Choosing the Best Tonneau Cover for Your Truck

As a term, tonneau originally referred to the rear curved separate seats in early vehicles. The seats had a barrel or cask shape, translating to French as tonneau for “barrel.” Over time, the term became synonymous with covering a car compartment, often with canvas. Instead of exposing the car’s interior to the weather, owners installed a tonneau cover over the unused seating area.

Worksport, a manufacturer of tonneau covers, estimates that more than 60 million pickup trucks on American roads would benefit from a truck bed cover. Besides Worksport, other popular manufacturers include Extang, Gator, Lund, and TruXedo.

A sleek tonneau cover has one additional benefit: aerodynamics. Many owners and manufacturers claim significant gas savings after installing a tonneau cover.

Snap-on

Price range: $150 to $250
The most straightforward and low-cost style of a tonneau cover is one piece of vinyl stretched over the truck bed and held in place with snaps on the sides. Anybody can undo the snaps, so this design doesn’t necessarily deter thieves.

Despite attempts to make the cover “drum” tight, rainwater can collect in the center of the vinyl covering. Some vendors offer ribs to help raise the center of the surface slightly, but water can still collect.

Moreover, the vinyl stretches over time, and the snaps may not stay secured. Vinyl covers these days also attach via a clamp, hook, or Velcro.

One-Piece

Price range: $2,000 to $3,000
A one-piece cover made of lightweight fiberglass is a more secure option. It is attached to the truck bed with a hinge near the cabin. Commonly, the other side near the tailgate snaps closed. This can be kept locked for extra security.

These covers often have colors that match the truck body for a seamless look. The cover is raised with a pneumatic cylinder, similar to a hood strut. The main disadvantage to this style is that the cover hinges only at one end. Objects taller than the truck bed sides might extend above the rigid cover. This requires removing the tonneau when you want to haul larger, taller items.

Retractable

Retrax One MX retractable tonneau cover

Price range: $1,000 to $ 1,500
Several manufacturers offer a retractable tonneau cover. Slats roll across the top of the truck bed on a rail and close near the tailgate. If desired, the slats slide towards the truck’s cab, allowing taller items to be placed in the truck bed. After transport, the rolled-up slats can be returned for full coverage. The slats come in various sturdy materials, including aluminum and fiberglass.

Options with a roll-up cover include an electrically powered roll-up motor and even a remote control option. Vinyl tonneau covers can offer a similar process by unsnapping some portion of the cover, rolling the unwanted material up, and securing it.

Folding

Price range: $500 to $900
Another option is a folding tonneau cover. Instead of small slats rolling out of the way, firms offer a tonneau that has three (or more) linked covers that can fold on top of each other. These are generally less expensive to build than a rolling cover and are often sturdy enough to stand on.

Worksport SC4 Quad Folding tonneau cover

One disadvantage is the exposed opening is based on the size of the folded space, so either one-third, two-thirds, or nearly all is revealed.

Hard tri-fold cover – These folding covers consist of rigid panels that flip open to expose a portion of the truck bed. When fully opened, some models rest against the back glass to allow full access to the truck bed (but block the view.) Others fold up but rest on a portion of the truck bed, limiting full access to the truck bed.

Soft tri-fold cover – Soft tri-fold units fold up like a hardcover, utilizing a vinyl cover and a rail system. However, the vinyl flexes and does not support heavy loads.

Installing a Tonneau Cover

Many covers use a rail system for easy installation. Here are the basic steps. As always, read and follow the manufacturer’s specific directions.

1. Secure the rails along the edge of the truck bed loosely.
2. Carefully measure the rails and ensure they are square to each other. The distance between the rails measured across several points in the truck bed should be consistent.
3. After the rails are in place, tighten the clamps.
4. Place the cover at the front of the bed. Install the cover to the edge of the truck bed. Now unroll or unfold the cover and ensure it rests appropriately along the rails. Adjust as needed.
5. Take the truck for a short drive. Check all clamps and bolts to ensure they are tight.
6. If the cover offers a key lock, keep the key on the truck’s key ring. Every three months, check the attachments to make sure they remain secure. Use white lithium grease or other recommended materials to grease the rails.

Cleaning a Tonneau Cover

If you have a vinyl cover, use an all-purpose cleaner, such as Simple Green, to keep it clean. Spray it on the surface (when it’s not hot from the sun), and wipe it down with a cloth. Spray the clean vinyl with a preservative—such as 303 Aerospace Protectant or Armor-All. Repeat every three months or as needed.

You can also use an all-purpose cleaner to clean a fiberglass tonneau. Apply a layer of wax or sealant and re-apply whenever you add a coat on your truck, about every four months.

Regardless of materials, avoid using harsh abrasive cleaners or rough brushes that might scuff up or scratch the tonneau cover.