Styles of Tonneau Covers

Styles of Tonneau Covers

Choosing the right tonneau for your truck takes time and research.  They basically have two different types, Soft and Hard broken down into many sub categories

Modern Tonneau Covers: Often called Truck Bed Covers come in 2 types: Soft Tonneau Covers and Hard Tonneau Covers.  Select models are available in ToolBox Edition Tonneau Covers as well as Tonneau Cover and Rack combos.  Most truck bed covers are a no drill clamp on installation.  Offering an easy at home installation.  Some newer styles don’t even require any tools to install.  This is always true for the soft tri fold tonneaus as well as select roll-up tonneaus.  However, specialty beds such as step sides may require drilling to install.

Soft Tonneau Covers: Soft tonneau covers are generally less expensive than hard.  They essentially consist of a aluminum frame and vinyl cover.  The 5 basic designs are Snap Truck Bed Covers, Snapless Truck Bed Covers, Hinging Truck Bed Cover, Roll-up Truck Bed Covers and Tri Folding Truck Bed Covers.  Soft truck bed covers offer affordability and convenience.  Snap and snapless bed covers have the ability to remove the cover and manually remove the bows for truck bed access.  Roll-up or rolling truck bed covers generally release at the tailgate and roll up toward the cab taking the bars and bows with it and storing compactly behind the cab.  Hinging truck bed covers sometimes have snaps for quick corner access and hinge open.  Tri-folding truck bed covers generally fold up towards the cab and can be removed or installed in seconds.

• Snap & Snapless Bed Covers: A snap-down or snapless vinyl framed cover is the least expensive of all tonneau covers, but you can have a hard time attaching it in place during cold weather.  Snap models have built in snaps that generally adjust.  Snapless offer a j lip style attachment.  Sit back and imagine being out side in blizzard like conditions, the wind blowing at speeds faster than you can drive, and the snow is pelting you in the face.  Your fingers are becoming numb from the sub zero temperatures and no matter how hard you try to snap your cover it becomes impossible due to snow and ice settling into the snaps.  In addition, the material is subject to tearing, so after the first big snow storm has flown through; the sun comes out and begins to melt everything.  If your truck were to be parked in your driveway and an icicle drops from the garage on to your cover puncturing it instantly; all the money you have invested has just melted away in moments just like the storm.  While this option may be the best choice for you financially; you get what you pay for
• Roll-up Bed Covers: Alternately, a roll-up cover is so much easier to use and it also fits much tighter; having these options the cost is also a bit more.  If you do a cross comparison between the roll-up and the snap covers you will find the advantages out weigh the cost difference.   The advantages of paying extra money for a roll up cover are: the use of better materials, which gives you a longer warranty; a roll up cover fits better, which means that everything in your truck bed is well protected; and a premium covers lasts longer and looks better.  I know what you are thinking, this is going to be difficult to put on my truck, I will need all sorts of fancy tools and an education to get this thing attached to my truck.  Well I didn’t believe it until I saw it, installation is a breeze!  It takes just a few moments and one tool, its so easy you can even attach it in the garage with the lights out and a  10 year old telling you that they could do it better!
• Tri Folding Bed Covers: The tri-folding tonneau cover has recently become the fastest growing cover in the segment.  The basic premise is that the sections are linked together and fold over on one another.  There are numerous advantages to this style of tonneau including the ability to remove in seconds for over sized cargo.  They also usually arrive at your door fully assembled thus making install a breeze.
• Hinging Bed Covers: The Lift Up tonneau or hinged operates much like a trunk of a car.  Utilizing shocks that help raise the cover.  This cover has the advantage of easy one handed operation but can limit the height of the cargo that you can haul.

Hard Tonneau Covers: Hard truck bed covers or rigid bed covers are generally made of molded abs plastic, aluminum or fiberglass.  The basic designs are retracting truck bed covers, folding truck bed covers or hinging truck bed covers.   Retracting hard covers are generally solid aluminum (all metal) or they have vinyl laminated over the aluminum.  Retractable tonneau covers retract into a canister mounted at the front of the bed.  Folding are generally made of a rugged abs and the styles include having multi-panels that fold up or a tri-fold design.  Multi-panel designs generally fold up and store behind the cab.  The hard tri-folding bed covers have vinyl over the abs material and generally store behind the cab or cab be removed quickly.  Hinging hard bed covers are generally made of fiberglass or a rigid abs type plastic and hinge open.  Most hard hinge style bed covers can be removed quickly.  Hard truck bed covers offer security and convenience.  If you were to take your truck to a tailgate party, the entire party could use hard cover as seating.  Much more resilient than all other types of tonneau covers, hard shell covers are also far and away the most expensive covers for your truck. However, as with everything in life you get what you pay for. In the case of a hard shell tonneau cover you get a lot more too, including: a secure lock, overhanging sides, hinged at the front, hydraulic struts made of metal or fiberglass poles, similar to the poles that hold most car hoods upright, automotive weather stripping, theft protection, and a water tight seal. Another advantage of hard shell tonneau covers is that many manufacturers produce them so that they can be painted to match your finish.  There is also an option to have a remote control to open and close the bed cover.  Bed covers that open from the back, the front or both the front and back in the same cover.

• Retracting Hard Bed Covers: The ultimate in style and function.  The general concept is the cover retracts into a canister.  Generally made of rigid aluminum or rigid aluminum with vinyl laminated over the slates.  The retractable tonneau cover has it all.  These covers boast a fantastic secure shield for your truck bed and yet give you an obtrusive low profile.  You will often see these types of tonneau out on the job site due to their rugged construction.  The cover can withdraw or retract into a canister that will house the tonneau when not in use.  The only thing to consider is that sometimes they can freeze up if you live in a cold weather climate.  Although a great many of our covers are sold to Canada, so they seem to have no problems.
• Hinging Hard Bed Covers: Hinging covers generally are made of ridig abs plastic or fiberglass.  These hinging tonneau covers often have 1 or 2 keyed locks and have hinges on the side for easy opening and closing.  Some hard hinge style bed covers are designed for quick removal as well.
• Folding Hard Bed Covers: Folding tonneaus have evolved to both the hard and soft category.  The popularity of the design but the need for a stronger and more secure cover has bred this product.  Offering all of the benefits of the hard folding cover without any of the disadvantages of the soft, these tonneaus can truly provide you with all around protection, security and accessibility.   Available in multi-panel or tri folding design.  Generally made of ridig abs, the multi-panel folding covers fold up for truck bed access.  The tri fold style also folds up but offers fast removal or installation, often requiring no tools.