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  1. Tonneau Cover
  2. Pace Edwards
  3. Retractable - Manual
  4. Not Rack Compatible
  5. Flush Profile - Inside Bed Rails
  6. Aluminum and Vinyl
Pace Edwards Switchblade Retractable Hard Tonneau Cover - Aluminum and Vinyl - Black
Pace Edwards

Pace Edwards Switchblade Retractable Hard Tonneau Cover - Aluminum and Vinyl - Black

Part Number: 311-SWCA04A26
In Stock
$1,148.00
Retail:$1,350.27
You Save: $202.27
Tonneau Cover

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You can install this retractable, hard tonneau cover on your vehicle in about 10 minutes, and you can completely remove it just as quickly for full bed access. Aluminum and vinyl deck has strength of a hard cover and seamless look of a soft cover. Great Prices for the best tonneau cover from Pace Edwards. Pace Edwards Switchblade Retractable Hard Tonneau Cover - Aluminum and Vinyl - Black part number 311-SWCA04A26 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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  • Reviews (284)
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Pace Edwards Tonneau Cover - 311-SWCA04A26

  • Retractable - Manual
  • Pace Edwards
  • Not Rack Compatible
  • Flush Profile - Inside Bed Rails
  • Aluminum and Vinyl
  • Vinyl Grain
  • Opens at Tailgate

You can install this retractable, hard tonneau cover on your vehicle in about 10 minutes, and you can completely remove it just as quickly for full bed access. Aluminum and vinyl deck has strength of a hard cover and seamless look of a soft cover.


Features:

  • Custom-fit, retractable tonneau cover protects your cargo and your vehicle's bed from the elements
  • Cover can be installed or completely removed by 1 person in approximately 10 minutes
    • Requires only a wrench and screwdriver - no drilling
  • Retractable design offers easy access to your bed
    • Pinch grips underneath rear plate automatically retract cover when squeezed
    • Tension spring allows cover to open smoothly
    • Stored cover won't restrict rear window visibility
  • Integrated pull strap lets you deploy cover quickly
    • Closed cover secures truck bed when used in conjunction with locked tailgate
  • Space-saving canister protects retracted cover from the elements to extend life of cover
    • Compact, angled design allows for maximum useable cargo space in bed
    • Drain tubes funnel water from canister out through hole in truck bed floor
  • Low-profile cover sits inside truck bed rails for a flush look
    • Aerodynamic style reduces wind drag and helps to improve gas mileage
  • Black vinyl fabric bonded to rigid aluminum panels offers a seamless, stylish look
  • Weather-resistant materials keep water and debris from entering the truck bed
    • Foam seal installs under rails and canister at bulkhead
    • Large seal at the rear of the bed closes the gap between the cover and tailgate
  • Made in the USA


Specs:

  • Canister dimensions: 9-1/4" tall x 9-3/4" deep
  • 2-Year limited warranty


The Switchblade retractable hard tonneau cover provides you with security and weather protection for your truck bed, easy accessibility to your cargo, and the flexibility to haul large items that require full bed capacity whenever needed. You can install the cover without assistance in approximately 10 minutes, and you can completely remove it from your vehicle's bed just as quickly. The tonneau deck is constructed of a vinyl fabric top sheet that is bonded to rigid aluminum panels, combining the seamless appearance of a soft cover with the security features of a hard cover.


Simple, 1-Person Installation

Installing Switchblade


To install the cover, set the canister on the bulkhead of your truck. Make sure that it's square with your bed. Bolt the side rails to the tabs on the canister.


Secure the rails to your truck bed side rails using 2 clamps per side. Slide the clamp onto the rail, flip the pivot arm up so it is under the bed rail lip, and tighten the clamp in place with the twist knob. Shims are included for trucks with tapered beds.


Installing kickstand


Each clamp at the tailgate end of the rails has a supplemental kickstand to help level the rails and prevent overtightening during installation. To install the kickstand, simply slide it into the grip handle at the bottom of the clamp. Rotate the kickstand so the foot rests squarely against the side wall of the truck bed, and tighten in place.


