BAKFlip MX4 vs F1 (Full Comparison)

The BAKFlip tonneau covers are premium truck bed covers offered by BAK Industries.

They have 7 different truck bed cover offerings.

Two of the most popular covers are the BAKFlip MX4 and the BAKFlip F1 tonneau covers. These two covers are both quite similar to each other on many levels.

The main difference between the F1 and MX4 BAKFlip tonneau covers is that the MX4 has a matte finish while the F1 has a glossy finish. The other difference is that the MX4 can hold up to 500 lbs on top while the F1 can only hold 400 lbs. And lastly, the F1 has a dent-resistant polymer material compared to aluminum in the MX4.

The rest of this article will go into more detail about the difference between the two as well as the similarities.

F1 vs MX4	F1	vs	MX4
Aluminum		vs	X
Dent-resistant FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer)	X	vs
Hard Folding	X	vs	X
Locks with Tailgate	X	vs	X
No-Drill Installation	X	vs	X
Finish	Gloss	vs	Matte
Weight Rating	400 lbs	vs	500 lbs
Warranty	5 yrs	vs	5 yrs
Tailgate Seal	Dual Action	vs	Dual Action

What is the same about the F1 and MX4?

Before we go into more detail about what makes the BAKFlip F1 and BAKFlip MX4 different, let’s look at the similarities, because there are far more of those.

Both covers are hard, tri-fold aluminum truck bed covers.

Both align virtually flush with the height of the truck bed. The folding mechanism is virtually identical. Both covers allow for up to 100% full bed access.

The cover can be held open completely with prop rods that will keep the folded cover components vertically upright behind the rearview window.

There is also an option to strap in the cover to clips affixed to the cover (as seen in the image below) to hold the cover partially open.

Neither tonneau covers require any drilling into the truck bed for installation. Occasionally there is some drilling required if a hard bed liner is installed.

Neither the F1 nor the MX4 is waterproof, but they are water-resistant with a built-in drainage system. BAK does not claim that the items under their truck bed covers will remain completely dry, and this should be taken into consideration in your decision.

And lastly, their biggest similarity is in security. The F1 nor the MX4 have their own lock, they simply lock with the tailgate of the truck. If the BAKFlip tonneau cover is closed, the tailgate is closed, and the tailgate is locked, the tonneau cover cannot be opened.

F1 and MX4 Accessory Compatibility

Because the F1 and MX4 are so similar, BAK has the same recommendations for additional accessories with these tonneau covers.

It can be hard to add any additional truck bed accessories, such as a toolbox, bed rack, or headache rack, but there are options for all three with the BAKFlip F1 and MX4.

Standard toolboxes won’t fit with these covers because they typically sit above the height of the truck. However, there are three toolboxes that will fit underneath these covers.

The first is the TruXedo Tonneaumate Toolbox, the second is the Undercover swing case storage box, and the third is the BAK-designed BAKbox 2.

All three of these were recommended by BAK in their Q&A section as being compatible with the F1 and MX4 covers.

If you are looking to install some type of truck bed rack above your cover for extra capabilities, the only rack you will be able to install is the TruXedo Elevate Rack System.

It appears this system sits on the edge of the bed frame so it does not interfere with the truck bed cover.

And lastly, if you have a headache rack already installed in your truck and want to add a F1 or MX4 tonneau cover, you will need to contact BAK customer service and make sure you get the appropriate adapter to accommodate a Backrack with the BAKFlip F1 or BAKFlip MX4.

F1 VS MX4 Comparison

Now let’s look at the major differences between the F1 and MX4.

Finish

Visibly, the F1 and MX4 look a bit different. The F1 has a glossy finish and the MX4 has a matte finish.

You can see the difference between the two from the pictures below which show a glossy and matte cover. It is quite noticeable that the F1 is quite shiny and reflects light easily, whereas the MX4 is softer.

Price

The MX4 is more expensive than the F1. At the time of writing this article, the F1 was about $30 cheaper than the MX4 for the same vehicle on the BakFlip website. (There is a bigger difference on Amazon.)

