Soft covers - theft a problem?

[raycatch9]

Looking at the different cover options and am wondering about hard vs soft and theft occurrence. I am leaning toward soft (tri-fold) for cost - but am worried about the ease of boneheads cutting the vinyl open and stealing. Or even just the ___hole factor of vandals. For those that went with the soft bed covers, how many have had or heard about theft/vandalism? My budget is tight now. Am I worrying about theft for nothing if it rarely happens? I am not in a high crime area - but - I do travel and would worry about being parked at night.

 

[SniperDroid]

Nobody lives in a High Crime area... I live in Lorain County, and put on a Hard Cover because we drive all over the place... If your keeping important things in the bed, I suggest a Hard Cover...

 

[PolarisCobra]

It really depends on the value of what you put back there. For me, it's empty most of the time. If you are storing tools, or things like golf clubs you may want to consider somethin more secure.

But - at least it is out-of-sight-out-of-mind.

I have had a soft cover on my truck for 5 years now. Left it all sorts of places, no one has ever bothered it. Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself...

 

[Tulecreeper]

I just had a RetraxPro XR installed on mine last month. Expensive, but I have tools, and sometimes a generator back there and I don't want them wandering off to Bubba's garage when I turn my back.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

My rig came with the factory tri-fold soft cover from the dealership.
I seldom carry anything of importance and/or value in there, and to date (I hope I don't FN jinx myself here...) I've had zero issues.
If my bed is loaded up, then it's in and out, period! I don't risk anything as a soft cover is just that, soft!
That said, were I to have anything of value in the bed, you can be assured that it would be a solid tri-fold cover on my truck!!
Choose based on what you do with your truck!

 

[Stavinksi]

i leave nothing of value. Would you rather vandals slash your soft top or your tires? They can damage anything any time. I just try not to be that a hole neighbor asking for a drunken tire slashing at 2 AM. Get the top you want and enjoy it. That’s why they make so many different types.

 

[KKBB]

IMO if they want in, they are gonna get in. Hard or soft. They will destroy either one in no time if someone really wants to.

 

[mtofell]

Yeah, depends on what you're putting in and where you'll be parking. The whole, "out of sight" thing is definitely better than valuable things just sitting in the bed but it's still somewhat risky. That being said, I've run with soft covers on my last three trucks spanning 20+ years and have never had an issue. For one, my basic work tools are worth $500 max and I really like the ease of the soft cover. Rolling it up literally takes less than 15 seconds and that's pretty nice.

 

[GTyankee]

Some of the cross country motels that i'm forced to stay in.
I back the tailgate as close to the motel room door as i can.
Otherwise i park as close to the bright light of the Managers apartment, as i can, if there is a camera on the property, it will be there.

If they bust into my hard cover, they still have to cut the lock on the toolbox under it, which means they will likely have to break the tailgate lock, it will be noisy.


It is not perfect, but it has worked so far

 

[tron67j]

I also keep a hard cover trifold on. I had a Pace Edwards roll back that worked great for about 13 years till it stopped working so well. I bought a $400 (now around $6-700) hard top trifold at Walmart. Figured it would do until I bought a more expensive permanent one. That was about 6 years and 2 trucks since. It works great, latches to existing bed rail lip, and is pretty solid. If you can swing that amount, I highly recommend the Walmart route. Good luck.