i have a single cab '09 ranger and want something to increase my dry storage capacity.
my first choice for a tonneau is the solid fold by extang. i know it's pretty expensive but i've seen them in action and they are worth it.
does anyone have any insight into or experience with a cap instead of a tonneau?
if you have pictures of a single cab ranger with a cap i'd appreciate seeing them.

 

What are you looking to store? Big items of small items? This is all a matter of opinion. I like caps on certain trucks. But I also had a tonneau on my regular cab.

 

miscellaneous items. skis/snowboards, luggage, tools, anything i don't want cluttering the cab but want to keep dry.
just weighing the cost vs. practicality of both options.
was planning on getting a tonneau but then thought of building a sleeping platform (why the thought of a cap had crossed my mind, being a more sturdy shelter than a tent).
just wondering what a cap on a single cab looks like since i've never seen one.

 

From what you want to haul, get a tonneau cover.

Don't worry about the mileage difference. You won't gain any MPG's

 

To be honest with both my cap and my fiberglass cover i get worse mileage than with the bed open.

I really like the cap because of the space i get from it and i actually like rangers with caps on. The biggest downside of it is the lack of visibility. I actually ran into a 5th wheel camper because i couldnt see out of the back. Its worse since i have a tinted rear window and the windows on the cap are tinted.

With the cover i noticed better mileage than the cap but not better than with the bed open. If you do get a cover I really suggest a hard one. Its nice being able to put stuff on top of the cover andyou could mount a yakima or thule rack to carry bikes/snowboards.

I think its all in personal preference really.

 

On two highway trips with my truck, laden with two people totaling 400lbs, plus gear another 150lbs, I averaged 18.5 and 19.5 on the 500 mile trip. I'm a lead foot at times, and accelerate tough. We also drove with the windows down 80% of the time.

I've got an extended cab, but if you get the right topper it shouldn't look much different.


OLD OLD Photo

 

i would look into any trifold tonneau cover. it can be folded up for larger items. and should still lock to keep things safe. i have a fiberglass cover. and its SO heavy and horrible for carrying anything of any size..(couldnt even carry 4 wheels with tires on them had to have the cover all they way lifted up)

 

i've got a roll up tonneau and i prefer it over the cap. it's easier to take this off if i need to put larger items in the bed. it's also folded up in my apartment whereas a cap would have to be stored outside or at my rent's place.

if you are just covering up smaller items such as tools, snowboards (i do this also). i also put a pop lock on my tailgate. it doesn't matter since the tonneau is fabric and can be opened or torn/cut up. but it does help with piece of mind.

 

my next question was about carrying my bike around.
is there actually a system that carrys bikes on top of a tonneau cover?
obviously i will be getting a hard, tri fold design. like i said, solid fold by extang is the cream of the crop.
i was always leaning toward a tonneau but wanted to see what the options were before i dropped a few hundred bucks on something.
thanks for all the input.

 

I looked at tonneaus and picked the same one you are mentioning, the extang solid fold. I have a shell on the truck now (it came that way, cheap aluminum shell, yuck). Like the look of the truck with a tonneau. Gotta way a month to save up the $$$

 

why not just get a hitch mount bike carrier? (well i guess i should ask, bicycle, or motorcycle)

and morris, the way i look at it, everything you do that makes stuff harder to steal weeds out a few lazy theives. there are thieves who go to great lengths, but a lot of them wont go to the trouble of breaking a window, less will cut a top, and anyone can just grab something out the back. the little things add up!

 

true that.

 

here's mine

 

dang what size are those tires? truck looks good

 

should say in here.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/solid-axle-swaps-111/bad-idea-119506/

 

The extra weight in the bed with a cap would make a world of difference in the way the truck rides.

 

Defiantly. I got my cap mid winter and I noticed a increase in traction with the cap

 

i've found a good price on the hardfold tonneau and am pretty sure i'm going for that option.
is there an upright bike (mountain bike, not motorcycle) mounting system for the top of a hard tonneau cover? i've looked at most of the major brands (thule, yakima) and can't see anything suitable on their sites.
i don't want a tailgate rack because it would be in the way if i was trying to open the tailgate, no?

 

well if its a hitch mount rack itd probably be in the way.

 

they make the ones that you have to take the front tire off and the bike mounts to it with the forks.