sleek.
Patent Pending Theft Resistant Hinge
This is the feature that really rockets the A-Series ahead of many other tonneau covers in the security department. What good are heavy duty, durable panels if a knife-wielding thief can just poke through the rubber seals and tear apart your cover? If you're looking for 100% security with a nearly impenetrable cover top, the A-Series tonneau cover is perfect for you. The hinges interlock perfectly, with no straight line through the cover and no visible rubber. Without weak rubber seams, all you're left with is a smoothly operating, seamless top, and how is anybody supposed to break in to that?
Built-In Tailgate Lock
If the Anti-Theft hinges aren't enough, consider that most other tonneau covers rely on your locked tailgate to ensure your truck bed is inaccessible to unwanted people. This works fine unless your tailgate doesn't lock, or the tonneau cover can be forced open. The A-Series features a built-in tailgate lock that not only provides a key lock for your tailgate cover, but simultaneously secures your tailgate as well with a four-point locking system. This means that your tailgate can be locked, your cover can be locked, and then the two of them are locked together to ensure maximum security for any precious cargo you want to keep safe. The key slot is protected by a cover, which is particularly important here in Canada. Ever had your car locks freeze? Imagine how much easier it would be if the slot was facing upwards. This cover ensures that no water or mud get into your key slot so that you can feel safe knowing your cover will unlock every time. Keep in mind that this feature does not work for every truck bed type, so read through the installation manual for your truck model to make sure you know how it works before you purchase.
Torsion Spring Equipped
Let's talk durability for a minute. Remember how I mentioned that aluminum doesn't rust, and will resist wear for years? That's all fine, but what about the moving parts? Don't those usually break first? Well, The Roll-N-Lock A-Series is equipped with a heavy-duty torsion spring tucked away in a 3" aluminum reel. There's that aluminum again. This means that the most vulnerable part of your cover is protected from dirt, weather, and other physical damage by 3 inches of a durable, rustproof material. You can't get much better protection that that. Plus, the heavy-duty engineering of the torsion spring ensures that your cover will be retracting and unrolling smoothly for as long as you need it to.
Drainage
Water can be your worst enemy when it comes to extending your gear's lifespan. Thankfully, Roll-N-Lock have thought of this. Their A-Series tonneau cover features a unique and effective drainage system that can be hooked up with your choice of corrosion inhibitors to quickly and effectively remove all water from the cover's housing. This ensures protection from mold, rot, and general wear on your cover's moving pieces. To see more on the installation of the drainage system, check out the Roll-N-Lock installation videos or the installation manual that comes with your Roll-N-Lock A-Series cover.
Multiple Latching Positions
The difference between a good tonneau cover and a great tonneau cover is versatility and usability, and the A-Series masters these factors. Not only can the cover be locked in the fully closed position, it can also be secured in the housing fully open to allow for full truck bed access while you're, in case you need to haul out the ATVs or your kid's furniture to their university residence. But what if you're loading up a fifth wheel and you want your hitch open but the rest of your cargo covered? What if you just have a few boxes that are slightly taller than the truck bed but you really need to cover some fragile gear? Never fear, because the A-Series can be locked in multiple positions along the length of your truck bed, allowing maximum versatility when it comes to truck bed access, with full driving capability. Not only that, but locking it is as simple as turning the locking lever, so you won't have to struggle to keep your cover in the right place.
Clamp-On Installation
Roll-N-Lock's A-Series features their patented clamp on system to ensure easier installation and a secure hold. There are a few tools necessary outside of the hardware kit, primarily a flathead and Phillips screwdriver as well as a drill for the self-tapping screws. Installation requires minimal truck modification and can be done in 45 to 90 minutes.The clamp system ensures that most trucks will not require holes drilled in the sides of the truck bed and expediates the installation process.
Appearance and Extra Features
You want your truck to look good, and Roll-N-Lock knows that. That's why they've engineered their new A-Series cover with a sleek appearance in mind. The housing for the retractable cover top is compact and aerodynamic, barely sitting above the top of the truck bed. It looks good and it allows better airflow over the box of your truck, which means better fuel economy. It is topped off by a sleek looking lid that adds to the aerodynamic profile of your truck as well as giving it a professional, clean cut look. The handle for the cover top mechanism sits flush with the housing unit so you get maximum space efficiency out of your truck bed.
Cargo Manager
For even more efficiency, Roll-N-Lock offers a special accessory compatible only with their tonneau covers, the Cargo Manager. Easy to use, this cargo manager slides along a rail that mounts to your Roll-N-Lock tonneau cover rails with the pinch of a clip. This way you can secure cargo to one end of your truck bed or the other so that it doesn't move around the bed and cause potential damage. The Cargo Manager can slide the full length of the bed, or be tilted upwards out of the way to make room for longer cargo.
Roll-N-Lock's new A-Series cover comes with their customer-friendly warranty policy that will ensure you will get the best use of your cover. This tonneau cover is sleek, easy to use, durable, and more secure than any tonneau cover available. On top of it all, the cover requires very little maintenance. Spraying the cover top with a protective solution occasionally will ensure smooth operation and longevity. Accessing the housing to inspect for blockage is simple. Remove the two screws on either side of the cover housing and remove the lid. You can then check the housing for leaves, dirt, water, or other unwanted items which can then be easily removed. This will help keep your cover working smooth and ensure the longest possible lifespan.
The new A-Series from Roll-N-Lock is a tonneau cover of incomparable durability, versatility, and security. If you're looking to invest in a cover for your truck box, look no further than the Roll-N-Lock A-Series Retractable Tonneau Cover.