Installing top plate of Switchblade


Mount the top cover plate to the canister with the included hardware. Attach the drain tubes to the canister and route each tube out of the OEM drain holes in the floor of your bed.


To hold the pull strap off the floor of your truck bed, apply the adhesive hook-and-loop fastener strip onto the underside of a rail at your desired location.


Remove or Reinstall in 10 Minutes

After the initial installation, the tonneau cover can be completely removed or reinstalled in approximately 10 minutes. The Switchblade is great for whenever you need to haul large items that require full bed capacity from front to back and side to side. After your large haul is complete, you can easily reinstall the cover to protect your truck bed again.


Remove Switchblade for full bed access


To utilize your entire truck bed, detach the canister from the side rails by removing the bolts on either side with a wrench. Then take the side rails off your truck by removing the clamps with the same wrench. Wrap the pull-strap around the canister and use it to lift the canister off your vehicle.


Retractable Cover with Built-In Pull Strap

To retract the Switchblade, simply squeeze the pinch grips located underneath the cover near the center of the tailgate to activate a heavy-duty tension spring. The spring automatically retracts the cover into the canister at the bulkhead of your truck bed. This provides quicker, easier access to your truck bed when compared with manual retractable covers that have no spring-loaded assist.


Pull strap to deploy Switchblade


A built-in pull strap helps you extend the cover over your bed. As you pull, the tonneau will glide smoothly along tracks in the side rails until it reaches the tailgate and secures in place. You can also use the rear plate of the tonneau cover to pull it closed.


Compact, Angled Canister

Switchblade compact canister


The cover retracts into a canister located at the front of your truck bed, giving you unrestricted visibility out of your rear window. The canister also protects the stored cover from the elements. And the compact, angled design allows for maximum clearance for your tools and cargo.


Water Management System

Switchblade drain tube


The Switchblade rails feature a water management system that channels excess water into the canister. This prevents water from getting into your bed or freezing in your tonneau cover rails during cold temperatures. Drain tubes attached to the bottom of the canister remove water through the OE drain holes in the floor of your truck bed.


Flush-Mount Design

Switchblade flush-mount design


The black powder-coated side rails sit 1/8" above your truck bed rails for a flush appearance. This low-profile design is aerodynamic to reduce wind drag, and it helps to improve gas mileage when the cover is closed.


Stylish and Heavy-Duty Construction

Switchblade stylish construction


The Switchblade deck is constructed of a vinyl top layer bonded to heavy-duty aluminum slats. This ArmorTek deck looks like a soft tonneau cover with no visible seams, but has the strength and security of a hard tonneau cover. A large seal at the rear of the bed closes the gap between the cover and tailgate to create a barrier to prevent water from entering the truck bed.


Security

Switchblade cargo security


The Switchblade provides excellent protection for your cargo when used in conjunction with a closed and locked tailgate. Both the pinch grips and pull strap are located underneath the rear plate, which makes them inaccessible when your truck bed is closed. The heavy-gauge aluminum panels are better at preventing theft when compared with soft covers that can be cut or punctured with a knife. The panels are also more effective at preventing theft than tri-fold hard tonneau covers because the panels cannot be pried open at any point along the rails.




SWCA04A26 Pace Edwards Switchblade Retractable Hard Truck Cover - Aluminum and Vinyl - Black



This Product Fits The Following Vehicles



California residents: click here


Video of Pace Edwards Switchblade Retractable Hard Tonneau Cover - Aluminum and Vinyl - Black

Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.




Video Transcript for Pace Edwards Switchblade Retractable Hard Tonneau Cover: The Breakdown

Randy: Hey guys, it's Randy here at etrailer.com. Today, we're going to be taking a look at the Pace Edwards line of their Switchblade tonneau covers. Now, these are available with the Armor Tech vinyl finish or with the pure powder coat metal finish. I really like the way these covers work. I've messed with quite a few of these retractable style covers, and I got to say this one was probably one of the more easy ones to get installed, and it worked right off the bat. I like the way they design these.

