The local dealers with Ford Canada were including $1000 in accessories (highly inflated prices mind you), so I went with the HD flaps, all-weather mats, low pro hood deflector, and the soft tri-fold tonneau. Did it because I bought this truck for - and need it to - get the BEST fuel mileage possible. Fords have never been one to be top of this race, but my research showed they are. I make a pile of "empty miles" in a year as a sales rep, but need a truck for the occasional haul, some leisure on weekends, and just because...

help me with this one, a buddy of mine tells me the "covering the box to improve fuel economy" is a farce, as is leaving the tailgate down if you don't cover the box. Ever leave a styrofoam cup in the box and watch it bounce around as you do 70mph? It circles up and down, but not out! That turbulence or vortex has to be a drag? I told him BS, put the cover on, and tell myself it is doing its own small part!

 

I've always favored the ARE type fiberglass models, but I am certainly intrigued by this HD model. After all, a solid top will make my new side box steps obsolete... and I can't have that.

As for reducing drag coefficient to increase gas mileage, I never saw a gain with my Lightning

 

It has been proven that tailgate up is better than no tailgate or tailgate down due to the "vortex". However, the tonneau should make a positive difference. A vortex takes energy and they shed - having a tonneau should create a smaller vortex just behind the window while the tailgate down likely causes the bed vortex to shed more often than with tailgate up.

 

And you guys talked me into it. I ordered a Bakflip HD yesterday. I just didn't see a fiberglass tonneau design I was happy with, and I felt like the sporty side steps I like so much would be rendered useless by a solid tonneau. I hope they package it very well! I'm nervous that way.

 

did you use Morrie? He shipped mine in formed foam. No worries.

 

Finally got around to installing the Bakflip. It took about 30 minutes to install. Here are some pics:

 

WillyWaxer,

It looks great. What do you think of it now that you have it installed? What is the warranty on it?

 

Warranty is 3 years. I really like this cover. I did a Costco run yesterday and filled the back without worrying about stuff flying out or getting muddy on the highway home. Later, I took the truck through the carwash and checked inside the bed afterwards...totally dry. It snowed about 6 inches last night and the snow just blew off on my way to work. No more bed full of snow/ice. Pretty easy to operate...they put releases on both sides under the cover so you can flip back from either side. Rubber bumpers are provided to protect the cab when you have all the panels locked fully open.

 

Thanks for the feedback. One more question for you. Did you remove the grommets in the bed for the drain tubes or did you just cut a hole in them to run the hose through. On one of the youtube videos it showed them completely removed. I would think that would cause issues with water entering the bed.

 

I have a bedliner so I just routed the hoses behind it, figuring the water would find a way out. I'll cut a hole in the grommets if I find a lot of water underneath. I figured there wouldn't be much coming in anyways.