I am on my third BakFlip tonneau cover. My first one, purchased in May, 2006, started showing cracks in January, 2007. I originally purchased the cover from Autoanything.com. I should have contacted the vendor, but I went directly to the factory for a warranty adjustment. I met with Ivan Maimin, the owner of the company. He pro-rated the warranty and I left with a new cover at a cost of $135.00. I was under the mistaken impression that the warranty was for 12 months, without any charges for replacement during that time period. In any event, the new cover was far superior to the original one. In August, 2007, the replacement cover, #2, literally fell apart. The panel end caps came off, and anything secured with adhesive came loose. This time I contacted Autoanything.com, and asked for their assistance in resolving the issue. About two months later I was notified that a G-2 BakFLip was being shipped to me at no charge. I was instructed to remove and send the old latches to Bak Industries, and then discard the defective cover. The new cover was installed and in June of this year I again noticed cracks in the panels. I use the truck only for my fishing trips, which is why I have only 16,000 miles on it since purchasing it new in February, 2006. I take about six trips annually, and all of it on paved roads. I have never taken it off road, nor abused the cover in any way. I recontacted Autoanything.com again and asked if there was anything that could be done, since I have had three tonneaus in three years, and I am tired of having disposable covers. The warranty had expired but I was hoping that something could be done as a goodwill gesture. I was informed that Bak Industries would not send me a new cover, but offered to upgrade me to a new BakFlip HD cover for the price of repairs to my G2 cover. I was directed to contact the factory directly. I did so, and after playing phone tag with Ivan for a week, I finally was able to speak to him. I explained my situation, and he offered me a BakFlip HD cover, starting at $700, but finally agreed to $400 out the door, installed.
I drove to the factory, which is located in an industrial area, but with no name on the building. I spoke to Ivan, and was told to drive my truck into the back of the factory. I also returned cover #2, since it had been gathering dust in my garage since I installed cover #3. Two employees removed cover #2 and cover #3 from the truck and then began installing a new BakFlip HD. The new cover used the existing rails, since Ivan gave me a credit for reusing the rails. The new cover looked great, until it was installed. The end panel was above the top of the tailgate, leaving a significant gap between the tailgate and the cover. The employee installing the cover said that it didn't fit, and suggested that I contact Ivan in the office. As I entered the office, Ivan and another man were walking in to the shop. I noticed that Ivan was showing this "potential customer" the advantages of the HD cover over the G2. The employee installing my new cover showed Ivan the problem and Ivan told him to get more weather stripping and place it under the panel to close the gap. The employee did so, but a large gap was evident on each side of the cover at the tailgate and side of the bed. I told Ivan that the tonneau cover did not fit, and the gap would allow water to enter the bed. Ivan began shouting at me, saying that he had done everything he could to please me, but I would never be satisfied. He couldn't understand how I had damaged three BakFlip covers, and was upset that I had not returned cover #2 to the factory, despite what I had been instructed by Autoanything. I told the employees to reinstall cover #3, since I would not be purchasing a cover that didn't fit. One of the employees said that the cover obviously did not fit, and that it was an engineering defect that should be corrected. As he was walking away, Ivan shouted that he has sold 2000 BakFlip HD's and never had any problems. I was able to speak to the potential customer that Ivan was talking to. The customer was seeking a warranty adjustment on his BakFlip G2, which had cracked after 5 months. I hope he saw the exchange between Ivan and me, and decided to save his money.
As I was leaving, the two employees that assisted me said that the HD cover did not fit my truck correctly and apologized to me for the behavior of Ivan. Needless to say, I will never buy another BakFlip, or any other Bak product. Three tonneau covers in three years is too much. By the way, the warranty starts the day of the first cover purchase. Although cover #3 dates from August, 2007, according to Ivan, the warranty period began when I purchased the first cover in May, 2006. I have never seen the terms of the warranty, since it was not included with the first purchase. I am now in the market for a new cover, hopefully one that will last a few years. I have nothing but praise for Autoanything.com, and specifically Roy McCord in customer service. The two Bak Industries employees were extremely helpful, and I appreciate everything they did. Unfortunately, BakFlip did not work for me, and the customer service left something to be desired. After my experience today, I can understand why the factory building doesn't have the company name on the exterior. Please excuse the long post.
