Who's using a Checkmate FX hard tonneau cover?

[MikeB]

Any comments on installation and quality of the Checkmate FX hard tonneau cover?

[yellowgmc]

just that i want one. if it works out let me now? i need a bed to put it on first.

[Smooth68]

I don't know about checkmate but I do have a Snug-Top and love it!

[MikeB]

ProSt68Trk -- I'm looking at their website now. I assume you have the SNUG-LID. They show it only fits back to 73-87 trucks. What P/N did you use?

[Dropt72Shortbed]

checkmates quality isnt that great.

i havent ordered a bed cover from them but ive heard on sportruck.com their covers leak alot, theyre impossible to paint and they have alot of waves in them and start to sag after some time.

however i did buy a bed carpet kit from them. it was labeled in a catalog as an s10 94-01 kit. i received the kit and the only cut to fit parts were the wheel wells, the center mat and the tailgate piece. the rest of the pieces i had to cut to fit myself! im like ok i can handle this. but then when fitting their premade pieces, tailgate mat was too big, didnt fit right. center mat was too small, didnt reach to the ends of the bed floor. and lastly the wheel well covers wouldnt even fit on the wheel wells.

i called them back and they had the nerve to tell me that it was a universal kit. i told them my invoice said specifically 94-01 s10 and not universal. anyways i was SOL cause i had already started to install the kit and they wouldnt take it back.

ive learned that you definetly get what you pay for, theres a reason snugtop and stockland (imho the best bed covers out their) cost $550-$650 while the checkmates are only $300 something.

[Smooth68]

MikeB - My bad...I have the hard cover on my driver.

[MikeB]

Blake -- thanks for the heads-up.

[Stepside]

I have the FX. Only had it about a year, but I love it. As far as leaking, the inside of my bed stays dusty. No water spots. As for painting, I don't know yet. Just talk real slow if you order. They got mine wrong the first time.

[superchevy]

I've had the FX on my truck for a year now and I love it.
$420 including shipping. I installed myself and used a better weatherstrip than that which came with the cover.
No leaks, or sags, and I just had it painted - the textured finish doesn't bother me - it's just a work truck.
I open and close it probably 20 times a day minimum.
Fits flush, and everyone always ask me where they can get one.
Get what you paid for?? Hell, I'm way ahead on this deal.
SC

[Jeff M.]

Well, I've had my Checkmate hard cover for a couple of years now. It's not real water proof as the lip sets on the top of the bed and doesn't extend beyond the edge. Mine's not a daily driver so that's no problem. Probably not the best cover for a truck seeing rain.

Painting it was a bit of a job. It's not real smooth from the factory. Best to leave it like that and start laying the primer on it. I have about 5-6 coats of primer then 3 coats of paint.

As far as sagging.......not in the least. The cover is extremely light, I installed it by myself after paint. The thing is full of styrafoam sandwiched between two pieces of fiberglass with an aluminum frame.

I've had more people ask me about it and where to get one. I've seen several slams on the cover but I'm very satisfied with mine. Yeah, it's not real waterproof, not good if your going to have to drive in the rain. But, if your looking for something clean to cover the bed and fit nice and flush I feel it's a great choice.

[DeepPurple]

I've also owned a checkmate FX hard cover for a few years and some of the remarks about it are true.
The waterproof part is worth a chuckle, but then again if you look at any true flush mount tonneau cover they all leak somewhat.

I haven't seen any sags, so it doesn't appear to be a problem. And painting was a breeze, if you don't like the texture (it really isn't that big of a deal) putting several layers of heavy fill primer over it should work.

Some notes I have though on the install and living with it.

1) If you deal with hot weather (here in St. Louis you get everything) that rubber weatherstripping on the cover will try to stick to your bedside. This will leave a black mark all around the bedside (this will be excerberated if you don't open it very often)

2) They give you a couple of lame brackets that are 1/8" angle steel for the front. I took those and chucked them as far as I possibly could.
I drilled into the bed and welded T-nuts in place there instead. Then I used similar brackets (1/4" steel) and bolted them through the hinge, giving it the same gap.

