Tonneau harkens back to the days of horse-drawn freight cars where a tarp or tarp was used to protect cargo from dust and weather. Today, there are two main varieties: hardtop and softtop tons, each offering unique benefits that make them suitable for a variety of different needs. So which one is better for you? Decide by asking yourself the following questions:
Is appearance important to you?
Fiberglass or hard plastic tonneau covers are popular for this very reason. Bottom line: they look great. They are painted or come ready to paint to match your truck, unlike soft tops which are usually only available in black. Hard bed covers have a much sturdier construction and are lockable, allowing you to easily secure your cargo when you’re away. Hard tonneau covers are also much heavier than soft tops and often require gas struts to help open and close, similar to the hood on your vehicle. If you’re building a show truck or don’t haul large loads, a hardtop truck is the perfect finishing touch for your exterior.
Not to be outdone, soft bed covers have come a long way in recent decades, incorporating technology that allows them to open and close with the push of a button. They are constructed of materials that provide a smooth, sleek appearance and easily coordinate with most truck bed liners.
What are you using your truck bed for?
If you’re transporting fragile cargo or materials that are easily damaged by the elements (drywall, raw wood, etc.), a tonneau can provide security for both your materials and your tools.
If you’re hauling loads that rarely exceed the bed of the truck or hauling expensive tools from job to job, a hardtop truck is definitely the way to go. Provides impenetrable protection from the weather and would-be thieves by locking your gear out of sight. In this sense, it is actually safer than keeping things in your cabin. If thieves can’t see anything of value, they’re likely to switch vehicles.
But if you’re just hauling gravel, bark, or the occasional contents of a friend’s apartment, a soft-top awning will work just fine. Soft bedspreads provide reliable protection from rain, snow, UV rays and dust, and even come with optional blocking devices. They also keep your cargo from being blown away by the wind. Like their hardtop counterparts, soft tops streamline your gear by making it aerodynamically efficient, allowing air to slip off the top instead of getting trapped in the bed and creating drag.
How easy is it to install and remove the barrel?
Most tonneau bed covers install via clamp-on hardware, with only a handful of tools required and no drilling required for most mounts in as little as half an hour. One big difference for those who routinely haul oversized loads: Hardtop covers can be difficult to remove. Unlike its soft-top cousins like roll-up tonneau covers, you must remove a hard-top cover to transport large loads safely.
