Retractable tonneau covers are a highly sought after tonneau cover on the market today. The price range on these tonneau covers are among the highest for tonneau covers but with good reason.

They usually are manufactured with aluminum panels. Some are painted with a very durable powder coat finish. This is a very tough paint system which holds up to protect the tonneau from the elements. Others have a powder coated frame and hardware but the aluminum slats or panels are laminated with weather proof padded polymer to give the cover a leather look.

All these retractable tonneau covers glide along rails which are usually clamped along the top of the truck box rails. The cover rolls up into a canister which is located behind the cab of the pickup truck. The cover usually has spring tension on it to help with opening and closing the tonneau.

They are constructed to withstand a snow-load and water is directed into the side-rails and then to the canister and out of your truck box through drain hoses. They pretty much have the same basic design.

These retractable tonneau covers really look sharp on the back of a pickup truck and save you fuel at the pumps. They are pretty lightweight and allow the wind to pass over them rather than hitting against the tailgate causing a drag.

They protect your cargo from thieves in a couple of ways. They usually lock at the back to protect your cargo from thieves and they also just keep your cargo out of the eyes of people who like to take things that don’t belong to them. The hidden factor alone is a great asset for the tonneau cover owner.

The retractable tonneau covers also protects your cargo from weather conditions such as rain and snow. Your cargo is also protected from ripping winds caused from higher speeds. This is especially great if you are carrying delicate cargo such as plants.These covers are great when you need to carry larger, taller loads as you can open them up very quickly and easily giving you complete access to your truck bed.

If you are looking for a tonneau cover that opens and closes easily, looks great, saves fuel, has locking capability, completely opens for complete access to your truck bed, maybe you should have a look at the retractable tonneau covers.

I put together this tonneau cover buyer’s guide to help some people find what they are looking for in a truck bed cover.

When buying a tonneau cover for your pickup truck, one of the first things you should do is ask yourself, what do I use my truck for? By this I mean do you use your truck bed often, do you carry high cargo loads or low loads below the truck bed rails or do you use your truck bed very seldom. Are your pockets deep or like many others shallow and you need an inexpensive cover. Do not just go out to buy a tonneau cover because you seen one on another truck and it looked great. That truck may have a cover that takes time to open and that would be no good if you use your truck bed often. Below I will throw some of my personal ideas at you just to get you thinking.

Inexpensive:

If you are looking to get a one that protects your cargo but is inexpensive or so called cheap, The Mile Maker by Tonneau Masters is about the cheapest you will find with runners up the Slant Side also by Tonneau Masters and the Seal N Peel and Snap Soft both by Lund Genesis.

Quick Roll Up:

You may want to get at your truck bed quick and easy but still want to keep the price down, I would suggest the Extang Express. This is a great cover if you use your truck bed but not continuously.

Inexpensive and fast:

If you are looking for one that is inexpensive but allows you very fast access to your truck bed I would suggest the Hinged Tonneau by Lund, the hinged Slant Side by Tonneau Masters or FullTilt by Extang. These are all great products, if you use your truck bed often and want quick, easy access to your truck bed and you are carrying low loads.

Inexpensive, Quick and High Loads:

You are trying to keep the price down but you need to be able to get at your truck bed fast, often and maybe with high cargo loads. If this is you then a soft folding bed cover would be a great way to go. The Extang Trifecta or the Trifold by Lund. These lids fold open allowing you to drive with them open for full access to your truck bed when hauling higher cargo loads.

For a more expensive product and more security for your cargo I will make the following suggestions.

Easy access:

If you use your truck bed often or just want a truck bed cover that can be matched to your trucks paint, the fiberglass hinged lids by Gaylords will do very nicely as long as you aren’t carrying high cargo.

Easy Access and Higher Loads:

The Bakflip by Bak is an ABS plastic folding tonneau which is very popular. Reds Beds make a folding aluminum diamond tread plate cover which will give you great security and full access to your truck bed quickly and easily.

For a class all on their own, not cheap, allow you quick access to your truck bed and open up completely allowing you to carry higher cargo loads any time.

Retractable Tonneau Cover:

These covers retract into a canister behind the cab of your truck. Pace Edwards has the Roll Top, JackRabbit, Full Metal JackRabbit and even one that opens and closes electrically with a remote called the Bedlocker. Bak offers the RollBak and Truck Covers USA offer their American Roll.

If you are not concerned about access to your truck bed they are many more tonneau covers available in roll up, with snaps or with velcro to secure them.