They're custom fit for each vehicle, all your shims and everything are generally already in place, right where you need them. And it just makes the cover so it operates really nice and smooth. We get it installed very quickly. The biggest difference you're going to see between the Switchblade and the metal Switchblade is going to be the finish.As I said, this one has that Armor Tech vinyl, which is a very high grade, very durable vinyl, and it's more of a matte finish. You'll also notice we don't have any seams that run across where aluminum slats are.

Now, if we go with the metal type, it's going to look much more like this. It's going to be a more high gloss, black, powder coat finish. You are going to have the slats as it runs across at each of the intersections. Personally, I like the metal style over the regular, just because it's all going to be the same color. I do think though, that the Armor Tech coating here is a really nice layer on top.

It's bonded directly to the aluminum. So separation isn't going to be an issue. And I think it gives it a nice look, maybe a little bit more clean even than the aluminum one that goes side to side.And I like how smooth the operation is on this one. You can see it very readily reels back in. It has a counter spring located inside of our container here.

Now, that's a self-lubricating spring, so as long as you open and close this maybe once a week, that system should work just about indefinitely. Also, when it's time to close it, we have the option of closing it from each side, of course, by hand. But I like just the strap here, being able to pull back on it. It very quickly and easily clips into place there.We can close our tailgate with the cover closed, which is a big advantage. We don't always see on some of the other ones. So whether we just need a little bit of access to get some stuff out of the back here or whether we need full bed access, I think it's going to be a really good solution for you. When working with customers, the main concern for most of them is going to be one of two when getting a tonneau cover. Either they've got a fifth wheel in the bed of their truck, or they keep some hunting gear, keep some tools back there and you need security. So the reason I like this cover is there's a couple of levers in the back, which will show you. You can't get to them without your tailgate being open. So as long as you have a locking tailgate, security's not going to be an issue at all.The other thing's going to be for protection. Again, maybe you've got a fifth wheel back there, you've got more sensitive items. And I don't like my hunting gear getting wet and getting snowed on and things like that. So by having a system like this, it's going to keep that protected. It's going to keep the elements out of there for the most part. I mean, no tonneau cover is going to be 100% waterproof, but for the most part, everything's covered. They've got a real nice seal system set up all the way along the edge here. We're going to have a seal, and it's nice and flexible. It's not as stiff as what I've seen on some of the other ones. It really contours right along with the cover. Same back here at our tailgate. You can see that seal's going to be nice and thick. It goes all the way across there.And then for the kind of the third level of that, each of our rails are designed with gutters that are essentially going to channel any moisture that might get in into our canister here. Now, our canister's a sealed canister, and it has drains on both sides, the driver's side and the passenger side. Those drain tubes will just route out a already existing hole generally. You might have to enlarge one. On this application, we'll show you a little trick on how you can do it without having to enlarge it. But allows that water to run down and out, so it's not getting trapped in the back of your truck causing any kind of issues with anything you might have stored in there. Now let's go back to that Armor Tech finish for just a minute. This is going to be a very high grade vinyl, and it is not just a cover that goes over the aluminum.They bonded those two portions together. So we've got our aluminum slats, which you can see pretty much at each of these lines, there's going to be an interlocking slat. So you've got a kind of a ball and joint socket. That's what allows it to roll up really easily for us. And then we've got this superior grade vinyl over the top of it, just to give a lot of protection. This gives us kind of a matte finish look. I like that look, but also they have a metal version of this as well, to where the entire thing would be aluminum. Then you'd be looking at a finish more like this, a little bit more of a high gloss finish. And it could add maybe a little bit more rugged appearance if you we're going with that vinyl cover on top. I like the way this one looks.I think the aluminum, if you're ever prone for tree branches that scrape it or anything like that, I don't think it's really going to be