The right tonneau cover style for your dirt bike is a tri-fold because it folds up, and when open fully, the truck bed is 100% accessible. There are many choices to make, and it can seem like a bit of a headache if you’re not sure where to begin. We’re here to help you with your research.
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Choose the right style tonneau cover for your dirt bike
Choosing a suitable tonneau cover for your dirt bike and your other needs will depend on your specific application and requirements, such as security and ease of use. I have listed the most common styles explaining the benefits of each and how well they work with dirt bikes.
Roll-up tonneau covers
If you’re looking for a low-cost option for your dirt bike, then we would recommend that you choose a soft roll-up tonneau cover. However, if you want something more secure than that, you may want to get a hard roll-up tonneau cover for your truck.
Roll-up covers, if designed correctly, can accommodate a dirt bike. These are the most popular tonneau covers because they are easy to use and install. They are also easy to remove when you finish riding if need be. They come in both soft and hard versions.
Soft roll-up covers
If you want to haul dirt bikes without any difficulty, soft roll-up tonneau covers are the right choice. Soft roll-ups are easy to install and remove, and they are typically the cheapest type of tonneau cover available.
Fitting a dirt bike in the bed is easy with a soft roll-up tonneau cover. It can roll entirely out of the way and offer 100% access to the truck’s bed. This type of tonneau cover is low-cost and easy to use, but the downside is that it will not protect thieves while you ride because it is unlockable.
Hard roll-up covers
This style of tonneau cover is great for dirt bikes, but not all brands roll up enough to allow a dirt bike’s front tire up to the bulkhead.
They can be pricey; these tonneau covers are solid, typically built with aluminum, and lockable.
Need a truck bed cover for a dirt bike that offers bulletproof protection from thieves while you ride; then you should look at the hard roll-up tonneau covers.
Folding tonneau covers
This style can easily fit a dirt bike up to the bulkhead. Many folding tonneaus on the market have an aluminum frame with a fabric or vinyl top covering. These covers flip up to provide access to the cargo area in seconds. The advantage of this cover style is that you can be flip it up to offer 100% access to the truck’s bed.
Soft folding covers
Soft folding tonneau covers are great for a dirt bike and are easy to operate. These tonneau covers flip up and offer 100% access to the truck’s bed, allowing a dirt bike to rest the front wheel on the bulkhead, but these designs do not protect the cargo area from theft.
These are the second least expensive tonneau covers for dirt bikes. Soft roll-ups are the least costly, but neither offers excellent security.
If thieves do decide to cut through your vinyl, then you’ll end up replacing the tonneau cover as well as lost cargo.
Hard folding covers
A hard-folding tonneau cover is perfect for accommodating dirt bikes because they flip up out of the way, offering 100% access to the truck’s bed. They are the most common form of tonneau covers and are easy to lock up while riding. They are one of the most secure truck bed cover styles meaning your gear will still be there when you get back from riding.
Retractable covers
Retractable tonneau covers will not work for a dirt bike; they don’t offer 100% access to the truck’s bed, nor do they provide easy loading/unloading with other large cargo.
This style of tonneau cover is like a hard roll-up cover; only it rolls down inside the truck’s bed instead of up on top, and because of this, it takes up a lot of room needed for your dirt bike’s front tire.
Read more: Roll n Lock vs Retrax
One-piece solid covers
I think it’s safe to state that a one-piece hinged tonneau cover is not going to allow you to load a dirt bike. One-piece covers are also more expensive than hard or soft roll-up covers, hinged at the bulkhead, and can only be lifted a few feet at the tailgate. You’ll need to remove the tonneau if you need to haul your dirt bike.
Choose the right brand for your dirt bike
I’ve talked with the top brands in the tonneau covers industry and found their best truck bed covers dirt bikes to help you choose one that suits you best
Bak Industries
Bak is a very popular brand and has tonneau covers designed with dirt bikes in mind, and they can be costly. They told me that you could load a dirt bike with their hard tri-fold tonneau covers. They are perfect if you want to secure your gear while keeping it easily accessible. They also work well for camping trips, fishing trips, or other recreational uses. With proper installation and care, they can last a lifetime.
Gator Covers
Gator is another famous brand of tonneau covers. While less expensive than Bak Industries, the gators are still pretty expensive compared to other brands that offer a lot of variety. They are, however, straightforward to install and have a better warranty than Bak and others. Professionals often recommend them for the fact that they offer so many options, including accessories and hardware. The only problem is that there are few colors to choose from, and they tend to be cheaper on their website than in stores. In addition, it’s important to note that not all of their accessories are compatible with all models and the tonneau itself.
