Not having a tonneau cover on your truck could be very concerning, especially if you have to leave your belongings in it overnight. The tri-fold tonneau cover is the most popular style that offers protection for your cargo.
Even with all the new features that trucks have gained in recent years, there is still a lot that goes into finding the “perfect” bed cover. With options like color, material, fit, and feature options, the choices can be overwhelming. So, how do you find the perfect bed cover?
Truck Upgrades Advisor reviews and rates tonneau covers and truck accessories. Keep reading to find the perfect tonneau cover for your truck.
Table of Contents
Best Tri-Fold Truck Bed Covers
The best tri-fold tonneau covers usually have three separate, accordion-like folds. They basically work by flipping the cover back and completely out of the way. This leaves the bed of the truck completely open for anything that you may need to transport.
When it comes to protecting the bed of your truck, you can find tri-fold tonneau covers that come in a variety of materials, styles, and price points.
The big box brands can be found at almost any dealership, and the independent or boutique brands often cost more than their big-box counterparts.
There are also new companies creating innovative tonneau covers that are lighter, more functional, and more affordable.
If you’re curious about the differences between tri-folds and roll-up read this.
Gator EFX Hard Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
- Sits flush with your truck bed
- No drill easily installs in less than 30 minutes
- An integrated water management system keeps the water, dirt, and dust out
This tonneau cover not only looks great but also protects your investment by keeping the elements out of your truck bed. The heavy-duty aluminum frame and industrial-strength vinyl repel rain, snow, and dust, while the vinyl exterior is resistant to fading and cracking. Plus, it has an easy-access, tool-free design that makes installation a breeze.
The Gator triple-fold truck bed tonneau covers are designed with tear-resistant vinyl coverings on top of the bed. It offers these leathery finish textures and a lasting design that can survive the harsh outdoor weather conditions. It provides a 3-year warranty for anything that may go wrong.
Lund 95064 Genesis Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
- Installs in under five minutes
- Tear-resistant fabric
- Limited lifetime warranty
There are many different kinds of tri-folds, but this is one of the best-selling. It’s simple, it’s strong, it’s easy to use, it’s inexpensive, and it has a very long history of great reviews.
The tri-fold tonneau cover by Lund is one of the most inexpensive choices among various options. The cloth is in double sides with a matte black finish. Alongside it sits an aluminum frame with a thick protective coating that protects your structure from corrosion.
The Lund Genesis Tri-Fold is relatively easy to install as it is designed to be a no-drill, no tool installation. The cover is made of heavy-duty vinyl to protect UV rays, water, and debris. The cover can be easily removed and re-installed using the commercial-grade clamping system. The tailgate seal is designed to keep water and debris out.
The tonneau cover comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
BAKFlip G2 Hard Folding Truck Bed Cover
- Drive with the cover folded, flipped up, or closed
- Sleek, low-profile design
- Quick-release cables under the panels
This is a new product from BAK Industries. A truck bed lid gives your truck a much more finished and “crisp” appearance. It also provides easy access to the bed of your truck. It is made of high-strength, impact-resistant, corrosion-resistant aluminum and features an attractive powder coat finish. It is easy to install and does not require tools.
The BAKFlip G2 folding Tonneau Cover has ultraviolet-resistant aluminum panels deemed to be the best hard folding cover. The truck cover for G2 is versatile enough to leave the cover open, close, or folded when driving. It offers 100% bed access and full upper brake light visibility. And their security is as strict as the way that this is put together. The prong rods are perfect since they allow a truck cover to remain upright, allowing for better access to the truck’s bed and making the best use of space.
This G2 hard folding tonneau cover is built to withstand severe weather due to its durable construction.
We liked that the durable aluminum panels automatically latch when the cover is partially or fully closed and is fully secure once your tailgate is locked.
We didn’t like that some 8′ truck beds 3rd brake light may be blocked.
UnderCover Flex Hard Folding Tonneau Cover
- Lightweight & easy to install
- Full perimeter seals to help prevent water intrusion
- Pull cables on either side of the truck
The UnderCover Flex hard truck bed cover is the perfect accessory for most pickup trucks. It provides you with complete control protection of the contents of your truck bed, plus it looks fantastic.
This high-quality, heavy-duty, waterproof (the most watertight hard folding cover on the market, BTW) cover features an easy-access, dual-action tailgate with a rubber seal for complete protection against weather, dirt, and other debris.
The Flex also has an integral aluminum top skin panel for complete protection against the sun’s harsh UV rays. The rugged aluminum cover is both stain and scratch-resistant. It will not tear, blister, crack, peel or fade.
