When considering a truck bed cover for your ride, make sure you're looking at the best tonneau covers on the market as part of your search. You want one that creates improved fuel economy while still delivering superior security. It should sit flush with your side rails, leave your rear window unobstructed while providing full bed access, and cover the entire bed for complete weather protection. The best tonneau covers are those you'll use without worrying about damage to your ride, its contents, or the cover itself.
What Is a Tonneau Cover?
A Tonneau cover is a hard or soft cover that goes over your truck bed, offering protection from the elements and some level of security. A soft tonneau cover will often be less expensive while providing good weather resistance and basic security; a hard tonneau cover will deliver more security with a higher price tag.
Types of Tonneau Covers
Folding Truck Bed Covers
A folding truck bed cover is a hard or soft tonneau cover with folding rigid panels that provide more overhead access than many one-piece tonneau covers.
Hard folding tonneau covers deliver superior security and excellent waterproof and weather-resistance properties for even the worst weather conditions. Meanwhile, soft folding tonneau covers are lighter and more flexible, in case that better suits your needs.
Retractable Truck Bed Covers
Retractable tonneau covers provide better security than soft or covers. These hard-cover tonneaus are also convenient, with some options allowing automatic or powered retraction and closure. This form of hard tonneau cover provides a range of benefits, including the superior security and weather resistance you'd expect of a hard tonneau cover. Retractable truck bed covers also allow you to access the bed without blocking the rear-view window.
Roll-Up Truck Bed Covers
Roll-up tonneau covers provide basic protection from the elements and a light level of security. This type is a good tonneau cover for basic protection or to keep your truck bed from collecting moisture. This soft tonneau cover attaches to the bed rails when in use, often using automotive-grade hook and loop tape, and can then be rolled up against the back of the truck cab and secured with straps when larger cargo is being transported. There are also hard rolling covers available, which offer a bit more security due to the sturdy materials.
One-Piece Truck Bed Covers
As the ultimate in security, one-piece hard tonneau covers provide great protection. Consequently, they can be expensive. Because these tonneau covers have a single point of latching and hinging, they are difficult to break into. They also provide a single cap to your truck bed, keeping the elements from entering the bed at any point.
RealTruck brands are designed and quality-tested in the United States. The RealTruck family of brands is larger than you may realize and features world-renowned names like AMP Research, BAK, and Gator. These brands offer a wide range of tonneau covers and other accessories that help take your ride to the next level. Let’s take a look at what each brand manufactures.
AMP Research
AMP Research created the original electric running board. It's the world’s largest manufacturer of power-retractable steps and was recently acquired by RealTruck. The company provides several different styles of power steps and bars, bed extenders, fuel doors, and other heavy-duty accessories to amp your ride.
BAK Industries
BAK manufactures some of America’s top-selling hard tonneau covers, like the Revolver X4s and BAKFlip MX4. Every durable BAK bed cover is manufactured in America to offer maximum security with a sleek, low-profile appearance. The company also creates folding and retracting tonneau cover options to protect and enhance your truck.
Gator
Gator has a tonneau cover for every lifestyle. The brand manufactures hard tonneau covers, retractable tonneau covers, tri-fold covers, and nearly any other covers you might need. A favorite phrase among RealTruck staff is “Work or play, Gator has you covered.”
How to Find the Best Truck Bed Cover for Your Pickup
The search for the best tonneau covers doesn’t need to be difficult! RealTrucks has a tonneau cover for a variety of price points with options for new trucks and older models. Whether you’re seeking improved fuel efficiency, protection against inclement weather, or a locking mechanism to secure your valuables, a tonneau cover is an investment you’ll be glad you made.
FAQs
Do I have to drill into my bed rails to install a tonneau cover?
For RealTruck brands, not usually. The company offers a wide range of clamp-on tonneau cover options, like the BAK Revolver X4S, that allow you to quickly install and remove your tonneau cover while still delivering superior performance. These clamps are installed inside the tonneau cover bed rail covers, providing secure holding power.
Conclusion
Though there are many Tonneau covers on the market, the best tonneau cover is one you can use effectively for your lifestyle. If you have questions about hard shell covers, bed space, the testing process for a tonneau cover, or tonneau cover build quality, RealTruck can help. Its industry-leading products, like the Retrax Pro and the Truxedo Sentry, support RealTruck’s commitment to being a premier manufacturer of truck parts and accessories. With a tonneau cover designed for nearly all motor vehicles, RealTruck is a great foundation for finding the best tonneau cover available.
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