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Hi -
I've been doing some research on hard folding tonneau covers and cross bar solutions for mounting e-bikes on the bed of the truck. Here's what I've put together and I'm curious if anyone else has attempted this. The reason I don't want to do a hitch rack is because I'm towing an Airstream behind when going to campgrounds. It's not recommended to put a hitch on the back of the Airstream and I don't love the idea of hitching to the front of the truck and just the decreased visibility, as well as just the mess of bugs hitting the bikes on the drive.
What I like (in theory) about this set up, is that the crossbars stay low vs. elevated when driving and when I get to a campground, I can take the e-bikes down, release the quick mounts on each foot of the crossbars and completely remove the crossbars to have full access to my truckbed as the tonneau cover will be able to flip open.
I've read the TS rails work with the Bakflip and to expect things to be slightly less weather tight, but does anyone have any experience with this set up? It seems like the functionality could be really great for my needs.
The TS rails may not be compatible with the Lomax cover.
The TS rails are mainly used with the Revolver x4s and the MX4.
However, the new Revovler X4st is now available, which is a hard aluminum roll-up cover with integrated rail system. You can then mount whatever you want to the rails.
Shoot me a message and we can get you dialed in with a rack that works for you. I like the Rhino-Rack Vortex bars personally and that's what I have on our demo truck. I have a Cargo basket and 1 bike carrier on our setup but you could do any number of carriers.
The nice part about the Rhino-Rack is that it's a quick disconnect system. Insert your key and remove the locking cover and you can REMOVE the entire assembly. You can then lift the entire assembly up if you need access to the full truck. Right now my truck's cargo/bike carrier are in the shop. I remove them to use my full bed.
Again shoot me a message. We have everything you need on our website but since there's a lot of items, it can be hard to find what you need. But you can get everything from one source and get a discount as well since it'll be a combo deal.
(I run the RetraxPro XR as an example)
Here is an example of an MX4 (Tri-Fold) we did for a customer who wanted the Elevate Rack system
I just wanted to update this thread incase anybody stumbled upon it with the same question that this set up DOES work! The TS rails work perfectly with the Loamax tonneau cover. Real Truck confirmed the set up before I purchased the TS rails from them and I got the Lomax cover from Truck Alterations for a great price. Highly recommend reaching out to them for the best price per a bunch of other posts on this forum.
I just wanted to update this thread incase anybody stumbled upon it with the same question that this set up DOES work! The TS rails work perfectly with the Loamax tonneau cover. Real Truck confirmed the set up before I purchased the TS rails from them and I got the Lomax cover from Truck Alterations for a great price. Highly recommend reaching out to them for the best price per a bunch of other posts on this forum.
How does the lomax cover fit with the TS rails? Your picture looks like the cover may have a gap where it meets the tailgate. Any modifications needed to make it all fit?
What are your plans for the rails?
How does the lomax cover fit with the TS rails? Your picture looks like the cover may have a gap where it meets the tailgate. Any modifications needed to make it all fit?
What are your plans for the rails?
I would avoid using the TS rails if you can help it. Get a cover that has built in rails. They might work but TS rails are known to be TIGHT when installed with covers. Ask any dealer of bed covers and they'll say the same. It's because you are adding extra material now and some of the covers can fit tight.
The RetraxPRO has a rail available, as does the RetraxONE. The Revolver x4s also has a rail system available and later this year the MX4 will have one. All built in.
We'er trying to move away from installing TS rails on customer trucks because they prove to be a bit problematic.
I would avoid using the TS rails if you can help it. Get a cover that has built in rails. They might work but TS rails are known to be TIGHT when installed with covers. Ask any dealer of bed covers and they'll say the same. It's because you are adding extra material now and some of the covers can fit tight.
The RetraxPRO has a rail available, as does the RetraxONE. The Revolver x4s also has a rail system available and later this year the MX4 will have one. All built in.
We'er trying to move away from installing TS rails on customer trucks because they prove to be a bit problematic.
