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Aftermarket tonneau covers: who has them out?

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994K views 4K replies 417 participants last post by  Phyrphlyer 
#1 ·
With the truckbed box looking like a normal pickup, we will now see the availability of top-mounted tonneau covers.

Much better look, and better aerodynamics.

And with that we will have the situation that items can be a tiny bit taller going under a cover, than a Gen1 with tonneau. This, because the tailgate of a Gen2 is about 3/4" taller than a Gen1.

Do you suppose Honda gave sufficient spec information to all the well-known tonneau makers, in advance of this June release, so that they can be ready?
 
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#2 ·
If you're in a hurry to buy a tonneau cover, you might want to investigate Honda's. I think that many of the lightweight tonneau makers will hang back to ensure there's enough of a marketplace there for them. I also think that they would want to have the truck in hand when they design their products, not just go by measurements sent to them. I hope I'm wrong, but I have the sense that it may be a while before we see a wide selection of tonneaus.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
I heard that Honda took delivery of 800 units of its new tonneau cover from its OEM supplier about a week ago. As I've said in other threads, I believe that the manufacturer is Extang and that the tonneau cover is called the Solid Fold 2.0. I am taking delivery of my Ridgeline tomorrow and my dealer offered to install the tonneau cover beforehand. So he must have it in stock. I have also seen several dealerships that sell parts online that list the tonneau as being in stock. Most of them are Honda dealerships. Until June 21, when presumably Honda parts stores will become a lot more open about 2017 Ridgeline parts and accessories, this is the way to find some of those stores and their low prices:

Plug this number into Google, and you should see several stores. It is the Honda part number for the tonneau cover:

08Z07-T6Z-100

Be advised, the Honda tonneau is very expensive to ship. One dealer that shows up on this Google search results page requires $140 to ship it. On the plus side, that dealer is charging only $634.94 for the tonneau.

I suggest we all wait until after the 21st, when I believe that many other parts places will come online and we will probably find the best price then. But yes, the Honda tonneau is in the pipeline. I have not heard of anyone buying one, however. It's possible that an order placed before the 21st would be delayed. But now that's catching up to us pretty fast.

To get a look at all of the accessories that Honda plans to offer, take a look at this catalog:

2017 Ridgeline RTL (Elite) 6-Speed Automatic Honda Parts Diagram List

To grab the Honda part numbers easily and for pictures of some products, look here:

2017 Genuine Honda Ridgeline Accessories: College Hills Honda

Finally, one last point, there's a diagram of the Honda tonneau on one of the sites that shows up in the Google search. It shows four "brackets," which appeared to be the fixtures that attach the tonneau to the bed rails. It's not at all clear to me how these work. Until I know more about that, I will not be purchasing the Honda tonneau cover. All this will be revealed to us if we only have the patience to wait a couple days. The Honda.com Ridgeline website is going to come online and we should have a lot more information about lots of things, including accessories.
 
#6 ·
Everyone has to make their own decision on that point. I know people who don't lock their houses or cars to begin with. My in-laws, for example, live in the country. When my wife and I in the kids show up to visit and I lock my car they laugh at me. I would also say that at 5 feet long and weighing 60 pounds with a street price of about $650-$700 retail most thieves are probably more focused on your electronics. Tonneau covers only fit one brand and model of truck. I don't see them being very liquid commodities. Maybe if you're driving F150. Just my two cents. In
 
#12 ·
You know, I don't know what you're asking here. I assume when you're referencing the trunk you mean with the trunk open but I don't know what you mean by "front latch." What I can say is that in order to open the trunk you would have to undo the two latches on either side of the tonneau cover and fold the tonneau cover open either once or twice. But that's the whole point of a trifold hard tonneau. They open up out of the way and can be left in the all the way open position. Just open enough to fit in many things.

The location of the two latches that I referred to is inside the tonneau, about a foot into the bed, they hang down from the underside of the tonneau cover and are designed to be attached under the rail of the typical pickup where the tonneau and the bed rail meet. When not in use they fold into the underside of the tonneau.

