The Best Truck Bed Cover
Trucks are great to drive while hauling an assortment of luggage in the truck bed. Could be the luggage for family outing or your work equipment. However, imagine coming across a heavy downpour amid your journey that will soak and damage your luggage. The Best truck bed covers are the solution: surely you’ll agree to this benefit.
Truck bed covers are some of the overlooked yet indispensable truck accessories. What most owners do not know is that they can remarkably increase fuel efficiency mainly due to air resistance reduction.
As much as these covers are important, it is not easy to pick one when given a plethora of cover makes with their designs. Tune in while I review the top truck bed covers on the market. I have an extensive experience in these accessories and thus assure you a well-educated choice. I’ve also included the buyer’s guide at the end which serves as your info hub prior to making any purchase.
If you are driving a Honda Ridgeline model 2017 to 2018, the Extang Trifecta Tonneau Cover could be the best model for your truck bed.
It shouldn’t be a problem installing it on any other truck bed provided it bears the same dimensions 74 x 30 x 5 in. It fits the 5 feet bed!
Key Features
With this truck bed cover, you may enjoy your journey knowing that your luggage is well-protected from the elements. Also, it makes life harder for criminals with their snatchy hands.
In fact, having this cover is pretty awesome as it comes with lots of benefits such as enhancing the aesthetic appearance of your truck.
It was built to last for years while giving you a smoother and contoured appearance.
Thanks to the US-based company with their patented technology that gives us this cover with its leather-grained fabric. Its corner tuck system enhances the tarp tension which will also help in redirecting water off the cover.
With weather protection this cover excels.
Installation
If you are that tech savvy guy who gets things done without reading instructions, then you may be done in a few minutes using the EZ-lock clamp system.
Combined with the Jaw-Grip clamp at the front, installation becomes very easy to accomplish.
You will also find it pleasurable to operate this truck bed cover. It folds three times in case you want to load your larger items such as the motorcycle. You can also remove it completely if you want the full space.
The frame is coated with aluminum so that makes it more durable and lightweight.
In case you experience any issues, the seller offers a lifetime warranty for this product.
- Tri-fold truck bed cover made of strong vinyl material
- Weather protection up to standard
- Easy to install with the EZ-lock clamp system
- Made of lightweight aluminum frame
- It is pretty expensive; however, it is worth the price
- 5 feet size is smaller for larger truck beds/li>
Final Verdict
For anyone owning the truck with 5 feet bed, I would recommend this bed cover. It does a great job in protecting your luggage and in giving your truck an aesthetic appearance. It’s made of premium quality materials that will last for years.
Also, it protects against weather. What else is your priority? Well, it also installs easily. That’s a great price to spend. I wouldn’t hesitate having this truck bed cover despite its price tag.
If you have a truck that is a bit longer than my first bed cover above, this 5.8 feet Tyger cover could be your go-to rescue.
Made specifically to fit the 2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500 without the Ram Box, it can bring the best solution to your cargo security and protection needs.
Stuff put in an open truck bed isn’t safe, so it’s worth adding some protection with this truck bed cover.
It’s actually user-friendly as you can control it the way you want.
Key Features
With this truck bed cover you have a premium quality on your truck.
It is made with the dual coated 24oz marine grade vinyl while the frame is coated with aluminum powder to enhance its longevity.
Installation
There’s no hassle in installing this truck bed cover. It comes with the pre-assembled crossbars which seamlessly folds with the cover to give you enough space.
If drilling is your nightmare like me then you’re sorted with this cover as it needs no drilling unless your vehicle has the bed liner that makes it hard to secure the clamps.
If the bed liner is under the bedrail, then absolutely no drilling required.
The other benefit that many overlook is the savings on your fuel. The manufacturer promises up to 12% savings on fuel, which I believe it is based on some empirical tests.
But, logically, you can think about it from science point of view that, it the truck has an open truck bed, more air will be routed in it to create more drag.
As a result, the engine will have to pump more fuel to work against the drag. So, a weather-tight cover solves the drag problem.
You are given a lifetime warranty with this product.
When ordering, make sure you match the truck length with the 5.8 feet dimension of this cover as you might incur return costs in case you’ve ordered the wrong product.