Thanks for the input and it makes sense. You definitely put some food for thought in the ol noggin' ...Unfortunately, like many others out there, I already have the Lomax cover and want a solution for an over-the-bed rack that has a better fitment than say slapping on some Billiebar or Voodoo brackets. I feel those are more made for covers that "sit on top" and don't use a rail system. Those covers typically use a thicker seal so they are able to surround the bracket a bit more. The Lomax cover has a low profile, thinner seal, which I suspect, would totally distort the panel once it rested on one of these brackets, making for a nice opening for rain to enter the bed.
I may need to revisit the stake pocket idea.
I have a feeling most bed cover manufacturers (like the Revolver x4st) will finally start integrating rail systems into their covers. My cover is less than a year old and these covers are overpriced so I'll have to make due.
How does the lomax cover fit with the TS rails? Your picture looks like the cover may have a gap where it meets the tailgate. Any modifications needed to make it all fit?
What are your plans for the rails?
There is somewhat of a gap at the end, but it does not in any way effect entry water. The lomax actually has a little bit of a lip to it. Here's some pictures. The dust in my bed is just from me being messing and having just been on the road recently, but prior to that no dust or dirt was entering the bed either. I've been in some pretty heavy rain storms and nothing has leaked through. I did use the tailgate seal and the element seal from Agri-Cover as well.
The Lomax fit super easy of the rails, it was an easy install and it gives me the exact functionality I need at half the price of the others. I've had zero issues, so I recommend it as an option if you already own the Lomax and are looking for similar functionality.
There is somewhat of a gap at the end, but it does not in any way effect entry water. The lomax actually has a little bit of a lip to it. Here's some pictures. The dust in my bed is just from me being messing and having just been on the road recently, but prior to that no dust or dirt was entering the bed either. I've been in some pretty heavy rain storms and nothing has leaked through. I did use the tailgate seal and the element seal from Agri-Cover as well.
The Lomax fit super easy of the rails, it was an easy install and it gives me the exact functionality I need at half the price of the others. I've had zero issues, so I recommend it as an option if you already own the Lomax and are looking for similar functionality.
Just a note. That weather sealing is not needed and in fact, you are preventing water from draining. Some at the very top makes sense, to help stop water from going in. BUT the entire seal going down vertical AND the horizontal bottom part... well you don't want those there. That is how water drains...
There is somewhat of a gap at the end, but it does not in any way effect entry water. The lomax actually has a little bit of a lip to it. Here's some pictures. The dust in my bed is just from me being messing and having just been on the road recently, but prior to that no dust or dirt was entering the bed either. I've been in some pretty heavy rain storms and nothing has leaked through. I did use the tailgate seal and the element seal from Agri-Cover as well.
The Lomax fit super easy of the rails, it was an easy install and it gives me the exact functionality I need at half the price of the others. I've had zero issues, so I recommend it as an option if you already own the Lomax and are looking for similar functionality.
Thank you for posting those pictures. That does help. I live in the pacific northwest and rain is a concern. I don't need my bed to be bone dry during a rainstorm, but it would be nice to throw some groceries or my tools in the bed and not have to worry during normal rain fall.
Looks like we have the same finish cover. I just got a touch up kit sent from Lomax for those bright shiny edges you see there in your pictures.
Would you happen to have any pictures of the front end, towards the cab in how the Lomax sits/seals on the bulkhead and where the elevate rail ends? I'm trying to plan out what extra weather stripping or gaskets I may need to buy in advance.
If would be nice if Lomax would sell a thicker rear sealing gasket right where it hits the tailgate - it would be a one-to-one swap since that rear strip isn't connected to the side seals.
It would be even better if Lomax (or any other company for that matter) would seize the market and make stake pocket mounted, aluminum, standard T-slot rails. Kind of like what Yakima and others have, but truck specific for "no-drill" mounting. I think it would really shake up the market and make it so people don't have such a hard time choosing - almost being forced to use one system or the other a lot of the time giving up some features they wanted and ended up with others features they didn't.
Just a note. That weather sealing is not needed and in fact, you are preventing water from draining. Some at the very top makes sense, to help stop water from going in. BUT the entire seal going down vertical AND the horizontal bottom part... well you don't want those there. That is how water drains...
Probably a good point. Maybe trim out a couple of small sections on both lower corners for drainage. Water runs down the vertical gaskets and straight out to the bottom of the bumper and onto the ground.
Lomax Tri-Fold + TS Rails?
