First pickup ever – need advice on hard bed covers for winter + full bed access

[davehu]

Hi everyone,

This is my first pickup ever. I’m in Norway, where it’s basically EVs only these days, so the F-150 Lightning was the first truck I could even consider. Not much local experience here with pickups, so I’m trying to learn from you guys who’ve been doing this for years.

We get a lot of snow in the winter, so I’m looking for a hard bed cover that can handle winter weather, but I also need full bed access for transporting motocross bikes (Talaria Sting and sometimes a KTM 390). I’ve now realized it’s also nice just having the bed open for hauling other large stuff, so easy and quick access matters.

I’ve mostly been looking at hard roll-up covers and hard trifold covers that can flip all the way up against the cab window. But the YouTube reviews all seem to assume you live in the U.S. and have had pickups forever, so I’m missing some practical “real-life” pros and cons – especially in snow and freezing temps.

What would you recommend for:

• Full bed access without losing too much space inside the bed
• Surviving heavy snow without constant cleaning
• Easy one-person operation (with kids running around)
• Driving 70mph with full ved access

Any tips, experiences, or things I should be aware of?


Thanks in advance!

I had an Extang trifold on my Chevy Avalanche for years and loved it. Bought one for my Lariat as soon as I got it. Love it. easy to mount, easy to remove. locks it up very well and you can stand on it if you need some extra height to remove a basketball stuck against the backboard!

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[MrLoganRoss]

There are cheaper ones, but I have this had this one for one year and it is exceptional. I am in the northwest where there is tons of rain. I have no complaints. In addition, I have one handed access and access to most of the bed. Also, there’s no lock to pick that faces the outside.
https://www.pace-edwards.com/product/ultragroove-metal/01t8W00000651ecQAA

 

[BhamDCam]

I'm a cyclist and when I was shopping for a cover, I didn't want one that rolled up or flipped up as it wouldn't work with bike rack bars. I also didn't want a cover that rolled up into a permanent box behind the cab and took up bed space. I settled on the Peragon as it folds up without taking off the bike rack bars and it doesn't have a box in the bed taking up space. So this works well for me... when I need to haul stuff, I fold up the cover and remove it and pull off the bike rack bars if I absolutely need to.

Are those Billie Bars? And if so, do you have to remove the Peragon cover completely (rails and all) to install?

I have a Peragon cover too and have really liked it, but not having t-slots basically limits me to Billie Bars if I ever need cross-bars.

 

[MrLoganRoss]

There are cheaper ones, but I have this had this one for one year and it is exceptional. I am in the northwest where there is tons of rain. I have no complaints. In addition, I have one handed access and access to most of the bed. Also, there’s no lock to pick that faces the outside.
https://www.pace-edwards.com/product/ultragroove-metal/01t8W00000651ecQAA

I forgot to mention that this one has the rail slots on both sides.

 

[21st Century Truck]

Hi everyone,

This is my first pickup ever. I’m in Norway, where it’s basically EVs only these days, so the F-150 Lightning was the first truck I could even consider. Not much local experience here with pickups, so I’m trying to learn from you guys who’ve been doing this for years.

We get a lot of snow in the winter, so I’m looking for a hard bed cover that can handle winter weather, but I also need full bed access for transporting motocross bikes (Talaria Sting and sometimes a KTM 390). I’ve now realized it’s also nice just having the bed open for hauling other large stuff, so easy and quick access matters.

I’ve mostly been looking at hard roll-up covers and hard trifold covers that can flip all the way up against the cab window. But the YouTube reviews all seem to assume you live in the U.S. and have had pickups forever, so I’m missing some practical “real-life” pros and cons – especially in snow and freezing temps.

What would you recommend for:

• Full bed access without losing too much space inside the bed
• Surviving heavy snow without constant cleaning
• Easy one-person operation (with kids running around)
• Driving 70mph with full ved access

Any tips, experiences, or things I should be aware of?


Thanks in advance!

I have, and now am a huge fan of the 2d generation improved Decked Drawers system.

They have two designs, one for full-size beds like the Lightning's and another one for smaller beds like the Toyota Tacoma. The large one has two drawers whereas the other one has one wider drawer.

Decked Drawers adapts this system for various makes of trucks by laser-scalloping the edges of their drawer top frame to the shape of a particular truck make... the Ford version fits the shapes and indentations of Ford bed walls whereas the GMC version fits the shapes and indentations of the GMC bed walls, etc. Overall, this means one system adapted for many truck versions.

My Decked Drawers has allowed me to clean out my basement - one drawer holds all the mechanical and truck tools while the other drawer holds my gym and camping supplies, and truck tow / recovery stuff.

In addition, the Decked Drawers gives the user four (up to eight, optional, self-mounted) tie down points across the raised Decked bed. This one feature has come in very very handy already, multiple times, because the new raised bed surface of the Decked system with these tie-down points allows the loading and carry of large items like Winter wheels and tires, a motorcycle, a couch etc. etc., safely.

PROs:
- full bed access, all the time.
- same 2,000 pound bed payload.
- easily accessible, very compartmented, adjustable secure storage in drawers. No more digging thru piles or layers of stuff jumbled in the bed or in a deep tool case.
- Lockable via optional locks.
- Sun- and rain- and snow-proof. I've had mine thru last Winter's two snowstorms here and on long travels across the USA thru deserts plains and high mountains.
- already mentioned eight bed tie-downs.
- self-installation (always a favorite of mine).
- no drilling for the installation. All bolt-on.
- keeps the full-use bed surface, just raised about halfway up across the truck bed.

CONs: after a year of living with the Decked Drawers, I have no cons yet.

URL is here:
https://decked.com/products/drawers

Good Luck whatever You choose!

Hope this is helpful info.

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