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Pickup trucks are some of the most versatile vehicles available. Truck drivers use their pickups as standard daily drivers, performance vehicles, or for their traditional purpose, to store and haul objects in the rear bed. Pickups typically come with open beds that can fit taller objects, but this can leave those items exposed to the elements and prying eyes. With a truck bed cover, otherwise known as a tonneau cover, you can keep the bed of your truck covered and all of your items safe in one place.
Here are the best bed covers for trucks available on Amazon — pricing will vary depending on your truck’s make, model, and year.
Also, be sure to check out the FAQ section at the end of this post to help you decide which type of truck bed cover is right for you.
The Tyger Auto F1 Soft Roll-Up Truck Bed Cover comes with dual-coated 24 oz marine grade vinyl and aluminum powder-coated side rails and clamps. It has weathertight sealing to prevent water from getting in. The latch lock system that’s sealed by the side Velcro strips makes sure the truck cover is tight and secure and won’t be blown away while driving. Tyger offers a limited lifetime warranty with this product.
Key Features
- Dual-coated 24 oz marine grade vinyl cover
- Weathertight sealing
- No-drilling required
- Locking truck bed cover
- Limited lifetime warranty
The Tiptop Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Cover is made specifically for the Ford Maverick. It’s compatible with all Mavericks except for models that have the Factory Utility System and Roll Bar. This truck cover is weatherproof and built to withstand any weather condition. The exterior coating keeps water and granule pollutants away, acting as a sort of self-cleaning function.
Key Features
- Dual-coated 24 oz marine-grade vinyl cover
- 4+1 reinforced aluminum ribs
- Corrosion-resistant
- Easy installation
The oEdRo Soft Quad-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau cover is compatible with most of the popular pickup trucks on the market. It’s simple to install and doesn’t require any extra tools. It’s built with dual-layer polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, which is an extremely durable form of plastic. The fabric is waterproof and will keep your cargo dry at all times.
Key Features
- Dual-layer PVC
- Quad-fold design
- 4 horizontal crossbars
- Tool-free installation
- Waterproof vinyl fabric
The YitaMotor tri-fold cover is built with high-quality materials and offers year-round weather protection. It’s tear-resistant, water-resistant and high-temperature resistant. The reinforced corner design, sturdy buckles and clamps keep the cover in place while driving. It’s easy to install and should take around 20 minutes with no extra tools or drilling required. To install this truck bed cover, make sure the bed rack or box and bed liner are removed if you have one.
Key Features
- Made with double-layer PVC and solid alloy
- 20-minute installation
- Reinforced corner design
- Tear-resistant
- Water-resistant
The Bak BakFlip hard shell truck bed cover is extremely durable and functional. It’s built from solid-core aluminum panels that are UV-resistant and weather-resistant. The cover is foldable and can be folded upright in order to haul larger cargo without removing the cover. No matter how it’s folded, the cover won’t obstruct the 3rd brake light when driving. This cover includes a 3-year hassle-free warranty.
Key Features
- Aluminum cover
- Automatic latching system
- UV-resistant
- Weather-resistant
- 3-year warranty
This UnderCover Tonneau Cover is made with aluminum panels and has a carpeted underpanel to protect your cargo inside the bed. It has three secure positions to choose from so you can drive with the cover fully closed, partially closed, or fully opened.
Key Features
- Durable aluminum panels
- Flush mount
- Full bed access
- Weather-resistant
- Low-profile design
- 5-year hassle-free guarantee
The Decked truck bed storage solution is more of an organizational tool than a truck bed cover but it is tonneau-compatible. And while it’s typically more expensive than traditional tonneau covers, it offers more storage options for your tools and gear while still allowing you to haul larger items in the rest of the bed. You will lose some bed depth if you install a truck bed storage system so you’ll want to keep that in mind if you haul larger items. Also, if you frequently use a gooseneck trailer a truck bed storage system probably isn’t the best solution for you. There are Decked storage systems for full-size and heavy-duty trucks. If organized storage capacity for small tools and gear is high on your list of priorities you should seriously consider spending a little extra on a truck bed storage system.
Key Features
- Keeps your cargo organized, dry and secure under any weather conditions
- Drawers can be locked even if your truck’s tailgate is not
- 2,000 lb payload capacity
- Can be removed and reinstalled as needed
- Adds surface area by covering wheel wells
- Made in the USA from recycled materials
Pros and cons of truck bed covers
Retractable truck covers can add many benefits to your pickup. The most important being that they keep your cargo protected from the elements and away from the prying eyes of potential thieves. The aerodynamic-friendly design of truck bed covers can also help improve your pickup’s fuel economy. One of the drawbacks of truck covers is price — they aren’t cheap and may not seem worth it to those who don’t use their truck bed often. Another drawback is the sizing; every truck bed has a different length and width, so measurements must be exact when choosing the right cover.
What size do I choose?
Truck owners who are thinking about purchasing a truck bed cover, make sure you measure the length and width of your truck bed before buying. Begin measuring from the cab of your truck all the way to the rear tailgate. Truck bed covers have very specific measurements depending on the make, model and year of the truck.
How to install a truck bed cover
Installing a truck cover is fairly simple and won’t require any additional tools for most models. Drilling may be required for some trucks that have pre-installed bedrails. Installation may vary depending on the size of truck and the brand truck bed cover you have, but most come with a tarp, clamps and straps that can be attached to the rear bed.
Are truck bed covers waterproof?
Pickup truck bed covers are not always 100% waterproof, but they are all built to be water-resistant. They are able to keep most water from getting under the cover and inside the bed.
Hard vs soft truck bed cover
Choosing between a soft and hard shell truck bed cover will depend on what you would be hauling and how secure you want it to be. Soft truck bed covers are cheaper and allow full bed access when. Hard truck covers are more durable and long-lasting. They are more difficult to access than their soft-topped counterparts but they are the best at keeping your cargo secure.
Can you use a tonneau cover with a truck bed storage system?
Yes, with a truck bed storage system, like the one from Decked, you can still add a tonneau cover over it. Keep in mind, however, that the truck bed storage system will decrease the depth of your truck bed. So while you gain organization for smaller tools and gear if your primary need is to haul larger items, or use a gooseneck trailer, a truck bed storage system might not be the best addition to your pickup’s bed.
What style cover makes for the best tonneau cover?
The answer to this question will vary from one truck owner to the next. You can choose between a soft roll-up cover, soft folding, hard roll-up, hard folding, retractable, or full shell. Each type of tonneau cover has its own list of pros and cons, and which is the “best” depends on a variety of factors like budget and use case.
What are the most important specs to consider when shopping for a tonneau cover?
You’ll want to pay close attention to the size, and materials of the cover. We also recommend looking at other features that a cover might or might not have, like a locking system. Does the cover you’re looking at have a warranty or, better yet, a lifetime warranty?