I ordered a G2 Bakflip cover for my 2007 Crewmax about 2 weeks ago based on the reviews I had read. When the cover arrived I noticed it said 5'8" on the box, my bed is 5'6". I started installing the cover and the rails were about 2 inches too long and the tailgate would not close? I immediately called Autoanything and after chcking to make sure the part numbers were correct, referred me to Bakflip customer service. The guy told me to cut off the ends of the rails. I asked him "What if I cut the rails and the cover is too long?" He said they would make it right. I went ahead and installed the rails without cutting them and put the cover on. Pushed the tailgate up as far as it would go and the cover was at th rear edge. The cover was about 2 inches too long as well. Boy was I glad I didn't cut the rails! Called Bakflip and was told the wrong parts were put in the box and to pack it up, they would issue a call tag to have it picked up and they would call Autoanything to inform them. When I didn't hear anything I called Autoanything. They had not been contacted by Bakflip. While I was on hold Autoanything called Bakflip and told me it would be picked up and when they had confirmation I would be sent a new one. I still had some concerns so I asked for the name of the rep from Bakflip. I called and he assured me the wrong parts had been put in the box (apparently this is not the first time), and he would ship one immediately so I did not have to wait. The new cover came yesterday and it said 5'8" on the box. I was concerened but opened it up and the rails were the correct length. Went ahead with the install and everything fit great. I was feeling pretty good until I read your post. Only time will tell if the cover will hold up. I've got my fingers crossed!
During my initial phone conversation with BAK Industries regarding substituting an HD for my G2 with cracked panels, Ivan, the owner, explained that the plastic manufacturers had changed the composition due to escalating oil prices. Ivan said that he had 1,000,000 (that's one million) pounds of plastic, made within the last six months, that was defective, and was the cause of the panels cracking whenever the tonneau cover was subjected to direct sunlight and high temperatures. For that reason, they were no longer producing G2 covers, but had shifted production to the HD model, since the HD panels are all aluminum. Hopefully the current G2 covers were produced prior to the delivery of the defective plastic, which is claimed to be ABS. I must have received an early batch of altered formula ABS, however, since my first cover, produced in May, 2006, cracked in January, 2007. When I initially toured the BakFlip factory in May, 2006, prior to purchasing my first BakFlip, I was told that the panel material was Lexan polycarbonate, and was impervious to sunlight, heat and was impact resistant.
When I first got my truck, I was looking at a tonneau and considered them. Someone locally was selling theirs and I saw it ripping. They said it was under warrenty and I could get a new one free. glad I ran from that deal
Knock on wood, mine hasn't cracked and it has been on the truck out in the Sun for the past 8 months. Only thing I don't like is that I can't stop water from leaking in.
The place I bought it from siad they would water test and adjust it to prevent water from puring in, I just haven't been able to waste a day to do it. (Time is still money, even if the repair is "free")
The bad part about this post is that you had a really bad expereince and very poor customer service with the OWNER of the company...
Guess I got one of the good ones. Put one my Tacoma in April of 08 and haven't had any problems except that it does leak around the edges near the tailgate. Sorry to hear about your problems.
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2006 access cab 2tr-fe auto k&n bakflipG2 popNlock
I've had mine since last winter and it was great at first. I only purchased mine because of the reviews and the price. Now nearly a year into it there is a leak in the corner of the bed closest to the cab on the drivers side, all the panels have started to bow or sag down which in turn holds a lot of water and does not help with the sagging and lastly I recently noticed the cable and latch assembly metal work is coming unglued and the rivets they used are also starting to pull out. Eventually they are going to fall off and not latch any more. After reading the OP's post I am not too confident they will stand behind their product. I going to have to nut up and call them and see what they can do. I may call Stylin trucks first to get them in the loop for further help.
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'07 SR5 DC 5.7 silver sky metalic
5% tint rear windows, 2 Flowmaster 40 series w/ dual tips out the back, Carriage Works polished grill overlay w/emblem, 3-piece bumper inserts (not CW), Airaid, Ground Force rear shocks, DJM 3" arms, belltech flip kit, 22" BOSS 329 w/ 305/45/22 General grabber UHP, G2 bakflip.
I almost bought a Bakflip based on some good reviews and youtube - but thanks to this forum, I spend a bit more and got a Extang Solid Fold, after 2 years, still no problems.
BakFlip Revisited, again; The Final Chapter
Linear Mode
