Tonneau cover Blues - Bakflip and UnderCover Flex
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Tonneau cover Blues - Bakflip and UnderCover Flex
Well this has been going on for the last 8 weeks. I didn't want to write a thread like this, but since the manufacturers don't care, might as well warn others if they are in the market for a cover. The sad part is I did a lot of reading and felt I selected a quality cover.
#1....Originally, I picked the Undercover Flex, cause I wanted the fiberglass material, plus it was a little cheaper than the Bakflip. The cover looked great but leaked real bad through the hinges. Also the latches were sticky and did not snap to the rail. The cover would come loose by driving down the road. Back to the dealer.
Cover #2...They gladly swapped out for another cover. Thought no big deal, just got a bad one. This #2 was no better than the first.You could watch the water leak through the panel seams and into the box....ok no more Undercover. Back to the dealer.
Cover #3........This Undercover was a new product for this dealer, so they offer to replace with a Bakflip HD. I agree and on goes the HD.
(Couple notes on the comparison; with a 6.5' box, the Flex only has 3 panels, and when folded up, would stick out way past and over the cab, a good wind sail. The BakFlip has 4 panels, and when folded up, is almost hidden by the cab from catching the wind). The Bakflip "seemed" heavier duty and quality "looked" better. But after the first rain shower, I notice all the leaks in the box.
#4........ok, so now I'm ready to explode and forget about even buying a cover. Go back to the dealer. They shake their heads, and throw on another HD, leaving the rails. They do a quick spray and all looks good. I usually have my truck in the garage so had to wait for the first day of rain showers to park outside. Leaks like a sieve. and back to the dealer we go.
#5.....at this point, I'm done, request money back. But dealer wanted to try one more time. They order in another HD, with a very new build date, June 2015 right on the box. Noticed some minor changes/updates in the cover and had high hopes. They took 1-1/2 hours to do the install, looking at every detail of this cover and rails. Once the cover was installed, we did a light spray of water and it started leaking instantly through the hinges. Not little drips, but a steady stream. Everyone looked at each other and couldn't believe it. Cover #5 was removed.
These are expensive premium covers and advertised as water proof. I could live with a minor drip by the tailgate, or using a pressure washer and blasting the seals. But leaking though the hinges is just not acceptable. Five fricken covers and they all leak through the hinge area.
I have talked to Bakflip and they say….QUOTE.. that some leak and some don’t, for no apparent reason. They will replace, but am I supposed to do this till I find a good one? What a joke. I've sent them another note, but they won't even respond. Maybe the world wide web will get them to open their eyes. The dealer is not too happy either with these 2 products, since they too wasted all this time and money.
In the end, I got all my money back, but still feel like I got ripped off. Wasted a lot of time and driving back and forth. Truck box is now naked and have no idea if I even want a cover anymore. Not a big fan of the soft trifolds, but at least it can't leak in the middle.
So for you guys shopping, you may get a nice looking cover, but there’s no guarantee that it will keep the box dry. Don't be surprised that your new $1000 cover leaks real bad. Make sure you are working with a dealer that will take care of you if the cover doesn't work out.
#1....Originally, I picked the Undercover Flex, cause I wanted the fiberglass material, plus it was a little cheaper than the Bakflip. The cover looked great but leaked real bad through the hinges. Also the latches were sticky and did not snap to the rail. The cover would come loose by driving down the road. Back to the dealer.
Cover #2...They gladly swapped out for another cover. Thought no big deal, just got a bad one. This #2 was no better than the first.You could watch the water leak through the panel seams and into the box....ok no more Undercover. Back to the dealer.
Cover #3........This Undercover was a new product for this dealer, so they offer to replace with a Bakflip HD. I agree and on goes the HD.
(Couple notes on the comparison; with a 6.5' box, the Flex only has 3 panels, and when folded up, would stick out way past and over the cab, a good wind sail. The BakFlip has 4 panels, and when folded up, is almost hidden by the cab from catching the wind). The Bakflip "seemed" heavier duty and quality "looked" better. But after the first rain shower, I notice all the leaks in the box.
#4........ok, so now I'm ready to explode and forget about even buying a cover. Go back to the dealer. They shake their heads, and throw on another HD, leaving the rails. They do a quick spray and all looks good. I usually have my truck in the garage so had to wait for the first day of rain showers to park outside. Leaks like a sieve. and back to the dealer we go.