Now it occurs to me what you might be asking. Are you asking about the attachment points — what the latches grab onto? If that is what you're getting at, and all I can say are these two things 1. This system was designed for the Ridgeline and built to Honda's rigorous spec. So I highly doubt there's any conflict with the trunk. 2. I honestly don't know how or where the brackets that are pictured in diagrams for this tonneau are attached to the truck itself. I'd like to know that myself.
 
#13 ·
Thanks for the reply, When I said front latch i meant the 2 front side latches. I was asking how low do the latches hang, and how wide would the inbed trunk open without having to unlatch the cover. I assumed you have picked up your truck and was just curious if you could post a pic. I am trying to decide if i should go with the one piece or this top. I do field service and i have some expensive test tools that are hardly ever used. ( That 's why i like the trunk) I just cant proceed with a truck purchase until i can lock the tailgate. I really like the latch for security, but i wonder how solid it is in the middle.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I started another thread this evening when I found full-fledged instructions to installing the Honda tonneau cover. You might want to check that out. And download the instructions. There are pictures that will give you answers to your questions.

But in the meantime, the Ridgeline has very pronounced posts on either side of the tailgate. I imagine this is because of the swing open feature. They seem like a waste of space to me we could probably get bigger things in the bed without them. But that's another issue. The Honda tonneau cover makes use of the upper tie-downs, which are mounted behind this pillar in the rear. The design replaces the tie-down with a latching point bracket that retreats even further away from the center of the bed. So the two rearmost latch points are tucked away in the corner behind those pillars, completely out of the way. The front brackets (closest to the cab) are a little bit more complicated. They do to three jobs: they serve as a locked-down anchor point for the tonneau; they replace the tie-down that they cannibalized; and they provide an anchor for a safety strap that I'm not familiar with. From the pictures and the instructions, it looks like the safety strap might protrude a little bit into the bed.

But I think your more pressing concern is: will anything interfere with the opening of the trunk. The answer to that is: No. The trunk will function just fine once you open the tonneau either one or two folds. I think the trunk may open partially with one fold and all the way with two. That's my best guess without having the tonneau in front of me. It wouldn't surprise me if Honda and the OEM supplier of the tonneau didn't mess a little bit with the positioning of the fold hinges to accommodate the trunk.

Curious. What one-piece tonneau are you looking at? I'm guessing ARE. Think I heard that Leer was not going do a tonneau for the Ridgeline, just a cap. In any case I'd be interested to know which model of one piece you're looking at or that you may have heard is going to be produced for the Ridgeline. Some of these one pieces seem to be adding a little bit of space above the top of the rails. Getting a little bit of added height appeals to me.
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
I posted this somewhere. I talked to A.R.E. recently and this is the information they gave me. They're working on two models for the 2017 Ridgeline: the LSX tonneau and the Z-series cap. As I recall, they are a lot further along with the Z-series cap. She said it might be a couple of months away from production. The tonneau is further out. Did you hear anything about the when the LSII would be released?

My question would be if any after market tonneau allows the trunk to fully open with the Tonneau folded back. I read with the peragon that the rails impede the trunk on the G1.
This is also covered pretty extensively in the other thread, see page 4 or thereabouts:

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/138-second-generation-2017/135266-honda-s-tonneau-installation-instructions.html

The Honda tonneau can be had for under $800. With two of its three sections folded, the trunk opens all the way. When the tonneau is completely closed, it is estimated that the trunk opens about 60% of the way. There are pictures in the other thread.

The Honda tonneau is made by Extang. Extang calls it the Solid Fold 2.0. So far as I know, the only difference between the Solid Fold 2.0 and the Honda tonneau is that the latter comes with mounting brackets specific to the Ridgeline. And here's the important part: neither the Honda tonneau nor the Extang Solid Fold 2.0 uses a rail system. So far as I know, Honda's tonneau is the only one available to Ridgeline owners today.

