Pros and Cons of Tonneau Covers

Things to Consider When Buying a New Truck Cap

A tonneau cover is a hard or soft cover that fits over the bed of a truck flush with the bed rails. Tonneau covers come in a wide variety of styles, including soft covers, tri-fold covers, bi-fold covers, retractable covers, and others. In general, if you're searching for tonneau covers, the main categories are hard and soft covers.

Tonneau covers are probably one of the most popular extras for truck owners. Covering the bed allows you to keep cargo safe from weather and prying eyes. It also creates a sleek look that reduces air drag, thus increasing fuel efficiency to some extent.

Let's take a closer look at what tonneau covers do so you can decide if buying one is right for you.

What Is a Tonneau Cover and What Types Are Available?

A tonneau cover is a type of covering for a pickup truck bed. Unlike truck caps, which cover the bed up to the cab roofline, tonneau covers only cover the bed. In other words, tonneau covers don't create any extra covered space over the bed like a truck cap. The purpose of a tonneau cover is to keep cargo in the bed or the bed itself covered. Even an empty truck bed can benefit from a cover to keep out the weather and reduce air drag.

As mentioned earlier, there are several types of tonneau covers to fit almost any need. These include soft roll-up covers, hard roll-up covers, folding covers, retractable covers, hinged (one-piece) covers, and toolbox-compatible covers. Let's take a brief look at each type.

Soft and Hard Roll-Up Covers

Soft roll-up truck bed covers are usually constructed of durable vinyl and are held in place by rails mounted on the sides of the truck bed. This type of cover opens by rolling toward the front of the truck, where a strap holds it in place if necessary. Soft roll-up covers are among the easiest to install and are usually at the lower end of the price spectrum. Hard roll-up covers also exist, but they're much rarer than the soft versions. They're also usually more expensive. A common design is an aluminum substrate underneath the vinyl to add weight and durability.

Soft and Hard Folding Covers

Soft folding tonneau covers are similar to the roll-up style in that they're easy to use and install. These covers are usually also made with vinyl, but they're attached to a hard frame for more durability versus the roll-up style. Instead of rolling, these covers fold back toward the front of the truck. Hard folding truck bed covers work the same way, but they're typically constructed with aluminum or fiberglass. They fold back in two (bi-fold) or three (tri-fold) pieces.

Retractable Covers

Retractable covers are a unique type of tonneau cover that roll in and out of a canister mounted behind the cab. They're usually constructed from aluminum or polycarbonate for durability and strength. Even though retractable covers are one of the most expensive options, they offer major benefits in ease of use, while also being secure.

Hinged Covers

Hinged covers are also known as one-piece covers. These are made from a single piece of material like fiberglass or hard plastic. Unlike all the folding and rolling versions, a hinged cover raises like a lid on hinges. Truck owners often paint this type of cover to match the finish of their trucks. Another type of one-piece cover is a soft snap-on cover.

Toolbox Compatible Covers

Toolbox-compatible tonneau covers are a type of specialty cover designed to allow access to a truck bed toolbox. This type of cover is usually designed to fit around or over the toolbox, giving you full access to both the bed and toolbox as needed.

Pros of Tonneau Covers

If you're thinking about buying a tonneau cover, there are some significant benefits to consider. For example, tonneau covers protect against the weather. With your bed covered, you won't have to worry about cargo getting wet or sustaining damage from ultraviolet rays. Tonneau covers also make your bed more secure. This is especially true with hard covers, which often come with locks and are difficult to break into.

Tonneau covers reduce drag from air flowing over the open bed. This may lead to some gains in fuel efficiency. The sleek profile flush with the truck bed provides a more attractive aesthetic for your pickup, and it may increase resale value due to the nicer look and protection for the truck bed. Finally, a tonneau cover allows you to organize your bed better without worrying about small items flying out of an open bed.

Cons of Tonneau Covers

If you want a tonneau cover for your truck bed, it's unlikely that any of the negative factors will dissuade you. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. The higher quality and most secure and durable tonneau covers tend to be fairly expensive. Unless you get a tonneau cover that can be retracted or folded out of the way, your bed space will be limited for tall or oversized items.

Some tonneau covers can be difficult to install, requiring drilling or professional installation. Depending on the type of cover, you might encounter access issues where you can't get to your cargo as quickly as you'd like. Not all tonneau covers are watertight, and this is more likely with the soft styles.

Choosing the Right Tonneau Cover for Your Needs

Deciding on a tonneau cover will likely depend on what your priorities are. For example, the best type of tonneau cover for security is usually a retractable or locking hard cover. Even though soft covers are sturdy, they can be theft targets more easily than hard ones. However, if you're looking for the most affordable type of cover and security isn't a big problem, then soft roll-up covers are the most budget-friendly.

If you want easy and frequent access to cargo in your truck bed, then folding or retractable covers work best. These can also stay temporarily out of the way if you need to haul something large. If all-weather protection is your top priority, then hard or heavy-duty soft covers are the best choice.

Tonneau Cover FAQ

Q: Are tonneau covers worth it?

A: Tonneau covers can be a good investment if you're looking for benefits like better fuel economy, protection from the elements, and more security for your truck bed. Tonneau covers come in a wide range of price points, so it's likely you can find one to fit your budget. They provide varying levels of security, but all tonneau covers offer cargo protection and improved fuel economy by streamlining a truck's aerodynamics.

Q: Do tonneau covers improve gas mileage?

A: Tonneau covers usually improve gas mileage by at least a few mpg by reducing aerodynamic drag. Air flowing over an open truck bed creates resistance, which means your engine has to work harder to maintain speed. A tonneau cover cuts this resistance down, thus allowing the truck to more easily maintain speed. This difference is most pronounced at highway speeds.

Q: Are tonneau covers waterproof?

A: Most tonneau covers are designed to be resistant to water, but they're not usually 100% waterproof. Depending on the cover and the weather, some water can still seep in. This is most likely during heavy rains or when snow piles up on the cover. Water usually gets in at the corners or hinges.

Q: Can you drive with a tonneau cover open?

A: In general, you can drive with a tonneau cover open. Depending on the type of cover, this might make it more susceptible to wind damage. Folding and retractable covers usually come with something to secure them in an open position if you need to haul oversized items. However, you can expect your aerodynamics to be affected when driving with the cover open.

Q: What is the most durable tonneau cover?

A: The most durable type of tonneau cover is usually a hard-folding or hard roll-up cover.

The Last Word on Tonneau Covers

Tonneau covers offer significant benefits for truck owners in most cases. They provide protection from the elements and enhanced security by hiding the contents of the truck bed. If you travel frequently at highway speeds, you can also expect slightly improved fuel economy. The main downsides to consider are cost and cargo access, but whether these affect your decision will likely depend on what you need.

For example, if you want security for valuable tools, but you also want easy cargo access and/or a cover that can be stowed out of the way, then a hard folding cover will likely fit your needs. If you just need something to streamline your truck bed and provide reasonable protection against the elements, a durable and affordable soft cover should work.

When it comes to tonneau covers, you can find a wide variety at Action Car and Truck Accessories. We stock all types and top brands like Enthuze, Retrax, and Truxedo, among many others. You can also get professional installation at any of our locations.