The Jackrabbit tonneau cover by Pace Edwards is a retractable tonneau or as some may call a roll top. To briefly describe what a retractable cover is I will try to give you a rough idea. The tonneau itself is made from aluminum panels, which in this case are laminated with a water resistant padded polymer. It has sort of a leather look. The frame is powder coated aluminum. The cover slides in tracks which extend from front to back along your truck bed rails. It rolls up into a canister which is located at the front of your truck box, below the cab rear window. This particular model has the option of stopping every 12 inches along its route so you don’t have to open or close the cover all the way. Water is directed from the cover to the side rails and through drain hoses to the canister and then through drain hose out through small holes in plugs in your truck box.

This cover has been purchase many times and most people loved what they received. Some say it was easy to install others say, actually most said the instructions sucked. Some give advice to read the instructions all the way through, then read them again, while others say make sure you have all the parts then throw the instructions away so you don’t get confused. All in all, customers for this cover did the installation themselves and were rewarded with many compliments for a great looking tonneau cover.

If you have a bed liner you will probably have to do some modifications to install this cover. Usually where the canister sits is a likely place for changes to your bed liner. From what I read I would get some help installing the cover so you don’t end up scratching your truck and just to make the installation a whole lot easier. I have read, a middle age woman installed it herself with little problem. I guess being mechanically incline will help.

A lot of people say their truck bed stays dry while other complained about water getting in between the tailgate and the cover. Just off the top of my head, maybe some extra stick-on weather stripping may help as it does on some other tonneau covers.

Even with lousy directions and water leakage this cover has been highly regarded for its operation and looks.

The Jackrabbit tonneau cover by Pace Edwards is a retractable tonneau or as some may call a roll top. To briefly describe what a retractable cover is I will try to give you a rough idea. The tonneau itself is made from aluminum panels, which in this case are laminated with a water resistant padded polymer. It has sort of a leather look. The frame is powder coated aluminum. The cover slides in tracks which extend from front to back along your truck bed rails. It rolls up into a canister which is located at the front of your truck box, below the cab rear window. This particular model has the option of stopping every 12 inches along its route so you don’t have to open or close the cover all the way. Water is directed from the cover to the side rails and through drain hoses to the canister and then through drain hose out through small holes in plugs in your truck box.

This cover has been purchase many times and most people loved what they received. Some say it was easy to install others say, actually most said the instructions sucked. Some give advice to read the instructions all the way through, then read them again, while others say make sure you have all the parts then throw the instructions away so you don’t get confused. All in all, customers for this cover did the installation themselves and were rewarded with many compliments for a great looking tonneau cover.

If you have a bed liner you will probably have to do some modifications to install this cover. Usually where the canister sits is a likely place for changes to your bed liner. From what I read I would get some help installing the cover so you don’t end up scratching your truck and just to make the installation a whole lot easier. I have read, a middle age woman installed it herself with little problem. I guess being mechanically incline will help.

A lot of people say their truck bed stays dry while other complained about water getting in between the tailgate and the cover. Just off the top of my head, maybe some extra stick-on weather stripping may help as it does on some other tonneau covers.

Even with lousy directions and water leakage this cover has been highly regarded for its operation and looks.

A tonneau cover is about the best aftermarket auto accessory you can invest in for your pickup truck. The advantages of owning a truck bed cover heavily out-weigh the amount of money you are going to pay for one.

The advantages of owning a tonneau cover can be such as the great added look you will give your vehicle by adding one to your truck bed. There are so many different types out there you should have no problem picking out a look that is right for you. You can get a sleek looking low profile, or one that stands up a little. There are soft covers, fiberglass tonneau covers, aluminum, roll-up, retractable, electric, folding, hinged and more.

Having a truck bed cover on the back of your truck will protect your cargo from weather conditions such as snow or rain. There is no need of having everything in your cargo area soaking wet. Who wants to shovel snow out their truck box before using it? Just being able to keep the debris out is a bonus with pollen or leaves in the fall. It just a real clean sleek look having a tonneau cover.

Whenever you haul delicate cargo such as flowers or plants or even paper products a truck lid will protect them from winds such as created from higher speed highway driving.

Without a tonneau cover you don’t feel safe leaving your vehicle with cargo in it, even for a few moments. There are a lot of people out there who like to take things that don’t belong to them but when they can’t see what your truck box contains they don’t even think about it. For added protection there are quite a few tonneau covers that are lockable today.

