How To Get the Most Out of Your Truck Bed

There’s no denying that trucks are one of the most useful vehicles you can own. They can carry cargo, pull trailers, and transport passengers. The choice to own a truck often comes down to efficiency, and one of the primary benefits to having a truck is the bed. So, we suggest protecting your assets and maximizing the use of that soace

There are mountains of products available designed to accessorize your truck bed, the problem is wading through them to find the ones you need. In this article, I will help walk you through all of the potential problems that you could encounter and some of the best ways to avoid them and maximize the efficiency of your truck bed space.

Let’s start with some examples of common issues you may run into and some available solutions.

1. Your truck bed has been damaged from hauling cargo

This problem is not only aesthetic, but can accelerate damage beyond repair. Nicks and scratches in the protective coating can soon result in the spread of rust.

Solutions:

Truck Bed Mats

Truck bed mats are easy to install, cheap, and provide protection to the bottom of your truck bed and tailgate. The only downside to these is that the sides of your truck bed remain exposed.

Plastic Bed Plastic Liners

Plastic bed liners are quick and easy to install and provide full protection of your truck bed. They are made of high-density polyethylene, so they won't chip, crack, or fade during even the most extreme weather conditions. The liner’s one-piece construction provides additional protection against chemical leaks, since there are no seams or cracks. Take a look at our Bedliners.

Truck Bed Spray Liners

Spray liners provide a clean, permanent solution for protecting your truck bed. The Polyurethane Spray is applied to every mould and curve, providing a watertight seal, and the ultimate protection. Spray liners provide a textured, non-skid surface, and with no loss of cargo space.

      2. Your cargo is exposed to the elements

Covering your cargo and protecting it from the elements can be easy with a tonneau cover, and there are many types so suite your specific needs.

Solutions:

Soft or Hard Roll-Up Tonneau Cover

Roll-up tonneau covers are a great addition to your truck bed, allowing you to cover and protect the cargo being stored or hauled. They easily roll up, providing full access of your truck bed without removing the cover, and they look slick. Take a look at our Roll-Up tonneau covers.

Soft or Hard Tri Fold Tonneau Cover

These covers provide exceptional protection, they look great, and are easy to use. The tri-fold design allows for easy access. Many of these models are also insulated to protect your cargo from extreme weather conditions. Learn more about Tri-Fold Tonneau Covers.

Hard Once-Piece Tonneau Cover

One piece covers are solid, they protect your cargo, and they are easy to install. Once installed, they provide easy access to your cargo. Hard covers are by far the strongest of the bunch, but they do come with their own drawbacks. Find out about our Hard Top Tonneau Covers.

3. There’s no way to prevent theft

Solutions:

Tonneau Cover

Many Tonneau covers are designed with locking systems to protect your storage. Your cargo can be easily stored, locked and protected with the right cover. We have a large selection of Tonneau Covers to choose from.

Truck Boxes

Truck Boxes come in all shapes and sizes to meet your specific needs, and they are designed to hold and protect your belongings. Many of these boxes are designed with advanced locking systems and are constructed of tough aluminum. They come in all shapes and sizes to match any need.

4. Organizing your storage is difficult

Solutions:

Truck Boxes

Multiple lid truck boxes allow you to organize and store your cargo, provide security for your belongings, and allow for easy access. There are many different box styles and shapes to suite your specific needs, and to help you organize your belongings. Many of these boxes are even designed to utilize and increase storage space, such as the UnderCover SwingCase, made to fit over your wheel well.  

Tool Boxes

Tool boxes are a great way to enhance your storage by providing a secure, organized space for tools and other belongings. Many of these boxes are designed to increase otherwise unused spaces to leave you with as much room as possible. The compartments in these boxes improve how you are able to organize your storage, and provide additional storage space.

Now that you have a basic idea of the problems that can come with truck beds, you can more accurately decide which accessories are right for you.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 1-403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca

10 Questions to Ask When Buying a Tonneau Cover

Tonneau covers are one of the most popular accessories you can add to your pickup truck, and for good reason. They provide security for your truck bed, protect your cargo from moisture, and can even save you gas mileage! There’s no doubt a tonneau cover can be a great investment, but there are a few questions you should consider before making a final decision.

1. What are your reasons for wanting a tonneau cover?

Are you looking to add more security to your truck bed, enhance the look of your truck, or add some versatility? There are various styles of tonneau covers to choose from, such as Soft Roll-Up, Hard Tri-Fold, Retractable or Hard One-Piece, and they all have their own set of pros and cons. Decide what you want out of a tonneau cover, because that will help your initial decision.

