In-Depth Review: Bak Revolver X4s

BRAND: Bak
MATERIAL: Aluminum and vinyl
WEIGHT CAPACITY: 400 lbs. 
FINISH: Matte black
WARRANTY: 5 years
PRICE:  Check Price

For those truck owners who started with entry-level tonneau covers, the soft rolling kind, it’s a great day a few years later when you graduate to the hard-cover, tri-fold tonneau covers …

… or maybe it’s not. 

Yes, the soft tonneau covers don’t afford the security of the hardcover tri-folds. Any thief with a knife can cut right through and pilfer your valuables. But face it, you fell in love with the sleek look of the one-piece, soft tonneau cover. It’s cool. Lots of truck owners like tri-folds, but the panel look has never grown on you.

BAK Revolver X4s is the solution

Leave it to Bak Industries to come up with the ideal solution. The BAK Revolver X4s is the exquisitely engineered answer to your longing for the smooth look of the soft cover, with the security of a hardcover tonneau. 

Read on and discover why. 

Great functionality

BAK engineers based the BAK Revolver X4s on a series of interlocking aluminum slats, powder coated for a matte black finish, and then covered them with a tightly bonded layer of tough, heavy-duty vinyl.  The result is a tonneau that lays flat, a look that is accentuated with the flattened side seals, and has that one-piece look. The aluminum slats, when locked together, support 400 pounds of evenly distributed weight. With a flick of the locks at the end of your truckbed, though, the BAK Revolver X4s becomes flexible. You can roll it up all the way to the bulkhead of your truck cab in mere seconds. The Revolver secures in seonds and allows for an unhindered view out the back window of your truck. 

The BAK Revolver X4s didn’t stop with the interlocking slats, however. BAK also developed a patented rotational locking rail. When you unroll the cover and lock it into the end of the rails at the tailgate, the rotational rail, a separate lower rail, rotates up and locks everything into place along each side rail. The Revolver is secured all the way around. You don’t need to worry about a stiff crosswind lifting your cover up as you cruise down the highway at 65 miles an hour. 

How theftproof is the BAK Revolver X4s?

Standard warning #1: Nothing is theftproof, only theft-resistant. Your goal with any tonneau cover is to conceal what you keep in your truck bed. If you fail at your first quest, then you want to make entry into your truck bed difficult enough for the thief to move onto easier pickings, such as an uncovered truck on the other side of the parking lot. 

The BAK Revolver X4s accomplishes both these goals. Its low-profile design doesn’t attract attention. Few people are tempted to spend a lot of time wondering what’s in your truck bed. This is true of any truck bed cover. 

If they are still interested, they will encounter another deterrent with the BAK Revolver X4s. It may look like a soft cover, but one touch and any thief realizes they are up against a formidable barrier. The BAK Revolver X4s aluminum slats feel like the toughest of truck bed covers. That’s because they are. 

It’s enough to make any thief think, “There has to be an easier truck to break into around here.” 

What about leaks?

Standard warning #2: If any product advertises that it is waterproof, that should trigger your internal lie detector. Water will work its way into most spaces, this includes your truck bed. Read the fine print. Most tonneau cover manufacturers don’t guarantee their cover is waterproof, but they can make it reasonably water resistant. 

Installation is key to achieving a dry truck bed. Allow plenty of time to position everything carefully and tighten it down properly. After installation, take your truck to the car wash. Car washes are great for shooting water at all sorts of angles. If you have a leak, this is where it will appear. See if you can fix it, or call the BAK helpline. 

As you move into the day-to-day life of your tonneau cover (and this pertains to the BAK Revolver X4s, or any other tonneau cover) check the fastening hardware at regular intervals (we suggest seasonally). Ensure nothing has worked loose. If you need to remove the BAK Revolver X4s, take as much care reinstalling it as you did the first time. Then go back to the car wash. Repeated removal and reinstallation of the Revolver X4s in your biggest culprit when it comes to leaks. Stuff gets tweaked and doesn’t work as well as it did the first time. 

And if you absolutely cannot get it wet, then take care to give that piece of equipment or cargo extra protection. 