Having one on your truck bed in the closed position will create less wind resistance by allowing the wind to pass over your vehicle instead of hitting the tailgate causing drag. Less drag spells less fuel consumption and there is no need for me to mention the advantages of saving fuel to you.

Investing in a lid is just the logical thing to do when you’re the owner of a pickup truck. For those of you who have not decided if a tonneau cover is any good. Well Duh. Have a happy shopping experience, you’ll be glad you did.

First let me give a brief description of the Gaylord’s traditional tonneau cover and list some of its features. The Gaylord’s traditional tonneau cover is constructed of fiberglass. You can order them in black or custom painted to match the color of your pickup truck and give it a factory look.

The traditional lid has a stainless steel crossbar and lock system. The two locks are self-tightening compression-type that helps ensure a watertight seal and add security to your cargo area. This tonneau cover by Gaylord’s also comes with two gas struts to help with opening and keeps the lid from slamming closed. The traditional tonneau cover comes with a lifetime warranty for the fiberglass structure and the paint and 2 years on the working parts. I myself think this is a very fair warranty.

The traditional tonneau cover by Gaylord’s also comes available with a speedsturr wing on the back which adds a more sporty and racy look to your pickup truck.

Some previous buyers of this truck bed cover have such comments as how great the truck bed cover looks on their truck and how happy they were with the paint job on the truck lid. I haven’t found very much in the line of negative comments about the traditional tonneau cover by Gaylord’s.

A few points you may want to think about before purchasing this truck bed cover.

The hinged fiberglass tonneau cover would be great if you are looking for great weather and security protection as far as tonneau covers go.

If you use your truck for hunting, fishing, going for groceries or other such uses where you want quick easy access to your truck bed or if you want a very sharp look for your truck, or with the speedsturr wing, a sporty, racy look, the traditional tonneau cover by Gaylords would be a great choice to make.

If you use your truck for larger, high cargo loads, this truck bed lid would not be such a great choice for you. If your loads are usually higher than your truck rails, look for a tonneau cover such as a roll up cover, folding tonneau cover or a retractable truck bed cover.

This truck bed cover comes highly recommended by previous buyers. Overall, as far as quality and looks go, the traditional tonneau cover by Gaylord’s would be a very good purchase for your truck bed.

A lot of these tonneau covers have been sold. Probably because they are inexpensive and they give you great access to your truck bed just by folding up the three piece design. The trifecta is custom made to fit the make model and year of the vehicle it is intended for. This cover is made of heavy duty vinyl sewn to an aluminum frame. This particular cover uses spring clamps to latch closed at the tailgate. It is kept secured with straps whiled opened up to the cab. You can drive with it opened or closed. This tonneau cover is shipped fully assembled and installs quickly and easily with no drilling. You get a 10 year tarp warranty and lifetime on the frame. Of course as with other lids it improves fuel mileage. So if you want quick easy access to your truck bed and without the heavy cost of a retractable, this cover is probably for you. Although security isn’t as good as a retractable, it does keep your cargo out of sight out of mind. If you have an over the rail bed liner you will probably have to do some minor cutting to get this cover to fit.

What others are saying about the Extang Trifecta Tonneau Cover!

No stretching, no snaps and completely removes in less than five minutes. You can’t beat that…. A great cover that is easy to install and use, their may be possible paint damage along the bed rails after time due to wear and tear…. Everything is great about this cover including cost, installation and quality, that is why I have purchase my second and third one…. Super easy to remove and put back on. As for looks about an eight on a scale from one to ten. Easy to install and sturdier than the Torzo…. One person complained the cover didn’t quite completely cover the stake holes, about a half inch left but still praised his cover…. Another person loved his tonneau cover but had complained about two missing clips. After then receiving the clips one bolt stripped quite easily but was overnighted a new clip…. Someone was very happy with their cover but said they had to buy extra weather stripping to go behind on the bed rails below the rear window…. This person speaks he did a lot of checking around before buying. The fit was good and it literally went on in 5 minutes no problems except… The rear spring clamps would not stay clipped up inside the aluminum arch rails. when you folded cover up, the clamps would swing down toward the cover unless a person on each side held them up. Extang is aware of problem and after 3 calls to them he ended up crimping the rails tighter together as they suggested to remedy the problem…. One person says he had this cover on his Tacoma for 3 weeks now and it works flawlessly and it was great with very little or no leaking in very hard rains. It has even been said that it stayed cool under the tonneau after being in the sun all. There were a few complaints on how after a while there was a little puffiness where the Extang trifecta tonneau cover folded. One person gives this advice “Be sure to follow the directions on the bars that warn you about the clamps. They should be clipped into the bars and as far to the sides as possible before folding the cover to avoid damage.”