2. How will you be using your truck bed?

How do you use your truck and how often will you need access to your truck bed? All tonneau covers provide tailgate access, but some can pose limitations if you routinely need full truck bed access to haul larger items. Soft Roll-Up Covers are the most versatile, and can easily be rolled all the way to the cab to provide full truck bed access, but they offer less security than a hard tonneau cover. Most Hard Tri-Fold Covers like the BAKFlip G2 can fold against the back window of the cab to provide a full truck bed, but this also reduces visibility in the back window. If you’re building a show truck and don’t plan on hauling large items often, a Hard One-Piece Tonneau can provide a clean, finished look.

3. What styles of tonneau covers do you like the best?

This is something that will be on your truck for a long time, so you should like the way it looks. Decide what tonneau cover styles you like the look of the best.

4. What is your budget?

There is a wide price range when it comes to tonneau covers. With prices starting at $269, Soft Tonneau Covers are the least expensive, and Hard Covers are bit more expensive, with prices that start at $663.

5. Do you want a tonneau cover on your truck at all times?

Some covers are easier to remove than others. If you only want a tonneau cover to use occasionally, you should review the installation instructions to be sure of the process involved. We provide installation guides on all our tonneau cover product pages.

6. How tall is your truck?

The height of your truck can also play a role in decide. Folding the panels of a Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau might be difficult if you already have a hard time reaching your truck bed. Retractable tonneau covers like the Pace Edwards Switchblade slide easily with little effort, and may be better suited to those with lifted trucks.

7. Are you planning on using your tonneau cover with a rack or other truck bed accessories?

Some tonneau covers might not be compatible with other truck bed accessories, so be sure to find out before making a purchase. If you plan on getting a truck bed rack with your cover, check out the BAKFlip CS or CS-F1 Tonneau Cover/Rack Combo.

8. What’s more important: versatility or security?

This may be the question that determines whether you want a hard or soft tonneau cover. Soft Roll-Up Tonneau Covers like the Access Original Roll-Up Tonneau Cover tend to be the most versatile, but you can’t beat the security of a Hard Tri-Fold or One-Piece Cover.

9. How easy is the cover to use?

Would you rather access your truck bed by rolling your cover back, folding panels open, letting it slide or pressing a button? Some covers are easier than others to use, and some retractable covers like the Pace Edwards Bedlocker can even be opened via remote!

10. How difficult is the cover to install?

If you’ll be installing the tonneau cover yourself, you should review the instructions to make sure you have everything you need before buying it. Some covers are easier than others, and some require great accuracy to ensure it operates smoothly and remains water tight. This should also be a consideration if you plan on putting on and removing your cover frequently.

Now that you’ve asked yourself these 10 important questions, you’re ready to choose a tonneau cover! To help you out, here are some tonneau cover categories you might be interested in.

       

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 1-403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca

Overview: Hard One-Piece Tonneau Covers

Hard One-Piece Tonneau Covers are known for their single piece construction which makes them extremely durable. These covers fit over top of your truck bed and lift up from the back, often guided with hydraulic struts for easy use. Because there are less pieces and parts, they are easier to operate, and more secure against break-ins and weather than other types of truck bed covers. They do prevent full truck bed access while mounted, but they can be removed if necessary. The solid, single piece construction means they are more durable and long lasting than the other styles of tonneau cover.

The UnderCover LUX Tonneau Cover is one of our more popular models of hard tonneau covers. This cover is constructed of a durable, lightweight ABS composite material that covers the entire truck bed when installed. This tonneau cover has a single point lock that controls both locking hinges to make getting in and out of your truck bed as simple as possible. When closed, the UnderCover LUX tonneau cover seals the full perimeter around your truck bed to provide maximum protection against rain and moisture. 

Hard top tonneau covers are the best option if you want full protection for your truck bed. These covers are the most watertight, durable and secure covers available due to their solid one-piece design, and they look great on any pickup truck. The covers can even be painted to match the colour of your vehicle.

For more information on a specific Hard One-Piece Tonneau Cover, check out this list of popular models carried by Auto Truck Depot.

• UnderCover Classic Tonneau Cover
• UnderCover LUX Tonneau Cover
• UnderCover SE Tonneau Cover

Call or visit us today for more information:

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 1-403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca