Tonneau Cover: Here’s All that You Need to Know
If you own a truck, then you must know that a tonneau cover or truck bed cover as they are popularly known as, is an accessory that you must have. Tonneau covers are one of the most essential truck accessories to have because they help improve the aerodynamics of the truck and protect or shield the cargo at the back from the weather conditions and thieves.
Offering both style and functionality, tonneau covers came into existence during the early 20th century, made popular by racers at the Bonneville Salt Flats. These covers were initially made of leather, canvas, and fabric, but today they are way evolved and come in a variety of materials such as vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass, etc. Moreover, they come in various types and styles such as a hard tonneau cover, soft tonneau cover, retractable tonneau cover, roll up tonneau cover, and a lot more.
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about tonneau covers, the types available, the materials they are made of, the benefits of having tonneau covers, how to choose a tonneau cover, and more.
Table of Contents
- What is a Tonneau Cover?
- Materials Used in Tonneau Covers
- Soft Tonneau Covers Vs. Hard Tonneau Covers
- Types of Tonneau Covers
- How to Choose a Tonneau Cover: Key Factors to Take into Consideration?
- Benefits of Using a Tonneau Cover
- Installation and Maintenance
What is a Tonneau Cover?
The word ‘tonneau’ is a French word that refers to a 'barrel or cask’. In the early days, many cars came with an open rear passenger compartment that was round or barrel-shaped, hence, the term ‘tonneau’ came to be known. The first tonneau covers came into existence with those initial cars and were usually made of soft leather or canvas to protect the passenger seats.
Today, a tonneau cover is referred to a protective cover that shields or protects the cargo at the back of a truck from damages, thieves, and weather.
Materials Used in Tonneau Covers
The materials used to make tonneau covers are many, inclusive of both soft and hard materials. Here are a few mentioned below.
Vinyl:
Vinyl is basically the most common material used, particularly for making soft covers such as roll up tonneau covers. These are quite flexible and lightweight, hence, are one the best soft tonneau covers to be used for your truck bed.
Canvas:
You also have tonneau covers made of canvas. These are lightweight, durable, resistant to wear and tear, and of course to the weather as well.
Fiberglass:
Fiberglass tonneau covers are not only quite sturdy and strong but they are also not very heavy. Besides providing much-needed protection from the weather and thieves, fiberglass covers have quite a smooth surface and add to the enhanced look of your truck bed.
Aluminum:
Most hard tonneau covers are made of aluminum because it is strong, reliable, and corrosion-resistant. To add to that, they are quite light in weight, thereby, they are quite convenient to use.
ABS Plastic:
Another popular material choice for hard tonneau covers are ABS plastic covers. They are strong and sturdy, light in weight, and quite affordable too.
Soft Tonneau Covers Vs. Hard Tonneau Covers
Let’s discuss soft tonneau covers and hard tonneau covers.
Soft Tonneau Cover
Soft tonneau covers are widely used as they are inexpensive and simple to use. Since they are usually composed of sturdy cloth or vinyl, they are manageable and lightweight. However, the drawback of soft tonneau covers is that they do not provide the needed theft prevention because thieves can easily cut through the vinyl.
Hard Tonneau Cover
Hard coverings are renowned for their increased security and longevity. The most common materials used by manufacturers to provide a strong defense against weather and theft are ABS plastic, fiberglass, and aluminum. However, the drawback of hard covers is that they are heavier than vinyl covers and cost more.
Types of Tonneau Covers
There are numerous types of tonneau covers available on the market today. Here are some for you to choose from based on your style preference, needs, and budget.
Roll-Up Tonneau Cover:
The roll up tonneau cover is particularly a soft type of cover. These types of covers are light in weight because they are generally made of vinyl. Since vinyl is a flexible kind of material, these tonneau covers can be easily rolled up to access your cargo. The best thing about a roll-up tonneau cover is that they are quite budget-friendly. Additionally, for complete security some also come with snap button features.
Folding Tonneau Covers:
You have a tri-fold or quad-fold design option when it comes to choosing a folding tonneau cover. You have both soft and hard folding tonneau covers available, so you can choose from any of the options to secure your truck bed. Soft folding tonneau covers are made of softer materials such as vinyl and are quite flexible. On the other hand, hard folding tonneau covers are made of much stronger and sturdy materials such as fiberglass or aluminum as they are quite durable. Also, while some folding tonneau covers give you complete access to your truck bed, there are some that do not do so.
Hinged Tonneau Covers:
Hinged tonneau covers basically work like car trunks. This means that you can lift them up completely to access the back of your truck. Hinged covers are most often made of fiberglass or quite a strong and sturdy plastic, guaranteeing the complete protection of the things in your truck bed.