Extang was reached recently for comment about its intention of supporting the Ridgeline and it confirmed that it would be releasing products directly to Ridgeline owners and through its dealer network. It could not commit to a timeline. Some of Extang's wide range of tonneau models do use rails. For example, its very nice tri-fold Encore product uses rain gutter style rails. But it has a built-in lock and its panels can fold up from both the front and the back. It also removes more easily than the Solid Fold. But unless they merged the ideas of the Encore with the Solid Fold base – eliminating the rails — it would not work for the Ridgeline.

So we know that both A.R.E. and Extang intend to sell to 2017 Ridgeline customers. I would be shocked if Bak Industries didn't have a BakFlip in the works for the Ridgeline, but I've heard no official word to that effect. I believe that most of the Bak products use rails, but perhaps they will develop something that doesn't for the Ridgeline. Bak is a very capable company. I don't know about A.R.E.'s LSX tonneau. I believe it uses some sort of anchor like a rail under the scissors hinge, which is right behind the window. Whether it extends all the way down the bed are not, I'm not sure.

Unless others chime in with better information, I think that's all we know to date. Your best bet is the Honda tonneau if you need to buy in a hurry. I just put an order in for it myself.
 
#18 ·
Phineas,
I haven't heard anything This was my last conversation with them.
Hello Trent,

At this time we do not have a date as to when the LSII or any lid will be available for the 2017 Ridgeline. We are in the process of making the Z-Series and it should be available within the next couple of months.

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance to you.


Thank you,
Heather Angel
A.R.E.
Marketing Specialist
 
#19 · (Edited by Moderator)
Sonicpips:

I had the same sort of email conversation with the same person at A.R.E. – I just spoke to her the following week. At that point all she had to add was that she had heard that they were going to work on the LSX tonneau. That's just one step up from the LSII. It might be more expensive, but I'm guessing you'll like it. The main difference seems to be that it doesn't have the continuous hinge and swings up and away from the cab.

I ordered the Honda tonneau last weekend and it arrived today. I expect to post pictures either tomorrow or Saturday. If you're interested in whatever posts I make, I'm going to make them in the "Honda's tonneau: installation instructions" thread, beginning with this post:

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/138-second-generation-2017/135266-honda-s-tonneau-installation-instructions-5.html#post2050665
 
#21 · (Edited)
We heard recently that a company called DiamondBack Covers intends to bring forward its SE and HD models in the near future. Not as pretty as the A.R.E LSX series, but very strong and durable products:

http://www.diamondbackcovers.com/se/

All tonneau makers are going to have trouble attaching their tonneaus to the G2 bed rails. For example, the 2017 Ridgeline's bed rails don't support the use of C clamps. And there are other stumbling blocks.

For more info including pricing and shipping costs, see this thread:

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/...on-2017/138577-diamondback-tonneau-cover.html

_
 
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#22 ·
"I would be shocked if Bak Industries didn't have a BakFlip in the works for the Ridgeline, but I've heard no official word to that effect."

I spoke with Bak late last week and they said they were planning on an October release for their cover for the G2. Key word here is "planning".
 
#24 · (Edited by Moderator)
I personally don't like the folding covers, the rolling ones make a lot more sense to me. If you need to have access to the whole bed, you have to plan ahead and take off the folding cover, if it rolls, you are always ready to go - no need to plan ahead.

So I'm waiting till I can buy a roll up cover.
I'm sure they'll be out before the fall - I hope

Just my 2 cents.



I called also, the guy on the phone said they bought a Ridgeline for the company to use, I thought that was cool.

He really didn't know when they would have a cover, told me to check in, in a few months.
 
#28 · (Edited by Moderator)
Wow! You're right. This UnderCover Lux sounds perfect. It's like the best of both worlds. Thanks for that link. Have you talked to them about whether they're building for the Ridgeline G2?

