Your Guide to Tonneau Covers in 2020

Sure, that wide open truck bed is what makes a pickup truck a pickup truck, but it can also be its greatest weakness. If you're hauling expensive or sensitive gear, leaving it open and exposed to the elements and prying eyes isn't really an ideal situation. Then you have to either move your stuff in and out every time you get out of the truck, or just leave your trust in the gods of weather and your fellow man.

Looking at the truck bed cover market today, it would be an understatement to say you're spoiled for choice. In fact, we might be getting to a point where you have too much choice, leading to what I like to call "Options Paralysis" -- so many options you just end up not picking any at all.

That's why I figured I'd put together this guide to give you the rundown on each tonneau cover type to see what would fit your needs and budget best.

As many of us Jeep owners have unfortunately become aware, just like with soft tops, it doesn't take much to cut through canvas or vinyl. Same goes for soft tonneau covers. Don't get me wrong, they're still very useful in keeping weather out, and there is something to be said for "out of sight out of mind," but if you're looking for real security, I would recommend spending a little more on a hard tonneau cover.

If you just need something affordable that you can throw on in order to keep your stuff out of the weather and out of sight, a soft roll-up or folding cover is a great choice. Most of our options feature UV resistant vinyl or strong canvas, are easy to install with one person, and are lightweight. No need to overcomplicate things if you don't need anything too extravagant.

For hard tonneau covers, the most popular style by far are the hard folding covers. When closed they stay locked and secure with the tailgate, and then if you need access to the bed, you just pop the tailgate and fold it back. Retractable covers are also a popular choice, they retract into a canister at the bulkhead to stay out of the way, and then close with a lock and key when it's time to park the truck anywhere.

One versatile and more affordable alternative to a fiberglass campershell is a soft topper like this one from Bestop. Think of it like a Jeep soft top, but for the back of your bed. This keeps your stuff protected and out of sight while giving you the ability to roll up the windows for easy access to your gear. This also makes for a great option for people who camp in their trucks, allowing you to open the windows when needed or close them up to keep in warmth.

Of course these will have those similar downsides to a Jeep soft top in terms of security, but it is a lighter, cheaper, and more accessible alternative to a hard fiberglass top. Everything is a trade-off, right?

Whether your tonneau cover or topper locks or not, there's still a need for some good organizational tools, and some extra security. We've got a solid selection of sturdy duffel bags, sectioned off cargo organizers, as well as locking drawer systems. These are perfect for keeping hand tools and recovery gear like recovery straps, d-rings, and jumper cables all organized, dry, and in one spot where you know you can always find them.

We also carry a wide selection of Molle compatible bags to work with your own specific setups, perfect for small, easy to lose parts, tools, and medical kits. You can also find storage bags for Jeep doors, organizational bins for spare fluids, belts, U-joints, or even just keeping your groceries in place when you make your way back home. Mix, match, and conquer all. Being prepared is the name of the game.

Have any questions on your specific setup? Concerns on warranties, shipping, or pricing? Give our Jeep experts a call or hop into chat with us and we’ll get you on the right path. Don’t worry, you won’t be bugging us, we’re total gear nerds ourselves. We love this stuff!