Bed covers for trucks can turn a pickup bed to a big locking trunk, almost like a vault. Pickup bed covers are one popular addition that makes any pickup truck more of a useful tool as well as improving the looks. Features vary widely though among the several types of trucks covers. Soft covers are the lowest cost option but in some ways may offer best values. On the other hands hard tonneau covers come in several different forms with widely varied features. But all the hard covers offer increased locking security but at a higher price tag.

Hard pickup bed covers offer advantages over soft covers. If you need security this is where to look first. Though some of these tonneau covers cost far more than soft versions, some models cost just a little more than the better soft models. Then as you move up to some of the tilting models and then to the metal retractable lids, you get what is a virtual lock box for a pickup bed. The truck bed then becomes a locking box almost exactly like a locking car trunk but giant in size and with lots more potential…

Sealing between covers and the pickup bed is critical. To keep out moisture and dirt requires quite an effort in design. Several methods are employed to get a good seal that works. Especially with soft covers which are of course not rigid the methods used vary in ease of use and effectiveness. No cover is completely waterproof but some come very close. The best way to find out what to expect may be to check out all the owner comments online…

Virtually no covers require drilling for installation anymore. Rather, the cover mounts just clamp in place and that makes installing faster and less trouble as well as eliminating the aggravation of putting holes through an expensive bed and damaging the paint at the same time too. What happens usually is the side rails clamp in place and then the front and rear seals go on and that gets the cover ready to go. Notice reviews to find the really easy to install covers for the best results with the least effort. As the weight goes up, so often does the difficulty of getting the thing in place…

Pick the retractable metal tonneau and you can get instant access. Now this only applies to the retractable covers with remote open and close, but with those you get more. You get remote access much like a remote trunk with the same advantages. You can open the bed from across a parking lot and close it when you’re ready. All that gets done with just one hand operation of a button. Is any of that necessary? Not really but the results are equivalent to a remote trunk… not a bad option…

The overriding advantage of soft pickup truck bed covers is the lower price compared to other styles. Other benefits include easy bed access, easy installation, ability to handle high cargo as well as the superior sealing. A soft cover works well to protect cargo and protect the truck bed all at a quite low price tag. Hard covers offer superior protection but at a higher price. The hard cover designs include folding tonneaus, tilting lids and retractable covers as well.