Warranty

Both tonneau covers come with a manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty is 5 years for both covers.

This warranty package requires that you register your cover at BAKindustries.com in order to potentially qualify.

They will not accept any warranty claims if they determine that any damage has been made by accident or the fault of the user. They stress that replacements through warranty can only come from defective materials or manufacturing.

Weight

The weight of the cover depends on the size of the bed.

However, BAK does mention in their Q&A that the MX4 (from Amazon) is about 10 lbs lighter than the F1 (from Amazon).

The weight of these covers is in the range of 60-80 lbs, though.

*It is important to note the weight of this addition because it can impact the towing capacity of your vehicle. To see how this can impact towing capacity check out: How is towing capacity calculated?

Supporting Weight

Both the F1 and MX4 can support evenly distributed weight on top of the cover. The MX4, however, is a bit thicker with a stronger foam core and can support up to 500 lbs.

The F1, on the other hand, can only support 400 lbs of evenly distributed weight.

This weight refers to the weight directly placed on top of the cover.

Tailgate Seal

The tailgate seal for both of these covers have the universal seal.

The this means the MX4 and F1 have the ability to open and close the tailgate independent of the tonneau cover position. This is referred to by BAK as the Dual-Action Tailgate Seal.

Material

The MX4 is made from an aluminum material and the F1 has a dent-resistant FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer) coating.

The type of material is something to consider depending on the weather conditions you will face. The F1 is best for hail and truck bed racks and the MX4 aluminum is better for locations with lots of sun.

BakFlip F1

Common Complaints

The BAKFlip F1 has exceptional ratings on both Amazon and their shop. On every cover I looked at, there were at least 4 stars on average.

The most common complaint is that this truck cover leaks. This is not designed to be waterproof and is meant to drain as best as possible, but installed improperly, excess water will leak into the bed.

Many people have the misconception that this is intended to keep everything in your truck dry; that is simply not the case.

Installation

As mentioned before, the F1 does not require any drilling for installation. The video below will provide some insight into the F1 BAKFlip and will show the installation if you are interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZFj_jdy3pk

Alternatives to F1

For a cheaper option than the F1, the XCover is, in my opinion, the next best thing.

It is still a high-quality hard plastic folding cover. It is similar to the F1 because it can hold 500 lbs, it has a 5 year warranty, and it is dent resistant.

It is slightly different because it is plastic rather than composite.

BakFlip MX4

Common Complaints

Similar to the F1, there are many complaints about leaking for this truck cover. Again, it is important to note that the MX4 is not waterproof and does not claim to be, so you should expect things in your truck to still get wet if the cover is exposed to water.

Though there were some complaints on the F1, there were more complaints on the MX4 for dents and scratches. Some customers seem to report that hail and acorns have dented this cover. Similarly, placing anything on top of the cover has resulted in some scratches for some users.

I haven’t placed anything on top of my cover and I mostly keep my truck in my garage, so I haven’t noticed these problems.

Installation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbi41Yp0_IY

Alternative to MX4

The DNA Motoring Hard Truck Bed Cover is a great alternative to the BAKFlip MX4 if that is too expensive. With a rating of 4.5 stars, it is comparable in approval among the truck community.

The main difference here is that it only supports 350 lbs of weight on top as opposed to the 500 lbs in the MX4.

It does, however, have a matte finish and a similar dual-action tailgate seal installed.

Final verdict: Which BAKFlip cover is best?

This decision honestly comes down to personal preference. If you prefer the Matte look, then go with the BAKFlip MX4, if you prefer the glossy look (like me), then go with the BAKFlip F1.

Honestly, in my opinion, the other differences are relatively minor that they don’t have much of an impact. The only other decision you may want to think about is whether or not you plan to load the top of the tonneau cover with over 400 lbs (which would require the MX4).

Interested in other truck bed cover options? Read Types of Truck Bed Covers to get a full picture of all options available.