It can be removed easily when not needed. The solid steel frame construction ensures years of use.
The undercover is attached securely in both open and close positions. It is rated for regular highway speeds, both open and closed.
The waterproof product has a drainage system and a rubber seal on the tailgate. It is easy to access the entire truck bed because of the slam latch quick releases, which enable the cover to open with one hand. Installation takes minutes with no drill or tools.
We really like the easy installation; just open the tonneau cover, clamp it on and go.
BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
- Easily clamps on with no drilling
- Aircraft-grade aluminum
- It won’t cover the 3rd brake light
The BAKFlip MX4 Tonneau Cover is a heavy-duty, easy-to-use folding tonneau cover designed to protect your cargo area and give you total access to your pickup bed. It features finished corner caps featuring a softer seal for a more finished appearance. And the rugged matte paint job resists rust and fading.
This BAKFlip MX4, in all aspects, is super strong, reliable, and stylish. It has an aluminum body, but the foam of incredibly high dense density offers strong strength, one of the more lasting products on the market. When it comes down to mounting, it will fit flawlessly on any truck.
And it is backed by an extended 5-year warranty!
American Tonneau Soft Cover
- Weather seal runs all the way around
- Assembled and ready to install
- Access 100% of the truck bed
Protect your cargo from the elements with the easy-to-use, no tools, vinyl tonneau cover from American Tonneau. This durable, weatherproof cover is designed to fit securely over most pickup truck beds and is made of rugged, textured vinyl. It has a quick-release latch and four mounting brackets for a perfect fit on most pickup trucks.
It is also light and easy to handle for easy portability and storage. It comes with all the necessary hardware and easy-to-follow instructions. Simply snap in the tonneau cover, and you’re ready to go!
This American Tonneau tonneau cover is easy to install and remove, and it looks great on your truck. It is constructed with heavy-duty materials, and it will provide you and your family with years of protection from the weather.
American Tonneau Company offers a very durable truck cover with a solid limited lifetime warranty.
We really like that it installs quickly and it’s durable.
Extang Solid Fold 2.0 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
- Automotive-grade polymer panels
- Fully assembled, quick and easy install
- Revolutionary watertight seals
Extang Solid Fold has strong attributes that speak strength and excellent rigidity. This trifold cover is the perfect defense against weather and the nefarious types, not only that it has a sleek low profile design. It is weather-resistant 1 inch think pannels are also dent resistant.
Extang 2.0 provides total bed access granting you complete control for your truck bed.
This hard folding tonneau cover from Extang features an innovative design that makes it easy to install and remove.
It’s made of high-strength, rugged material that’s designed to stand up to the elements. And it has a revolutionary watertight seal to help keep water out of your truck bed.
The entire unit is extremely tough and can be left open or closed even when your truck is being driven on the highway.
The Extang Hard Fold Tonneau Cover is easy to use and requires no tools for installation or removal. Just remove it from the box and clamp it on.
Tonno Pro Tonno Fold 42-200 TRI-FOLD
- 5-minute install
- Lightweight enough for one-hand use
- E-Z clamping system
If you’re looking for a tonneau cover that provides complete protection from the elements and gives you more room to load and unload cargo, the Tonno Fold Truck Bed Cover is for you.
This innovative, ultra-lightweight design features an E-Z clamping system that secures it to the rails of your truck and a soft powder-coat finish that won’t scratch your vehicle.
The Tonno Fold Truck Bed Cover is easy to install — just remove it from the box, place it on the truck, E-Z clamp it, unfold it, and it’s ready to go in less than five minutes.
LEER Latitude Soft Tri-Fold Bed Cover
- User-friendly and EASY to install
- Exclusive cync latching system
- Self-tensioning frame
The LEER Latitude soft tri-fold tonneau cover is an easy no-drill install and comes with detailed, easy-to-follow instructions. The truck bed cover features an exclusive cync latching system which allows you to secure your truck bed cover even when driving with your bed open or closed.
Plus, it has a vinyl finish that prevents damage from the sun and rain and durable, flexible construction that stands up to heavy use. With a sturdy yet flexible and rugged design, this truck bed cover is sure to protect your vehicle’s interior and cargo area for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Benefits of Tonneau Covers
Tonneau covers offer protection for the cargo area, but they also provide many other benefits. They help keep your cargo secure, and they help to keep the interior of your truck clean. They also offer a wide variety of features that make them easy to use.
