Pickup Truck Tonneau Covers - 3 Top Questions To Ask
Pick up truck tonneau covers aren't just about looking good. Bed covers do much more. Since they close up the bed, some say they actually improve fuel mileage. It seems they would since you get that aerodynamic look. Certainly your cargo is hidden from prying eyes and it's out of the weather too. But there are so many choices, what type of cover is best?
What will you haul?
If you're hauling tall cargo you do not want a hinged hard cover. That's a cover that is one piece and hinges forward, like a trunk lid. You'll have to take the cover off to haul tall loads. For tall cargo, anything taller than the bed rails, get a roll up soft cover, a foldable hard cover, or a retractable hard cover. If you'll use your truck bed more like a car trunk, most any cover will work.
What about security?
Any cover will keep shorter cargo out of sight and that is worth a lot. But if you want more security, including locking that would keep any but the very determined out, a hard cover is the best choice. Hard covers include locks that when combined with a locked tailgate make it quite difficult to get in a truck bed.
What about looks?
It's hard to beat the sleek look of a fiberglass or plastic one piece cover. Especially if the cover is painted to match the rest of the truck. Very cool. Also retractable covers look sleek too. Most retractable covers mount at the bed level or even a little below and are coated aluminum material. Any cover can improve the look of a truck but the hard covers are more durable and look better for longer.
A truck bed cover is a great addition to any pickup, new or old. The main problem is choosing which one to get!