Table of Contents
What is a truck bed cover?
A truck bed cover can be described as a hard or soft cover that spans the back of a pickup truck to protect the load or to improve aerodynamics. There are different types of truck bed covers available in the market. Let us discuss all the types and how much does a truck bed cover cost.
How much does a truck bed cover cost? Well, the cost of a truck bed cover varies depending upon the quality, durability, and material used in it. You can purchase a truck bed cover at as less as $100, which may goes up to Some thousand dollars for a high-end truck bed cover.
If you are recently searching for truck bed covers for your truck, you may go through our article that we have curated to provide you a brief idea about truck beds and also have suggested a few products that you can purchase from amazon.com.
Types
Covers can be “soft” or “hard,” depending on the material. Some of the more popular types of truck bed covers include:
Roll-up truck bed cover: These types of covers feature a soft material that stretches over a frame that is further clamped to the truck bed. To use the bed, you need to roll the cover open and you have to roll the cover closed to secure the bed. Usually, the cover is secured by some form of snap or hook-and-loop fastener.
Folding truck bed cover: These truck bed covers are available in both soft and hard versions. They are quick and easy to install. Most folding covers consist of three or four panels. You need to fold the panels together to open the cover. Some of the folding covers fit on top of the bed, while others fit flush.
Retractable covers: These covers usually feature a number of panels or slats that glide along a track to open and close. They’re available in several materials including vinyl and aluminium. These covers are more or less similar to folding covers, but they allow you more access of your bed when the cover is fully opened.
Hinged Covers: These covers come in both soft and hard versions. They can be opened like a door and usually have give a support rod to keep them propped open.
Solid impact: These covers are hard hinged and usually come in plastic or fibre glass material that is more durable than other covers. You can lift up the entire cover to provide you with full access to the bed. You can paint this type of cover to match your truck.
Truck Bed Cover Prices
One disadvantage of truck bed covers is that they are available at a really high price. However, you can come across some really good affordable covers at $200, while some of the higher quality, hard surface covers can cost you up to $1000.
You can expect a reasonable truck bed cover around $100-$500. Soft covers tend to be less expensive than hard covers; you can purchase a simple soft cover for less than $100.
If you are paying more, you will find better quality and more advanced features that include increased security. Several of the ones are priced in the $800 to $900 range.
Few Product Suggestions
We have done our own research to curate a list of a few best selling truck bed covers that you can purchase from amazon.com. These covers vary in prices depending upon the quality and the construction of the cover. However, check the dimensions before placing an order.
Lund Genesis Roll Up, Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Undercover Flex Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Coverify Truck Bed Cover Short Bed
Expert Tips
Do not forget to lubricate the rails of a roll-up cover periodically. Doing so will help the cover to roll open and close easily.
Always check if all the clamps or other hardware are secured properly to your truck. Moreover, you can check it periodically to ensure that they are secured.
Follow the user manual before placing any weight on the cover; some truck-bed covers are not constructed to bear excess weight.
If you are using a vinyl cover, then apply a UV protestant to it; you can do this occasionally to protect the cover from sun damage.
Make sure to buy a truck bed cover having a built-in rack system so that you can use it to carry items like ladders.
If you live in a cold climate, then use hook-and-loop fasteners for a soft cover.
Buy a special toolbox cover if you have a toolbox in your truck bed so that it can your tool box the full security and protection.
Benefits of Truck Bed Covers
The biggest advantage of truck bed cover is protection. The truck bed cover can keep your vehicle safe from theft of valuables, water or any type of moisture, dirt and other debris, and flying out of your truck while driving.
This means the cover performs versatile functions. Without a truck bed cover you may not be able to keep a lot of groceries or personal items. It is helpful in case you want to keep any types of tools in your truck and don’t want to take them out every day.
It also saves your money that you intend to spend on gas. If you have a cover over the bed, you get less drag or resistance while driving. The less drag ensures that you use less gas; having a bed cover can facilitate better gas mileage in your truck, thereby saving your money in the long run. If you are driving really a long distance, you can benefit from the cover in terms of fuel savings.
A truck-bed cover helps keep your truck look Nice. You can enhance the truck’s appearance by having a truck-bed cover. The cover can hide any items that you carry in the bed. It helps your truck look more organized and neater rather than having a bunch of items rolling around in the bed of your truck.
The truck-bed cover protects your bed from getting muddy or dirty while driving through such areas. It also helps prevent fading of the bed liner.
Conclusion
If you are planning to purchase a truck bed cover, you want to make sure that you choose the best one. The quality of the cover you are going to purchase depends on how much money you are spending. Again, the price depends on the the style that appeals to you.
When buying a truck bed cover for your truck, always make sure that you have checked it thoroughly. The cover should fit the make, model and size of your truck bed. Always try to measure your truck bed to ensure you have purchased the right size of truck bed cover.
Most of the quality covers are able to fold, roll, or retract all the way to give you convenient access to your bed. You should also give importance to this aspect of truck bed covers.
The cheapest covers available in the market are the roll up covers; these covers feature a soft vinyl material and can simply clamp into place. You can also roll them up for easy access. If you are searching for a budget product, this type of cover can be the best option.
We recommend you to purchase soft and hard folding truck bed covers; most covers are installed with clamp systems and simply fold back to give you complete access to your bed. You may find a fluctuation in price as the hard vinyl is going to be more expensive than the soft ones.
If you do not bother about the budget or you are looking for really a high-end cover, you can also check out the retractable covers and fiber glass lids. You can expect to pay huge bucks for these types of covers. However, they are really great quality products and provide the user the best services.
You will get benefits from every truck-bed cover you purchase. Truck bed covers protect your truck from dust and water, better on gas mileage, and give a nice look to your trucks. Last but not the least, now you might have a clear idea about how much does a truck bed cover cost.
