In the previous articles, we have covered some of the best soft roll-up tonneau covers you can currently find in the stores. As we could see, most of these units came from Truxedo – a company that has pretty much cornered this market.
However, nailing down this entry-level corner doesn’t necessarily mean you will be as dominant in the higher price segments.
UnderCover is the best example of this.
Founded in 1999, the company quickly learned the ropes of the trade and positioned itself as one of the most dominant manufacturers of aluminum and fiberglass truck bed covers. Ever since then, we have been graced with a series of excellent products that have set the quality standards in the industry.
Where does UnderCover Flex fit into this story?
Are we talking about yet another home run, or are we dealing with the black sheep of the family?
Well, if you are checking the UnderCover Flex reviews to find the answer, you will find all the answers you need further down below.
|
|
Undercover Flex Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover | FX31004 | Fits 02-20 Dodge Ram 1500-3500 6’4″ Bed
|
Highlights Reviews of UnderCover Flex Tonneau Covers
1. The Materials
In the introduction, I have briefly mentioned that UnderCover made its name by tapping into the aluminum and fiberglass hardcover market. This unit continues the tradition and represents the company’s latest addition to the lineup of aluminum products.
That lends the unit with some inherent properties – the aluminum is known for its lightweight and durable build. But, that would mean very little if the alloy we got here was poorly made.
Fortunately, that is not the case.
As a matter of fact, the aluminum panels you get in this package are probably one of the best I have seen in this corner of the market. Weighing only 4.38 pounds, the cover feels incredibly light while still being able to support as much as 20 pounds of vertical pressure.
Very sweet numbers, you have to agree. How about the rest of the materials we can find in the package?
Well, they are not bad, either.
For instance, the mounting system, which is not that exceptional on its own, does feature durable rubber seals and drain tubes that ought to keep the bed dry and safe. We’ll talk about that in a moment.
Actually, the only things I am not truly impressed with are the dual prop rods. They are not faulty or broken, but in comparison to the rest of the materials, they do seem somewhat thin and brittle. However, if you don’t put too much pressure on the panels, they should do their job without too much hassle.
2. The Design
Now, it’s time to move on to the design of this package. I am happy to report that the people from UnderCover really knocked this one out of the park.
For a start, I should mention that this package features an extremely low profile, which is great news for all the people who don’t want to ruin the look or the aerodynamic performance of their vehicle. The design is so discreet that, when mounted on the truck, the parts that are most noticeable are the side sealants, whose job is to keep the cargo safe from the water.
This is a positively remarkable achievement keeping in mind that we are dealing with materials as robust as aluminum. If you look at this thing from a distance, you can easily confuse it for some soft roll-up cover.
However, as soon as you move in closer, you will see this unit is so much more.
The thing that draws attention the most, of course, are glossy black aluminum panels, which look truly beautiful. Although I am more in favor of matte finishes, it is hard to deny that natural metallic shine makes the cover look premium in spite of its relatively modest price.
Also, the texture of the panels is patterned, so you don’t have to worry about small scratches or accidental slips. UnderCover Flex is immune to both these common problems.
The sealants and other cover components that can be visible from the outside are business as usual, but that is not that bad. They feature excellent ergonomics and don’t bring down the overall visual impression.
As a matter of fact, I would go as far as to say that, although not every cover component looks equally good, installing this unit on a truck can only elevate its look – regardless of the size or model.
The only thing to take away from the story are the small holes you get after keeping the cover stored for too long. Namely, the cover components are designed to fold in such a manner that the sharp edges inevitably poke small holes in the plastic sealant. As time goes by, this small problem can turn into serious damage.
3. Ease of UseÂ
If there is one area where I would say UnderCover hasn’t met my expectations, that would be ease of use. Although the problems I have faced are not deal-breaking, I definitely need to share my concerns with you.
My biggest gripe is that the installation of the cover is far more taxing than it should be, and the unclear instructions you get in the package are not making this problem any more straightforward.
And the problem wasn’t me. Over the last couple of years, I have installed far too many similar covers to call it a bad. You need to be patient, skilled, and precise the cover won’t be able to close correctly.
The silver lining in this situation is that the unit doesn’t require any holes or drilling. Everything can be performed with nothing more than one 1/2″ socket wrench. So, even if you do something wrong, you will be able to correct the mistake, albeit at the expense of a lot of time and effort.
However, as soon as you manage to put this monster together, things will start looking a lot better.
Being a tri-fold unit, this cover features three aluminum panels that fold into a 90-degree position next to the head of the bed. This movement can be performed very easily and without any hiccups. During these few weeks, I had to test the units, no debris found its way between the panels, the movement was smooth, and I haven’t experienced a single hiccup.
The support prop rods are also solid. As I mentioned in the previous sections, they are a bit flimsy and brittle, but they performed their duties without any severe problems. The dual action latches that keep the cover attached to the tailgate are excellent. They can be easily operated with one hand and no extra effort.
4. Performance
And now, it’s time to see how this unit behaves in real life. If you read a couple of UnderCover Flex reviews, you will see that no cover on the market offers 100% protection. You will also learn that this product comes as close to this mark as it gets.
Aluminum is known as a very durable material, so I won’t spend any time talking about the protection from physical damage. Being able to support the weight of 400 pounds, the cover easily deals with debris, small rocks, and branches. The glossy but patterned surface is also very easy to clean, so you don’t have to worry about dirt, either.
The main threat to this cover is water. But, it doesn’t take more than a passing look at this product to see the level of isolation you get is great. Even the problems that are synonymous with the low profile covers such as ponding are successfully counterbalanced by an excellent drainage system. If the water starts accumulating on the top of the aluminum panels, not even a single drop will find the way inside the bed.
The only instances when I noticed the traces of water at the bottom of the bed were after prolonged and very intentional nits with a pressure washer. I’m more than pleased with these results.
5. Pros
- Excellent price-value ratio
- Well-made aluminum panels
- Beautiful patterned black finish
- Near 100% performance efficiency
- Lightweight but incredibly durable
- Easy latching and folding
- No drilling required
6. Cons
- Very hard to install
- You need to be dead-precise
- Unclear instructions
- Keeping the cover closed damages the sealant
After Reading the UnderCover Flex ReviewsÂ
We are finally at the end, which means it is time to sum my thoughts about this cover-up. If you have read some UnderCover Flex reviews, you will see that most of them say this cover is very capable, durable, and keeps the water out of the truck bed tonneau cover without any sweat.
I can do nothing but agree with them. Furthermore, I would add that this package is incredibly affordable, thus creating one very lucrative value proposition. More than enough to look away from some problems I had with installation.
I am Dave McCurdy I am the content developer on the ecodrivingusa.com website. I have 6 years of experience in marketing as an automotive major.