Despite its French name, there’s something distinctly American about tonneau covers. A tonneau cover is used on a pickup truck, a vehicle so beloved it has dozens of country songs penned in its honor. But French names and adoring songs aside, pickup trucks are inherently practical vehicles. Whether it’s helping a friend move, camping, or just loading up for a beach day, there’s a lot of stuff that a pickup truck can do that the average sedan can’t. The only problem is that that practicality can be limited by bad weather. Rain can quickly ruin whatever you’ve got in the back, which is why a tonneau cover is an essential bit of gear for any pickup owner.
There are a lot of different kinds of tonneau covers, and the prices can vary substantially. A few of the major kinds of tonneau covers include tri-fold, soft-roll, switchblade, and hard-folding. They all have their own benefits and drawbacks. Hardcovers are more protective but come at a premium, and soft covers provide less protection but also cost less. Of course, even the most expensive tonneau cover won’t do you any good if it doesn’t fit on your car. Fortunately, there are plenty of options online for nearly every make and model out there. Here are our favorites.
1. Tyger Auto Tonneau Cover
If you’re looking for a soft-top option, this one from Tyger Auto is a good bet. It’s available in various sizes, and the cover features a tri-fold design. The tri-fold design means you can flip it up entirely for full access to the truck bed. The Tyger soft top is also made to be easy to install, and it’s made of water and tear-resistant vinyl.
Pros: Easy to install, available in several bed sizes for finding the right fit, weather-resistant vinyl cover.
Cons: Material is somewhat thin.
2. BAKFlip Hard Folding Tonneau Cover
This tonneau cover from BAKflip is a hardcover, and it has a tri-fold design for easy access. There are several available sizes, including for a 5′ 8″ bed, a 6′ 6″ bed, and an 8′ bed. It mounts flush with the frame of the bed, meaning it won’t obstruct your view when in the covered position. It’s also designed to be easy to install.
Pros: Easy to install, low profile, made with UV resistant aluminum panels for all-season protection.
Cons: Expensive.
3. Gator ETX Soft Roll Up Tonneau Cover
One of the major appeals of soft roll covers is that they’re more affordable, while still providing substantial coverage and protection. As the name implies, soft roll covers are less structured, and they are simply rolled up. This option from Gator is made in the US, and it clamps to the bed for easy installation.
Pros: Less expensive than other tonneau covers, easy installation, rolling design for full access to bed.
Cons: Not as waterproof as other options.
4. Gator ETX Soft Tonneau Cover
Another soft option is this tri-fold cover from Gator. It’s available for several bed sizes, and it’s secured using clamps for easy tool-free installation. The frame is made from aluminum, giving it structure, and the top itself is made from tear and water-resistant vinyl.
Pros: Made in the US, tri-fold design for easy access, tool-free installation.
Cons: Fastening clamps are plastic, rather than metal.