The biggest reason why you'd go for a pickup truck is the ability to do stuff you just couldn't with a sedan. Pickup trucks are also a lot safer than most vehicles. Being heavier and taller makes pickup trucks better at withstanding heavy impacts. Their size also allows you to sit higher up which makes for a safer seating position.
Also, pickup trucks offer a bigger storage space because of their back portion. Today's pickup trucks also come with luxurious interiors and advanced infotainment systems so you're not missing out on anything that other types of vehicles have. Another thing that other types of cars don't have is an accessory that's exclusive to pickup trucks, a tonneau cover.
Benefits of Tonneau Covers
Protection
The open storage space at the back can be convenient, but it can also be useless if it's raining. But with the right bed cover, you can easily protect what's at the back without much effort. Durable tonneau covers are able to protect from any of the elements not just rain. Even the sun won't heat up or fade away any of the gear and equipment you've stored under the cover.
Appearance
Another reason why you'd want to install tonneau truck covers is the fact that they can change the appearance of your vehicle. You can either go for one that blends in with the colour of your pickup truck or one that compliments it. It's entirely up to you.
Cargo Options
With a bed cover on you're able to enhance your storage space and thus have more cargo options. Covers allow you to travel on the motorway without having to secure your items. This can save you lots of time which is especially important if you need to deliver items on a deadline.
Types of Tonneau Covers
Retractable
Tonneau covers are more versatile than you think as they also come in different variations. For example, retractable covers are used so that you can choose to leave the bed open or closed whenever you want. While these are not that affordable, they are able to be controlled remotely and offer a low-profile design that's compatible with a toolbox.
Rolling
If you want a more simplistic version of a retractable cover, then you should consider getting a rolling cover. Rolling tonneau bed covers require you to move them along the sides of the bed and they come with a unique design. This is what excludes the ability to control the cover remotely but it does make for a versatile cover because you can open it as much as you want.
Foldable
Although similar to rolling tonneau bed covers, foldable covers can be opened at three different sections. While they too can't be controlled remotely, foldable tonneau truck covers usually come with tie-downs or quick connect straps. This way you get full access to your pickup truck's bed within 6 minutes as that's how long it takes to install a foldable cover.
What to Look for in Tonneau Covers
Compatibility
In order to have it working with your truck's bed, you need to have a cover made for it. The model and make of your pickup truck matter here as well as the size of the bed. Because if the cover doesn't fit the size of the bed it won't be usable.
Soft vs Hard
There are two types of covers you can go for either soft or hard. Soft tonneau truck covers are more versatile since they are made of lighter materials such as vinyl. This allows them to be opened at different sections and they are easier to install and remove. Hard covers are more rigid and are able to withstand harsher weather conditions.
Material
The material a cover is made of determines how durable it is. Usually, hard covers are made of fibreglass and aluminium and soft covers are mainly made of vinyl. But the materials themselves should also be treated against the elements and small impacts and scratches.
Access
Another important factor is having easy access to the bed. But remember you can't get a bit of both – access and security. With harder covers having easy access is not the case while soft covers usually make it easier to move and open them.
Lock
Even if you have the most durable hard top cover on your pickup truck, you'll still want to consider getting a cover with a lock. This adds an extra level of security especially when you park your pickup truck on the side of the street overnight.
Seals
Another extra layer of weather protection comes in the form of seals. With weather sealing your cover is going to keep any external factors from damaging your items. You can never go wrong with a cover that has weather seals no matter if it's a hard or soft top cover.
Conclusion
Although the purpose of a pickup truck bed is to allow you to haul any items no matter their shape it can never be as useful as when it has a cover on it. But a cover can allow you to store more precious items without worrying about them as much.
