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You can install this retractable, hard tonneau cover on your vehicle in about 10 minutes, and you can completely remove it just as quickly for full bed access. Aluminum and vinyl deck has strength of a hard cover and seamless look of a soft cover.
Features:
Specs:
The Switchblade retractable hard tonneau cover provides you with security and weather protection for your truck bed, easy accessibility to your cargo, and the flexibility to haul large items that require full bed capacity whenever needed. You can install the cover without assistance in approximately 10 minutes, and you can completely remove it from your vehicle's bed just as quickly. The tonneau deck is constructed of a vinyl fabric top sheet that is bonded to rigid aluminum panels, combining the seamless appearance of a soft cover with the security features of a hard cover.
Simple, 1-Person Installation
To install the cover, set the canister on the bulkhead of your truck. Make sure that it's square with your bed. Bolt the side rails to the tabs on the canister.
Secure the rails to your truck bed side rails using 2 clamps per side. Slide the clamp onto the rail, flip the pivot arm up so it is under the bed rail lip, and tighten the clamp in place with the twist knob. Shims are included for trucks with tapered beds.
Each clamp at the tailgate end of the rails has a supplemental kickstand to help level the rails and prevent overtightening during installation. To install the kickstand, simply slide it into the grip handle at the bottom of the clamp. Rotate the kickstand so the foot rests squarely against the side wall of the truck bed, and tighten in place.
Mount the top cover plate to the canister with the included hardware. Attach the drain tubes to the canister and route each tube out of the OEM drain holes in the floor of your bed.
To hold the pull strap off the floor of your truck bed, apply the adhesive hook-and-loop fastener strip onto the underside of a rail at your desired location.
Remove or Reinstall in 10 Minutes
After the initial installation, the tonneau cover can be completely removed or reinstalled in approximately 10 minutes. The Switchblade is great for whenever you need to haul large items that require full bed capacity from front to back and side to side. After your large haul is complete, you can easily reinstall the cover to protect your truck bed again.
To utilize your entire truck bed, detach the canister from the side rails by removing the bolts on either side with a wrench. Then take the side rails off your truck by removing the clamps with the same wrench. Wrap the pull-strap around the canister and use it to lift the canister off your vehicle.
Retractable Cover with Built-In Pull Strap
To retract the Switchblade, simply squeeze the pinch grips located underneath the cover near the center of the tailgate to activate a heavy-duty tension spring. The spring automatically retracts the cover into the canister at the bulkhead of your truck bed. This provides quicker, easier access to your truck bed when compared with manual retractable covers that have no spring-loaded assist.
A built-in pull strap helps you extend the cover over your bed. As you pull, the tonneau will glide smoothly along tracks in the side rails until it reaches the tailgate and secures in place. You can also use the rear plate of the tonneau cover to pull it closed.
Compact, Angled Canister
The cover retracts into a canister located at the front of your truck bed, giving you unrestricted visibility out of your rear window. The canister also protects the stored cover from the elements. And the compact, angled design allows for maximum clearance for your tools and cargo.
Water Management System
The Switchblade rails feature a water management system that channels excess water into the canister. This prevents water from getting into your bed or freezing in your tonneau cover rails during cold temperatures. Drain tubes attached to the bottom of the canister remove water through the OE drain holes in the floor of your truck bed.
Flush-Mount Design
The black powder-coated side rails sit 1/8" above your truck bed rails for a flush appearance. This low-profile design is aerodynamic to reduce wind drag, and it helps to improve gas mileage when the cover is closed.
Stylish and Heavy-Duty Construction
The Switchblade deck is constructed of a vinyl top layer bonded to heavy-duty aluminum slats. This ArmorTek deck looks like a soft tonneau cover with no visible seams, but has the strength and security of a hard tonneau cover. A large seal at the rear of the bed closes the gap between the cover and tailgate to create a barrier to prevent water from entering the truck bed.
Security
The Switchblade provides excellent protection for your cargo when used in conjunction with a closed and locked tailgate. Both the pinch grips and pull strap are located underneath the rear plate, which makes them inaccessible when your truck bed is closed. The heavy-gauge aluminum panels are better at preventing theft when compared with soft covers that can be cut or punctured with a knife. The panels are also more effective at preventing theft than tri-fold hard tonneau covers because the panels cannot be pried open at any point along the rails.
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Average Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (289 Customer Reviews)
You can install this retractable, hard tonneau cover on your vehicle in about 10 minutes, and you can completely remove it just as quickly for full bed access. Aluminum and vinyl deck has strength of a hard cover and seamless look of a soft cover.Shipped immediately and arrived in a couple of days. Unfortunately the unit comes in two boxes and UPS split them and delivered them over two days. This was not etrailer's fault!
The unit was exactly as described and fit my 2021 Ram Rebel like a glove. The only problem I had was the end caps were reversed on the box cover making it impossible to get the Philips head screws to catch. Once I figured that out they went right in.
I've bought many products from etrailer over the years and have never been disappointed. I highly recommend them.
Overall it is a great product. The only thing that kept me from giving 5 stars is that after about 6 months the retractable spring or whatever it is is not a good as when new. I have lubed the tracks and double checked the cover is square in the bed, but it doesn’t make much difference.
Fairly easy to install. Online videos helpful. Only issue was that end caps were installed backwards on the cover cap from the factory. Took me an hour of unnecessary frustration to figure out the problem. Once I did it was easy to screw that down and complete the installation. I do have a question- going through mechanical car wash do I need to retract the cover to prevent any possible damage or is it safe to leave it extended?
The package arrived in a timely manner and Installation was quick and easy ( I watched a video on how to install).