Retractable Tonneau Covers:
Typically made of hard or strong materials such as aluminum or even fiberglass, a retractable tonneau cover is quite a convenient option available out there for truck owners. These retractable tonneau covers basically have a sliding design that slides into a canister towards the front of the truck bed, providing you with full access to the truck bed. These retractable tonneau covers are very easy to use, as you can pull it out when you need to cover your cargo and put it back when you don’t need it.
Electric Tonneau Covers:
You also have an advanced version of tonneau covers available on the market for ease of use or convenience – the electric tonneau covers. These advanced bed covers are operated via a remote control, an app or by just a push of a button. So, if you need something where you have to hardly put in any effort, then electric tonneau covers are for you, however, they are more on the expensive side.
How to Choose a Tonneau Cover: Key Factors to Take into Consideration?
Here are a few key factors to take into consideration when choosing a tonneau cover.
Compatibility with Truck Bed
Before you decide to buy a tonneau cover, you have to make sure that it is well-suited with the size as well as the shape of your truck bed. You should also ensure that the tonneau cover is compatible with all the other accessories you have, whether it’s a bed extender or a toolbox.
Usage Needs
You also need to keep in mind your usage needs. Are you someone who is occasionally going to carry cargo on your truck bed or are you someone who is going to do it regularly. If you are going to do it less frequently, then a soft roll up tonneau cover would do the job as it’s affordable and would serve your basic security needs.
On the other hand, if you are hauling cargo more often, then look for hard tonneau covers, as they are much more reliable when it comes to protecting your items from the weather, damage, and thieves.
Security Requirements
Well, your security requirements will help you determine the kind of tonneau covers you need. If you want to ensure that your truck bed is completely secured, then hard covers are the way to go as soft covers are susceptible to unauthorized access.
Weather Conditions
The weather conditions you live in also play a very crucial role in your decision-making. Therefore, take into consideration the kind of climate you live in. Are the climatic conditions very harsh or are they moderate? If the climate is harsh, then an excellently sealed hard tonneau cover is a better option for optimal security.
Budget
You have a wide variety of tonneau covers that are both affordable and pricy. Make sure you align your budget with all the requirements you have. Take into consideration not just the initial purchase cost of the tonneau cover but also the long-term value. A high-quality tonneau cover will assure you better protection and durability, while a low-quality one might not. Hence, make a wise choice based on the budget you have set aside, keeping in mind quality.
Aesthetic Choices
When considering a tonneau cover, it’s also good to keep in mind the aesthetics of your truck, if it matters to you. You have the option to custom paint hinged covers to match your truck’s color. Doing so gives your truck that harmonious look. Besides, folding and retractable tonneau covers offer you that sleek stylish look.
Benefits of Using a Tonneau Cover
A tonneau cover has various benefits. Let’s take a look at few below.
Security:
Security is one of the main reasons to have a tonneau cover for the bed of your truck. Imagine you have some important cargo at the back and it comes in the eye of thieves, it’s quite likely that it might put you and the things in danger. Therefore, a tonneau cover ensures that everything is covered and out of sight. Besides, if security is your high-priority, then choosing hard tonneau covers would be best because they come with locking systems in place.
WeatherProtection:
Another benefit of getting yourself a tonneau cover is of course protection from the weather. The rain, sun, storm, or wind can damage and destroy your cargo at the back of your truck, therefore, to shield your things and your truck bed, a tonneau cover is a must-have.
Aerodynamics Improvement:
Well, a tonneau cover is not just for protection and security, it also has an added benefit, and that is improving the aerodynamics of your truck by reducing drag. This means that you will be saving up quite a lot on fuel or gas money.
Enhanced Look:
Besides protection, security, and improved aerodynamics, tonneau covers enhance the look of your truck. It gives it a sleeker, modern and finished appearance.
Installation and Maintenance
Installation Process:
Installing a tonneau cover completely depends on you and how would you want to do it. If you want to take it up as a DIY project and are confident to do so, then go ahead with it. You have all instructions given to you in the manufactures guide which could help you in the installation process. However, if you feel that you are not the right person to do the installation, then it’s best to reach out to a professional to help you.
Maintenance Tips:
It is essential that you maintain your tonneau cover as frequently as possible. This means regular washing, and wiping. Use mild soap and a clean cloth to clean. Also, make sure the moving parts of the tonneau covers are regularly lubricated so that they function with ease.
In conclusion, a tonneau cover is something that you would definitely need for your truck if you want to protect and secure all the items you haul from the weather and thieves. Now, whether you go for a soft or a hard truck bed cover, the choice is completely yours to make based on the things that you need to take into consideration. But always remember to go for something that is of good quality and offers you long-term benefits, particularly, if you are someone hauling cargo regularly. With so many options out there, make an informed decision and select the best tonneau cover that meets yours and your vehicle’s requirements.
More to read
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