The Three Types of Truck Bed Covers

Truck bed covers are often referred to Tonneau covers. "Tonneau" is a French for "cover" and since the 1970s has been used to describe the cover that goes over the pickup truck's bed. This cover is used to protect the contents of the bed from wind and rain, and to secure it away from thieves. But the benefits not only stop there. They can improve the look of your truck and improve the drag on your vehicle, saving you gas.

When the truck bed is uncovered it pulls the air downwards which is poor aerodynamics and means when you are traveling at high speed there will a lot of drag on your truck. The noise associated with this drag can be very loud. By covering your bed, a truck bed cover can reduce the drag and associated noise meaning that your truck will consume less gas when you are on a long trip consisting of high speeds like on a highway or freeway.

Truck bed covers come in three different types.

Hard truck bed covers are made from fiberglass, hard plastic or aluminum. These types of covers are typically smooth and are colored the same as the truck itself. Most are hinged so that you just need to lift up one end to get access to whatever is in the tray. These are the most expensive types of covers.

Soft truck covers are made from toughened fabric like material and have bows to keep their shape under snow and water. They attach to the truck tray with snaps, Velcro or a groove and tongue system. Some can be rolled up or others are hinged lid models.

Retractable bed covers are a popular choice. When you need access to the tray they roll up inside a canister that sits at the back of truck.