Truck tonneau covers, which is also known as camper shells, cab extender, cab, armor lid or topper, are truck add-ons attached to a pickup truck’s bed to create cargo space that is protected from the weather and secured from theft.  This armor lid tonneau cover also improves fuel efficiency as it lessens drag and enhances the aerodynamics of the pickup truck.

Truck tonneau covers come in two major types: hard tonneau cover and soft tonneau cover.  A hard tonneau cover is typically made of fiberglass or aluminum.  A fiberglass top is made from custom molds designed specifically for your truck make, model and year.  You can surely find one that contours around the cab of your vehicle giving it a nice custom fit and a sleek look.  It can be painted to match the paint code of your vehicle specified in the registration with the transportation office.  Fiberglass tonneau cover is usually the most costly type.  It starts in the price range of $1000.

On the other hand, aluminum top is made from a standard mold and is only made to fit the bed of your truck.   It does not contour around the truck’s cab.  It has only standard colors to choose from with black as most common.  It is a little more affordable though.  You can find aluminum tonneau covers with a price range of $400.

As there is a wide array of choices for a truck bed cover, you should consider the following before purchasing one:

1. Truck bed covers are relatively heavy and inconvenient to remove and replace on a frequent basis.  It usually takes at least two people to remove or install the cover on a truck.  You can opt for one which is less heavy or much lighter if you intend to remove and install your truck’s cover on a frequent basis.
2. Consider the pre-drilled holes in the truck top itself.  Not all truck beds are compatible with this built-in utility.  It would be safer to choose one which will no longer require drilling of holes.  Aside from that, it will help extend the life of the truck bed and the framework of the truck top as well.
3. Look into other features you would like to add as options to the standard tonneau cover.  You can choose from third brake lights, tempered safety glass, paint finish, carpeted interior, style of trim, power locks, etc.  Some of these features are standard with certain models while for some, they are considered options.
4. For purposes of quality assurance, select a truck bed cover from a manufacturer that makes a custom fit for your particular vehicle make and model.  Majority of truck bed covers fit most every make and model but there are some that do not.

Truck bed covers are considered as a need for every pickup truck.  Get the best value for your money by choosing a tonneau cover made by trusted manufacturers.