Folding tonneau cover that works with OEM rails & cleats

New owner here...looking to get a tonneau cover soon. I want to keep the use of the bed rails and cleats. Which folding hard covers will allow? I know the Bakflip MX4 will, and I know some of the others allow for the rails, but can't tell if I can still use the cleats (Bakflip F1, specifically). Thanks in advance.

 

OEM Toyota cover for the win.

 

I have the Extang Xceed and love it. It retains the use of the rails and cleats.

 

I have the MX4 on my '19 and really like it.

I recently learned on here that Bak has apparently changed the MX4's mounting to where it no longer comes with the drop down brackets, and now mounts directly on top of the rails, which could complicate or prevent using the cleats. (???) So you may want to confirm this.

I'd think it would be pretty easy to fabricate some drop down brackets to lower the rails though, just a piece of flat stock with a couple of holes.

Isn't there a recall on the OEM covers 'cuz they were flying off?

 

Yes, check with RealTrucks / BAK to make sure they still come with drop down brackets. Ordered mine in December and the drop down brackets were still included to relocate the OEM cargo channels. But I too have heard recently that there is possibly a change?

 

Thanks, everyone for your thoughts and insights. From my non-scientific research it seems that no cover has universally good or bad reviews - every cover seems to have owners that love it and owners that regret their purchase. That being the case, I am leaning toward the Bakflip MX4 only because my impression is that it's the most popular. I will definitely check with Real Truck regarding the current status of rail-drop hardware.

 

I think you'll be pleased with it.

Throw a nice cushy Bedrug under it with some LED strips and you're Golden!

 

Do you ever drive with the panels propped up against the cab? I know it's designed to do so, but the thought of it makes me nervous. Wondering what real world experience is like.

 

I have a 2014.
+2 on the Bedrug.
I have the separate bed and tailgate mat.







I've driven with my Undercover Flex up.
It doesn't rest on the cab.
It has a support on each side.
It also has a clasp if you just need the rear 2 panels open.



Did my own custom drain tubes.





I couldn't use the OEM cleats and modded my own.
I didn't even think of using a drop-down kit.

 

I did once (only a few miles from Home Depot) and it was fine, but I don't really care for it.

I decided in the rare event that I need full bed access I would just take the cover completely off... it's literally 2 knobs and 5 minutes.
I've driven vans and trucks with shells without windows, so I don't mind driving with mirrors, but I like being able to see my load in the bed to know if things are shifting, coming loose, etc.

Now because of the height at which I set my racks, I can no longer fold it all the way up against the cab anyway, and that's okay.



I did pick up some patio furniture Sunday. I was gonna' take the cover off but then decided to just fold the first two panels forward, clipped into the nifty little straps, and strap the furniture down with the tailgate open.
15 or 20 uneventful miles on the freeway at 70-75 mph.

 

I have the Toyota OEM cover, which is a rebranded BakFlip. I'm not a fan, as it leaks a lot at the fold joints. It also leaked at the top edge, but I was able to fix that with some butyl. At some point, I think I am going to either get a Cap or go with a Diamondback. Although on the Cap I am concerned about the weight of the cap spreading the bed since it is a composite bed. I've been watching the thread on that issue for a while.

 

Not that you asked, but I've had a diamondback HD for awhile now and regret it. It's very secure and weather "proof", but if you need any real access to the bed it has to be removed. I didn't realize how often I need more than the bed depth to move stuff, but it's often enough it's become a major inconvenience. Hopefully you are looking at a topper or the Diamondback folding cover.

 

Thanks. Yes. that would be the case. Not the HD.

 

Just for reference my first Undercover Flex cover leaked about a year after I bought it.
It was leaking between the panels on top.
I contacted them and they said 'oh, you have the old version' and they sent me a new one for free.
I just had to show them pics I destroyed the old one.
The replacement has been great going on 7 years now.
It's not waterproof, but very water resistant.
When I got the deck rail system, they sent me the proper clamps for free as well...

 

You might want to take a look at the Bak Revolver X4S, I love mine!

 

LOL! Nice! Somehow I doubt Toyota would do that!

 

Yes, I was looking at that. How much weight will it hold on top?

 

Lomax Trifold. Works with cleats and factory rails, no leaks, not a drop.

 

I have the bak revolver x4s and it works with my bedrail and cleats.

Talk to @SantanaRealtruck for a nice discount!

 

Bak says that it will support 400 lbs evenly distributed weight

 

Yes, just did last week with my BAK MX4. No issues. The bumpers protect the glass and the arms protect it from collapsing. Had the BAK multi-fold for many years on several trucks. Never had an issue.

 

i should also say that having that digital camera is really nice when operating with the cover completely open. First time for the digital camera...otherwise, just need to use the side mirrors.

 

So I called Real Truck/BAK today and they confirmed the newest style does not use the drop-down brackets to relocate the factory rails. Looks like this new version will not accommodate the factory cleats. "Bak" to the drawing board..

 

If you wanna go hardcore...
I had CHARVONIA DESIGN send me a pair of his tie-downs and see if it would work with my Undercover flex and it didn't.
They were too tall.
Maybe they would work on your Gen 3..

Rail Tie-Down Anchors for Toyota Tundra (PAIR) (billettiedowns.com)
But they ain't cheap..





But they are much smaller than the OEM cleats that came with my rail system.
Not sure what the Gen 3 cleats look like..

 

So how do they accommodate the deck rails?

This is interesting because their listing on the RealTruck.com page for the BAK MX4 still says, "Will Work w/ or w/o Deck Rail System".
FITS YOUR VEHICLE
2024 Toyota Tundra, CrewMax, 5'7" Bed, 3.4L V6 Turbo

Ships FREE today if ordered within 03h41m51s
PART #: 448440

• Will NOT Work w/ Trail Special Edition Storage Boxes
• Will Work w/ or w/o Deck Rail System

Here is the installation video which shows the relocation brackets/mounts that were included in mine to relocate the OEM deck rail system and how this relocation works. I followed these instructions and it worked perfectly with my deck rails:


2024 Toyota Tundra BAKFlip MX4 Tonneau Cover | RealTruck

 

Maybe this is a 3rd gen thing?

I see that they sell the relocation brackets, but only lists up to '21.

https://realtruck.com/p/bakflip-cargo-management-rail-relocation-brackets/

 

Could be. Can't remember what I did on my 2.5 gen...but I used my deck rails with an MX4 then too.

 

Here's the current instructions from Real Truck:

https://static.thiecommerce.com/ass...on_Guide/5c65ede5158afdc0f84dfcf0415fe474.pdf

"Work with" bed rails seems to mean that the cover can be installed on a truck with bed rails, but it appears that there will not be enough clearance between the bottom of the cover and the rails to actually use the factory cleats.

 

If you look at my post 21 picture above, on the left side, you can see the OEM cleets which are connected to the lowered OEM rails and they fit well below the BAK MX4 frame rail. BAK provided brackets that attach in the OEM rail mounts which drop the OEM rail ~3” lower.

 

Actually, if you look at my picture in post 21, you should see that there IS enough clearance between the bottom of the cover and the OEM (factory) cleats. This is possible because the installation actually includes hardware to lower the OEM rail. It’s shown in the video I provided.

update: evidently this has recently changed!