Invest in Your Truck
Andy West
January 30, 2009
One of the best investments any pickup truck owner can make in his or her truck is a tonneau cover.
True, one of the most attractive aspects of a pickup truck is the ability to move large objects that would not normally fit in a covered vehicle, but the fact is that more often than not, nobody is driving his or her truck around constantly overflowing with cargo, at least not out of necessity. And that is where tonneau covers come into play.
A tonneau cover offers regular cargo protection from the elements and keeps it hidden from people who might be interested in taking advantage of the open bed and making a grab for the owner´s property. As an added bonus, a cover will reduce wind resistance and can end up improving gas mileage considerably.
Tonneau covers seem pretty simple, but there are actually many types out there, and it is up to the owner which type is right for his or her truck. For instance, somebody concerned mostly about cost and wants something easy to put on or take off would mostly likely opt for a vinyl snap-fit cover. While they do not provide much security, they are convenient and protect against the elements. Manufacturers have also made installation easier, as most come with an aluminum rack that attaches to the truck, so truck owners no longer have to worry about drilling in the snaps.
Perhaps the most common type of cover is the roll-up, which is typically attached to the truck just behind the cab and is retractable. They are easy to install, conveniently eliminate any storage and disassembly issues, typically weather resistant and some models feature locks for security.
Hard plastic and fiberglass covers are popular for their looks, while the vinyl snap-fits and rollbacks typically come in black and cannot be painted to match the truck´s color and integrity. As most cars and truck bodies are made of fiberglass these days, plastic and obviously fiberglass covers can be painted to match almost perfectly with the truck´s paint job. It is the most secure type of cover, as it can be locked down and typically so heavy that requires gas struts to open. However, hard covers are also the hardest to install and can cost a significant amount of money as options even on newer trucks.
Truck owners should take into consideration when installing a tonneau cover is what other accessories they might be interested in having on the truck. For instance, it may complicate adding a ladder or truck rack to the truck bed.
True, one of the most attractive aspects of a pickup truck is the ability to move large objects that would not normally fit in a covered vehicle, but the fact is that more often than not, nobody is driving his or her truck around constantly overflowing with cargo, at least not out of necessity. And that is where tonneau covers come into play.
A tonneau cover offers regular cargo protection from the elements and keeps it hidden from people who might be interested in taking advantage of the open bed and making a grab for the owner´s property. As an added bonus, a cover will reduce wind resistance and can end up improving gas mileage considerably.
Tonneau covers seem pretty simple, but there are actually many types out there, and it is up to the owner which type is right for his or her truck. For instance, somebody concerned mostly about cost and wants something easy to put on or take off would mostly likely opt for a vinyl snap-fit cover. While they do not provide much security, they are convenient and protect against the elements. Manufacturers have also made installation easier, as most come with an aluminum rack that attaches to the truck, so truck owners no longer have to worry about drilling in the snaps.
Perhaps the most common type of cover is the roll-up, which is typically attached to the truck just behind the cab and is retractable. They are easy to install, conveniently eliminate any storage and disassembly issues, typically weather resistant and some models feature locks for security.
Hard plastic and fiberglass covers are popular for their looks, while the vinyl snap-fits and rollbacks typically come in black and cannot be painted to match the truck´s color and integrity. As most cars and truck bodies are made of fiberglass these days, plastic and obviously fiberglass covers can be painted to match almost perfectly with the truck´s paint job. It is the most secure type of cover, as it can be locked down and typically so heavy that requires gas struts to open. However, hard covers are also the hardest to install and can cost a significant amount of money as options even on newer trucks.
Truck owners should take into consideration when installing a tonneau cover is what other accessories they might be interested in having on the truck. For instance, it may complicate adding a ladder or truck rack to the truck bed.
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