Horse Trailer Decals
Tonneaus date back to the days of horse-drawn cargo wagons where a tarp, or tarpaulin, was used to protect cargo from dust and weather. Today, there are two main varieties- hard-top and soft-top tonneaus-with each offering unique benefits that make them suited to a variety of different needs. So, which one is better for you? Decide by asking yourself the following questions:
Are looks important to you?
Fiberglass or hard plastic tonneau covers are popular for this very reason. Simply put: they look cool. They’re either painted or come paint-ready to match your truck, unlike soft covers which are usually only available in black. Hard bed covers are much sturdier in construction and can be locked, allowing you to easily secure your cargo when you step away. Hard tonneau covers are also much heavier than the soft-top variety and often require gas struts to assist in opening and closing, similar to the hood of your vehicle. If you’re building a show truck or don’t haul large loads, a hard-top tonneau makes the perfect finishing touch to your exterior.
Not to be outdone, soft bed covers have come a long way in the past few decades, incorporating technology that allows them to open and close with the push of a button. They’re constructed of materials that provide a smooth, sleek appearance and easily match most truck bed liners.
What are you using your truck bed for?
If you’re hauling fragile cargo or materials that are easily damaged by the elements (drywall, untreated lumber, etc.), a tonneau can provide safety and security for both your materials and tools.
If you haul loads that rarely exceed the truck bed or cart around costly tools from job to job, a hard-top tonneau is definitely the way to go. It provides impenetrable protection against the weather and would-be thieves by locking your gear out of sight. In this regard, it’s actually safer than storing things in your cab. If thieves can’t see anything of value, chances are they’ll move on to another vehicle.
But if you’re only hauling gravel, bark or the occasional contents of a friend’s apartment, a soft-top tonneau will work just fine. Soft bed covers provide reliable protection against rain, snow, UV rays and dust, and even come with optional locking devices. They also prevent your cargo from being blown around by wind. Similar to their hard-top counterparts, soft covers streamline your rig by making it aerodynamically efficient, allowing air to slide off the cover rather than becoming trapped in the bed and creating drag.
How easy is the tonneau to install and remove?
Most tonneau bed covers are installed through clamp-on hardware, with only a handful of tools required and no drilling-most mount in as little as half an hour. One major difference for those who routinely haul oversize loads: hard-top tonneau covers can be challenging to remove. Unlike their soft-top cousins, like roll up tonneau covers, you have to remove a hard-top cover to safely haul large cargo.
Tonneaus make great bed covers. Whether you deck out your pickup with hard tonneau covers or soft tonneau covers, both provide unique benefits that effectively protect your cargo from weather and theft.
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