There are many things to consider when shopping for a new tonneau cover for your truck. What should you look for in your next tonneau cover? Whatever features your truck needs,we'll have a cover for you. This guide is here to hold your hand through the process. Of course you can always call us on 01789 339 339 or use our contact form and we'll talk you through your options
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A TONNEAU COVER
This guide will give you all the information you need to select the perfect tonneau cover for your truck to safeguard your cargo or cover your gear. One of the biggest questions truck owners often have is "How am I going to protect the cargo in my truck bed?". The market is swamped with diffrent styles of toolboxes, drawer systems, hardtops, soft tops and more. While all of these products offer great solutions, one of the most popular products to protect cargo for decades has to be the trusted tonneau cover.
There's a wide range of choices when it comes to materials, how the covers open and latch and what security features they offer. This presents a challenge to the truck ownerwhen it comes to making a decision.
MOST POPULAR TYPES OF TONNEAU COVERS
There are many types and styles of covers but these are the most common:
- Soft Roll Up Covers
- Soft Folding Covers
- Hard Folding Covers
- Retractable Covers (Roll Top Covers)
- 1-Piece and 3-piece Solid Covers
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A TONNEAU COVER:
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SECURITY -Think about how secure you need your cover to be. Are you just covering goods in transit? If so, a soft cover might be the cheapest solution. However if you're going to leave your goods or tools unattended overnight or for a length of time, you should consider a retractable cover or solid cover.
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TRUCK BED ACCESS - If you need to put tall or large items in your bed on a regular basis you'll need to think about how much space your cover takes up. For example a retractable cover is quick and easy to open and leave open but it will reduce your load capacity thanks to the canister at the front.On the other hand a soft roll cover takes up very little space when opened, but when closed it's not as secure.
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EASE OF USE - Nowadays, almost all covers are straightforward to operate, but the easiest of all has to be an electric retractable cover which simply works off a remote control or through a phone app. At the other end of the scale, a soft roll cover is easy to open but can be fiddly to close and seal up.
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DURABILITY - A tonneau cover is an investment. You want it to last a good while. A soft cover is probably the elast durable as they can stretch and fade after a number of years. However they are great value for money. A manual roll top cover has high durability but after a few years the springs may fail and the lock may sieze. An electric retractable cover is probably the most durable as it requires no spring and no lock. Te only potential failure is the motor but this will have a very long lifespan.
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BUDGET - This is normally the number one factor that most people will need to consider when looking at Tonneaus. If budget is not a consideration, then skip all of this page and head strraight to our selection of electric roll covers. You won't regret it. If, on the other hand, you need to keep a budget in mind, then clearly you need to examine all of the pros and cons of the tonneaus and see which has the best features for your needs within the budget you have.
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WEATHERPROOFING - Always a hot (or wet) topic when it comes to Tonneau Covers. Does a truly dry tonneau cover really exist? Maybe not 100% dry but some come close. The 1pc solid lid is probably the driest alongside the EGR RollTrac which has had extra special attention paid to its weatherprrofing. That said, If fitted carefully and correctly, other manual and electric covers will also provide good weatherproofing. The soft and hard folding covers are probably the least weatherproof tonneaus on this list because of the vulnerable hinge points, but they have many benefits in other areas.
SO WHICH SHOULD YOU BUY?
Below, we've rated each type of cover according to the criteria above on a 5 star rating. It's important to remember that each cover is superb at carrying out its intended use. You just need to make sure that you match your usage to the right cover. Don't forget if you find yourself being a bit overwhelmed by all this, just call us on 01789 339 339
Soft Roll Up Cover
| Security | ★ |
| Bed Access | ★★★★ |
| Ease Of Use | ★★ |
| Durability | ★★ |
| Budget | ★★★★★ |
| Weatherproofing | ★★★ |
Soft Folding Cover
| Security | ★★ |
| Bed Access | ★★★★ |
| Ease Of Use | ★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★ |
| Budget | ★★★★★ |
| Weatherproofing | ★★ |
Hard Folding Cover
| Security | ★★★ |
| Bed Access | ★★★★ |
| Ease Of Use | ★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★ |
| Budget | ★★★★ |
| Weatherproofing | ★★ |
Manual Retractable Roller Shutter
| Security | ★★★★ |
| Bed Access | ★★★ |
| Ease Of Use | ★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★ |
| Budget | ★★★ |
| Weatherproofing | ★★★ |
Electric Retractable Roller Shutter
| Security | ★★★★★ |
| Bed Access | ★★★ |
| Ease Of Use | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★★ |
| Budget | ★★ |
| Weatherproofing | ★★★ |
1pc & 3pc Solid Covers
| Security | ★★★★★ |
| Bed Access | ★★ |
| Ease Of Use | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★★ |
| Budget | ★★★★ |
| Weatherproofing | ★★★★★ |
Can I install a tonneau cover myself?
Yes, some covers come completely assembled and ready to mount to the truck bed in just minutes. Other covers come with all the necessary hardware you need to install yourself. Eagle 4x4 offer an advice helpline and our library of installation videos on our YouTube Channel is growing all the time.
The only tonneau cover we don't recommend DIY installation on uis the EGR RollTrac which is ultra-sophisticated and requires professional installation.
Do tonneau covers improve fuel economy?
Yes, tests have shown that a closed tonneau cover improves aerodynamics to give you better fuel economy than an open truck bed. The amount of improvement in fuel economy depends on the type of cover and the type of truck but it will have some impact.