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The Gator SFX Triple Case is a cover that many truck owners buy without caring about most of the details. The ultra-competitive price makes it all too easy to make impulse purchases when you’re shopping for a soft tri-fold cover. Even if you’re skeptical because of the low price, you’ll probably grab it anyway.
I’m all for affordable tonneau covers. Whenever I am asked what cover someone should buy for their truck, TrailFX is the first name that comes out of my mouth. It’s not because I’m particularly frugal. I just know that this is a product that delivers the highest quality despite being priced lower than most. After reception Gator SFX for the test drive, though, i might have a new name to slap on the default.
Gator SFX tripled tonneau cover it’s a solid win for the price. It’s not perfect, but my issues with it don’t break it. And while it’s not the cheapest cover on the market, it’s probably the lowest priced you can buy before the quality really starts to go out the window.
Result:
| Gator SFX Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover | |
|---|---|
| Quality | 8/10 |
| Value | 9/10 |
| Fit and finish | 7/10 |
| Ease of use | 7/10 |
| In general | 7.75/10 |
Gator SFX Tri-Fold Review
Before proceeding to the review Gator SFX Coverlet’s take a look at the main features. For starters, it’s a gentle trifold tonneau cover which is available for a wide range of popular pickups. The regular price starts at $289.99, making it one of the most affordable options on the market.
The cover itself is a tear-resistant, marine-grade vinyl stretched over a lightweight aluminum frame. Rubber seals, most of which do not need to be installed, keep the elements out. Speaking of which, Gator keeps the setup extremely simple. This case only needs the one Torx wrench that comes with it. There is a catch with some apps, but I’ll get back to that in a minute.
Gator sweetens the pot by offering a lifetime warranty on the structural components of this cover, along with a 10-year warranty on the vinyl. It’s also backed by Gator’s love-it-or-change-it guarantee.
Practical use of the Gator SFX Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
I installed Gator SFX tonneau cover on my sister’s Toyota Tacoma. To be honest, I almost expected it to be overpriced, not the other way around. When I opened the package, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the quality was on par with what I would expect from covers slightly above its price range. It’s certainly not top quality equipment, but it’s more than good enough for the purpose it’s meant to serve.
One of the main advantages of this case, aside from the price, is the super easy installation. It works by hooking onto the truck’s existing rails with some brackets. These brackets only require a Torx wrench to install. Once installed, simple latches with pull handles lock the cover in place. This allows you to remove the cover in seconds if you need to.
However, the Tacoma also requires additional seals to be added to the bulkhead to keep out the elements, which adds a bit more to the process than you might initially expect. I can’t fault the cover for that though, as it has more to do with the Tacoma’s design features.
All in all, I put the cover on the truck in about half an hour, which included making adjustments to get it to fit just right. Once it’s on the truck, you’ll get a much better feel for the overall quality. Again, the materials used look great for the money. However, the final fit and finish isn’t exactly the best.
For the most part, the cover fits the truck very well. It just goes up towards the back door which looks a bit awkward. It also creates a slightly imperfect seal. It will definitely keep most of the water and debris out, but I would still be mindful of washing the truck with the contents in the bed. It’s not exactly a deal breaker, though. These covers aren’t meant to be waterproof anyway, and the visual aspect is something many will find acceptable for the price range. It’s also one of those things you don’t notice unless you’re looking.
As for operation, it is very easy to use. The cover has snaps on both sides to quickly lock it in place. Although it’s fresh, the springs in the latches are a bit stiff, but they’re simple enough to work quickly once you get the hang of it. It also has simple buckles to hold the cover in place to allow access to two-thirds of the bed.
yes. This provides access to only part of the bed. It won’t fold down to the rear window to fully open the bed. However, I don’t see a problem with this as the cover comes off straight away without any tools.
Verdict: A solid buy for under $300
Does it appear Gator SFX the absolute best soft folding tonneau cover on the market? No. It’s not really trying to be either. It should be a really good tonneau cover at a very low price, and it’s absolutely fine.
The only feature that really goes against this cover is the odd little setup in the back of the truck. It’s not great, but I think most in the market for a cover in this price range can easily live with it. It’s still made of quality materials that will do the job it’s designed to do, and actually looks pretty good on the truck when all is said and done. I also really like to see that Gator backs this product with a solid warranty. It’s really hard to go wrong for the kind of money this case is asking for.
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