an issue, but you know, aluminum does tend to be a little bit more sturdy than a vinyl. So I'd keep that in mind. Now, a very comparable cover to this one is from Bak. It's the Vortrak. It does not have that Armor Tech finish available on it. It's the aluminum, more similar to the Switchblade that has the aluminum slats on it. And I don't think there's a whole lot wrong with that cover. I also like that cover. This one is just a little bit more cost effective, so I would lean towards this one over that one, but it's all about 50/50 there. Now, when talking with folks about different tonneau covers, a question I commonly get that I never really thought of was, will it handle a snow loadSo Wisconsin, Minnesota, you get a bunch of snow on it and it will. The aluminum construction and the way it's designed will hold a load. I mean, put four or five foot of snow on there, and I don't think much will hold up, but just normal snow, if you brush it off in the morning, I don't think you have any issues there at all. And something that I would recommend if you don't feel like opening it each time, but you still want to see in the bed of the truck, we've got some nice LED light kits that you can install. Basically, have a button back here that you can press and turn those on. And basically it'll illuminate everything inside of there. You can see it gets pretty dark in there. We're in a pretty bright area right now, and it's still pretty dark in there.You might not be able to see each and everything you want to get out. So that would be something to keep in mind. Outside of that, it's pretty much kind of all contained. You're going to get everything you need. I think it's a really nice cover. I think it'll do a great job for you to keep your stuff either protected from the elements or secure from theft. Another common question I get when working with customers is how much space is the tonneau cover going to take up in my bed So we've got a few different numbers to try to help you out in determining what kind of room you're going to lose by adding the tonneau cover. The first one's going to be how much the bed rails stick inside from the outside edge of the bed. And in that case, we're looking at about 2 1/8 of an inch.Then how much room does the can take up in the front, the canister that holds the cover From the front edge of your bed to the very back of the seal on the handle portion, it's 15 1/8 of an inch. And then from the top of your bed rail to the bottom of that canister, it's going to be about 8 3/8. Now, a couple that'll give you an idea about some cosmetics would be that the bed rails themselves, where they sit up over the top, they only stick up about an 1/8 of an inch. So it gives it a nice flush appearance. The canister up front is going to stick up off the bed rail by about an inch and 5/8. Now, in working with customers who own these, I get a lot of positive feedback on these covers.Of course, we kind of already touched on the installation process. I really like the way this one goes together. The clamps are really easy. The drain tubes are easy. It's just a simplified installation process than what I see a lot of the other ones. I also hear how good they are with snow on top. They hold up really well. So if you're up North or where you get a lot more snow, it's going to be a really good solution there. And I also like how well they work. I think our customers, I've heard that several times, just so easy for it to roll up and come back and it offers good weather resistance. Now, I've not dealt with a tonneau cover yet that is 100% waterproof. I just really don't think they exist, but this one seems to have all the right stuff on it to make sure that anything that you've gotten inside is going to be protected as good as it can be.Now, one thing I want you guys to keep in mind is that these are custom fit. They're designed specifically for each bed length in each truck style. So definitely use our fit guide. If you put in your year, you put in your make, you put in your model, we're going to help you to ensure that you get the exact tonneau cover that's going to work for you. Be sure you know your bed length so you can get that input so we can get the right one out to you.And depending on your application, something we ran in here, this is a 19 GMC Sierra 1500. You can see that it's covered up our stake pockets here in the back a little bit. And the side rails do come up and they rest on top of the bed rails. So I would imagine that if you have any type of clamp-on style ladder rack or something like that, that you're not going to be able to use it with this cover, but it's going to go with most of the covers out there. We do have some available though, if you're concerned with it, that do leave your stake pockets open.Now guys, that's going to wrap up our look at the Pace Edward's line of the Switchblade tonneau cover. Again, I think these are really solid, very cost-effective covers that work really well and install very easily..


