Compared to the beastie boys of trucks, pickup trucks are lighter motor vehicles with an open rear cargo area. The rear area is separated from the cab to ease chassis flex when dragging heavy loads. Pickups have many uses – family outings, tailgate parties, and transporting heavy cargo. Protecting the rear with a truck bed cover keeps the rear in top condition for years.

What are pickup truck bed covers?

Pickup tuck bed covers or tonneaus are designed to beat extreme temperatures – rain or shine. These are stretched over the bed area of the pick-ups’ rears to protect cargo or to keep the rear water and dust free. As all pickup truck beds go, they come in various shapes, sizes, colors, and makes.

The different types

Pickup truck bed covers are hard or soft and fashioned from the following – aluminum, polymer, vinyl, and fiberglass. These may be retractable or non-retractable.

Aluminum covers are tough and lighter than fiberglass and best suited to withstand heavy wear and tear. You can have it painted to match your truck color or leave it as it is in its aluminum luster.

Fiberglass pickup truck bed covers are manufactured to match the pickup’s rear size. There are hinged models and double folding models. For a hard cover, fiberglass truck bed covers are stylish as well as versatile.

Polymer truck bed covers are stronger than fiberglass but weigh less and cost less. This can be painted but manufacturers recommend leaving it as it is. The polymer version is becoming a popular choice among pickup owners.

Three pickup bed covers stand out – titling lids, folding covers, and retractable covers. Titling lids limits the height of your cargo once the lids are down. In spite of this disadvantage, it is weather and tamper resistant.

Retractable covers are best described as a sliding metal lid; it slides forward to a can when you access the bed. When in place, the bed is safely enclosed from tampering and bad weather conditions. You can also install a remote access button to slide the covers in and out of its canister.

How to choose one

What is your convenience? Do you want the push-button feature? Do you transport varied sizes and heights of cargo? Do you want security for your cargo and protect with durable locks to discourage theft and tampering? Does price matter? Do you want a lighter cover or prefer the heavy fiberglass and aluminum? Do you want to personalize the cover with your company colors? Or is a retractable cover better for you?

With all the available selections, you can have the cheaper variety with several features or the expensive models with added high tech add-ons. Weigh all the factors if these add up to your requirements.

Where to buy

The internet provides thousands of sites devoted to pickup and truck accessories. You can easily compare bands and prices and make an order online. Or if you prefer the brick-and-mortar shops drop in one and experience the look and feel of these pickup truck bed covers first-hand.