What Kind of Tonneau Cover is the Best?

Tonneau covers have come a long way over the years. We can still recall just a few years back when you hardly saw these covers on any trucks at all. Of course, that's all changed, as you don't have to go far to find plenty of pickup trucks with tonneau covers installed. And since these handy covers provide security and, very often, improved fuel economy, it's easy to understand why they have surged in popularity.

Which Kinds are Best?

Any time we talk about a truck accessory being the best, we have to bring up the fact that every scenario is different. For example, if you just want a tonneau cover that can be used to cover up the groceries in case it rains, then a soft cover or even a simple truck box may be best. However, if you do a lot of work with your truck, then a different type of tonneau cover may be called for.

Here are some of the basic types of covers that are available today:

-    Fiberglass Covers
-    Retractable Covers
-    Trifold Covers
-    Soft Covers

And while all of these covers are nice, each is different, so there's really no way to say that one is better than another – they're just different, for different tastes and needs. As you get familiar with the different types, you'll be able to focus in on the models that you like the best.

You can check out some of our best tonneau covers on our website or stop by our store to see some in person. By seeing some of these covers for yourself, you'll be better equipped to decide which types of covers will be the best for your own, particular needs.

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What More Can I Say About Truck Bed Boxes?

Truck bed boxes are our most popular item here at Auto Truck Depot so I always feel compelled to blog about them.  The questions we receive usually revolve around which manufacturer is “the best” and which box or boxes are right for a customer’s vehicle.  I’ll state it again for the record that we only pick the best in truck box manufacturers, so regardless of which company you choose you’re getting a high quality product.  As for which box…that’s a matter of personal preference.

These are the questions we generally ask our customers:

1.    What do you intend to haul in them? IE. Tools, purchases, outdoor sports equipment, etc.
2.    Do you have a problem with having holes drilled into your vehicle for installation?
3.    How much room do you need remaining in your truck bed?
4.    Is there a particular color you are looking for?
5.    Will you be hauling fuel?
6.    Is this a business vehicle or personal use?

Functional use questions are always first and foremost on our minds because there is a big difference between someone who wants a truck box to have a lockable storage unit should they happen to want to haul something securely for the day and someone is a construction contractor that needs to haul the same (expensive) tools and equipment around every day.
From an aesthetic perspective, some truck owners want a box that will match the color of their vehicle.  Others care about damaging their vehicle and want something that is non-invasive.  Some truck bed boxes do snap on, while others need to have holes drilled in order to keep them placed securely on the vehicle.  So we always want to ask if they have a problem with holes being drilled into their vehicle.

I try to cover a lot of questions in the blog, but really it is best to just come on down and check them out for yourself.  Our sales team can help you with any additional questions you may have about truck bed boxes.

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Rollup Tonneau Covers: Do you Really Need a Hard Top Cover?

Rollup Tonneau Covers are a practical and affordable purchase for your truck.  They give you the same amount of protection that a trifold or fiberglass Tonneau cover can give you, but at a cost that is much more affordable.  Much like shades in your home, you use a pull mechanism to roll back the cover.  This means you only have to use the cover when you need it.  This is highly practical for people who don’t want all the fuss of having to deal with full or partial coverage.

We offer basic rollup Tonneau covers and “roll and lock” covers so you can secure the contents of your truck bed should you need to run into a store.  These types of covers come in variable thicknesses and level of effort involved.  You can get a rollup Tonneau cover that is under $300 and ones that are over $1000.  When people are purchasing a rollup cover over a folded or other harder surface retractable cover they do tend to go with the lower end models and that makes sense.
 
Installation of these types of Tonneau covers is easy-peasy, as they say.  Most of them work on a clamp system making them one of the types of covers that we actually endorse people putting on by themselves at home.  This creates a greater level of affordability for our customers.  They are all pretty durable and the feedback from our customers (so far) has been great.  Naturally, they aren’t going to last as long as say an aluminum or fiberglass model would, but then again you aren’t paying as much so it probably evens out over the course of five years.  If you want an affordable protective solution for your truck bed check out our rollup Tonneau covers.

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Trifold Tonneau Covers: Who Doesn’t Love Them?

Our trifold Tonneau covers and other retractable lines are always popular with customers.  People simply want that option if they are going to buy something that covers their truck beds.  I mean, you bought a truck over an SUV because you wanted that open bed experience.  The covers are just an accessory that can help you protect what you are hauling, but they shouldn’t prevent you from full functional use of the truck design. 

Having a trifold Tonneau cover makes it that much easier when you are putting smaller items into the back of your truck.  Do you really want to life the entire cover to throw some groceries in the back?  Heck no.  You just want to pop back one of the folds, shove the bags in and be on your way.  Don’t get me wrong, those fiberglass Tonneau covers are beauties to be sure.  They just aren’t as “easy in, easy out” as a retractable cover like a trifold or soft top can be.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: it all comes down to personal preference.  There are people who like the simplicity of fiberglass covers and don’t mind that the entire cover needs to be lifted to put stuff in and out.  They like the way it looks and operates.  And there are people who want the option of pulling back just a little bit of the cover to put something in.  I’m certainly not going to tell anyone which aftermarket product they should buy.  I’m just here to explain the benefits of each one.  And from my vantage point, I can see that the retractable covers are highly versatile.  So when I hear people explain that they want a cover so they can haul groceries or shopping bags in the back of their truck, of course, I’m going to recommend a trifold Tonneau cover.

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