They are ideal for keeping items locked up safe in the bed of your truck and provide protection for your belongings from wind and rain. They are also a great way to save gas money, because an unprotected truck bed acts like a giant air scoop, putting a drag on your truck when it reaches highway speeds. Truck Tonneau covers reduce drag, and the noise that comes with it, making your ride quieter and with better fuel economy.

There are basically three types of covers for your trucks: hard covers, soft covers and third retractable covers. Prices vary between models and the features tendered.

Hard plastic or fiberglass truck bed covers are sometimes installed as a factory option with some new vehicles. Hard truck bed covers are smooth and often painted the same color as the truck. They are typically hinged so that you can easily lift up the lid to gain access to your equipment. These are the more pricey type of lids.

Soft covers usually have bows to strengthen the top and to ward off snow and water. They have different sealing systems such as snaps, Velcro and a groove and tongue type of sealing system. Soft covers come in roll up design, hinged cover and folding lid designs. Soft covers, like the LeBra brand, grant protection, while at the same time giving your pick-up a really upscale appearance. Folding truck bed covers are also available and they fold together.

With retractable truck bed covers the cover rolls up inside a canister on the back of the truck. It travels along tracks that are positioned along the rails of the truck bed. Retractable covers are utilized with open bed pickup trucks to provide security and protection for articles mounted in the truck bed. One type of retractable truck bed cover currently in use is comprised of a pliable surface material laminated on top of a slat array. Retractable truck bed covers are a great product. A retractable gives you the flexibility of having a ‘hard’ tonneau cover with the ability to haul large items without removing the cover from the bed.

Aluminum covers are the most economical. They aren’t custom molded or painted to exactly match your truck. Aluminum panels are secured in side rails. The panels retract forward into a plastic can out of the way when you need an open bed.