- Made of quality materials: stainless steel clamps, aluminum coated frames
- Tri-fold truck bed cover
- Weatherproof
- Marine grade vinyl
- Affordable cover
- Not compatible with ram box
- Incur shipping costs for returns/li>
Final Verdict
Although you have to incur additional costs of return in case you buy a wrong product, this is one of the best products on the market. It is made of marine grade vinyl which is tear-resistant. So, weather elements will not be a match to it.
The cover folds easily if you think of putting larger equipment. Moreover, it installs easily with its foldable aluminum coated frames. You need not drill any holes as it clamps with easy unless you have over-the-bedrail bed liners.
This truck bed cover is not far off from the previous review.
It fits 5.7 feet of truck beds.
Also, it sits about 1.5 inches above the truck bed, which gives more clearance and space in your truck bed.
Installation
The most appealing feature with this truck bed cover is its convenience to be installed by one person.
It shouldn’t be difficult at all to install this cover.
If you want put larger items at the back of your truck, this cover features the double latches at the tailgate which makes it simple to release it when rolling it up.
Key Features
The covers I have reviewed so far are tri-fold and this one is a roll-up design.
Nonetheless, its drawback could be the lack of strength to withstand bulky load on the cover regardless of it having the soft or hard fabric.
Other customers report an improvement to their mileage with the use of this truck bed cover.
It makes sense considering its effects in reducing drag at the back. Although it may not be significant, it is still remarkable.
Not only will the cover protect against outdoor elements but also opportunistic thieves. Also, it gives your truck bed that sporty look with its contours.
- Dual latch system for ease of control
- Easy to install with its clamps on the rail
- Roll-up design which gives you full access to the truck bed
- Helps you save on mileage
- Not strong to withstand loads put on it
Final Verdict
If you are looking for the cover that you can roll with ease, this is the best choice. It is made of premium quality materials.
It leaves no sweat to install it as it clamps on your rails in a few minutes. Even if you haven’t installed one before, this should be easy to ace. I would recommend this truck bed cover at any time.
Whether you are buying groceries or simply carrying worth equipment that is sensitive to the downpour, this truck bed cover can make a huge difference.
Installation
Gator Tri-Fold Tonneau Truck Bed Cover is a heavy-duty tri-fold cover that needs no extra tools to install.
In less than 10 minutes you could be done installing it and thus hit the road.
Although its descriptive name could be somehow misleading as one might think it is as strong as the alligator’s skin, it is nonetheless strong.
For truck beds that cannot be accommodated by the above products, this one fits 6.5 feet beds, and so it should be accommodative to a wide range of trucks.
Key Features
Made of the tear-resistant vinyl and aluminum frame, this cover will last you for many years.
It remains fastened to your truck bed to continue preventing debris, dust, dirt or any other particles from penetrating. As thus, no outdoor elements can be a match to this cover hence I consider it indispensable.
To assure you top-notch quality, the manufacturer is giving a limited lifetime warranty on this product. If you think of selling your truck in future, you may secure it value by installing this cover.
- Fits 6.5 feet beds
- Made of tear-resistant vinyl and aluminum frame
- Weatherproof
- Tool-free installation
- Does not give you a full access to the car even if folded three times. So, you might have to remove it completely
Final Verdict
This is yet another tri-fold truck bed I value and therefore recommend to truck owners. It is impressive with its design.
Installing it is an absolute breeze with no additional tools needed. Simply clamp it to the truck bed and get going. On top of that, it is affordable and weatherproof.
This marks the end of my product. It might be the last but definitely not the least in quality.
Sizes and Installation
MaxMate Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover fits 6.5 feet truck beds. Please ensure that your truck bed matches with this size as the manufacturer assumes no costs of returning the cover if you bought the wrong size.
It fits no 8 feet or 5.8 feet trucks as they are some of the common dimensions.
It takes only a few minutes to get this cover installed. I was impressed by many customers who expressed their satisfaction of this truck bed cover.
From 883 customers, the cover got 4.8 stars out of 5, which reassures you that many are impressed by the quality. I do attest to that as well.
Key Features
The cover will last you long with its marine-grade vinyl material while the frame is made of aluminum. The clamps are made with steel, so that’s an added durability.
But, you may need to remove it completely in case you want a full access to the truck bed.