Types of Tonneau Covers
Both soft and hard tonneau covers are available in many different styles. Hard truck bed covers are available in most styles, including tri-fold, roll-up, retractable, and one-piece hinged but not a snap-on. Soft truck bed covers are only available in tri-fold and roll-up.
With the popularity of trucks on the rise, one of the biggest questions asked by truck owners is what to cover the bed of their trucks with.
In today’s world, there are many options when it comes to tonneau covers and accessories. These can be overwhelming, so we have created a helpful guide to help you understand all of the different covers on the market, their benefits, and their drawbacks.
Read more: Tri-fold vs retractable truck bed tonneau cover.
Are you going to get a soft tonneau cover or a hard cover?
HARD FOLDING TONNEAU COVERS
Hard folding tonneau covers are one of the most popular styles on the market. They can open up and flip up to be secured near the back of the cab when the need to haul a large load of cargo arises. Hard truck bed covers come with three or four-panel fold-ups.
There are many reasons you should consider buying a hard tonneau cover, and here we will give you all the details you need to make an informed decision.
Your truck is a significant investment. You need to protect it and keep it looking great. If you have a hard folding tonneau cover, it’s going to cover up your truck bed and keeping it clean and protected and looking awesome.
SOFT FOLDING TONNEAU COVERS
Tonneau covers are the most popular truck accessories, and it’s easy to see why. They add a personal touch to your truck and protect your bed from rain, snow, animals, and other debris. There are a variety of options available, and the most popular is the soft-folding tonneau covers. These covers fold up like an accordion and are easily installed in less than 10 minutes.
The soft-folding tonneau cover gives the look and feel of a classy truck. Out of all the tonneau covers, except a soft roll-up, installation and removal are the easiest. With a soft folded cover, the vinyl is pulled around the aluminum frame. Like the hard folding cover, soft folding covers fold toward the cab and secure in the open position for carrying larger loads.
Or you can get the soft roll-up tonneau cover which most likely will just use velcro to attach to the truck. Installation is a breeze, and they are easy to remove and offer the most access to the truck bed even when installed.
Things to consider before buying Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
There are several things you should consider when you are about to buy a tonneau cover for your car. First, the tonneau cover should be easy to open and close. This is very important because if it is not easy, then you might not use it. Another thing you should consider is whether or not it will
Well, for one thing, you should consider whether or not you will use your cover often or only on special occasions. If you intend to use your cover often, you may want to consider a more economical model that is less likely to tear or become damaged. However, if you only use your cover on special occasions, you should be willing to pay more for a top-quality product that will give you years of trouble-free service.
Why should I buy a folding cover?
If you find that your truck’s bed is getting dirty and you want it to stay clean, then one of the things that you can do is have a tonneau cover. There are a lot of other tonneaus covers out there, with different styles and different features. However, all of them are not created equally. Some are made of vinyl, and some are made of canvas, but it is always good to have a choice.
Read more: Tonneau Cover Reviews
How to measure a truck bed for a hard folding cover
If you are measuring a standard-size truck bed (6 feet long), stand back about three feet and measure from the front of the tailgate to the center of the bed. This will give you the width of the truck bed. Next, measure from the front of the tailgate to where you want the cover to be, and this will give you the length of the truck bed you will need for your cover.
How do I install a folding tonneau cover?
Once you obtain the Truck Upgrades Advisor Tri-fold tonneau cover, you can easily install the cover yourself, even if you aren’t an expert. The instructions are easy to follow, and even if you are a first-time installer, you can have the cover on your truck in as little as 5 – 10 minutes.
First, you will want to make sure that you place the cover on the right kind of truck. The Tri-fold tonneau cover is only designed to fit on certain types of trucks.
They look great and are relatively easy to install, but if you’ve ever tried to install one of these things, you know that they are one of the easiest things to install. Sure, they could be more challenging to some people; you could have an expert install it for you.
Maintenance of a Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
It’s really very simple. Just give it a good washing every now and then and wipe off the dirt that collects on the inside surfaces. Be sure to use a brush or sponge, not a cloth or paper towel. You can also clean the cover with soap and water that you use for your truck. Remember never to use anything but the cloth specified by the product you’re using, as these will get the desired result.
Can you safely go through an automatic car wash with a tonneau cover?
Final Thoughts
We really like the BAKFlip G2 Hard Folding Truck Bed Cover, but the Extang Solid Fold 2.0 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover is a very close second. Really, you can’t go wrong with either.
Read this in-depth BAKFlip G2 Tonneau Cover Review.
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