Mine came with the cover installed by the dealership... With the cover latched we were still able to use the trunk and fill it with groceries no problem... Of course it is easier to just undo the speed latch when removing so you have full access... Takes 2 seconds to undo each latch ... Love the cover !!
It's a nice design but several of us have found that it leaks water even from a moderate rainfall. Installation of this tonneau is pretty easy since it comes already put together. I don't know what type of Honda employee you are, but if you're in a position to let Honda know that the tonneau leaks from the front corners and all along the middle of both sides, that would be great. In my opinion it needs clamps on both sides of the middle panel. And Honda needs to rework the Ridgeline's rail cap so that it is more rigid and there are no gaps, slots or seams.
 
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#27 ·
Mine came with the cover installed by the dealership... With the cover latched we were still able to use the trunk and fill it with groceries no problem... Of course it is easier to just undo the speed latch when removing so you have full access... Takes 2 seconds to undo each latch ... Love the cover !!
 
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#31 ·
I find it interesting that Honda really pulled out the stops with the composite bed material... "space age" lightweight and strong anti-corroding material with "color all the way through", etc, etc. Yet the Gen2 OEM tonneau, while more functional, seems to be nearly as much of a pig as the old one.

Why not apply a little of this cutting-edge materials science to the tonneau panels?

Hasn't honeycomb using fiberglass and aluminum and advanced composite materials been around since the 1950s? Instead we have the option of a "good enough" design with needlessly heavy material.

I fought the Gen1 tonneau off my old truck dozens of times to have the whole bed accessible. And hated it every time. What a pig!

And then the spring of the trunk lid wasn't strong enough to keep the lid open under the closed tonneau. That was fun. The trunk lid's weight was just a little too high, so it would not remain up at lower opening angles, so to keep the trunk lid open I would have to open the flap of the tonneau.

This made me regret purchasing the Gen1 OEM tonneau every time I had to flip the first panel forward just so the trunk lid would remain up.

While I respect that materials cost is a limiting factor, I will be waiting for a well-designed, good sealing, lightweight on strong tonneau to emerge rather than purchase the Honda tonneau.

And don't get me started on the old craptastic flap lock on the Gen1 tonneau. That thing was horrible.
 
#35 ·
I find it interesting that Honda really pulled out the stops with the composite bed material... "space age" lightweight and strong anti-corroding material with "color all the way through", etc, etc. Yet the Gen2 OEM tonneau, while more functional, seems to be nearly as much of a pig as the old one.

Maybe Honda doesn't sell that many of them and loses most sales to aftermarket and knowing this didn't put a whole lot of effort into making one, or possible out sourced the cover to begin with and slapped their logo on it.

There are so many varieties of covers because everyone's needs are different that I can see Honda not wanting to invest to heavily into this
 
#58 ·
That's a good price w/shipping. I priced out the same thing at Bernardi and it was over $100 for shipping.
 
#39 ·
I'm hoping BAKFlip isn't Bak Peddling (see what i did there!), but the response I just received when asking about a cover for the 2017 Ridgeline was that they're "monitoring what kind of demand there will be at this time." Hopefully someone answered me that doesn't know they have something that's potentially in the works.
 
#40 · (Edited)
The way Bak designs most of their covers will not work easily with the new Ridgeline. Any cover that sits between the rails, a.k.a. a "drop-in" cover, will have trouble working in Honda's design without permanently blocking the trunk from opening all the way. I'm sure they have some models that lay atop the bed walls. I haven't come across one yet but, if they do, those would be the ones I would think they might look to first. So that issue combined with the fact that not enough Ridgelines have sold yet to actually support the development of a product that will work readily with the G2 may keep them from doing anything soon. Any tonneau maker will most likely have to either require us to drill holes or use the removal of the tie-down approach that the Honda tonneau uses, which means the creation of Ridgeline-specific brackets. It would not surprise me if you there are fewer new tonneau models created for the Ridgeline this year than expected based on the intentions of manufacturers.
 
#42 ·
Ding. Ding. Ding! Highest price yet for an installed Honda tonneau. They're making at least $800 on that, my guess.
 
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