Tonneau cover | convince me

[EdwinT]

Really struggling to pick between a hard roll up like the X4s and a hard flip
like the MX4.

X4s con: can’t partially roll it up. But is this even a concern?

MX4 con: complete bed access leaves the rear window blocked. I have a pro with no bed camera.

Con for both: can’t access the back of the bed without folding/rolling it all the way up.

Convince me why one style the the “correct” choice! Obviously they both have their pros and cons, so there is not correct answer without knowing all the personal requirements

thanks!!

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[Grumpy2]

In my view, the frunk eliminates the need to buy a buy a tonneau. What is it you want the cover to do for you?

 

[jimfigler]

Really struggling to pick between a hard roll up like the X4s and a hard flip
like the MX4.

X4s con: can’t partially roll it up. But is this even a concern?

MX4 con: complete bed access leaves the rear window blocked. I have a pro with no bed camera.

Con for both: can’t access the back of the bed without folding/rolling it all the way up.

Convince me why one style the the “correct” choice! Obviously they both have their pros and cons, so there is not correct answer without knowing all the personal requirements

thanks!!

I got a good deal on a Gator hard trifold at a local place that takes Amazon returns and resells them. But if i hadn't I would get the hard roll-up. Just my thought

 

[RickLightning]

Really struggling to pick between a hard roll up like the X4s and a hard flip
like the MX4.

X4s con: can’t partially roll it up. But is this even a concern?

MX4 con: complete bed access leaves the rear window blocked. I have a pro with no bed camera.

Con for both: can’t access the back of the bed without folding/rolling it all the way up.

Convince me why one style the the “correct” choice! Obviously they both have their pros and cons, so there is not correct answer without knowing all the personal requirements

thanks!!

I have a hard trifold, Extang Encore. I can open the front panel, behind the cab, with my ignition key (coded to it when you first get it). That technology obviously would be different for a Lightning, but I do have front section access. I like a hard tonneau for the security as compared to a soft, as well as the ability to put things on it. I can put things on it, open the tailgate, put them in, then lift it a few inches while I close the tailgate, then drop it down.

But, if I got a Lighting, I need to think as to whether the frunk is enough secure storage or not before spending close to $1,000.

 

[queuewho]

In my view, the frunk eliminates the need to buy a buy a tonneau. What is it you want the cover to do for you?

Just an example... can use plastic bins to store some stuff on a trip that you don't need until you're there. Saves some frunk space for the bags you need at any hotel stops along the way. A tonneau that locks (even though I know they aren't very secure, I can break into mine with a metal ruler) will keep prying eyes from knowing there's anything to take in there.

 

[EdwinT]

In my view, the frunk eliminates the need to buy a buy a tonneau. What is it you want the cover to do for you?

Very valid point which I will def consider more!

I ordered my truck without any type of liner because I didn’t want to hold it up from getting here in 2022 if possible and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go with the bedrug instead. Since then I’ve settled on the bedrug for $325 shipped (Amazon marketplace) and was going to do a tonneau. I wouldn’t want a bed rug without a tonneau. I haven’t installed it yet though so I can still change my mind.

So I think my options are either:
1. Spray in + no tonneau (cheapest + no coverage): ~$700?

2. Bedrug + tonneau ($325 + tonneau ($970 shipped for X4s; more/less for other): ~$1300

I like the idea of a Bedrug to keep things from sliding around as much for my use case. I rarely haul dirt/dirty things and I’ll prob get a trailer to do that since it’a lower and more capacity. So I figured for $325 I’ll give it a try and I can always pull it out and go spray in.

Definitely need to chart all my use cases though. To better decide

 

[EdwinT]

I got a good deal on a Gator hard trifold at a local place that takes Amazon returns and resells them. But if i hadn't I would get the hard roll-up. Just my thought

Hard roll up like the X4s or the garage door type with the container in the bed ?

 

[FordLightningMan]

If you live somewhere that snows a lot and the truck is parked outside, a bed cover helps to avoid the nuisance of shoveling the back of your truck.

If you don't have snow, the frunk would make a tonneau less useful depending on your use case for the bed. There's a lot of tools or hunting equipment that don't fit well in a frunk for example.

 

[jimfigler]

Hard roll up like the X4s or the garage door type with the container in the bed ?

X4

 

[duncanmaio]

Depends how you use the truck. Once or twice a year, I carry a pallet of wood pellets, and so need to remove the cover completely (to avoid crushing from a shifting load). Even the MX4 would be a concern. The easiest type to do that is a soft tri-fold - takes me about a minute to remove or replace. Also way less spendy than the hard/rolling covers.

Most of the rest of the time, I am carrying smaller items that don't necessarily need to be tied down, and it is much easier to toss things in the back and not have to worry about having them fly out on the highway or be surprised by a rain shower.

As for a frunk replacing the need for a tonneau, again it depends on what you are going to do with the cargo area. My frunk is usually loaded with tools and other gear, and the bed gets larger items (and trash).

 

[bellyer]

I went with the X4S. I really like it. Installing it in 8 degree weather while it was snowing was not a ton of fun, but aside from that, it seems to work well and series the stuff in the bed quite well. As for the frunk vs. the bed for secure storage, I have managed to fill the frunk completely on a couple of road trips and still overflow with suitcases needing to be put into the bed. I think it makes sense to be able to secure and keep (mostly) dry both the frunk and bed. My truck shipped without the bedliner, but I had the dealer add the spray-in bedliner upon arrival. It only added an extra day before I could take delivery.

 

[256fail]

I went through the same thoughts on my other f150. I ended up getting an Undercover armorflex trifold and love it! My dealer swapped mine over from my other f150 to the Lightning. It is super sleek, rain tight, looks good. I don’t carry a ton of bulky stuff, but when I have it’s so convenient to use. The big pro is it helps protect the bed lining from outside elements.

 

[Alan168]

I had a Roll-X (earlier version of X4s) for 10 years and not being able to partially roll up the cover was never a problem. I actually haul lots of 8-10 foot lengths of lumber with it resting on top of my closed tailgate and the cover rolls up to it and just sits there unlatched - even at highway speeds. I bought an X4S for my new Lightning and love it. Blocking the rear window is a non-starter for me. But everyone has a different priority. Honestly, if it's very difficult to decide between those options, either one will work for you, as long as you work within their limitations.

 

[Monkey]

I bought the Peragon Limited HDx cover for my Lightning. It's an aluminum panel folding tonneau where the folded portion stacks at the front of the bed and is easily removable. https://www.peragon.com/shop/covers/Ford/F-150 Lightning/2022

I'll install it next week... Really slacking on this due to my travel schedule. But I didn't want a cover that blocked the rear window and I need something that can easily be moved completely out of the way. Only negative reviews I could find were mentions of having things all the way up at the front of the bed can interfere with folding, obviously. Lots of glowing reviews otherwise... The X4S was a top contender for my final decision, but the Peragon seems to fit what I wanted the most...

 

[chillaban]

In my view, the frunk eliminates the need to buy a buy a tonneau. What is it you want the cover to do for you?

I thought the same. Then we got 3 storms dumping 2-3ft of snow each in Tahoe. Spent forever shoveling snow out. And then picked up 2 travelers from the airport each with a full sized suitcase. Didn’t fit anywhere except the truck bed. It was raining and their stuff ended up getting wet. (I guess I learned not even hard suitcases are actually waterproof)

After that I decided to get a tonneau cover. This has been my first truck and I also originally thought the frunk would mean I don’t need to care about the truck bed.

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