A tonneau cover, or truck bed cover, provides the finishing touch for any pickup truck. It protects your cargo from the weather, keeping it dry, shielding it from wind, and shading it from sunlight. And it helps keep your gear secure, by hiding it from prying eyes and making it difficult for other people to access it (see FAQs). Yet, with the best covers you can still access your truck’s bed quickly and easily.
Tonneau covers are available in many different designs, from simple roll-up and tri-fold models to higher-end retractable and one-piece designs, with a wide range of prices. In this review we’re evaluating soft covers, which are generally the least expensive. Because each model is tailored to fit different pickups, the prices vary for different versions.
Tonneau covers are also easy do-it-yourself installations, which can often be done in about an hour or less with common tools, and with no drilling or alterations to your truck bed.
Best Overall: Extang e-Max Tonno
Extang eMax Tonno Soft Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover | 72425 | Fits 09-18, 19/20 Classic Dodge RAM 1500/2500/3500 5′ 7″ Bed (67.4″)
Why We Picked It:
The Extang e-Max is a tri-fold soft cover, which is the easiest type to open and close. With the vinyl tarp attached to an aluminum frame, you simply unlatch the cover at the rear and then flip it forward once or twice to open up the bed. Unlike other tri-folds, the e-Max can also be supported up against the truck’s rear window, so you have access to the entire truck bed while driving without having to remove the cover (and find a place to stow it). Other tri-fold models typically allow access to only about two-thirds of the bed while driving.
Pros:
- Tri-fold design is quicker and easier to open and close than roll-up covers
- Cover can be supported upright while driving for full-bed access
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- More expensive than other soft tonneau covers, starting about $470
- Must be manually latched when closing, unlike newer self-latching designs
- As with all soft covers, there’s a higher risk of theft than with a hard cover
Best Runner-Up: Leer Latitude
LEER Latitude SC | Fits 2015+ Ford F-150 | Easy Install, Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Matte Black) (6.6 FT Bed)
Why we picked it:
The Leer Latitude is a mid-priced tri-fold vinyl cover with modern latching features. You can open the cover with one hand from either side of the bed, and it can be closed and secured by simply pushing it down, with the tailgate open or closed. A self-tensioning system also helps keep the cover taut. (The Latitude SC is the same design with cross-weave sail-cloth material, and costs a little more. The Latitude starts around $350.)
Pros:
- Cover can be closed and secured even with the tailgate up
- Can be opened with one hand from either side of the truck
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Like most tri-folds, the folded cover still covers the front third of the truck bed
- It needs to be removed to allow full bed access while driving
- More expensive than some other tri-fold covers
Best for a Tight Budget: Tyger T3
Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover Compatible with 2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500 | 2019-2022 Classic Only | Fleetside 5’7″ Bed (67″) | without RamBox | TG-BC3D1015
Why We Picked It:
If getting an easy-to-use cover at a low price is a high priority, the Tyger T3 fits the bill. It’s one of the least expensive covers we’ve seen, which is one reason why it’s also one of the best-selling tonneau covers on Amazon. Because the T3 is a tri-fold design, it’s super easy to open and close. And its heavy-duty vinyl is attached to an aluminum frame that lets it be secured to the bed when closed.
Pros:
- One of the least expensive tonneau covers available, staring around $200
- Tri-fold design is quicker and easier to open and close than roll-up covers
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Like most tri-fold covers, it needs to be removed to allow full bed access while driving
- A basic design with no extra features
- During installation, some small holes may need to be cut into a bedliner that covers the bed rails
Best Roll-Up Cover: TruXedo TruXport, starting at $290
Sale
TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover | 281101 | Fits 1999 – 2006, 07 Classic Chevy/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 6′ 6″ Bed (78″)
Why We Picked It:
The TruXport is one of the most popular roll-up covers, which are generally less expensive than tri-fold designs. Its leather-grained vinyl is attached to the top of the bed rails with a hook-and-loop fastener. To remove the tonneau, you unlatch it at the rear and roll it forward, allowing you to use the whole bed without removing the cover. Unlike less expensive roll-up models, the TruXport includes a preset tension control to help keep the cover tight.
