Part of the fun of owning a pickup truck is the bed. You can store and haul just about anything in your truck bed, since it’s open and offers no limitations. But sometimes, it’s a good idea to have a cover of some kind for whatever’s inside your truck bed. And if you search online, you can find a wide variety of different truck bed covers to consider.
A truck bed cover, which is also called a tonneau cover, can provide you with critical coverage, protection, and security for whatever you’re hauling. A cover can also increase your truck’s functionality and appearance. But is a truck bed cover really worth the investment? You can search online and compare truck bed covers.
If you’re considering whether or not you need a truck bed cover for your pickup, here’s what you need to know.
A Truck Bed Cover Offers Extra Protection
One of the biggest advantages of a truck bed cover is the protection a cover can offer.
When you add a truck bed cover of any kind to your vehicle, you’ll protect both your belongings and your truck’s bed. A cover will keep out weather elements, like bright sunlight, rain, hail, and snow. That can keep both whatever you’re carrying and the bed of your truck protected – and safe from potential damage.
A cover also offers protection from thieves. When an open, uncovered truck bed filled with your tools, your gear, or your belongings is left in a parking lot or even parked on your street, it’s available to anyone. Thieves who pass by will be able to reach right into your truck bed and steal whatever’s inside. A cover, however, stops this. To commit theft, someone would have to remove or get access inside the cover, a feat that most thieves won’t want to risk.
A Truck Bed Cover Can Be a Worthwhile Investment
In addition to offering valuable protection against both weather-related damage and theft, a truck bed cover can also pay off in other ways. The money you spend on a cover could wind up helping you save even more money later on.
For example, adding a cover to your pickup truck’s bed could help you save money on gas. A cover actually reduces drag and resistance while you drive. And when there’s less drag and less resistance, you’ll use less fuel. That means you could see a noticeable difference in your truck’s gas mileage when a cover is in place.
Additionally, a truck bed cover can also protect the investment you made when you purchased your pickup. A cover will block out potential damage – it keeps the sun’s rays from dulling your paint, and it protects against scratching, dents, and rust that can form thanks to rain, hail, or wind and debris. A cover will also keep out mud and dirt while you’re driving, ensuring your bed stays clean. All of this can keep your truck bed looking its best for longer, preventing you from having to pay for expensive repairs, repainting, or replacement.
Types of Truck Bed Covers
Once you’ve decided that a truck bed cover is the right choice for you, you have another decision to make. What kind of cover will best suit your needs?
There are a lot of different types of truck bed covers to choose from. They’re made in all kinds of materials, styles, and even functionalities. Some truck bed covers can roll up, fold, or retract. Others are more permanent additions to your truck.
The following are some of the most common types of truck bed covers you’ll find.
Retractable Covers
A retractable cover is a truck bed cover that offers you flexibility, convenience, and protection for everything you carry inside the bed. It’s semi-permanent cover – it has to be mounted both at the front of the truck bed and at the sides. Typically made with vinyl or aluminum material, a retractable cover is durable and sturdy. You can retract, or remove the cover for easy access when you need to get items out of the bed.
Roll Up Covers
A roll up cover is a soft truck bed cover. Usually made out of soft, flexible material like cloth or vinyl, one of these covers easily rolls or folds up when you need access to the bed. Easy to install, this type of cover doesn’t require drilling or any permanent changes to your truck. You can use them when you’d like and remove them when you’re done. Roll up covers are also the most affordable choice for a truck bed cover.
Hard Covers
A hard cover is the most expensive kind of truck bed cover you can buy. However, this kind of cover also offers the most durable, long-lasting protection. Hard truck bed covers, or hard tonneau covers, are permanently installed on your truck. Typically made out of aluminum or fiberglass, these covers are very sturdy and can even be locked. Some include windows, some lay flat atop your bed.
How to Choose a Quality Truck Bed Cover
There are a lot of different types of truck bed covers available to choose from. That means you have a lot of research to do before you purchase one. Make sure to search online to learn more about the different kinds of covers, the benefits they offer, and which might be right for your needs. Every cover offers something unique.
Once you’ve researched and compared different covers, you should also compare prices. The best way to find an affordable truck bed cover is to search for and compare multiple options. You can also search for offers, sale events, and special low pricing to get a great deal.