Soft Top Meets Tri-Fold

Romance Ensues

Soft Vinyl Nostalgia

I don’t know about you, but when I hear the words “truck bed cover” only two memories come to mind: my gran-pappy’s old maroon truck bed camper shell and my uncle’s vinyl top soft roll up.

I’m not sure why these two thoughts come into my mind, but I guess that’s just how memory works. And when customers and friends alike ask me about bed covers, these are the two things I think of first.

Truck bed camper shells are a whole nother monster than tonneau covers, of course. They are typically very secure, thought my pappy’s one really wasn’t cause the back window never locked quite right. But these shells are also cumbersome, hard to use cause you have to duck down real far or crawl on your hands and knees to put stuff at the front of the bed, and they transform the entire look of your truck--and not really in a good way, at least in most truck owner’s eyes.

But it was the humble camper shell that started it all. And from that we got truck bed lids and today’s more common tonneau or truck bed covers. And one of the most popular styles even still to this day is the soft leather grained vinyl roll up cover--very much like my uncle’s old tonneau.

Again, it could be my memory playing havoc on this old mind of mine, but there’s something almost nostalgic about that full grain leather look of those covers. They sit so low on your truck bed caps and rails. The sun shines off them just so as your driving by. And again, for some reason, it's just the first true truck bed cover style that comes into my mind when people ask me about them.

And while soft roll up covers certainly have that appeal to them, that doesn’t mean they don’t have their drawbacks too. They are one of the most affordable covers available. But they also tend to be one of the least durable and secure too. They are fairly easy to install, but they are kind of annoying to use because you have to really roll them all the way up or leave them completely closed. There just not versatile in their uses and applications like many other style tonneaus that can be used partially open.

And most of the time they are the least secure and hence the least weatherproof covers you can get. Many soft tops are secured on the side by Velco like material known has hook and loop fasteners. You know what I’m talking about. The same stuff most little kids use before they learn how to tie their shoe laces. So there’s no way that soft top can be as secure as say a hard tri-fold tonneau cover that is fully attached to rails that lock onto the bed caps.

But I digress.

While the soft tops of the past are nostalgic and perhaps overly romanticized today, including by this writer, self-admittedly, by the way, they do still have a certain appeal. There’s something about bonded leather, about the feel of the vinyl under your skin on a cool summer day when you run your fingers along the top of your bed rails. It just feels right--like what a truck bed cover is supposed to be.

And if you’re like me, craving that look and low profile style cover, but you want something a little more modern, a little more secure than soft top attached with hook and loop, then you’ve likely looked at one of the top selling styles on the market today: the hard tri-fold tonneau cover.

Tri-Fold Popularity

This style took the market by storm. A very popular look with great features including better security than traditional soft covers, the hard folding cover has been positioned as one of the best options for trucks and truck enthusiasts everywhere.

And for good reason. These covers are more secure, they offer full bed access like the soft covers do, and they can typically be locked in multiple positions so you have more options for carrying larger objects in your truck bed. 

The added versatility and security of the tri-fold cover would be enough to account for their popularity. And they are great covers, no doubt. But they are missing that look, aren’t they. They aren’t that classic vinyl leather top cover.

And even if you aren’t nostalgic like me for that old low profile appeal, you’ll know that the heavier tri-folds are kind of a pain to open and close too. A manly man can do it, no problem, but my wife always complained about the difficulty of folding up our old cover, especially while holding a baby in one hand and trying not to let the shopping cart roll away with your foot. Let’s just put it this way--they could definitely be easier to use than they are and there are styles of covers that are easier to use, for that matter.

But let’s say I want the look and feel of that leather grain top with the added security of the tri-fold? What if I’m looking for a folding tonneau that isn’t as hard to use as a big bulky matte black aluminum paneled beast? I’m looking for the versatility of use from a tri-fold truck bed cover but I want the look and feel of a vinyl top?

Until recently, there really wasn’t a tonneau cover for you, until Extang launched their original Trifecta model. Since that hybrid tri-fold soft topped cover hit the market and skyrocketed in sales, Extang has made some upgrades.

Today, the 2.0 offers more heavy duty fabric on top with the same great look of those vinyl roll ups of the past. It has an even easier installation process and is even more lightweight due to the military grade aluminum skeleton underneath that vinyl top. The upgraded snap on weather seals mean you don’t need hook and loop or tape adhesives to keep the weather and would be theives out. And those new MAX hinges allow you to fold the tonneau up completely, utilizing a true double pivot design that is even more compact than more traditional tri-folds.

And she’s so light weight that my wife doesn’t have any problem opening her up one handed. It's no wonder that this baby is the best selling tonneau cover in its category today. A hybrid cover that offers the best of both worlds--the curb appeal of the traditional soft vinyl roll up with the security and weather seals of a tri-fold. All the pros of both styles with none of the drawbacks of either. It's the kind of truck bed cover that my uncle wishes he could have had back in the day.

Only today, it’s not only possible, it’s affordable too.

So let us get you acquainted with the Extang Trifecta 2.0 -- the next iteration of the perfect blend between soft vinyl and hard tri-fold. It’s the cover for you, unless if you’re like my pappy. Then you’ll need a camper shell and a few buddies to help you install it. Just playing, grandpa. I’ve got your Trifecta shipping out to you with free shipping right now, bro. Time for an upgrade.

I suppose that’s what it all comes down to: style and security. And before the Trifecta 2.0 you had to choose. If you wanted your tonneau to look like a vinyl top, you were giving up the added security of a hard top. And if you wanted security and a tri-fold or hard top, then you were giving up the sweet look of a leather style vinyl soft roll up.

But now you no longer have to choose. You can truly have the best of both worlds with the Extang Trifecta 2.0, a vinyl top with a folding hard top. Check yours out today from Midwest Aftermarket!

Our Promise of Exceptional Service and the Lowest Prices on the Interwebs

When you’re ready to order your Extang Trifecta 2.0, we hope you’ll get yours from us here at Midwest Aftermarket. We only promote products we believe in and sell them at the lowest prices, shipping quickly to you for free if you’re in the lower 48 states. We have an excellent return policy and strive to get you the right product in perfect condition the first time.

What are you waiting for? Give us a call or place an order directly through our website. We’ll get your product out to you ASAP so you can enjoy your vehicle and make it your own. If you have a vision of what your truck or Jeep could be, let us help you achieve that image, that goal. We put aftermarket right at the tip of your fingers on your smartphone, web browser, and even via various apps, making ordering the parts you need super easy. Let us help make your aftermarket dream possible. Let us help you build your dream machine. We want you to drive the truck or Jeep of your dreams right now. So when you get it installed and love it, make sure you share us some pics on social media so we can live vicariously through you. Because we too are aftermarket enthusiasts, truck and Jeep owners, who love and own many of the products we sell. In other words, we don’t just work aftermarket--we are aftermarket.

Midwest Aftermarket's collection of air intakes, pickup bed covers, truck running boards, and much more includes all the leading styles and brands. Midwest Aftermarket is the #1 online retailer for aftermarket truck and Jeep accessories, selling products at the lowest prices and providing the best customer service in the industry. With the goal to provide the highest quality product with the fastest shipping at affordable prices, look no further for your vehicle’s aftermarket accessories. From UTV’s to Jeep-fanatics to F150’s or Chevy Silverado’s, Midwest Aftermarket will give you the customer support you deserve. Ask us about our new 2 day shipping options available on many of our fine aftermarket accessories.