Soft-Rolling vs Hard-Rolling Tonneaus: What’s the Difference?

So, you go into the parts store and tell the counter worker you need a tonneau cover for your truck. All you know is that you want an affordable and reliable roll-up cover. The counter person tells you they have two roll-up covers you might be interested in, the Truxedo Truxport and the Truxedo Sentry. You ask about pricing and are left scratching your head at the difference: one costs a few hundred bucks while the other is nearly a grand.

What gives? How could two rolling covers from the same manufacturer be priced so radically different? It comes down to one basic difference. The TruXedo Truxport, along with the company’s LoPro and Pro X15, are all soft-rolling tonneau covers. The Sentry and its sleek sibling, the Sentry CT, are hard-rolling covers.

Obviously, you’re here because the counter guy needed to know if your truck was 4-wheel drive before he could tell you the difference. Don’t worry, you’re in good hands now. We’ll get you all caught up on the key factors you need to consider when deciding which style is better for your truck, and how you can find the right option for your budget.

Basic Differences

A soft roll-up cover, like the TruXport, uses a piece of vinyl to cover the bed of your truck. Bows that span the width of the cover offer support, and hook-and-loop strips down the sides keep moisture out while a latch locks it down.

On the surface, a hard-rolling cover like the Sentry looks much the same. But under that vinyl cover is a major difference. Rather than bows offering support, there’s a series of heavy-duty aluminum slats. The vinyl fabric is then pressure-bonded to these panels for increased durability and security. Like TruXedo’s soft roll-up covers, the hard-rolling Sentry and Sentry CT still latch at the tailgate, and also use hook-and-loop seals to keep the elements out.

While there are some pretty obvious differences in construction between these two styles, it’s worth noting that some of the more minor features might change among manufacturers, or even models. For example, some hard-rolling covers use simple rubber flaps as a seal as opposed to hook-and-loop strips. So, just be sure to research any models you’re considering to ensure you’re comfortable with the features it comes with.

Security Chops

The main feature that will usually motivate a person to choose a hard cover over a soft cover is the improved security. The common fear is that thieves can easily cut through the soft vinyl to get at whatever’s in the bed of your truck. While not common, it is a real concern, and a hard cover will add a layer of protection to keep your belongings right where you left them.

That isn’t to say that only people who live in or frequently visit areas with high crime rates should consider hard covers. That additional barrier offers structural support that will come in handy in many situations.

For example, the Sentry can handle up to 400 pounds of evenly distributed weight, meaning it will stand up to heavy snow much better than the TruXport, which can really only handle about 15-30 pounds safely. However, both are resilient to cold, harsh conditions, so if you’re not in a snowy part of the country, that lighter model should perform just fine. Plus, some soft-rolling covers – like TruXedo’s LoPro, which is priced in between the TruXport and Sentry – can handle up to 250 pounds. So, again, doing a little homework to research which features are best-suited to your environment is key when shopping around.

Installing, Using, & Maintaining

As for maintenance, there’s not too much difference. Either cover is easy to care for with simple cleaners and protectants being used to remove gunk and keep the vinyl in good shape. Installation and ease of operation are also nearly identical. No drilling is required for either cover, and a single person can easily roll the cover out of the way to expose the entire bed. These covers even look nearly identical when closed, and you really don’t need to compromise in any way when leaning toward one material over another.

Now, what about heat? Heat is a factor that you either forgot all about or is the thing keeping you from buying a hard-rolling cover in the first place. Well, you can relax. The Sentry and Sentry CT rely on materials that will withstand extreme heat and UV rays. However, it’s important to note that with other manufacturers, this isn’t always the case. Some hard-rolling covers feature adhesives to bond components of hard covers together that can fail in high outdoor temperatures.

Again, it’s very important to read into the details of any cover you’re considering and compare that information to your environment. However, you can rest assured that Truxedo, Extang, or any other cover from the Truck Hero line is built to handle just about anything you can throw at it.

The Bottom Dollar

Up until now, the hard cover sounds superior in every way. (And it really should be considering the inherent price difference.) But that doesn’t mean that the soft cover isn’t worthy of your attention.

A soft-rolling tonneau cover is still providing protection to your belongings by keeping harsh elements out of the truck bed. Plus, it offers a visual barrier for any cargo. While that might not deter all thieves, many will see it as one more step they have to take to steal what you have, as opposed to someone with an open bed. It hardly seems worth the risk when they don’t even know what’s in there.

There are a lot of reasons to save up and invest in a hard-rolling cover, but it can be overkill if your needs are easily met with a soft option. So, if a soft-rolling cover is all you can afford (or can justify spending money on), you should know that it will serve the average consumer well.

About TruXedo

Since the introduction of the Original TruXedo truck bed cover in 2000, TruXedo has led the industry with new and innovative concepts that emphasize truck bed functionality, durability, and style. The company’s tonneau covers can instantly be closed by hand, which is especially handy in bad weather or keeping valuable cargo safe in public places. And, of course, they can easily be rolled back to make space for hauling larger loads. To learn more, visit https://truxedo.com/