February 03, 2017
Aaron S. from Kansas
2011 Ford F-150
I'd like to begin by saying that I believe my Peragon bed cover was the single best modification I have added to my F150. It is stylish, functional, reliable, and secure. It is the most affordable hard-cover available and is more user-friendly than some retractable covers at twice the price. Peragon's customer service and available resources are second to none. When you call them, their automated answering devise informs you that you are about to receive excellent customer service, then without delay it connects you to a live person! They were helpful and supportive, best of all, they knew their product inside and out.
I purchased the basic black cover with the dual deadbolt (single lock with two rods) and I was very impressed with how positively the rods lock into place. The first time you lock your cover, you will know this security measure is not window-service. Another of my top favorite details is that I did not lose precious bed space (5.5' bed) to a cartridge or housing for the cover when it is not in use. In fact, the cover can be completely removed from the bed in seconds while leaving the tracks in place, making re-installation just as quick.
I could go on about the positives, but many of them can be safely assumed. I would instead like to highlight some possible areas for improvement and from those, you can assume everything else is simply the best.
Installation- They accurately claim that the installation will take you about three hours from box to completion. I performed the install myself with some basic tools in that time. Another set of hands would have helped, but they weren't available and it didn't hinder the results. There is, however, one part of the installation in which I do see some room for improvement. The L-brackets which I bolted to the inside of the bed-rail did not naturally form an angle parallel to the floor of the truck bed. The installation videos encouraged bending them into a level position, but the bed rail bent easier than the brackets did. That strength is necessary, I would NOT recommend weakening them for any reason. But after stacking washers atop these L-brackets to properly position the tracks over the bed rails, I got to thinking that while redesigning these brackets to self-align may be tough, making them self-space from the top of the bed-rail wouldn't be that difficult. Besides stacking washers, then attempting to tighten all four locations without pulling the tracks out of alignment, the rest of the installation was easily accomplished. Peragon even thought through the safety of the components in the installation process and built the packing material to perform double duty and support them above any work surface during assembly.
Another small area for improvement is the rubber caps on each end of the tracks. They cover the track itself, but do not fully seal the end of the track assembly. I ended up cutting a small piece of foam rubber to insert into the places where air, and the dust and water that it tends to carry, could infiltrate. Re-imagining the caps to match the full profile of the track assembly would give it a cleaner appearance and also assist with the integrity of the enclosure.
The cover is strong yet light weight. I trust it to stay closed while traveling down the road while either locked or unlocked via the deadbolt. That being said, the panels do visibly flex under the pressure of the wind while rolling down the highway. The flex may have zero consequence, or it may work the track system loose over time. I can't say. And I acknowledge that adding an additional rib to the under side of each panel (or a few perpendicular ribs) would add weight, possibly negating the benefit of rigidity. It just caught my attention.
And finally, this cover operates in the fully open, and fully closed positions only. I was aware of this prior to making my purchase and am NOT disappointed in the least. But by relocating the deadbolt to the tailgate end of the cover, you may be able to strategically place receivers for the deadbolt at intervals down the track, allowing for the cover to be operated in a handful of partially-open positions. This would allow the user to leave lumber out over the tailgate, or the handle of a lawnmower protruding from the bed while still shielding other lighter and smaller items from the wind.
After seeing all of the thought that went into the design, marketing, and support of your product, I assume many of these items have already been considered and foregone due to their impact on some other aspect of your fine cover. But in the case that they hadn't been considered, I wanted to make the friendly suggestions.
Thank you for creating such a superior product. I will be recommending it to my friends and acquaintances whenever a truck is purchased, and if my current cover does not fit my future truck(s), I will be back for another.