Most tonneau covers will lock and protect your cargo to some degree. The soft variety of covers offers the least amount of protection especially soft roll-ups because they are commonly only held on by velcro.
Do you have no choice but to leave belongings in the back of your truck for extended periods of time? Or are you traveling for work a lot and don’t have the option to remove all your tools when staying overnight?
There are more than a few types of tonneau covers on the market to choose from. In this article, I’ll help you choose the best locking tonneau cover that suits your needs. I’ve listed the types here in order from most secure to least secure;
Painted One-Piece Tonneau Covers
These are definitely the most secure tonneau covers on the market; there are no better options to keep your belongings safe. Because they hinge at the front and overlap the tailgate, it is impossible to open the tailgate without lifting the lid. As long as the cover is locked, you have no worries.
One-piece tonneau covers are a great option for trucks that don’t have locking tailgates. The rigid fibreglass construction makes this style of bed cover very difficult for burglars to a break-in, and most will keep walking by and not even bother. If you’re very concerned about the contents of your box, this is by far the best option available.
The bonus to this style is the ability to have it custom painted to match your truck colour, and most come with LED lighting offering a well-lit storage area.
Hard Tonneau Covers
These include hard rolling covers, hard folding covers, and retractable covers. Most of these will also overlap the tailgate, creating an added level of security. In fact, the cab of the truck will be easier to break into.
The question is which one is best for you, and that depends on what you use your truck for most and what your personal preference is. Hard rolling covers are easy to roll up and don’t block the entire view out the back window. The problem is most don’t roll uptight and still end up covering a small portion of the bed.
Hard folding tonneau covers might be a better choice because they offer 100% bed access, but they will block your entire view out the back window.
Retractable tonneau covers are the most convenient because they slide open and closed. They offer the best view out the back window but offer the least amount of bed access when fully opened.
If your truck doesn’t have a tailgate lock, there are aftermarket options available. Generally, hard tonneau covers either lock with a key from the outside or have a latch underneath.
I reviewed the BAK BAKFlip G2 hard folding tonneau cover if it’s a hard folding cover you need.
Soft Tonneau Covers
Soft roll-up and soft-folding tonneau covers are for keeping your gear dry and out of sight. They don’t offer much security and aren’t recommended for high crime areas. Soft covers are a lower-cost option if you live in a quiet crime-free location or don’t have to store anything in your truck.
Soft covers are made of either vinyl, nylon, or canvas material. Most are lockable, but the security isn’t great. The soft material is easily pierced, making this option the least secure style of cover.
Is a roll-up or a folding option better for you? A soft roll-up tonneau cover rolls up neatly against the cab in seconds, allowing access to every inch of your truck bed and your cargo and won’t block your view out the back window. Most soft-folding tonneau covers won’t offer full bed access as the last section usually lays flat at the front of the bed, but this also means you’ll have a full unblocked view out of the rear window.
If a soft folding cover is what you need, I think you’ll like my review of the Gator ETX Soft Tri-Fold tonneau cover.
Conclusion
Soft roll-up and soft-folding tonneau covers are for keeping your gear dry and out of sight. They don’t offer much security and aren’t recommended for high crime areas. Soft covers are a lower-cost option if you live in a quiet crime-free location or don’t have to store anything in your truck.
Soft covers are made of either vinyl, nylon, or canvas material. Most are lockable, but the security isn’t great. The soft material is easily pierced, making this option the least secure style of cover.
Is a roll-up or a folding option better for you? A soft roll-up tonneau cover rolls up neatly against the cab in seconds, allowing access to every inch of your truck bed and your cargo and won’t block your view out the back window. Most soft-folding tonneau covers won’t offer full bed access as the last section usually lays flat at the front of the bed, but this also means you’ll have a full unblocked view out of the rear window.
