Nothing in this world can beat a good old pickup truck for getting work done and hauling things you need to move.
Trucks are very versatile.
But there are times when you want to dress things up a bit and use your truck for a night on the town or for vacation.
This is where a roll-up tonneau cover comes into play. Tonneau covers are as versatile as your truck when it comes to making your truck look sleek and sharp. It also helps to prevent smaller items from flying out the back.
Some truck owners worry that a tonneau cover will be difficult to remove if they ever want to use the entire bed or that they won’t be able to carry anything on the top.
Still others, my father included, didn’t want one on his truck. He feared someone would just do a slash and run for the hell of it.
Let’s not forget that tonneau covers are great for reducing the amount of drag on the truck. That gives you a little bit better mileage.
There is such a huge variety of covers today that it can be hard to pick and choose which one is right for your truck.
After doing some research, I’ve come up with a list of the top tonneau covers, no matter what you are driving.
Read through this list and I’m sure you will find something that suits you and your truck to a proverbial “T”.
TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Tonneau Cover
Everyone has different wants and needs. I have to say that I was impressed as heck with the TruXedo tonneau cover.
This model fits quite a few GM models, but they sell sizes for other trucks.
This cover is waterproof and rolls up so small that you hardly notice it. It’s made from a leather grain black material that can really hold up to harsh weather.
I like this tonneau cover because it is so easy to install. If you want to use the bed, two latches allow you to open the tailgate and roll it up to the cab.
Takes about 2 minutes. I like it when things are simple and easy to operate.
Most soft tonneau covers will stretch and become a bit loose over time and with weather changes. But the TruXedo has a manual tension system that allows you to control the tension and then hold it in the position you have selected.
One more thing: price.
Did I mention that this is super inexpensive compared to many other products? Look around and you will see that the TruXedo price can’t be beaten.
This sits only 1.5 inches above the bed of the truck, so you get a very sleek profile. No drilling required, just a tape measure and a ½ inch wrench.
Most like how easy it was to install and that it stayed taut in high winds.
A few users found that in order to seal the tailgate, you must open the cover, close the tailgate, then re-secure the cover, which they thought was inconvenient.
For the price, great styling, and ease of use, this tonneau cover can’t be beaten for overall value.
Tyger Auto Soft Roll Up Tonneau Cover
Tyger is a well known name when it comes to automotive accessories. Right off you know you can trust this brand for quality made products.
This soft tonneau cover is designed especially with Toyota Tacoma’s in mind. It’s made from 24 ounce weight marine grade vinyl with built in bars that help to support the weight when in use.
I owned a Toyota Tacoma for many years. To be completely honest, I didn’t use the bed all that often. I wish I had thought of buying a tonneau cover like this one.
No drilling required unless you have a bed liner that extends over the rails. It has a limited lifetime warranty which is good considering most tonneau covers have no warranty at all.
I like this tonneau cover because it has a unique design with a US patent for locking the cover in place. This means no one is going to roll up and take off with it or roll it up and grab your stuff.
The majority of users loved this cover because it locks in place. A few users noted that the cover does seem to leak around the tailgate area. They recommend adding a bit of weatherstripping.
A few people complained that the cover did not fit. But the company clearly states that this only fits 5-foot beds and nothing else. Double check and then triple check before you buy.
Gator ETX Soft Roll Up Tonneau Cover
All you Ford lovers take note.
You are going to love this tonneau cover made specifically for Ford trucks.
It’s made in the USA. Yes, you read that correctly.
This cover should fit 2015-2020 F150 truck models with the standard 5-foot 6-inch bed.
Not only is this cover made in the USA, but customer support, if you need it, is also based in the USA. No one says that your tonneau cover can’t be as American as you are!
Gator has a limited lifetime warranty on the frame and a 10-year warranty on the tarp. The tarp is made from industrial strength leather grain vinyl.
This is a low profile tonneau cover. It protects whatever cargo you might have in the bed but still allows for easy removal when you need the entire truck bed.
It’s a solid quality cover at a great price.
Many users say that this cover is very easy to remove and install. It’s very quiet and stays taut so it looks great even under high wind.
Some users complained that they thought it wasn’t very easy to install. A few others thought that it should have fit better, especially around the tailgate.
If you want to spend more on the TruXedo cover, go right ahead, but this cover is terrific for the price.
