5 Questions to Ask When Buying A Tonneau

September 27, 2023September 5, 2023 Darian A 0 Comments Shopping Guide, Tonneau Covers, Truck Accessories, truck bed protection, Undercover

Hinged, folding, rolling, retracting, soft, hard, vinyl, fiberglass — the options for tonneau covers are seemingly endless and, as a result, can be pretty overwhelming when you’re shopping for one. Where do you start? How do you know which is right for you?

To begin with, it’s important to know the different types of tonneau covers available. Once you have an understanding of what’s available, you can start narrowing down the search. To help, we’ve gathered some simple and straightforward things to consider before purchasing. Specifically, these are 5 questions you should ask yourself before typing in those credit card numbers and hitting “Buy Now.”

Remember, even the most basic truck bed cover is likely to set you back a few hundred dollars, and more robust models can easily dip into the thousands. So, you want to be positive the one you choose is the best for your needs.

1. How and Where Will I Use my Truck?

Do you use your truck for heavy duty work on a daily basis? Or are you just a weekend warrior? Are you driving on smooth, paved city streets? Or heading down bumpy dirt and gravel roads? Consider what type of road debris or road conditions your truck might encounter, and how they could affect the tonneau cover. For example, excessive vibrations can cause misalignment issues, so you’ll want a cover that can stand up to those rigors if you’re trekking down rough roads every day.

Additionally, today’s tonneau covers come with all kinds of convenient features – from LED lighting, to built-in tailgate locks, to simple twist-and-lift release mechanisms. Explore the different models within a tonneau cover lineup and you may be surprised to find functionality extremely well suited to your needs.

For example, if you’re doing heavy-duty work with your truck, the Armor Flex cover from UnderCover (pictured above) may be just what you need. Its heavy-duty panels are coated with a LINE-X specialty automotive coating designed to provide advanced protection from dents and scuffs, while the dual-action tailgate seal allows you to close the tailgate with the last panel of the cover up or down.

2. What Kind of Weather Protection Do I Need?

Do you live in an area that sees harsh winters and heavy snow? Or are you in a dry and arid desert climate? Where you live should be a consideration. If you do live in a colder area with harsh winters, then you’ll likely want a hard cover tonneau that’s designed to better stand up to that kind of stress. Additionally, you may prefer a folding or retracting design over a one-piece, so you easily access a portion of the bed without having to lift the entire cover.

Similarly, while all tonneau covers (the good ones, at least) offer reliable weatherproofing, some designs guarantee a more watertight seal than others. So, if you live in a particularly rainy climate, like the Pacific Northwest, then a one-piece hinging tonneau – or really any style that sits on top of the bed rails – will offer you the most dependable watertight seal.

3. What Kind of Tonneau Security Do I Need?

If you have cargo that you need to keep safe and secure – like expensive tools or sporting gear – then your best options for tonneau security are hard covers. One-piece hinging and retractable styles are particularly difficult to break into, but hard-folding and hard-rolling options will also give thieves enough trouble that they likely won’t bother risking the crime.

Soft, vinyl-top covers are generally considered the least secure because they can be cut into. While this is not a common occurrence, it’s something to keep in mind if you travel through high-crime areas or transport desirable cargo.

Additionally, while most tonneau covers have their own locking mechanisms, some are inevitably better than others. You’ll want to research what kind of anti-theft features are included in your purchase, so you can rest easy that no sticky bandits are finding their way into your truck bed.

How secure is your tonneau cover? Find out here.

4. What Kind of Access to My Truck Bed Do I Need?

Think of how often you dip into your truck bed to retrieve something. Do you need full-bed or partial-bed access throughout the day? Some tonneau covers can be opened part way, providing more access points and multiple riding positions.

Additionally, consider what type of operation feels most natural to you. There are tonneau covers that roll up, retract, lift up, and fold. Some require a little manual effort, while others open and close electronically – all you need to do is push a button on your key fob. Keep in mind, however, that you pay for ease of use. Retractable tonneau covers are very user-friendly, but they’re expensive and the canister that holds the coiled cover takes up a decent chunk of space in the bed near the cab.

Access can also extend to visibility. As in, how much access to an unobstructed view do you require when driving your truck? If you opt for a hard-folding cover, for example, just keep in mind that if you drive with the cover in the open position, the final panel will block part of the back cab’s window.

5. What is My Style and Budget?

The Elite one-piece cover from UnderCover includes an added handle with an integrated locking mechanism for additional security. It also comes equipped with a Cargo Retriever that extends your reach the entire length of the bed, as well as an upgraded removable LED light.

Considering your personal style preferences and budget may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to determine these before beginning your search. Otherwise you may wind-up with buyer’s remorse, a cover you love but that’s out of your price range, or a style that doesn’t fit your needs at all.

As noted earlier, tonneau covers come in a wide range of prices but even the cheapest options will still cost a few hundred dollars. Generally, soft-rolling vinyl covers are the least expensive (coming in under $300) while retractable covers are the most expensive (sometimes cresting $3,000). The other styles can land anywhere in that range, frankly, thanks to wide array of features and materials that manufacturers employ in the design.

We recommend making a list of “need to haves” and “want to haves” based on the criteria outlined in this article, and then matching those checklist items against your budget. This way, even if you don’t end up with your “dream” tonneau, you get one that’s darn close — plus an upgrade goal to look toward!