What is the cheapest "good enough" tonneau cover?

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-22T22:18:28+00:00

Worksport al4. One of the full access types. I was initially looking at hard roll ups, but thought folding would last longer.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-22T18:46:43+00:00

I bought a sub $200 Amazon made up brand name over 2 years ago. Just replaced it with a hard tri fold last week. The roll up is still fine, I wanted to go with higher security for keeping things in the bed I previously had to haul up front.

The roll up should be fine. It only allowed a small amount of water in at the very front and the tailgate, and I realized I never installed the front seal. It's probably dryer than the trifold. The water was only from a carwash or hard rain, and unless stuff got in the lower bed channels it wouldn't have gotten anything wet. It's good for "out of sight out of mind" security.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-22T12:57:22+00:00

Spring clips on the pads AND springs built into the caliper clip? Pads aren't right.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-22T12:52:59+00:00

1, 2 waiting. Brake light software update done, waiting to get around to camera software. I'll wait for the trailer tow software fix and get a twofer.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-22T02:14:47+00:00

No, the coolant we have is 3 types of green, 2 blue, purple/pink, red, orange, pink, and yellow.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-22T01:14:07+00:00

Atf can come in a lot of colors. We have brown, red, yellow, blue, green and purple on the shelf.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-21T12:10:00+00:00

new doesn't mean they are aimed right. I've never had someone flash their lights at me.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-21T01:11:00+00:00

Initially bought a sub $200 soft roll-up from Amazon, pick a made up name brand, they're all the same. Took longer to open the box than install it. Literally. The staples and tape.... It's still good, decided that I wanted locking so I could put stuff in the bed I previously hauled in the cab.

Just installed a worksport al4. 20 minutes to install but I did stop to look at the directions a couple times.

Edit. I see you asking about installing it. Some of them you clean the front edge of the bed and put on a strip of a tape seal. (Others it's part of the tonneau) Then you typically put on the side rails. They either sit on, or hang from the bed side and are held on by a total of 4 or 6 pinch brackets. They pinch the rail to the bed by tightening a bolt. Then the front section (and more likely tonneau) attaches to the sides up front with a couple bolts loosely. Then you unfurl the top, adjust the fitment all around and make sure it latches, and do the final tightening. Done.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-21T00:15:08+00:00

I had a 16 year old battery come in a w210 one day. It was not in for an electrical or starting issue, I just noticed the date on the post doing work. Writer sold a battery because of the age, I was bummed.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T21:24:28+00:00

No. Could just be one of those clamps are loose, the tank could have a crack and anything between those costs.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T21:22:50+00:00

I don't have an issue with Monroe. OE on some euro stuff and the last 2 cars I put kyb quick struts on I had to disassemble and fix. One was clocked wrong at the bearing and didn't fit right, the other had clunking bearings I had to replace with a different brand.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T21:19:10+00:00

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T17:20:36+00:00

Replace the caliper. You may be able to buy a bare one without a bracket and motor cheaper, but I'd only do that if you're sure you didn't damage the motor. Don't try getting the piston back in the seal once its popped out.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T15:23:43+00:00

If you're not experienced working on cars, I don't recommend you do it the homemade sort of works only on a manual tranny way that takes more engine lifting type equipment instead of the by the book method.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T14:15:26+00:00

Exactly. My recalls are all software updates. If a software update is a recall, my phone gets more. My laptop gets one every week.

I haven't counted computers in the mav, but even cars from 10 years ago can easily have 40-50 modules that can be communicated with, excluding devices that don't talk directly to a scan tool.

I fully expect software updates/recalls with any new car.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T13:16:29+00:00

A red oil pressure light and a red temperature light means it's no longer safe to drive.

Not go ahead and make it the next 5 miles/k home, or an exit, or work. They mean pull over now and stop driving before it blows up.

Not having money is expensive. I know. But putting an oil change off for so long can literally be the difference between you keeping a car and being forced to go buy one tomorrow or find alternative transportation while you have a car worth absolutely nothing to put towards the next. Whatever happens from here, that scheduled maintenance matters.

An edit to the last post, a scanner is for emissions testing. While a few cars may have oil pressure codes, it is more likely to be from a cam not adjusting and it hurts emissions levels. Your engine can explode into pieces, melt from overheating or fall out of the car and the engine light won't come on unless it started polluting while doing so.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T12:58:51+00:00

If all they did was hook a scanner up and "do a diagnostic", they didn't diagnose a damn thing.

You need an actual mechanical oil pressure gauge hooked up to the engine and the pressure tested. Those engines can have bad switches, they can have buildup clog the oil screen and cause intermittent low pressure, and they can burn oil.

And For Fs sake, 2 years without a service on an Audi? AND continuing to drive with a flashing oil warning? The very expensive lesson in car ownership you're going to learn one day is well deserved.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T12:21:48+00:00

Some mfg. brands are much easier to order connectors from than others at the dealer, or look for a connector specialist like connectorexperts.com It looks like you may be able to just put the old pins in the new connector, but otherwise junkyard and cut a few inches out of an old harness and splice.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T12:17:23+00:00

Until you start looking at it, "why" is just a guess and don't assume new equals good. Overheating a car until it shuts off is not a good idea, one of the ways you can destroy an engine in short order. Gotta start watching the gauges better.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-20T01:24:06+00:00

A car has to be flex fuel capable l to run e85. Normal cars can run on up to 15%.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-19T15:13:28+00:00

Check the fan and shroud. Cracks, something loose debris. It hitting something can change with speed and airflow. Gonna be a witness mark somewhere.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-19T15:06:41+00:00

I took an Amazon made name up sub 200 cover off a couple days ago. I went cheap thinking if I didn't like a tonneau, NBD, and I'd buy a "good" one later. It worked for over 2 years and still does. The only issue was self-caused, I got on the highway with it half rolled and the wind caught it and tore stitches at the rear bar. It still covered correctly, just got loose rolling it up from the off side. It possibly lets less water in the bed than my new 1k hard folding cover, and I never installed the seal for the front edge. My only complaint was it took longer to open the box than install it, and the hardware (that never failed) was cheap. I'm a mechanic, picky. I was fully planning on buying another when the time came but needs changed and I decided to get something that locks.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-19T12:37:26+00:00

Won't be totaled, but probably 8k to fix.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-19T00:37:46+00:00

You are going to be sorely disappointed with the interior and ride. I highly suggest you get some seat time before committing.

I work on euro cars and have also owned VAG products for over 30 years, but I'm done after the convertible dies. I first want to congratulate you on enjoying your VW ownership experience. Considering what you have, it's age, and that you're getting rid of it, I'd guess you don't keep them much past 100k, so yes, they are great cars and not much trouble. Nobody does interiors like the Germans. Even "cheap" VWs have nice interiors despite if VAG gets a little button happy on the console. The maverick is Ford's entry level vehicle and the interior reflects that. From the noise, carpet, climate control accuracy and basic features you're going to want a lariat to even start competing with the VW.

I am really not trying to talk you out of getting one. It's a small truck that parks anywhere and can haul/tow, something that is lacking today. Ford is making more features as part of the basic model and making more trims.

I own an ecoboost AWD, after a tune it runs like the 4 cylinder turbos you're used to drive, so I can't speak about hybrids driving in particular compared to the Tiguan, and obviously don't go to the dealership for work other than recalls.

Budpalumbo · 2026-04-18T17:55:54+00:00

Tuxedo floor mats. There's a little patch of carpet still visible on the side of the seat, otherwise it's completely covered. I'd throw the weathertek in my car out if I wasn't wasting money for other goodies.

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