In Summary

Hey come on. If you your hinge is covered with the soft material you are bound to get some puffiness. I just wanted you to know what to expect. Over all most people who purchased this tonneau absolutely loved their cover and how easy it was to install and the price they paid for it. A few did not like it because they thought it was very light weight, cheaply made so to speak. Others called this a benefit. They were after having snap up covers and loved how easy it was to get access to their truck bed with the trifecta. Some were after having a fiberglass tonneau and loved this one because it was so light and easy to take completely off. Many people have commented on how dry their bed was staying after hard rains. Just think about what cover will suit you as far as how and what you use your truck bed for. You can get a free report to help you decide what type of cover is best for you, by visiting my website mentioned in the resource text below.

Tonneau covers are getting more and more popular these days. These covers provide you with extra storage facilities and maintain the looks of your truck. Tonneau covers also help to increase the mileage of your truck and protect your possessions. All of these features have made them very popular truck accessories.

There has been an increase in the production of tonneau covers due to increasing demand. There are now wide varieties of tonneau covers available for all kinds of trucks. However, you should look out for all the varieties but only choose the cover which best suits your needs.

Tonneau covers are available in six categories according to price range, ease of use and installation, protection, capability and durability. These categories are hard top tonneaus, soft roll up tonneaus, hinged tonneaus, retractable or roll top tonneaus, toolbox tonneaus, and cross bow tonneaus.

Installing a good quality tonneau cover on your pick up will definitely increase its look and value. But you will need to spend a certain amount of money to get this cover. In return it will definitely make a statement. Make sure that you are buying an original cover, as some are available at a very low rate. You may get deceived by their looks but actually, they are not genuine. You will need to pay less for a soft-top tonneau cover compared to a hardtop cover that is more costly. Therefore, you can make a choice according to your personal taste, preference and affordability.

Easy Maintenance: When cleaning your tonneau cover, wash it in the same manner as the rest of your truck, however always remember not to use dashboard-cleaning agent. Simply read the instructions in the reader’s manual on how to maintain your cover.

Protection of Products from Damage: A locking and hard shell tonneau cover is the best choice if you carry precious products regularly in your truck. Truxedo and Extang are the only covers available for security requirements. There will always be curiosity to know what is in the back of your truck.

Increases Truck Value: Always choose the finest tonneau cover to increase the value of your truck, and this will keep your truck looking and running good.

As the prices of gas are increasing day by day, a tonneau cover also helps to save fuel. As it reduces wind drag, it saves as much as 15-20%. In conclusion, these covers not only increase your truck value but also increase the storage capacity of your truck.

There are a lot of these particular tonneau cover on the road, saving gas and protecting cargo from the weather and not to mention keeping your cargo out of sight out of mind. It is classed as a hard top retractable tonneau cover. It seems to be a pickup truck owner’s favorite.

After unlocking the Pace Edwards Roll-Top tonneau cover it retracts automatically enabling you to gain access to your full truck bed. This cover is manufactured to give a nice smooth flush mount look. The padded polymer looks and feels like leather but lasts longer. The one piece padded polymer is laminated to heavy gauge aluminum panels. This way you get a soft feel but a hard tonneau cover. All the aluminum trim is smooth and has scratch resistant powder – coat finish. This tonneau cover is custom designed to fit your particular make, model and year. The design structure will not freeze or collapse with snow. Like most retractable tonneau covers, water is channeled to the canister and out through drain tubes to help keep your truck bed dry. It retracts automatically and can be closed with one hand from either side of the truck bed.

They say this tonneau cover installs in less than one hour. In my opinion in most cases I would say it takes a little longer. The cover is backed by a 1 year warranty.

They say that the cover is pretty water tight but you may get a little water in a very hard rain storm but installing the gasket kit for the tailgate may help. In most cases the tonneau cover kept the truck bed dry. Some may complain that there is no pull strap or handle just a key turn lock at the back end. Some also complain about the lock itself. It seems it may be kind of cheap. One good thing though, it is just a standard cabinet lock and easy to replace. There does seem to be a problem getting the lock to align. I would suggest two people to install this cover as it may help with alignment issues. It seems if you live on dusty roads or spend a lot of time on them you may encounter problems with the tracks clogging up.