Tyger Auto
Tyger is a newer company but has had tremendous success and offers some of the lowest-priced tonneaus in the market. They were one of the first to incorporate aluminum in their products and had been selling very well. However, their tonneau covers come with limitations, precisely the inability to add more hardware and accessories. A famous brand if they are a little pricey at around $2000 or more. They offer the highest quality tonneau covers on the market and can even be shipped directly to your door for free if you purchase more than one tonneau cover.
Truxedo
Truxedo is a popular name in truck bed liners and has provided outstanding quality products for decades. They have many accessories that work well with any tonneau cover, including hinges, hardware, rails, latches, and more. They have tons of colors to choose from, are relatively affordable, easy to use, and most of all, easy to install. However, the biggest problem is that the materials used aren’t as sturdy and durable as some other brands, requiring more maintenance than others. Their warranty, however, is excellent and covers anything on their tonneaus for three years. People recommend Truxedo as one of the best tonneaus available because of its quality and ease of use.
Lund
Lund is the most expensive of the lot, and their tonneau covers are just plain beautiful and will make you say wow at first glance. They have a wide variety of options, including choosing aluminum or steel and the ability to choose between a manual or power release. They have a warranty covering everything from the liner to the hardware on their tonneaus for up to six years. Lund also has a complete selection of accessories for all tonneau covers. The biggest downside to these covers is the price, and they do often range in the $6,000 – $10,000 range and will usually take over a week to be ready to be shipped if you buy direct.
OEDRO
Pedro is another famous brand in the tonneau industry, and they also have one of the unique tonneau designs available. Their tonneau covers are designed with many different shapes and sizes to give you the ability to cover almost any space you would need to cover. They also include hardware to help install your new tonneau on their own and are extremely easy to use, which allows them to sell them at prices between $200 – $600 dollars. A one-year warranty also covers their tonneau covers. However, the biggest downside to these products is that the quality and craftsmanship are not very good, so you will need to do more maintenance to keep them going.
American Tonneau Company
American Tonneau Company also includes their brand of accessories, and they make one of the most unique accessories available. American Tonneau Covers are also backed by a 1-year warranty and come at a price of about $550 dollars. Their covers can fit almost any truck, including the Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, and Chevrolet Silverado.
Tonno Pro
Tonno Pro is popular among many people and is available at many dealerships throughout the U.S. There is no tonneau design like the Tonno Pro cover. You can find Tonno Pro covers at prices ranging from $300 – $800 dollars. Their tonneau covers include hardware; you don’t have to worry about any tools—a perfect choice for those that don’t have a tonne of time on their hands.
UNDERCOVER
UNDERCOVER Tonneaus come in an array of designs and colors and different materials, allowing them to fit almost any type of vehicle with ease. They can also be found for under $500, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking for an affordable cover for their truck. Their covers are also available in soft-sided and hard-sided options, and they are backed by a 1-year warranty on both their accessories and their hardware.
DNA MOTORING
DNA MOTORING is one of the better brands when it comes to tonneau covers. They have a wide variety of covers ranging from the very common and easy-to-use soft fold tonnueaus to their hard fold models and covers made for specific make and model trucks like the truck bed covers designed for the Ford F-150 and GMC Sierra etc.
LEER
If you are looking for a high-quality tonneau cover, then look no further than Leer. These covers come in various styles, colors, and sizes and are backed by a 1-year warranty. Their covers also have a 3-year warranty on their hardware. They also offer many different tonneau covers, including soft fold and hard fold tonneau, and tonneau covers made specifically for hauling cargo such as dirt bikes.
Extang
Another brand that sells quality tonneau covers is Extang. If you want a tonneau cover that will look great on your truck and perform just as well, then this is a good option for you. These tonneaus come in a variety of sizes and designs and have a 6-month manufacturer’s warranty. There are also various options for hard and soft tonneau covers for most trucks.
Roll-N-Lock
Roll-N-Lock covers not only look great but have some of the highest quality components, then look no further than Roll-N-Lock. They sell a variety of tonneau covers for various makes and models of trucks. Roll-N-Lock does offer a tonneau cover for every make of truck, including GM, Ford, Chrysler, and more. These kits come with all the hardware needed to install the cover on the truck and are usually very reasonably priced.
Conclusion
Choosing the right truck bed cover is just as important as buying a dirt bike. If you can’t find the perfect cover, you’ll regret it later when you have to replace it.
The most important part of choosing the right type of tonneau cover is knowing what you want to accomplish with it and why.
- Will your dirt bike fit all the way in?
- Do you want to use it full-time?
- Are you hauling large cargo a lot of the time?
- Do you want extra security?
Lastly, if you have a brand that you trust but don’t offer a tonneau cover that can accommodate a dirt bike, you can place a 2×10 or something similar between the front tire and the bulkhead. This isn’t the best solution to the problem, but it will prevent damage to the tonneau cover when hauling your dirt bikes.
I hope you can now choose the best truck bed cover for your dirt bikes so that you will be happy with the results.