MaxMate Soft Roll Up Tonneau Cover
I’m sure all you Dodge Ram fans have been scanning this review to see what’s out there for you.
The Max Mate cover fits the following Dodge Ram trucks:
- 2002-2018 Dodge Ram 1500
- 2003-2018 Dodge Ram 2500 & 3500 trucks
- 2019 & 2020 Classic Only
This is for the 5-foot 7 Inch and 6-foot 4-inch beds without the Ram Box. Always double-check the size of the bed and the model of your truck before buying.
This has a US patented design and 24 ounce marine grade vinyl that is dual coated for extra protection. The frame is aircraft-grade aluminum, but the clamps are stainless steel. Sounds like the best of all possibilities, doesn’t it?
No drilling required unless you have a bed liner that covers the bed rails. This has a 10 year no hassle warranty, which is very good.
Easy install is a big plus in my book!
One user even drove it through his local carwash, forgetting that he had it on. He said there were zero problems with it. Another said his 6 year old jumped on it thinking it was a trampoline. The cover remained tight!
I did find some users who say that they had problems keeping the cover latched. Another user complained that the securing bolts were completely worn out after only 3 years. Since this has a 10-year warranty that item should be covered.
The pros far outweigh any cons this tonneau cover might have. I’m betting you will love the way this fits and works on your Dodge Ram.
What is a Tonneau Cover?
A tonneau cover is simply a top to cover the open bed of a pickup truck.
There are other uses for tonneau covers, such as covering the rear portion of cars that have convertible tops or to cover the rear portion of an SUV.
Tonneau is a French word that means barrel, but today it is used to describe a hard or soft cover for a truck.
Do tonneau covers increase MPG?
Yes! A tonneau cover will increase MPG. In addition to hiding any items you might have in the bed of the truck, one of the major reasons for adding a tonneau cover is to improve the truck gas mileage.
Tonneau covers reduce the aerodynamic drag on the truck and often improve gas mileage as much as 10 percent or more.
The large open space of an unused truck bed will collect airflow. This will increase the drag on the motor. By installing a tonneau cover, you can save money on gas by allowing air to pass over the truck bed, rather than collect and pull on it. That pulling force is called drag.
What is the best tonneau cover protectant?
Your truck endures the sun and elements all day long. A tonneau cover will face that same exposure.
You can wax your truck to protect the paint, but what can you use on your tonneau cover? You want to use a product that both cleans and conditions the vinyl so that it remains supple.
There are as many types of tonneau cleaners/protectors as there are tonneau covers, but some of the best ones would be:
- Extang Tonno Protectant – This offers UV protection and can be used on your leather car seats or plastic portions of your truck, as well as cleaning your tonneau cover.
- Wolfsteins Tonneau Cover Vinyl Protectant – This is made just for vinyl tops and convertible tops. Wolfstein cleaner is recommended by many tonneau cover manufacturers.
- Truxedo Pro-TeX Protectant Spray – For those of you who like to match your products, TruXedo makes their own tonneau cover protectant to extend the life of your tonneau cover.
Can you go through a carwash with a soft tonneau cover?
As I mentioned before, one user took his Dodge tonneau cover through the car wash and it was just fine.
Generally speaking, yes, you can take your tonneau cover through one of those robo car washes. In fact check out the video I found below. Watch this guy lie in the bed of his truck, under the tonneau cover and have someone drive through a car wash. It’s pretty interesting.
If you are concerned that your tonneau cover might not stand up to the high winds of a robo wash, you can always remove it. But why do that if tonneau covers are designed to protect the bed of your truck in the rain, snow, wind, even freeway speed winds?
If you feel better about removing it, then do so. But watch the video and you will see that there really is no cause for concern.
Conclusion
There are a multitude of tonneau covers for your truck, regardless of which make and model you have. Picking the right one can be difficult.
I recommend the TruXedo TruXport cover as the best overall for soft covers. Easy is always a good thing and this cover is easy to install, as well as easy to gain access to the tailgate.
The TruXedo Truxport is waterproof, very low profile, and can be rolled up in less than 2 minutes. My pick is for a GMC truck, but you can find other models if you need to.
Yes, you can find cheaper covers. But that’s what I love about this cover. It won’t break the bank, but you can still get a quality cover that will last for years.
If you are thinking about getting a tonneau cover and you want the best possible value, you can’t go wrong with the TruXedo TruXport Tonneau cover.