Cover options for 6.5 bed

Just bought a new Tundra Platinum regular (long) bed. Came with bed liner and rails, but no bed cover. I for sure want to cover the bed with something and want to take advantage, if possible, of that really nifty fully-opening back window of the crewmax cab. My first thought was camper shell but I don't want to a.) invest $5k or more in something that I maybe don't need b.) lower my gas milage or c.) ruin the look of the truck. I only see one bed cover, the TruXedo Deuce, that opens from the front. I'm thinking maybe that with a toolbox/tray of some sort that long stuff like plywood can slide under, basically taking up the space that a retractable cover would hog up. Not too concerned about security; keeping honest people out is all I expect anyway. Any thoughts, experiences, advice? Surely lots of people have faced this dilema. Being able to throw a mattress in the back for sleeping at rest areas would be a huge plus for me, which argues camper shell, but overall flexibility is paramount. I should say I'm retired and will be using the truck for all sorts of travel, work, and play, mostly but not exclusively on paved roads. This is my first full-size pickup. My previous trucks have all been vans ('65 Chevy, 73' Chevy, '18 Ford) small pickups ('92 Mitsubishi with aftermarket slide-down rear window that I put a lot of love into and a '92 Toyota, no name, just Toyota pickup, that I remember mostly for the gun rack and once driving, no bs, 70mph backwards down I465 in Indy one winter afternoon. Got it facing forward again before I had time to think about it without contact and without changing lanes, and I couldn't tell you how I did it) an '88 F350 diesel flatbed, and, my very first vehicle ever, a'62 International Scout. (Now that I've listed all those it occurs to me that if you add up the prices I paid for all of them it doesn't come close to what I just paid for this one. Might explain my obsession.)
PS: You'll see I couldn't get those tacky iForce MAX badges off fast enough. Hoping to get some body-color plugs going eventually. In case anyone was wondering there's one nut you have to spin off on the front inside of each badge; the other three just pop out. The holes are 8.0+mm or a little over 9/16"

 

Not sure what you're looking for specifically (retractable, foldable, removable, etc.). I have an America Roll Cover on order (from RealTruck.com), which is a retractable cover (similar to Retrax, Roll-n-Lock, etc.). I chose this one because it had the smallest canister (8 inches) and you can get it with integrated T-Slot rails for cross bars. The manufacturer, Truck Covers USA, also makes a retractable cover with an integrated tool box. I came close to ordering the work cover but didn't want to pay the price nor would likely use the tool box extensively.

Roll Cover: https://www.truckcoversusa.com/american-roll-cover/

Work Cover: https://www.truckcoversusa.com/american-work-cover/

 

Just FYI. Only options from Toyota for the bed is a spray in bed liner over the black plastic. If you're referring to the black plastic as the "bed liner", that is actually the bed as in the bed is made of plastic.

As for tonneau covers and toppers, searching around on here will return many results with what people have put on the 6.5' beds (hint use the more selection on search and you can select 3ed gens only). For my 6.5' bed I did a fas-top that has the option to go tonneau or soft topper, but I wouldn't recommend it after having to replace the Velcro twice due to the strip failing due to faulty manufacturing in less than a year and it providing a good seal at the tailgate wasn't even a thought by the company. Also had to replace one of the latches that closes it too due to it starting to stick up when closed.

Fas-top is a cool concept, but poor execution. Wasn't happy that I had to replace the Velcro twice and latch after about 7 months of ownership and the company didn't really give a shit, but did provide the parts seeing how its still under warranty.


Some search examples below:

https://www.tundras.com/search/6481900/?q=tonneau&o=date&c[node]=128

https://www.tundras.com/search/6481901/?q=topper&o=date&c[node]=128

 

Thanks tllg53 Seeing what you did is really helpful. I have been perusing the various threads and will continue to do so. Obviously don't know what I want yet. Faced the same problem buying the truck
My top priority is to keep debris out of the bed, followed closely by keeping rain and snow off my stuff. It also has to look awesome, obviously, and perform flawlessly, of course, and be cheap. OK, forget that last one, just don't want to waste money on the wrong thing. That still leave a LOT of options, but I'm still really wondering what configuration, if any, might work well with that slide-down rear window on the Tundra, so that I can access stuff from the front of the bed from inside the cab. Am I crazy for thinking that's a thing? I used to do it with my old Mitsubishi (with a glass camper shell and aftermarket rear window). Am I just trying to turn her into my old van that I miss so much

 

Yeah it has the spray in. Most of the new Tundras I looked at had it, along with a lot of other installed option of dubious value. I read conflicting advice on whether or not it was worth the extra $600 but for better or worse I have it.

 

Was told flat out that it WAS the only one, but it looks like the Diamondback SE or HD open from the front. Wasn't seeing the Diamondback pop up anywhere, possibly because there aren't dealers pushing them? I see whole forums dedicated to it with recent posts, so not trying to duplicate, but does anyone here want to talk me out of it?

