How to Choose Truck Bed Covers (Right Tonneau Cover for the Truck)
Truck bed covers, also known as tonneau covers, are essential components of your vehicle. Apart from boosting the versatility of your truck, they also provide security, weather protection, enhanced gas mileage, among others. It is very essential for you to note that truck covers are not the same, hence, you need to be very careful when making a purchase.
Getting the right bed cover for your truck is a very serious business and you need to do everything possible to ensure that you make the right choice. This guide contains vital tips that will help you to make the right decision when choosing a bed cover. It covers what you need to look out for, types of bed covers, maintenance commitment, compatibility with other accessories and so on.
Make up your mind on the type of material for your bed cover
There are so many options available to you when selecting your bed cover material. Common materials that can be considered include vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, canvas and ABS polymer. You can consider the harder ones if you desire enhanced security for your items. Softer materials, like vinyl, can be considered if you want an effortless contact with your tools.
Source: https://live.staticflickr.com/499/31537000533_9844d928b4_b.jpg
Make up your mind on the type of truck bed cover for your vehicle
You need to decide on the type of bed cover you want for your truck. There are four major types truck bed covers and they are rolling, hard folding, retractable and rack-integrated covers.
Rolling Covers
Rolling covers are produced with soft materials and you can easily get access to the bed of your truck by just rolling up this soft material. They are easy to install as you can get them installed within ten minutes without the use of any special tool. However, there are automated ones that can take up to one hour of installation time.
Hard Folding Covers
Hard folding covers are perfect for those who desire security as well as protection. They are made of long-lasting hard shells which can be folded portion by portion so that a section of your truck bed can be revealed. They have the capacity of supporting a considerable amount of weight, up to 400 pounds.
The popular ones are the tri-fold types which possess various installation time. They can be installed within 45 minutes and in some cases, it may take you up to one hour to get them installed.
Retractable Covers
Retractable covers are perfect for taller trucks and they are like window shutters. Hence, you can manually or automatically move them back and forth. They are usually made of aluminum panels which are sequentially placed next to each other. Getting them installed may take you up to hour or more.
Rack-Integrated Covers
Rack-integrated cover is the most expensive but simply the best. It is produced with a solid metallic material as well as a hard folding cover so that an additional reinforcement will added for irregular-shaped, heavy loads. It is also perfect for carrying loads that are much longer than the truck of your bed.
Installation of a rack-integrated cover can be a bit complex since you will have to initially install the rails. With the use of basic tools, you should be able to complete the installation of the rails within one hour. Thereafter, the hard cover will be installed and this can take another one hour.
Source: https://live.staticflickr.com/5621/21543305893_0a22b0128f_b.jpg
Make Sure the Truck Bed Cover is Adaptable To Other Accessories
Even though it is very essential to have a truck bed cover, you should consider other bed accessories when making a choice. For instance, tie-down anchor may be necessary in order to secure your cargo. In addition, some covers sit on these pockets thereby making them out of reach. You can select a low profile cover in order to enhance admittance to these holes.
Check the Degree of Maintenance Required
According to BestNetReview, Majority of truck bed covers do not require special maintenance. However, if you go for a retractable cover, some mechanical maintenance may be required so that it will be in a perfect working condition. At times, their rails may be require lubrication so that friction will be reduced.
If you go for a vinyl cover, you may need a UV protectant frequently. It is very essential for you to check all the necessary maintenance requirements before buying a truck bed cover. You need to be sure that you have the capacity of meeting the requirements.
Final Word
Getting the best bed cover for you truck will go a long way in giving it a high level of protection. As a result of this, it is very important for you to invest in a product of high quality so that you will be able to get value for your money. Since there are various brands in the market, you need to put the above-mentioned points into consideration when making a purchase.