Truck Hyde, Truxedo, or Access?

GM Truck Family Man · March 25, 2002

My first post here so here goes:

Took delivery of a new '02 S-10 regular cab and want to install a full access tonneau cover. Have had Lund snap tonneaus on my '99 S-10 and '01 Silverado, but I like the idea of a roll up vinyl cover. Have read up on the Access, Truxedo, and Truck Hyde brands but have not talked to anyone who has had experience with these. Access cost about $80-100 more than Truck Hyde with Truxedo in the middle. Any advise or experience with these would be great. I live in Wisconsin so any cold weather experience with any of these is also important.

Zane · March 25, 2002

Welcome to the site!

I'm sure someone will chime in here soon with an answer...

Greg · March 26, 2002

I posted a review of the Truxedo earlier. It was available locally and has held up fine this winter.

Firetiger(MN) · March 27, 2002

I think I can relate with your climate. Living in MN, I also needed something that would last throughout the cold season and not be affected by ice/snow.

I purchased the Access cover for my '99 and then moved it to my '02. It's almost 3 years old now and it still looks great (not faded) and works as good as it did new. Very easy to install. It also has tension adjusters on each side to compensate for contraction and expansion. Works pretty slick. I'd recommend it with no hesitation. I picked mine up right at the factory (Jamestown, ND) as I was travelling back from ND. If something ever happened to it, I'd buy a new one in a heartbeat.

Good luck

chevy4x4trucks · March 27, 2002

Welcome to the forum.

I don't have an answer to your question but I was wondering where abouts in WI are you from? I'm from Milwaukee.

GM Truck Family Man · March 27, 2002

Guys,

Thanks for the advise on the Truxedo and the Access tonneau. Haven't made up my mind yet, still looking. chevy4x4trucks, I live in a small town 30 miles SW of Madison.

Better get back to finding more accessories to trick out the new ride.

Greg · March 28, 2002

One thing I forgot from my research about these three products is that Truxedo comes standard with all black hardware (except for the C clamps). I think black rails are an option with the Access cover.

ScottsF150 · April 2, 2002

Just browsing the boards and came across this post. Hope you don't mind a Ford owner putting his .02 in.

I just bought and installed the Access Roll-up Cover a month ago. So far I have nothing bad to say about it. Everything is very high quality. The tarp is very heavy duty. They make tarps for 18 wheelers, so they know how to make them last! I've had multiple compliments on the cover, and have even influenced two guys here at work to order one.

I chose the Access over the Truxedo b/c I thought it was of a higher quality. I got info and fabric samples from both, and took my time deciding. I never saw an Access cover in person before I ordered it, only got opinions from fellow F150 owners who had it. I did get to see a Truxedo cover in person. Going down I-10 in Houston I saw one on a SuperDuty, and it was flapping like crazy. Don't know if he didn't have it tensioned right or not. Truxedo has some sort of "auto-tensioner" whereas the Access has a dial you turn on each side to adjust the tension. I have had no touble with that mechanism at all.

The Truck Hyde is a cheaper model made by Truxedo. Access cover also makes a cheaper model called the LiteRider. The tarp is not textured and the velco mounting strips are narrower.

The Access cover comes standard with black anodized rails. The clamps, both header bars, and bows are all silver anodized. You can get all black hardware by ordering the Limited Edition. It just wasn't worth paying the extra $25.

I suppose the only negative thing I've come across is that it is not 100% waterproof. I've had to add a few strips (1") of weatherstripping near the front to bridge some gaps. I'm not sure if any soft cover can be 100% waterproof.

Sorry for the long winded response. I hope this helps your decision, if you haven't made it already!

Greg · April 3, 2002

... I did get to see a Truxedo cover in person. Going down I-10 in Houston I saw one on a SuperDuty, and it was flapping like crazy. Don't know if he didn't have it tensioned right or not. Truxedo has some sort of "auto-tensioner" whereas the Access has a dial you turn on each side to adjust the tension. I have had no touble with that mechanism at all.

Great review of the Access. Re the tension adjustment on the Truxedo - there is an enclosed plunger and spring type tensioner on the front of each side rail. There is a screw on each tensioner to adjust the position so that the springs keep the cover at the right tension. They are easy to adjust by reaching over the bed rails from the outside.

littlebuck200 · April 3, 2002

I have an Access Cover on my truck. It has been a first class cover for me. I bought my first one in 1994. It lasted until 2001 when i traded my truck in for a new HD. The cover still looked and worked great. I bought a new access cover for my HD from tonnocover.com It installed just a easy as my first one. It comes standard with black rails and tension adjusters (which allow you to fine tune the tension without any tools).

As for the truxedo it is very boxy complared to the access cover. My friend, who tends to pinch his pennies bought one. I am glad he did and not me as he has told me many times how much trouble he has had keeping it tight and that he has trouble closing it. In looking at it closer the stitching and overall workmanship doesn't appear to be as good as my access cover.

the factory website for the access rollup cover is accesscover.com

good luck