BAK Revolver X4s Hard Rolling Truck Bed Tonneau Cover | 80338 | Fits 2021 - 2023 Ford F-150 8' 2" Bed (97.6")

• Fits 2021 - 2022 Ford F-150 8' 2" Bed (97.6") NEW! Precisely engineered for compatibility with...
• ALL MATTE BLACK | Top-to-bottom, matte-black finishes make this hard roll-up truck bed cover a...
• ONE-HAND OPERATION | This truck bed cover rolls with just one hand. Simply, pull down on the...
• ALL ACCESS | X4s rolls smoothly, storing tight against the cab, & secures with a durable strap &...
• EXPECT MORE | The BAK Revolver X4s is proudly made in the USA with globally sourced materials and is...

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Will the BAK Revolver X4s last?

Any serious designer of tonneau covers knows that the everyday owner buys their truck to be a workhorse. Trucks were meant to carry tools, toys, and camping equipment. Truck owners expect the same performance out of their cover. BAK understands and takes this expectation seriously. In fact, they likely take this extra seriously because they have a great name in the industry. The BAK Revolver X4s tonneau cover is meant to be opened every day, several times a day. Roll it up, then roll it back down. That’s what this tonneau cover was meant for. 

Most owners of the BAK Revolver X4s will tell you that the greatest problem they have with their tonneau cover is all the other truck owners in the parking lots that want to talk to them about it. 

As for longevity, you can expect to sell the cover to the next owner of your truck. 

Installing the BAK Revolver X4s on your truck

When it comes to installation, Bak embraces the do-it-yourself spirit so emblematic of American truck owners. You can install the BAK Revolver X4s in about an hour, maybe less.  

Everything starts with the bulkhead. The BAK Revolver X4s comes with two different pieces of insulation, depending on whether you have a spray-on bed protector or a drop-in. The side rails fasten to the inside of the truck sidewall with two or three clamps, depending on the length of your bed. Indentations on the bottom of the side rail guide you on where to position them. As with most tonneau cover installations, tighten everything by hand until you ensure the final fit. 

Next comes the cover, which of course is rolled up in the shipping container (we’ll talk about why this is important later). Place the rolled cover between the side rails and position it so that the back end lines up to lock in place (but don’t lock it in place yet). Unroll the cover towards the front of the truck until it is completely extended except for the last three or four slats. Your hardware package includes two bolts that slide into the channels created by the slats (don’t you love it when engineers dual-purpose things). Once in the channel, position these bolts to drop into the bracket on the side rail close to the cab. Now you can get underneath the cover and hand-tighten the rest of the connections.  

Pay careful attention to the instructions and ensure you have the proper clearances on the side rails and the end caps. Once you verify this, go back and tighten everything down. The hardware kit includes molding to attach to the rolled cover to guard it against damaging the back window or cab of your truck.

This is where we discuss the problem we mentioned earlier relating to the cover being rolled up in the shipping box during warehousing and final shipping. When you unroll it for the installation, the seals on either side where it secures into the rotational locking rail will often be wavy and dimpled from being rolled up for so long. This is easily resolved 

Park your truck in direct sunlight. The heat will take the waves out of the trim in a few days. Another option is to use a heat gun or hair dryer to flatten out the rubber. Both solutions work equally as well.   

Do you still have questions about the installation of the BAK Revolver X4s? Carefully read the instructions and consult the videos on the BAK website. Also remember, the installation will always vary depending on the kind of truck you are installing it on. 

Revolver X4 Hard Rolling Tonneau Covers installation instructions
for Honda Ridgeline – 17+
for Honda Ridgeline – 05-15
for Jeep Gladiator – X2/X4
for Nissan Frontier – 22+
for Nissan Titan w/ Utili-Track – 17+
for Toyota Tacoma – 16-21
for Toyota Tacoma – 16-21 (Drain Tubes)
for Toyota Tacoma – 05-15
for Toyota Tundra – 07-21
for Toyota Tundra – 22+
for Dodge Rambox
for GMC Sierra CarbonPro
for 2019+ Ford Ranger Bulkhead Rail & Bed Rail Caps

BAK stands behind their product

The Revolver X4s gets the top warranty from BAK–five years. You can count on BAK to stand behind their product. They understand their reputation is the best sales tool they have. 

How does the BAK Revolver X4s differ from other BAK models?

Let’s look at a few of the predecessors to the BAK X4s and examine the differences. 