All in all these are minor problems and still most people love their Pace Edwards Roll – Top tonneau cover. I am sure you would enjoy it just as much.

This tonneau cover was designed and built to fit your specific make, model and year pickup truck. Made in the USA by a man “with a working mans PHD”

Truck Covers USA boasts this retractable tonneau cover to have the smallest canister on the market sizing in at 8”x 8”.They say that this truck bed cover has double- walled panels and can support over 500 pounds. That’s a whopping quarter ton plus.

The American roll is tension driven and has stop and lock points at every 12 inches which comes in handy when carrying different loads. It has a textured black powder coat finish which is very tough and durable.

Dirt is kept out of the side rails and canister with the aid of high quality automotive grade wool and brushes. This is where some retractable tonneau covers have a problem.

This is a clamp on tonneau cover with a minimum drilling of holes for the drain tubes of the canister as is for other retractable tonneau covers. They say it can be installed within 2 hours. From what I read it can be any where from a half hour to three and a half hours. Truck covers USA designed and manufactured the clamps themselves especially for this cover. This cover is backed by a 2 year warranty which is a real plus for a retractable tonneau cover. I must say, this is a nice looking tonneau cover.

People who have installed this cover said they have done it quite easily. It only takes a few common tools. You may need some help lifting the canister into place but after that the rest should be a breeze. If you have a bed liner you will probably have to make some cuts in the liner where the clamps need to go and again at the tailgate where the lock of the tonneau cover ends up. No big problem though. If you open and close the cover a lot you may find having to unlock the cover a bit of a pain. This cover locks automatically. It’s great for a fifth wheel. A quite of few people have commented on how strong the cover is.

As is with other retractable tonneau covers you may get slight leakage with a lot of water. I must say that this has to be my favorite manual retractable tonneau cover. Lets just go over some of the good points. It will save you gas - it will deter thieves by keeping things out of sight out of mind not to mention the added locking system which is one of the better locks on tonneau covers today – the American roll will allow you to use your truck bed for tall loads without removing the cover – Easy installation – the cover will stop every twelve inches to accommodate your load - It comes with a 2 year warranty.

Now some of the negative points. May have slight leakage in heavy rain – You need to unlock the cover every time you use it – If you have a bed liner you may have to cut small sections of it for the clamps.

Now you decide if the American Roll tonneau cover is the cover you want for your truck bed and to protect your belongings.

The Rollbak tonneau cover has so many features I could probably sit here and type all day long about it. I will try to resist myself and make this short and sweet. The Rollbak truck bed cover is made by Bak Industries and is one tough tonneau cover. It is a retractable tonneau cover which retracts into a canister behind the truck cab. The canister is made of a rugged ABS which is very durable and with its rounded design is made to expel water. The average canister is about 8.5 inches in diameter and some are even smaller which leaves you with an added space under the canister in the front of the truck bed.

The side rails are lined with high density polyethylene which is even better than Teflon as Teflon freezes. You never have to grease this, and it will work well in all types of weather. Hot, cold, wet or dry, this cover is made for all weather.

The slats of the rollback retractable tonneau cover are made of powder coated industrial strength aluminum strong enough to withstand over 400 pounds. The slats are designed to channel water to the side tracks and then to the ABS canister and then out the bottom of the truck through hoses. The way the slats are designed, even if any water does get through the surface of the slats, it is still channeled to the side tracks.

The system is designed to stop every twelve inches as you close it so you can close it pretty much anywhere you want. The Rollbak truck bed cover locks automatically when closed all the way. There is no visible latch or locking system as it latches underneath the tonneau cover. You have to open the tailgate to access the latch for the truck bed cover. Then if you install a locking tailgate latch your tonneau cover is a very secure storage area. You can lift or lower the tailgate without moving the tonneau cover and the stake holes along the side of your truck bed remain uncovered which is great for any type of rack you use or tie downs.

The powder coat flat paint is a very durable finish which you can wax as you would the rest of your truck body. The installation is a no drill clamp system, but many applications use two self tapping screws at the front inside corners.

Listening to testimonials, mostly everyone loved the look and action of the Rollbak tonneau cover. However they pretty much all had a problem with the instructions that came with the truck bed cover. They were pretty vague and conflicted with the installation video on the Bak Industries website. It seems they were all able to get through the installation but would be much faster at it if they had to do it again. Even with the poor installation instructions they all said it was worth the troubles once they had it on.