 

Diamondback HD is a great bed cover. I had one on my Tacoma for over 3 years and bought one for my tundra when I got it in February. Check the outlet store to save a little bit of money too. I was able to score an HD with a couple scratches on the underside that aren’t even noticeable when on the truck, saved 10% off the total price. Plus didn’t have to wait 5 weeks and was in my driveway about a week after ordering. I will say that the Diamondback cover on the tundra is a little more of a pain to take off and put on by yourself. My Tacoma was a short bed so the panels were lighter and shorter. But it can be done and I do it quite often when I need to load taller things in the bed. You really cannot go wrong with the Diamondback bed covers

 

I used to always run toppers on my truck before I got the '19 last year and I'm really loving the tonneau. Still have the covered "security" to keep honest people honest, but you also have use of the bed for taller items that won't fit in a topper.
It's kinda' the best of both worlds. Plus it was getting more and more awkward to crawl around in the shell on my old skater knees.

I haven't had or used one, but from reading posts on here from those who have them the Diamondback sounds like it's the top dog if you want one that opens from the front.

Most reviews I've read are quite favorable, and it sounds like they're as close to waterproof as you're gonna' get with a tonneau, as well as the most durable, with the ability to run racks and stuff directly mounted to the cover.

I didn't give them much consideration as the functionality doesn't really suit my use & lifestyle. I'm up in my bed a lot loading surfboards, SUP's, changing out of my wetsuit, packing stuff for camping, etc.

It just seemed like for my personal situation the front opening would provide more negatives than positives, and having the fixed center section always there would annoy me.

I opted for a tri-fold because it just made the most sense for me. I like being able to quickly flip a section or two open and being able to stand and move around in the bed.

If I had the 6.5' bed I would've given more consideration to a retractable tonneau, but with the crewmax/short bed I didn't want to give up any bed space to the canister.

I like that if need be I can remove my whole tonneau in 5 minutes with two knobs. So far I haven't needed to.

Given the depth of the bed, size of my CM cab, and me being, ummm... "Fun-Sized" (Not short, fun size. Like the little candy bars at Halloween) I can't see accessing thing through the awesome roll down back window very useful for me. I guess if you had the toolbox tray in the front section it could be handy.

First thing is to figure out your lifestyle/usage/features you want out of the cover and that may make some of your decision for you.

FWIW, if you go tri-fold I'm very happy with my MX4.

 

YES! That's why I posted this, to get me to think about things like that! I'm afraid I would end up hating my pricey (cuz it would have to look perfect) shell for that very reason, and probably wish I'd gotten a short bed
I also liked having a shell when back when I could easily remove it when necessary and had a barn to store it in. If I can get a shell on and off a Tundra by my soon to be 69-year-old self I imagine I won't relish the experience, and I have no idea where the heck I would put it. Looked at the inflatables but that looks like the sort of thing that I would buy, avoid using, and eventually toss. More likely to sleep under the stars on top of a tonneau.

 

La Jolla vibes

 

When I bought this one last year I fully intended to put a shell on it too.
Started rethinking it while saving up and thought "Hmmm, since I don't really truck camp anymore since getting the trailer, it'd be nice to have an open bed when I need it, but still have the covered, locked storage." and went another direction.
Very glad I did.

 

One of my stomping grounds! About 15 minutes from home, been surfing all around La Jolla since the 70's.

 

We like hanging out at Torrey Pines..have family right at the 5/52 intersection so its a quick drive. Love SD...born and raised in Imperial County but SD was our go to back then

 

It was very handy in my little "long bed" Mitsubishi. I got a color-matching cap that sealed well enough that I eventually removed the front window of the cap completely. With the power rear window it made for a pretty slick setup and made the truck a lot more useful, a real game changer for me at the time. But that was the old style cab with maybe room for a hoodie and a pair of pliers behind the seat. So maybe not so much with the CM.

 

(click)
That was the trigger being pulled on a DB HD smooth w/loose cleats (meaning I'll attach them myself) and an 8" cross bin. The cross bin is probably overpriced but hopefully I won't think about that again one I have it. The rear window thing ended up being not much of a factor, but having a cover I could confidently stand on seemed attractive, and reading the forums I just couldn't find anyone to say anything bad about the DB other than it's expensive and a little difficult to remove completely. That last part goes for most covers and I just get genuine joy out of things that are well made and that serve their purpose without a lot of drama. I have dangerously high expectations Why HD and not SE? There's a whole forum devoted to that question so I'll answer it there.

PS: I really like SD Surfer's setup above. I would definitely go that way if I thought I'd be using racks often. You can put racks on a DB but you won't be able to stand in the bed while attaching stuff. I have a 50 lb 14' sea kayak I'll have to figure out how transport, and I might want to haul a ladder someday without bringing a trailer, but otherwise I don't see needing a rack. I would never put lumber up there. Had to watch a guy die once who did it and it creeps me out every time I see someone trying it now.

 

I have the 6.5 bed so I can put my atv in the back.

I looked at the retractables but it limited what I can put in the back. So soft roll up it is for $200.

 

Nice! Just saw that exact cover on a truck yesterday pm and it looked tight! I've yet to see a DB anywhere but now that I've bought one I'll probably start seeing them everywhere. Not thrilled that they charged my credit card the second I ordered it. I really don't think internet merchants should charge you until they ship. If not for their reputation I would have killed the deal with my credit card company.

 

I have a folding hard cover. Someone pried up at the tailgate and slipped something in to grab the latch cord. Bent it slightly. When I had a cap I always left it unlocked so a thief wouldn’t break the window or latch. The hard cover doesn’t have a way to leave it from locking. Trying to find something that fits the track so it won’t latch.

 

wouldnt it flap in wind