Customer Reviews

Pace Edwards Switchblade Retractable Hard Tonneau Cover - Aluminum and Vinyl - Black - 311-SWCA04A26

Average Customer Rating:  4.4 out of 5 stars   (284 Customer Reviews)

You can install this retractable, hard tonneau cover on your vehicle in about 10 minutes, and you can completely remove it just as quickly for full bed access. Aluminum and vinyl deck has strength of a hard cover and seamless look of a soft cover.

by:

The installation of the Pace Edward switchblade took about 30 minutes by my self. So far I’ll give the product 5 stars. It was very easy to install and looks great to.



by:

Great fit for an eight foot bed. The Pace Edwards switchblade retractable bed cover was easy to install and adjust. This cover allows you to store items in your bed and still retract without blocking your rear window or folding in on your stuff in the bed. Very low profile cover.



by:

This cover survived and protected sports gear in the July heat of Tucson to the frozen cold of winter in northern NV. Noticed there was no bowing with a foot of snow sitting on it. Water resistance is good. The only major issue has been user error as folks will grab the tailgate seal and pull the cover towards the tailgate instead of the using the strap. Doesn't take much to pull the brackets apart and reset the seal in the T groove. Overall I'm happy, bed when needed and out of sight coverage and weather resistant when closed.



by:

Within three months the seals along the rails warped in the sun making it nearly impossible to slide the cover open or closed. I have upgraded my cover to a Bakflip MX4. I can’t share photos because I discarded the whole cover.



by:

The bad:
1. The product showed up with
damage. Box looked to be taped to fix it being dropped.
2. The metal parts that rest on the bed rail were bent.
3. They talk about shims in the instructions and the video but do not show where the shims are. I did have to remove them to help even out the distance the rails are between the front and back.
The good:
1. All parts were still in the box.
2. I was able to straighten the metal parts and install the product.
3. The installation video was very helpful.



by:

The Pace Edwards Switchblade has performed well after a year. It's still holding up and is a great way to protect your bed and belongings. I use a slider hitch from Pull-Rite to tow and as long as the upper hitch plate is removed there is absolutely no interference. Also the cover does NOT interfere with towing when it's retracted. I would buy this again and recommend it for its durability and good looks.



by:

This item was not satisfactory when I installed it, but it wasn’t bad enough for me to take it off and choose something different 3 years ago. Now, after just 3 years, this expensive tonneau cover fell apart beyond repair and is now useless. This unit was well cared for and never abused.



by:

Dear Ranger owners. This product is one inch short. Be aware. If you got a one inch thick liner, this is perfect. If not, this product will not be flush with the front bed. If you make it flush, then it is one inch short. etrailer tells me to return it with xxx return fee. And they would charge me for restocking fee. Haha what an amazing policy. Now that customer received it, they know customers wont return with heavy return fee. STAY AWAY.



by:

After searching for a bed cover I came back to etrailer because of the service and quality of my 5th wheel hitch that I purchased from them when I bought my new truck. I received my new bed cover and it is awesome just as described and fit perfect and took about 30 min to install it. etrailer is the place to buy all your truck or trailer needs . As you can see from the pictures it covers up my diesel tank and the 5th wheel hitch when not in use and when you pull the 5th wheel then just roll in into the canaster.



by:

Fits nice. Great with the locking tailg ate.



by:

A bit of a pain to install in the drizzle, but had it in and working within an hour. So far, happy with it!



by:

this was our 2nd Pace Edwards Retractable cover..1st one lasted 17 years great quality great service



by:

This is my second switchblade, I like the security and look. It allows more water in the bed than expected. The packaging could be better this unit showed up with serious damage to the box and the drain tubes were broken due to placement under the canister in the box. Etrailer sent replacement drain tubes soon as I called. Great service!



by:

The cover looks great and DOES work on a 2020 Ram 3500 8'bed. It was easy to install. It was missing 2 hex bolts to connect the rails to the canister but a few dollars at the local hardware store fixed that. The only concern I have is the canister cover is a little warped, either from shipping or manufacturing, allowing the cover to retract in the canister without touching the brush on the canister cover. This could allow dirt and dust into the canister later as well. All in all great looking cover that does what its intended to do.



by:

Just installed this afternoon, so not a lot of experience yet. I installed by myself in about 1 1/2 hours. The instructions were clear and brief. I had a little trouble getting the front clamps in place, but that was due to the thickness of a brand new spray-in bed liner, it was pretty thick. Once everything was in and adjusted the cover works good and looks like it will keep most of the weather out.