Everything about the experience of shopping and buying from etrailer.com was top notch. the only down side to this was the price. I know it costs alot but it was still high.
Really nice cover, instructions weren’t perfect but wasn’t too hard to figure out. As much as they brag about 10 minute removal I wish they would detail the most efficient process step by step.
took us about 30min,read instructions, check all parts, easy to install.
cover is just what i wanted.
Very nice, easy installation. Good price
Loosing it pull back into the casing after a year. But still looks great and does what it is supposed to
James
3/26/2022
This is the best tonneau cover I’ve ever owned. It’s more expensive than your standard vinyl cover, but it’s worth every penny. The installation was super easy and it looks and functions fantastic. Yes, you do need to lubricate the rails this concept of the need to lubricate moving parts seems to be lost on a number of the other reviewers. I recommend a spray silicone lubricant on a rag and wipe the length of the rails. This is something you’ll need to do about every two months. It takes a couple of minutes and it instantly restores the cover to its ability to spring retract on its own. You’ll also need to inspect the rail leveling screws from time to time and possibly tighten them if they’re not level. This is another potential reason for retraction issues. A year later I have absolutely zero issues and nothing but good things to say about this cover. Reading the reviews of some having issues, it seems to me that most of the issues I see come down to poor installation or lack of maintenance.
David
11/21/2022
It has worked out phenomenally well. Installation takes 5-10 minutes, once you know what youre doing in case you have to remove for a large load and need the entire bed. There is a little bit of water getting in between the gaps of the tailgate. This is due to the power pressure washers at the carwash. However, snow and rain does not get it. A little bit of dust does get in due to the aforementioned gaps. Overall, fantastic cover. Very happy I got it. Much better than the tri-fold ones.
Product arrived fast. Install took me an hour working by myself. Probably could install a second one in under 30.... easy install and arrived in tact.
Excellent product very easy to install fits my F350 perfectly
E Trailer has great customer service I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a retractable tonneau cover
Great fit for an eight foot bed. The Pace Edwards switchblade retractable bed cover was easy to install and adjust. This cover allows you to store items in your bed and still retract without blocking your rear window or folding in on your stuff in the bed. Very low profile cover.
Packaging was great, haven’t installed yet my truck is in for service.
Went through directions and all parts seem to be there.
Installation was simple. Although the canister supports seemed very flimsy. Cover worked well for the first few months at some point it became more difficult to retract the cover all the way into the canister. Now at one year the spring seems to have lost all its tension. Tried to contact P/E to find out if there was a way to fix it. No response yet.
Within three months the seals along the rails warped in the sun making it nearly impossible to slide the cover open or closed. I have upgraded my cover to a Bakflip MX4. I can’t share photos because I discarded the whole cover.
The Pace Edwards Switchblade has performed well after a year. It's still holding up and is a great way to protect your bed and belongings. I use a slider hitch from Pull-Rite to tow and as long as the upper hitch plate is removed there is absolutely no interference. Also the cover does NOT interfere with towing when it's retracted. I would buy this again and recommend it for its durability and good looks.
The cover looks great and DOES work on a 2020 Ram 3500 8'bed. It was easy to install. It was missing 2 hex bolts to connect the rails to the canister but a few dollars at the local hardware store fixed that. The only concern I have is the canister cover is a little warped, either from shipping or manufacturing, allowing the cover to retract in the canister without touching the brush on the canister cover. This could allow dirt and dust into the canister later as well. All in all great looking cover that does what its intended to do.
This cover survived and protected sports gear in the July heat of Tucson to the frozen cold of winter in northern NV. Noticed there was no bowing with a foot of snow sitting on it. Water resistance is good. The only major issue has been user error as folks will grab the tailgate seal and pull the cover towards the tailgate instead of the using the strap. Doesn't take much to pull the brackets apart and reset the seal in the T groove. Overall I'm happy, bed when needed and out of sight coverage and weather resistant when closed.
Just installed this afternoon, so not a lot of experience yet. I installed by myself in about 1 1/2 hours. The instructions were clear and brief. I had a little trouble getting the front clamps in place, but that was due to the thickness of a brand new spray-in bed liner, it was pretty thick. Once everything was in and adjusted the cover works good and looks like it will keep most of the weather out.
The bad:
1. The product showed up with damage. Box looked to be taped to fix it being dropped.
2. The metal parts that rest on the bed rail were bent.
3. They talk about shims in the instructions and the video but do not show where the shims are. I did have to remove them to help even out the distance the rails are between the front and back.
The good:
1. All parts were still in the box.
2. I was able to straighten the metal parts and install the product.
3. The installation video was very helpful.
This is my second switchblade, I like the security and look. It allows more water in the bed than expected. The packaging could be better this unit showed up with serious damage to the box and the drain tubes were broken due to placement under the canister in the box. Etrailer sent replacement drain tubes soon as I called. Great service!
Received my bed cover last night in a wore out beat up box. parts hanging out of it. When I opened it it was full of returned items from other customers. When I asked to discount and speed up shipment on the replacement I was told nothing he could do. I have been a loyal customer and I'm not happy with the way this has been handled.
Looks great. Should be durable enough for me and my application. Appears to be well made and was fairly easy to install. I was replacing an older well used cover for my truck that was a dealer installed after market cover that was merely worn out. My brother and I installed this Slingshot in a little less than an hour. A person with with average skills should be able to install this cover with minimal issue. Certainly is easier with two people but not difficult.
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Lynn
11/19/2022
Ive had this Tonneau cover for over a year now and Im still completely satisfied. It looks great and functions remarkably well. My daughter paid about the same for her dealer to install a cheaper fabric cover on her new Ram before I bought this one and now wishes she would have bought this one instead. If you buy this one you wont regret it!