The Finishing Touch for Any Great Truck: The Tonneau Cover

Whether you’re a brand-new truck owner or have had one all your life, it’s likely that you know about the importance of a good tonneau cover. Available in a variety of different styles and builds, a tonneau cover is a crucial accessory that keeps the flatbed of your truck free from the wear and tear of the elements.

Just like there are many different kinds of trucks and truck owners, there are also many different kinds of tonneau covers. Regardless of your personal taste or unique needs in terms of functionality, there are countless options for a cover that fits perfectly into your life. Here is a look at some of the most popular types of tonneau covers and what purposes they best serve. We will also talk a bit about why tonneau covers are so important and why the folks at McCluskey Chevrolet are the best people to talk to when looking to buy one of your own.

Hard Tops

The first type of tonneau cover we will cover in this article is the hardtop. As opposed to its soft top counterpart—which we will cover in just a minute—hardtops will run you a premium price. Running upwards of $2,000 for a quality hard top tonneau cover, these are truly the sturdiest and most durable option you can find.

The three main types of hard top covers are the retractable cover, the hard-folding cover, and the painted hard top. The retractable cover is a stylish solution that sits low on your flatbed and provides seamless and sleek coverage.

The hard-folding cove folds into three distinct pieces, making fold up and removal extremely simple. The decision to go with a hard-folding cover is largely one of aesthetic. This will ultimately come down to the owner seeing which one they prefer overall.

The painted hard top tonneau cover is very aesthetic-oriented and extremely strong as well. Often made of metal, fiberglass or heavy plastic, these covers can fit the unique paint job on your truck, blending in perfectly with your overall look.

Soft Tops

As we previously stated, the hard top tonneau covers are far and away the more expensive option. If you’re a truck owner looking for a cover that is a little more casual and won’t break the bank, a soft cover may be the ideal choice for you.

When it comes to the different types of tonneau covers, there are three main varieties you should look at. The first is the snap cover, which is simply a soft, inexpensive cover that snaps onto your flatbed. It’s easy to install but can prove inconvenient if you plan on removing and reinstalling it on a regular basis.

The next option is the tri-fold, which folds at three separate points as the name implies. The tri-fold design provides a sturdy cover that can open and close with ease. This is an excellent fit for anyone that plans on frequently accessing their bed while still maintaining a high degree of protection.

The last type of type cover we will discuss is the soft roll up. While this model provides a similar level of protection to the others, it is merely a different way to open and close your tonneau. As we’ve said before, with all the various tonneau options, the best way to know which one you prefer is to go out and take a look.

The Benefits of a Tonneau Cover

Now that we’ve covered a range of the various tonneau options on the market let’s dig into the details on how you could benefit from a tonneau in the first place. We all know that cars are expensive enough as it is, to purchase an accessory that costs up to $2,000, any reasonable consumer would like to know exactly how it’s going to help them and their overall driving experience.

• Security– Perhaps the most obvious item on our list, this one cannot go unstated. While the flatbed in a pickup is a huge advantage in the way of storage space, it’s somewhat of a detriment that you really can’t use this storage while you’re not actively using the vehicle. If you were to leave luggage or supplies in your flatbed overnight or while you’re away at work, it remains subject to weather damage or just plain theft. By purchasing a reliable tonneau cover, you’re effectively adding a whole new segment of storage space to your vehicle; talk about increasing the overall value!
• Increased Gas Mileage-Moving on to one of the lesser-known facts about installing a tonneau cover, by eliminating that large pocket of air attached to the back of your truck, you will make your vehicle far more aerodynamic. By completing the smooth, aerodynamic form of your truck, you can heavily eliminate wind resistance and consequently increase your overall MPG. So, if you’re having trouble justifying the cost of your new cover, remember, it might just pay for itself.
• Safe Transport on the Road– The last benefit we will cover is the added safety to transporting supplies in your flatbed. While a well-secured load will likely be fine in standard flatbed, it can sometimes be hard to have peace of mind when you have 500 or more pounds of material in the back of your truck. By installing a trustworthy tonneau cover, you can rest assured during even the longest trips that your materials will be safe and sound in their completely enclosed space.

If you aren’t convinced by now, it may be hard to get you on board with the tonneau cover. Between the large number of types, various aesthetic options, and numerous advantages to your overall driving experience, a quality cover seems hard to say no to. But if you need just a little bit more convincing, we also offer the best possible way to buy one.

Pick One Up at McCluskey Chevrolet

Now that we have a pretty clear idea of the different types of tonneau covers and the myriad advantages they offer the average truck owner, it’s time to go pick one out for yourself. Luckily for Chevrolet owners in the Cincinnati area, McCluskey Chevy has one of the best selections of Chevy truck parts in the entire state.

It is our goal here at McCluskey to provide our customers with track parts and accessories and effortless installation If you so choose. Whether it’s running board, light-up door sills, or a hard top tonneau cover, McCluskey has countless options for you to peruse to make sure you find the right one.

To make this shopping process a little more accessible to those feeling overwhelmed, McCluskey offers personalization consultants that will take appointments to talk with you about the best choice for your truck. Whether it’s deciding the perfect type of tonneau cover or discussing how to install mud flaps at home, this experienced team is ready to advise on any possible issue involving Chevrolet truck parts.

So, regardless of what it is you need for your Chevy truck, you can rest assured that the people at McCluskey Chevrolet have the expertise to get you to where you need to be. Come visit or call ahead and make an appointment today to get the full McCluskey Chevrolet experience.