- Made of high-quality materials: marine grade vinyl, stainless steel clamps and aluminum frames
- Affordable cover
- Folds up easily
- No-tool installation
- Has to be removed completely if you need a full access to the truck bed
Final Verdict
I’ve tried looking for the downsides of this truck bed cover but couldn’t find deal breakers. It is made of premium quality materials such as the marine grade vinyl which is tear-resistant and weatherproof.
All these are impressive. Again, it needs no additional tools to install the cover. To access your truck bed, simply fold the cover up. Given these features, I would recommend this cover at any time to truck owners.
Best Truck Covers – Buyer’s Guide
Let’s now look into the features you need to look for when purchasing these bed covers.
As I have already highlighted, it is not easy to pick the best when given the plethora of designs and models. I therefore dedicate this buyer’s guide to help you find your perfect buy.
What features to look for when buying the best truck bed covers?
Contents:
How to choose the right size?
These truck bed covers in various sizes, and so you have to make sure you purchase the right size. Some covers are model-specific as you have seen in some of my descriptions.
Nonetheless, provided your truck bed matches the dimensions, it shouldn’t be difficult to install the cover.
Cover types
There are different types of truck bed covers from tri-fold to roll-up, retractable and lift-up. In my reviews, I’ve mainly focused on tri-fold and roll-up designs because they are budget-friendly. The retractable and the lift-up models are costly.
You might find one costing around $900. Let’s see the key takeaways of the roll-up and fold-up models.
Trifold models
Simply put, these models can be folded three times from the rear to the head. But, they still vary with others having a final fold to leave the cover in a standing position thus giving you more access to the truck bed. Most remain suspended on the rails with the last.
What if someone stamps on it and break it? Nonetheless, it is a great design notwithstanding its downsides.
Roll-up models
The roll-up models, as the name says it all, roll up easily to give way to the truck bed. They may have the latch system at the tailgate which releases with ease to control the cover.
The advantage with these models is that they give you a full access to the truck bed without the need to uninstall them. Roll them up and the lock them.
But, the downside is that you may not be able to put any bulky load without them sacking because they are seldom made of hard materials as they may prevent their roll-up feature.
What about the installation?
No ones can tolerate the hassles of taking forever to install the truck bed covers. That said, prioritize the bed covers that need no tools to install.
No drilling required, unless you have over-the-bedrail bed liners which may need additional holes to be created in order to clamp the cover. Other covers may use the latch system to install. The choice is yours.
What are the Weatherproof and Waterproof?
The main purpose of having bed covers is to protect your luggage at the back from the elements. For this reason, look for the covers that promote waterproof and weatherproof features.
However, this is not generally conclusive as other models have super waterproof seals.
What are the benefits of using truck bed covers?
Most know that the truck bed covers protect the luggage against rain or thief. The benefits are more than that. Below are a few of them:
- Improve fuel efficiency – when driving, especially in highway roads, there is a lot of drag caused by high-speed winds. This will not only mess up with your luggage but also consume more fuel as the engine will have to pump up more fuel to overcome the air resistance. With the cover put on, there is less resistance, and thus more fuel is saved while driving at high speeds.
- Increase truck value – having the truck bed cover on preserves the quality conditions of your truck bed. It remains neat for a long time without signs of wear. As a result, your vehicle may command a higher value in future resale. Most prospective buyers may cough up any amount for a top-notch truck.
- Fight against theft – there are opportunistic criminals waiting to snatch your luggage at the traffic lights if not well-protected. So, having the cover that is locked will surely prevent any theft. Even if your vehicle is left unattended, it will not be a walk in the park for a criminal to steal.
- Protection against inclement temperatures – truck bed covers are sealed to provide waterproof and weatherproof qualities to your truck. If you are accustomed to putting groceries or any other water-sensitive materials in the truck bed, you need this cover to protect against harsh conditions.
Conclusions
Truck tonneau covers are perfectly designed to add more security and value to your truck bed. They provide more benefits to the owners. If you often the truck bed to haul high-value items, do not wait until they are damaged so you can get this indispensable cover.
I have handpicked the best products on the market.
It should be easier to pick one while keeping in mind the important features that I have highlighted in the buyer’s guide.
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