BAK Revolver X4 vs BAK Revolver X4s

The original revolver X4, based on the same interlocking slat design, was a great tonneau cover, but owners pointed out a few design flaws. The Revolver X4 had buckles on top of the bulkhead of the truck that secured the strap holding the rolled-up cover. These buckles were at a fixed angle parallel to the truck bed. Sliding the buckle into the receptacle was awkward. BAK resolved this by adding a new buckle assembly to the Revolver X4s that swivels. Much easier to connect. 

BAK also designed a better end cap assembly on the corners for the cover. This answers a few complaints they received from owners about the cover separating from the end corner cap. 

Finally, in the original Revolver X4, BAK used two felt strips running down the inside of the cover. This gave owners a safe place to put their hands when handling the cover on a hot day. There were reports, largely from owners who live in warmer climates, of this felt strip working loose. BAK replaced it with a molded rubber track that fits into the interlocking slots. 

Here is our Bak Revolver X2 vs X4 comparison

BAK Revolver X2 vs BAK Revolver X4s

This one is a headscratcher. The BAK Revolver X2 appears to incorporate all the features of the X4, and then was upgraded with the changes we discussed to the buckles, replacing the felt strips with molded rubber strips, and redesigning the corner caps. 

The Revolver X2  also has a weight rating of 400 pounds. 

The difference is that pricing starts at $900, and BAK gives it a three-year warranty. Also, the cover is a high-gloss finish as opposed to matte black. Here is our Bak Revolver X2 vs X4 comparison

Prices

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve heard that getting a tonneau cover for my truck will improve mileage. Is this true?

This is true. A wind tunnel study performed by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in 2007, substantiated this. They tested different trucks and different types of tonneau covers. The results were measurable. On average, using a tonneau cover led to a 5.7% reduction in drag, translating to a 1.8% increase in fuel efficiency.

It makes sense when you consider the aerodynamics. Turbulence–the air passing over your truck–is the enemy of efficiency and better mileage. In the case of your truck traveling down the highway, the air passes over the cab and down into the bed of the truck, where it gets trapped. It finds its way out, but only after causing a lot of turbulence, which takes more energy (and fuel) to overcome. If you have a tonneau with tight seals, the air passes over the truck bed without getting trapped and keeps on going. You get less turbulence and slightly better mileage.  

How do I clean my BAK Revolver X4s tonneau cover?

The biggest element you should guard against is sap from trees. Use a solvent-based cleaner designed to remove these types of things, and then follow it up with a good wash. Look at the directions for specific cleaning instructions. 

Whenever you wash your car, wash the tonneau cover in the same manner. Many of the DIY car washes have foaming brush extensions. Those will work well, too. Use a matte cleaner regularly. Lots of retractable tonneau covers go on work trucks to secure tools and materials. Try to keep from spilling paint or solvents. 

I just installed the BAK Revolver X4s tonneau cover and the locking mechanism is tight, and other actions are tight. 

Especially right after installation, locking mechanisms and other actions will be stiff and difficult to operate until they wear in. Weather can be a factor, too. Hot weather will loosen things up a little. Colder weather shrinks things and makes them stiff.

Give it time. Things will fall into place.  

Is there anything I can do to make my BAK Revolver X4s more water-resistant?

First of all, we’re glad you paid attention and said water-resistant and not waterproof. No cover is waterproof. 

Start by doing nothing at all. BAK Revolver X4s tonneau covers are designed for maximum water resistance. You don’t need to make it better, at least not right away. 

When it comes to long-term water resistance, the worst enemy of your tonneau cover is repeatedly taking it off and putting it back on again. Molding and weatherstripping get creased and work loose. If you see this happening, replace the material, or add more adhesive.  

I see different prices around for the BAK Revolver X4s.

This is not uncommon. Manufacturers and dealers run specials, or they might discount prices if they have excess inventory. Shop the various sources. Watch refund and exchange policies, as well as what kind of service they have. The best dealers list a phone number. If they do not, or encourage email through the website, send them a message asking a question about the product. See how their response times are. 

BAK Revolver X4s bridges the tonneau cover gap

If you find yourself drawn to the BAK Revolver X4s, it’s understandable. It’s a hardcover tonneau cover with that sleek, one-piece look. It rolls up quickly and rolls out quickly, and doesn’t call attention to what’s in your truck. You won’t be disappointed in your investment. 

And your truck will look really cool. 

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