I suppose in the end it becomes a question of more of what you are looking for. If you're looking more for style than absolute practicality it's just about the only way to go.

[Blue Beard]

I'm currently looking at the Gaylord lids. They are suppose to be a good lid. A bit high on price.

Haven't seen one installed yet, making me hold back.

A.R.E. makes a very good one for newer trucks. Had one on my 2000 since new.
No leaks or problems.

They don't make one for the older trucks.
Keep dropping hints that they are missing the boat not having them for the older trucks.

Have handed a lot of business cards for the dealer.

[Dropt72Shortbed]

Originally posted by Blue Beard
I'm currently looking at the Gaylord lids. They are suppose to be a good lid. A bit high on price.

Haven't seen one installed yet, making me hold back.

A.R.E. makes a very good one for newer trucks. Had one on my 2000 since new.
No leaks or problems.

They don't make one for the older trucks.
Keep dropping hints that they are missing the boat not having them for the older trucks.

Have handed a lot of business cards for the dealer.

damn blue beard, your digging up some oooold threads..

nice truck!

as for the bed covers, ill repeat that i personally think snugtops and gaylords have the nicest bed covers, theyre both probably the most expensive but its obvious why, the quality IS there.

checkmate ripped me off 2 years ago on carpet kit, they sold me a bed rug kit that was cataloged as an s10 bed carpet kit, i got it and noticed that 50% of the parts that were pre cut to fit (yea did i mention it came with bare carpet that I WAS SUPPOSED to cut to fit myself, why would i buy a kit for that?) did not in fact fit, some were cut way too short, and the wheel well covers didnt fit on.

i called to inquire why it was such a ****ty product and they proceeded to tell me it was a universal kit! im like no... i ordered an s10 kit not a universal, then they tell me they only make a universal mini truck kit. boy was i pissed!

[Classic Heartbeat]

Here is a link to one of my Client's picture of his truck. He has a gaylord lid on his. http://www.classicheartbeat.com/vick_owens.htm
WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[baggedblaz]

i've had the checkmate and oh boy i think i would have saved my money and bought the gaylord ! i had the order problem first, then the lid came warped
or something didn't fit and ended up grinding it to fit wasn't impressed!
a friend bought one for a late model at about the same time and had similar problems and yes they do leak! not to mention how do your bed rails look guys? SAVE YOUR MONEY BUY THE GAYLORD !i hear good things and have seen a few they look nice and fit great on the truck ..

[NPilot1975]

Is there any other company that makes a flush bed cover that is better built than the Checkmate? I want a good bed cover, but I really want a flush mount one.

[Blue Beard]

Dropt72Shortbed:

Sorry about bringing up the ooold thread.

New to board, tried searching first but didn't find alot.

Second Choice: Poll the people.

Wes:

Thanks for the pics.

Had litterature from Gaylord, but its not the same as seeing customers rides.

I'm near the Portland, Oregon area and its surprising that no one here carries these in stock.

Rather hate spending money like that blind, without know how things fit.

To All:

Only been on the board a short while but find it overwhelming with the way so many people are there with thoughts, ideas, and all the help.


Blue Beard

[kxmotox247]

Sorry to respond so late. I was doing a search and came across this thread.
I have a checkmate hard cover on my 68'. I bought it back in 96' and mine doesn't sag. It leaked around the tailgate but that was because my tailgate was all beat up.
I also bought the quick release hinges. I was disappointed the first set of aluminum hinges they put on my truck. They bent up after a couple of months. Also, the fasteners they were using...the heads would pop off under stress.
Anyway, I called to complain and they sent me out a set of their "new" hinges and hardware. Much better.
Overall, I've been pretty happy with it. I drove down to their shop and had them build one for my truck right then and there.
I think I paid about $420.
I've seen them painted to match the color of the truck and I think they look great. In fact, House of Kolor had a S-10 on display that had a checkmate cover on it. It looked fantastic.