by:

Does not fit entirely flush with the trucks bed as the picture shows. Called customer service for help with the order and they tried to upsell me on another cover. I specifically stated that I didn’t see the cover with the matte finish. Website has poorly posted pics. Buyer beware. I’ll pay $[XX] to return the cover and will buy from [online vendor]



by:

Not worth the money I spent ($[XX]). Looks nice . Easy to install. This will offer limited security . The cover itself is super light weight. If you wanted to gain entry, all you would have to do is stand on it .



by:

Looks great. Should be durable enough for me and my application. Appears to be well made and was fairly easy to install. I was replacing an older well used cover for my truck that was a dealer installed after market cover that was merely worn out. My brother and I installed this Slingshot in a little less than an hour. A person with with average skills should be able to install this cover with minimal issue. Certainly is easier with two people but not difficult.



by:

Item's box is well made and sturdy, however UPS shipping still was able to damage the item. Metal supports that hold the canister were bent. Was able to straighten them and installed it on my Ram 3500. Everything works like it is supposed to and you can't even tell it was damaged in shipping. Would have given this a 5-star rating but shipping and receiving the item in good order is part of the process.



by:

Received my bed cover last night in a wore out beat up box. parts hanging out of it. When I opened it it was full of returned items from other customers. When I asked to discount and speed up shipment on the replacement I was told nothing he could do. I have been a loyal customer and I'm not happy with the way this has been handled.



by:

Excellent piece, Directions so so Watch the videos.



by:

easy install, works great, allows me to keep the bed cover on while using my 5th wheel.



by:

The buying process - is very easy, and shipping - is sooner than expected at my door. Installation of the cover is also very easy. The quality is very good and it looks good.



by:

E trailer has been awesome! They got me the exact cover I wanted. It looks great on the truck and is very secure. As for Pace Edward's this cover absolutely lousy keeping water out. Leaks through the container and fills the bed with more water than not having a cover at all drain tube are mostly for show don't work on a canister that's not sealed at all. Don't buy this if you want to keep things dry!



by:

Seals didn’t last long. I had to replace the tailgate seal twice and finally siliconed it in place. Other than that it’s been a good bed cover.


25
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See what our Experts say about this Pace Edwards Tonneau Cover

  • Recommended Ladder Rack For A 2022 Chevy Colorado With A Pace Edwards Switchblade Bed Cover
    We do indeed have an option for adding a ladder rack to your 2022 Chevy Colorado with the Pace Edwards Switchblade Retractable Hard Tonneau Cover # 311-SWCA04A26 installed on it. Just as a side note, I have had a Pace Edwards Switchblade on my truck, a Silverado though, for a few years now and absolutely love it. These hold up really well and mine is still quick and easy to open and close. Definitely a nice tonneau cover. Anyway, back to the issue at hand. For the ladder rack, you will...
    view full answer...
  • Pace Edwards Retractable Tonneau Cover that Fits 1999 Ford F-350 Long Bed
    Pace Edwards does offer retractable tonneau covers that fit your 1999 Ford F-350 long bed but the SwitchBlade part # 311-SWCA04A26 that you referenced does not fit. The most similar option is the JackRabbit part # 311-JRF1507 which is a fit for your truck. When this opens it retracts into the canister that's at the front of the truck bed.
    view full answer...
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Info for this part was:

Employee Tyler C
Edited by:
Tyler C
Employee Jameson C
Expert Research:
Jameson C
Employee Jacob T
Video Edited:
Jacob T
Employee Dustin K
Video Edited:
Dustin K
Employee Jonathan Y
Video Edited:
Jonathan Y
Employee Randy B
Installed by:
Randy B
Employee Hayden R
Installed by:
Hayden R
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Mark S
Updated by:
Mark S
Employee Zach D
Video by:
Zach D
Employee John S
Video by:
John S
Employee Denise W
Written by:
Denise W
Employee Aidan B
Test Fit:
Aidan B

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