Knickell
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #1
Alright, alright, alright, guys! Its been a bit since I’ve posted some content, but I wanted to give you some updates on one of the things I have done to “my build”! I recently installed a tonneau cover on the bed, and here’s how it went!
I spent weeks researching tonneau covers for my F-150, and narrowed it down to two top contenders. The BakFlip X4S, and the Truxedo Sentry CT. I was really interested in the roll up style, but wanted something that was a bit more secure and would not be compromised by any given wrongdoer with a pocket knife. The X4X and Sentry CT address that issue by being rigid and made of aluminum panels rather than simply loose vinyl/leather material.
Eventually, the Truxedo Sentry CT won me over. I really like the appearance of the matte black woven fabric, the ultra-low profile, and the ability to completely remove it from the bed in the event I need to.
I was nearly ready to pony up Truxedo’s suggested retail price $979 plus tax and shipping for a Sentry CT cover for an F-150 equipped with the 5’7” box. Amazon, multiple truck accessory websites, and the lot of retailers all had similar prices around $1,000, so I figured that was the price of admission to secure my truck bed.
A lot of you guys recommended RealTruck.com. Their website price was still $979. However, some of you advised that I email one of the salesmen directly. Well, I did and I was pleasantly surprised when I was offered a “secret squirrel” price nearly two hundred dollars less! SOLD!!
I worked with a guy by the name of Alex Pendleton, [email protected] . He did right by me, and was very helpful should you all need to purchase a bed cover, or other truck accessory from RealTruck.com.
Shipping was relatively quick, and my particular Sentry CT cover even made a special stop while enroute to my door!
She made a quick stop in my F-150’s birthplace! That’s right Kansas City! It was a quick stop, because it was at my house within the next day or two. Its like it was meant to be!
When it arrived, I had to wrestle the gargantuan box in inside the house and contemplate exactly how I was going to get this thing on the truck. I watched several installation videos before my purchase, and was assuming I could install it myself. But now I wasn’t entirely certain.
Here is a quick look at my truck bed before the installation. Keep in mind I have a Line-X spray in bed liner. I saw multiple instructions and videos advising those with spray-in style liners to sand down the bulkhead of the bedliner and add adhesion promoter. I was overtly reluctant to take sand paper to be brand new truck bed. So I called Truxedo directly to see what the would recommend. They said certainly add adhesion promoter, but sand the truck bed at your own risk as it could help with adherence, but obviously they would not be responsible for any damages. I had my answer, I definitely WAS NOT going to be sanding down my new bed!
This adhesion promoter was not included with the cover, so I had to find some on my own. Believe it or not, Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, among others did have any “adhesion promoters”. Most didn’t even know what it was. “Did they just mean glue?!!” I began to think… But of all places, I finally found some 3M Adhesion Promoter on Amazon. I had to wait a few more days for that to arrive so I could begin the journey of installation.
I’m sure for many of you, installing this thing was be a breeze. For me, however, let’s just say…. I’m not the most mechanically or technically inclined when it comes to building or installing stuff. Once I got the box open, I began to wonder if I hand gotten in over my head.
(A look at the box and all its contents. Scissors and wrench not included!)
(Here we go!)
Step 1: The instructions call for installing the rubber bulkhead seal first. Add the adhesion promoter if you have a spray in liner. Oddly enough, you have to allow the promoter to dry before you apply the seal.
(The rubber bulkhead seal after being applied to the bed)
Step 2: Install the cover rails. I bought a couple of clamps to help hold the rails of the cover to the bed frame. You don’t necessarily need them, but I figured all the help I could get was a good thing! Secure the rails to the bed using the provided clamps.
The rails fit just ever so slightly on top on the bed frame.
Step 3: Install the actual cover to the bed and rails. It secures to the rails using a locking clamp.
This plastic handle closes/clamps over the bed rail.
(Looking up at the handle from underneath)
That rivet from the cover goes into a hole on the bed rail. The handle then closes over it. After that, its essentially on and complete!
Of course, there were a few technique details in between, but I won’t bore you all with those. Get the manual if you want!
I’ll cut straight to the pics of the finished product!!
Installed with the Sentry CT cover rolled up!
It secures to the bed nicely with no contact on the rear glass.
If you guys have your Ford BoxLink cleats installed, the retaining straps fit in the hole of the cleat perfectly for when the cover in deployed so its not bouncing around the bed!
Fit flush and sung of the first try!
I love the low, flat profile. Looks slick!!
I wouldn’t truly be testing its mettle unless it went through a good old fashion Florida rain storm!
(Had to crank the contrast up a bit, so you could see)
It held up flawlessly! Hardly any leaks or water inside the bed whatsoever. I saw maybe one drip up on the left side of the bulkhead wall, but I’m not even entirely certain that was water. If installed correctly, it should keep your truck stuff dry as well as give your F-150 a slick low profile looking covered bed!