#5.....at this point, I'm done, request money back. But dealer wanted to try one more time. They order in another HD, with a very new build date, June 2015 right on the box. Noticed some minor changes/updates in the cover and had high hopes. They took 1-1/2 hours to do the install, looking at every detail of this cover and rails. Once the cover was installed, we did a light spray of water and it started leaking instantly through the hinges. Not little drips, but a steady stream. Everyone looked at each other and couldn't believe it. Cover #5 was removed.
These are expensive premium covers and advertised as water proof. I could live with a minor drip by the tailgate, or using a pressure washer and blasting the seals. But leaking though the hinges is just not acceptable. Five fricken covers and they all leak through the hinge area.
I have talked to Bakflip and they say….QUOTE.. that some leak and some don’t, for no apparent reason. They will replace, but am I supposed to do this till I find a good one? What a joke. I've sent them another note, but they won't even respond. Maybe the world wide web will get them to open their eyes. The dealer is not too happy either with these 2 products, since they too wasted all this time and money.
In the end, I got all my money back, but still feel like I got ripped off. Wasted a lot of time and driving back and forth. Truck box is now naked and have no idea if I even want a cover anymore. Not a big fan of the soft trifolds, but at least it can't leak in the middle.
So for you guys shopping, you may get a nice looking cover, but there’s no guarantee that it will keep the box dry. Don't be surprised that your new $1000 cover leaks real bad. Make sure you are working with a dealer that will take care of you if the cover doesn't work out.
#2
If you like the way your Bakflip operated, you should check out the Bakflip VP. It has a seamless vinyl cover over the panels so it does not leak at the hinges, at all. Every once in a while, if I go through the pressure wash, I would get a little bit in the rails but that would just drain out the drain holes in the rail. Other than that, I did not get a drop of water in my bed with the Bakflip VP.
#4
Senior Member
For those of you with the BakFlipVP is there even a drain hose for it? I saw a few installation videos for Check and Toyota and they had a drain use where you needed to find a exit for at the front of the bed. I sure would not want to drill a hole in the bed. I have LineX in the bed as well.
Thanks
Thanks
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
For drilling, on a 6.5' box, there are 2 rubber oblong plugs located on the front wall of the box. Easy to poke a hole in there instead of the metal. Or if you have a more flexible hose, there is already a hole in the stake pocket. (the little round whitespot, just beside the hose)
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#8
First thought that came to me was that the problem must have been with the installers. It seems so highly unlikely that all of those covers would leak IF INSTALLED CORRECTLY. The Flex and Bakflips are very similar and so the installers may have done something incorrectly with all of them. If those covers leaked like what happen to you, Undercover and Bak wouldn't be able to sell them.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The install shop was just as surprised. That's why they took 1-1/2 hrs for the last install and checked every inch of the product. (while I watched).
I could lay in the box and watch the water drip from the hinges in the middle of the panel, not by the sides. There is a 1" wide trim piece that holds the main panel to the hinge. On one of the covers the water leaked right through that metal joint, as if there was no sealer and put together wrong. Comes like that from the factory.
Also on the last cover, looking down the side of the box, it was not a nice straight edge. One panel (out of 4) stuck out wider a good 1/4" further than the others. Just poor QC at the factory. The shop is sending them all back so I'll check with them in the next couple weeks to see if anything came from it.
We even went as far as measuring the truck box to make sure it was straight and true......100% good.
I could lay in the box and watch the water drip from the hinges in the middle of the panel, not by the sides. There is a 1" wide trim piece that holds the main panel to the hinge. On one of the covers the water leaked right through that metal joint, as if there was no sealer and put together wrong. Comes like that from the factory.
Also on the last cover, looking down the side of the box, it was not a nice straight edge. One panel (out of 4) stuck out wider a good 1/4" further than the others. Just poor QC at the factory. The shop is sending them all back so I'll check with them in the next couple weeks to see if anything came from it.
We even went as far as measuring the truck box to make sure it was straight and true......100% good.
#10
For those of you with the BakFlipVP is there even a drain hose for it? I saw a few installation videos for Check and Toyota and they had a drain use where you needed to find a exit for at the front of the bed. I sure would not want to drill a hole in the bed. I have LineX in the bed as well.
Thanks
Thanks