What is the Best Tonneau Cover?

Investing in a tonneau cover is the best way to protect your truck bed from the elements and theft. Also known as truck bed covers, tonneau covers are made to improve both the safety of your truck bed and the appearance of your entire vehicle. There are several types of tonneau covers and a world of truck bed cover manufacturers to choose from. Choosing the best tonneau cover can be a difficult task, especially if you're not sure what you're looking for in such a great truck accessory. By the end of this article, you will have a clearer idea of what is the right truck bed cover for your ride and what are the best tonneaus at the best prices. So, let's sum up your options first!

There are several types of tonneau covers based on design. Tonneau covers are classified according to type:

• Soft vs Hard
• Retractable vs Roll-Up
• Electrical vs Manual

Tonneau covers can also be classified by their manufacturer:
(Listed in no particular order)

• BAK Industries
• Extang
• Access
• Undercover
• Truxedo
• Lund
• Retrax
• WeatherTech
• Bestop
• Smittybilt
• Rugged Ridge
• Aries Automotive
• Crown Automotive

So, you see that you have many options to choose from, based on style, construction, safety ratings, price, and brand.

Top rated tonneau covers

For truck owners looking for the top rated tonneau cover, the answer is easy to come across. It's enough to check out what the majority of truck owners purchase for their pickups. You can always browse our extensive collection of bed covers and find the perfect tonneau cover for your specific year, make, and model. But if you want to save yourself some time, we've already filtered out the best-selling tonneaus:

Here are ten of the most popular and highly-rated tonneau covers on the market:
(Listed in no particular order).

	BAKFlip G2	See Details >>
	UnderCover SE	See Details >>
	BAKFlip MX	See Details >>
	TruXedo Deuce	See Details >>
	UnderCover Ultra Flex	See Details >>
	BAK Industries Revolver X2	See Details >>
	Extang Solid Fold 2.0	See Details >>
	BAKFlip F1	See Details >>
	Lund Genesis Elite	See Details >>
	Retrax PowertraxPRO	See Details >>

Which tonneau cover should I buy?

You can always ask for your buddies' opinions and hope their experience will apply to your specific vehicle, needs, and lifestyle. You can also take a look at our bestselling tonneaus and go with what most truck owners have installed to their own trucks. Or you can figure it out on your own! It's simple - just follow our quick guide:

Hard folding: These tonneau covers are designed to fold up and normally have two hinges. They are easy to install, strong, and durable. Some premium hard folding truck bed covers are Extang (Solid Fold 2.0), Bestop (EZ-Fold), and BAKFlip (MX4).

Soft covers: They are less expensive, but do not provide the same level of security as hard covers. Most soft tonneau covers are made from vinyl. You either install them on a frame or mount them onto your truck's bed using Velcro or some integrated snap-on system. Soft roll-up bed covers are considered the most widespread tonneau covers. They are popular because they are inexpensive, easy to operate, and provide full bed access in a matter of seconds. What's the con? This type of Tonneau is not as durable and secure as a hard folding truck bed cover. Extang (Trifecta 2.0), Access (Literider), Truxedo (TrueXport), BAK (Revolver) and WeatherTech (Roll Up) are great products in this category.

Painted covers: These are higher price range tonneaus painted to match your truck's factory finish. Made of fiberglass or premium quality ABS plastic for your specific truck, these covers are hands down some of the best-looking tonneaus you can get for your ride. They are secure, weatherproof, and factory painted to give your truck that brand new look and perfect fit. The only downside is that they are heavy and are not supposed to be removed. And they are expensive. Check out the UnderCover LUX - it's probably one of the best-painted tonneau covers on the market.

Retractable covers: As the name suggests, these tonneau covers retract into a roll-up canister every time you need full bed access. They are the most weatherproof type of cover out there in case you're looking for almost 100% waterproof protection. The leading brands manufacturing this tonneau type include BAK, Lund, Truxedo, Retrax, and WeatherTech. If you're after the most rugged, waterproof tonneaus available on the market, then go with the tried and true, like the Extang Encore, the BAK Revolver, or the RetraxPRO.

What should you consider when looking for the best hard tonneau cover or the best soft tonneau cover?

When looking for the absolute best hard tonneau cover out there (or the best soft tonneau cover for that matter), there are several things you should consider. First and foremost, it all depends on what you're looking for in a tonneau and how much you're willing to spend on it. Whether it's retractable, folding, roll-up, hinged or snap, you should know what cover would best suit your needs and your specific truck.

The main benefits of having a tonneau:

Safe and secure cargo transportation

Transport everything you can think of safely and conveniently. What can you transport with a hard or soft tonneau cover? Well, everything from tools, small luggage, winter gear, and family furniture to expensive cargo requiring top-notch open-road protection. A tonneau cover comes custom-fit to your specific vehicle and is the best purchase you can make to safeguard your valuables while adding a streamlined shape to your truck.

Easy truck bed access and protection against theft

Many tonneau covers come with handily integrated tailgate seals and long-lasting latch housing components offering complete anti-theft security against the most persistent bandits. In addition to keeping would-be-thieves at bay, you also keep the elements out of your truck bed. A flush, aerodynamic tonneau cover with advanced seal system will keep your truck bed dry and free of road debris!

Flawless fit and great styling

With a tonneau cover on your truck, you keep your precious cargo under wraps while adding an awesome-looking, low-profile look. Whether it's a lightweight hinged tonneau or the heaviest glass reinforced beast, one thing is for sure: you're adding a modern flair and a flawless fit! And, you don't have to sacrifice your cargo access, because most of today's top-rated tonneau covers offer immediate reach to every corner of your truck bed (a good example is the RetraxONE tonneau cover).

Reduced wind drag and better gas mileage

Revamping your pickup's bed with a tonneau guarantees to improve your vehicle's aerodynamics and boost fuel economy by directly reducing drag. Tests have shown that some of the best tonneau covers are also top performance in wind drag reduction. Roll-up vinyl covers and fiberglass ones lower air resistance the most. According to aerodynamicists, a 10% boost in aerodynamic coefficient results in 2-3% improvement in gas mileage at speed of 77 kph.