I spent weeks researching tonneau covers for my F-150, and narrowed it down to two top contenders. The BakFlip X4S, and the Truxedo Sentry CT. I was really interested in the roll up style, but wanted something that was a bit more secure and would not be compromised by any given wrongdoer with a pocket knife. The X4X and Sentry CT address that issue by being rigid and made of aluminum panels rather than simply loose vinyl/leather material.
Eventually, the Truxedo Sentry CT won me over. I really like the appearance of the matte black woven fabric, the ultra-low profile, and the ability to completely remove it from the bed in the event I need to.
I was nearly ready to pony up Truxedo’s suggested retail price $979 plus tax and shipping for a Sentry CT cover for an F-150 equipped with the 5’7” box. Amazon, multiple truck accessory websites, and the lot of retailers all had similar prices around $1,000, so I figured that was the price of admission to secure my truck bed.
A lot of you guys recommended RealTruck.com. Their website price was still $979. However, some of you advised that I email one of the salesmen directly. Well, I did and I was pleasantly surprised when I was offered a “secret squirrel” price nearly two hundred dollars less! SOLD!!
I worked with a guy by the name of Alex Pendleton, [email protected] . He did right by me, and was very helpful should you all need to purchase a bed cover, or other truck accessory from RealTruck.com.
Shipping was relatively quick, and my particular Sentry CT cover even made a special stop while enroute to my door!
She made a quick stop in my F-150’s birthplace! That’s right Kansas City! It was a quick stop, because it was at my house within the next day or two. Its like it was meant to be!
When it arrived, I had to wrestle the gargantuan box in inside the house and contemplate exactly how I was going to get this thing on the truck. I watched several installation videos before my purchase, and was assuming I could install it myself. But now I wasn’t entirely certain.
Here is a quick look at my truck bed before the installation. Keep in mind I have a Line-X spray in bed liner. I saw multiple instructions and videos advising those with spray-in style liners to sand down the bulkhead of the bedliner and add adhesion promoter. I was overtly reluctant to take sand paper to be brand new truck bed. So I called Truxedo directly to see what the would recommend. They said certainly add adhesion promoter, but sand the truck bed at your own risk as it could help with adherence, but obviously they would not be responsible for any damages. I had my answer, I definitely WAS NOT going to be sanding down my new bed!
This adhesion promoter was not included with the cover, so I had to find some on my own. Believe it or not, Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, among others did have any “adhesion promoters”. Most didn’t even know what it was. “Did they just mean glue?!!” I began to think… But of all places, I finally found some 3M Adhesion Promoter on Amazon. I had to wait a few more days for that to arrive so I could begin the journey of installation.
I’m sure for many of you, installing this thing was be a breeze. For me, however, let’s just say…. I’m not the most mechanically or technically inclined when it comes to building or installing stuff. Once I got the box open, I began to wonder if I hand gotten in over my head.
(A look at the box and all its contents. Scissors and wrench not included!)
(Here we go!)
Step 1: The instructions call for installing the rubber bulkhead seal first. Add the adhesion promoter if you have a spray in liner. Oddly enough, you have to allow the promoter to dry before you apply the seal.
(The rubber bulkhead seal after being applied to the bed)
Step 2: Install the cover rails. I bought a couple of clamps to help hold the rails of the cover to the bed frame. You don’t necessarily need them, but I figured all the help I could get was a good thing! Secure the rails to the bed using the provided clamps.
The rails fit just ever so slightly on top on the bed frame.
Step 3: Install the actual cover to the bed and rails. It secures to the rails using a locking clamp.
This plastic handle closes/clamps over the bed rail.
(Looking up at the handle from underneath)
That rivet from the cover goes into a hole on the bed rail. The handle then closes over it. After that, its essentially on and complete!
Of course, there were a few technique details in between, but I won’t bore you all with those. Get the manual if you want!
I’ll cut straight to the pics of the finished product!!
Installed with the Sentry CT cover rolled up!
It secures to the bed nicely with no contact on the rear glass.
If you guys have your Ford BoxLink cleats installed, the retaining straps fit in the hole of the cleat perfectly for when the cover in deployed so its not bouncing around the bed!
Fit flush and sung of the first try!
I love the low, flat profile. Looks slick!!
I wouldn’t truly be testing its mettle unless it went through a good old fashion Florida rain storm!
(Had to crank the contrast up a bit, so you could see)
It held up flawlessly! Hardly any leaks or water inside the bed whatsoever. I saw maybe one drip up on the left side of the bulkhead wall, but I’m not even entirely certain that was water. If installed correctly, it should keep your truck stuff dry as well as give your F-150 a slick low profile looking covered bed!
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