Pros:
- Less expensive than many soft covers, starting around $290
- Includes a pre-set tension system to keep the cover taut
- Five-year warranty
Cons:
- Roll-up covers, in general, aren’t as easy to open and close as folding covers
- Doesn’t allow access to the bed-rail stake pockets
- Some other brands offer a lifetime warranty
Best If You Need Access to the Bed Rails: Lund Genesis Elite Roll Up
Sale
EL ROL GM FS PU 6.5 07-16
Why We Picked It:
The Genesis Elite is a roll-up cover that attaches to the inside of the bed rails, so you can access your truck bed’s stake pockets for installing other accessories. Unlike most roll-up covers, the Elite version uses a twill-weave fabric instead of vinyl, which requires less maintenance. Like the TruXport, the Genesis also uses a preset tension-control system to keep the cover tight. (A vinyl version of the Genesis is also available for a little less money.) Includes a limited lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Mounts inside of the bed rails, allowing access to the stake pockets
- Twill-weave fabric requires less maintenance than vinyl
- Includes a tension control to keep the cover taut
Cons:
- More expensive (starting at $360) than some other soft roll-up covers
- Roll-up covers, in general, aren’t as easy to open and close as folding covers
- Lacks the semi-glossy look of vinyl (if that’s important to you)
Methodology
Forbes Wheels compared the features, specs, and pricing of almost a hundred tonneau covers; reviewed evaluations by other critics and end users; and drawing on our own experiences with a wide range of different covers. The five models selected here represent the best overall values in this category for truck owners with different needs.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):
Do tonneau covers deter theft?
All tonneau covers conceal a truck bed’s cargo from onlookers, which is a good deterrent in itself. But most depend on the truck’s tailgate being locked to prevent someone from physically accessing your gear. That’s because the release latches are located under the cover near the tailgate.
Soft covers are also inherently more vulnerable to theft than hard covers because they can be cut open with a sharp implement. And covers sealed with Velcro or another hook-and-loop fastener, such as roll-up covers, can often be separated enough on the sides to allow someone to look inside. Covers secured with snaps are typically the most vulnerable, which is why we don’t recommend any in this review.
Do tonneau covers improve a truck’s fuel economy?
This is a hotly debated topic, with advocates on both sides. And any effect on fuel economy will depend on the cover, the truck, and the speed that you’re driving. But don’t buy a tonneau if your main reason is better mpg; any real improvement will take many years to offset the price of the cover.
According to Sawtooth, a tonneau cover manufacturer, a 2007 wind tunnel test by the trade group SEMA (the Specialty Equipment Market Association) showed that tonneau covers reduced aerodynamic drag by an average of 5.7%, which resulted in a 1.8% improvement in fuel economy. In 2013, however, Consumer Reports tested a Dodge Ram V8 pickup with a tonneau while driving at a constant 65 mph, and they measured a slight drop of almost one mpg, which on a vehicle rated at 19-21 mpg in highway is about a 5% change.
According to the truck accessory retailer, RealTruck, soft roll-up and folding covers are the best choice if fuel economy is a concern because the higher weight of hard tonneaus can offset any reductions in aerodynamic drag.
Can I still use the full bed when a tonneau cover is attached?
This depends on the cover. All roll-up or snap-on tonneaus allow full-bed access. But most tri-fold designs cover the front third of the bed when folded up, and they need to be removed for full-bed access. An exception is our “Best Overall” recommendation, the Extang e-Max Tonno, which has support struts that can secure it against the rear window when driving.
Can I install a cover myself?
All of the tonneaus here are easy to install yourself and don’t require any modifications to the truck bed. Typically, they come pre-assembled, requiring you to only install clamps and supports. Virtually every company posts installation videos or downloadable instructions on their websites. Check those before you buy.
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