How much does it cost to install a truck bed cover

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If you own a truck and want to protect you truck from different weather conditions, then you must be thinking about purchasing one for you. If you are wondering about how much does it cost to install a truck bed cover, then you are at the right destination.

How much does it cost to install a truck bed cover? The cost to install a truck bed cover depends on the cost of the truck bed cover itself, the installation charges, and the labour or mechanic charges.

In this article, we have discussed about truck bed covers, their types and all the aspects that determine the cost of installing a truck bed cover to your truck. You can go through the article to have a brief idea about the same.

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.

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.

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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.

How much does it cost to install a truck bed cover?

We have divided the cost of installing a truck bed cover into three parts, which includes the cost of the truck bed cover itself, the installation charges, and the labour or mechanic charges. So, the cost of installing a truck bed is highly dependent on these three factors. If you are a professional and do not want to spend your hard earned dollars on mechanic charges, then you can install it on your own which can save a lot of money.

Truck Bed Cover Prices:

Truck-bed covers are really very expensive. All of them are worth the cost though they are pricey. If you ask us about the installation process, we will recommend you to consider who is installing the truck bed cover.

One of the disadvantages 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.

Installation Charges:

Most soft truck bed covers can be installed in 30 minutes to 1 hour duration by an amateur mechanic with limited mechanical skills. Hard truck bed covers generally can be installed in 30 minutes to 2 hours by a mechanic having limited skills. Remember most covers give best results only if you install them properly. So, you can take help of a professional if you have a little knowledge on how to install a truck bed cover.

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If you don’t know how to line up the rail correctly on a roll-up truck bed cover, there are chances that it may be more difficult for you to close it. If you miss the correct seal placement on a hard truck bed cover, there are chances that it may not be as watertight. This is the reason why you should call a professional mechanic to install the truck bed cover; else it may waste a lot of money in the process.

Soft truck bed covers tend to be more tolerant on the installation than a hard cover. So, you need to check this to have better understanding; doing so will save your time and money.

You may ask how much it takes to install a truck bed cover. As we have discussed above usually it may cost you around cost $150 to $550 for soft truck bed covers, whereas hard covers may cost you around $500, which may go up to over $2,000, depending on the material and quality. The prices are high because truck bed covers are really effective and protective. With the truck bed cover on, you do not need to worry about your things to be missing.

So, the hardware and the tools you require for installing truck bed cover may add a few more bucks to the installation cost. If you have required tools with you, you need not purchase them. However, expect to spend a few hundred dollars on the needed tools. If you rent it from a hardware store, then you may save some money.

Sometimes the truck bed covers come with the tools that you need to fasten it to your truck, while sometimes you are required to purchase the hardware that may cost you around $50 or less than that.

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Mechanic charges:

If you are hiring a professional mechanic, then they will charge you around $100 or above depending on how skilled they are. This expenditure will also include the extra labour charges if there is a need of taking some other person’s help during the installation process.

Self Installation Process:

Conclusion

If you want to save a few bucks, you can skip taking the help of a professional. In this case, you have to be skilled enough to install the truck bed cover.

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.

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