Posts Tagged ‘tonneau’

How a tonneau cover protects your cargo

Owning a pickup truck without utilizing the truck bed is a sure waste for truck’s capability.  Pickup trucks are often purchased mainly because it has the capability to haul cargoes and valuables in its truck bed. The problem is that detrimental weather conditions like heavy rains, powerful winds, direct sunlight, snow and hail can surely create damage to your truck load if you leave it unprotected. Leaving your cargo and other valuables in the truck bed can also be very appealing to thieves especially those made from expensive materials.

 

In order to prevent any unwanted wear and tear on your truck bed and the valuables placed in it, a truck bed cover is best installed on your pickup truck. A truck tonneau cover is a great innovation for pickup trucks created for covering the truck bed and the materials in it.  This cover ensures that the truck bed is protected from the continuous exposure to harsh weather conditions which may cause damage not only to the truck bed, but also to the cargo in it. It also keeps the cargo from your neighbor’s sight and most importantly, from the thieves who may easily take it from the truck bed.  A tonneau cover will not only safeguard your payload, but also increases the gas mileage of your vehicle.

There’s quite a number of tonneau covers made available in the market.  For truck owners who are on a tight budget and are looking for an affordable truck tonneau cover, there’s a wide array of covers to choose from. One can get a soft tonneau cover, hinged tonneau cover, folding tonneau cover or a sliding bed cover.  However, affordable covers may not give a high level of protection since most of them are made of vinyl and use Velcro to open and close the cover.

For those owners for want top-notch protection and style for their truck and truck bed, it is best to get a hard tonneau cover.  Most of these covers have a high quality locking system and durable shocks that are very convenient to use and are found to provide optimum protection to thecargo. Some of these bed covers are made as a one-piece cover up while others are created in 3 folds over depending on the general connection on the cargo area.  Another kind isthe roll-top covers which has the features of a soft cover but with the durability of a hard tonneau cover.

Choosing the right cover can be quite tedious, may it be a ford tonneau cover or a Toyota tonneau cover.  It is best to check what are the features needed by your truck and check from the different models and verify which one suite the truck’s needs.

 

How to Take Care of your Hard Tonneau Cover

Compared to other tonneau covers, the hard tonneau cover provides the best protection and security for your truck bed as well as your cargo.  They not only keep your cargo safe from dirt and other harsh elements, they also keep your cargo from theft with their locking mechanism.  They are also made from industrial strength materials which are built to last for a long time.  However, without proper care and maintenance, your hard tonneau cover will eventually succumb to eventual wear, tear and damages.  That is why it is important to maintain proper car and cleaning to ensure that your tonneau cover stays in tip-top shape for a long time.

Your tonneau cover’s manual and documentations are often the overlooked and may even end up in the trash bin together with the box.  However, it is one of the most important things you need to hold on to.  It has all the essential information, from installation instructions down to maintenance guidelines.  It also contains a list of cleaning agents and protectants which you can use and you must avoid to prevent damaging your tonneau cover’s surface.  Keeping your tonneau cover’s manual handy will help you avoid to spare you unnecessary expenses on repairs as well as early replacements.  If you lost your tonneau cover’s manual, you can always download from manufacturer’s website and have it printed.

Cleaning your truck bed cover regularly protects its surfaces from damages due to dust and dirt accumulation.  As you know, dust and dirt that has stuck on your tonneau cover can cause the paint to chip, especially with hard top tonneau covers made of fiberglass.  When cleaning your tonneau cover, always do it in a shaded area and before or after winter time to avoid damaging your tonneau cover’s surface.  You must also use mild soap and water or a cleaner that is recommended for hard tonneau covers to maintain its luster.  If you want to use a protectant, refer to your tonneau cover’s documentations to know which protectants you can use or avoid.  Apply about 2-3 coats of protectant and wipe dry in between applications.

You also need to check the clamps and the hinges of your tonneau cover.  Tighten up any loose bolts, hinges and clamps and clean up any accumulation of gunk and debris.  This will keep your tonneau’s hinges, clamps and bolts from rusting and eventually damaging your truck bed and the tonneau cover itself.  If necessary, you can oil the bolts and the hinges to keep them pliable and rust free.  In addition, always keep some spare bolts and clamps in case one of them gives in and becomes damaged.  You can buy one from your nearest auto supply shop.  They may have bolts available for the model and make of your tonneau cover.

Snapless tonneau cover for your Ford Ranger

If you are looking for any of the Ford Ranger tonneau covers but are on a limited budget, then you can get a snapless tonneau cover. This has a clean sealing cover that has a snap-free style which gives a nice smooth fit and a solid seal between the vinyl cover and the aluminum frame. This tonneau cover is such a great buy which only cost about $200. These covers are a perfect addition to your truck, keeping your gear out of sight while giving style to your pickup truck. It also gives you a little extra cash because it improves the fuel efficiency of your truck which makes it one of a few accessories with a payback.

One great example of a snapless tonneau cover is the Extang Full tilt. The frame rails and bows are made of lightweight yet heavy duty aluminum frame that makes it easy to handle. It also has gas shocks that are designed to easily remove the cover using a joint snap release. These gas shocks are very useful and do all the work for you at times when you open or close the cover. It holds the tonneau cover up while loading the cargo on the truck bed.

Installation of the Extang Full tilt Snapless tonneau cover would only take about 30 minutes. It is hassle free because the frame rails and bows are made of lightweight aluminum. It has an L-rail and Quick release hinge system that works together to provide an easy install and a flawless open and close action.

The Extang Full tilt Snapless tonneau cover is also compatible to pickup trucks that have an existing tool box. This cover fits most of the standard tool box sizes offering a perfect fit with its self-draining and sealing L-channel. It rolls up very easily and can be secured behind the cab during those times when the bed is needed for big hauling jobs.

The great thing about this Ford Ranger tonneau cover is that it gives the features of a hard, tilt tonneau cover with the weight and price of a soft tonneau cover. This cover is specifically designed to be installed and removed within minutes giving you fast and easy access to your truck bed.  Opening and closing this tonneau cover can be done on your own because the tonneau can be lifted off the hinge and carried using the lightweight aluminum frame and bows. The complete package only weight 30 pounds.

 

High Resistance Tonneau Covers

A cargo truck is never complete without a tonneau cover. When it comes to long distance travel and ensuring the safety of the items in the truck bed, as well as keeping the truck dry and away from the harsh elements.

In perspective, no matter how tough and durable aFord F150 truck is, your truck bed and cargo won’t stand a chance when you don’t have a F150 tonneau cover to protect and secure your truck bed. Your trucks can go the distance when you install a tonneau on the back of your truck. You can opt to get it in various styles and different types depending on what you require for your truck.

You can choose from a soft tonneau cover or a hard tonneau cover. Each one has different style and due to their design and make, different levels of protective functionality as well. Hard tonneau covers are the more expensive accessories than the two, ranging from $700 up to more than $1000. But the high price is a clear indication of the durability of a tonneau, and their strength that lasts for a long time. Hard tonneau covers are usually chosen for heavy-duty tasks, and especially if truck owners want the extra protection that this accessory brings.

On the other hand, a soft tonneau covers are made of a soft but very flexible vinyl cover that looks great on any truck. With style and convenience, it is an easy choice for truck owners to make, considering also the more affordable price range of one, which is only about $300 up to $500 depending on the brand and type of vinyl. A soft tonneau cover is very easy to install and uninstall, and they are chosen because of the accessibility of the entire truck bed, compared to some hard tonneau that give only 80%-70% access to the rear end of the truck.

Having either of the two types of tonneau can help you when it comes to hauling cargo on your truck bed. Some soft tonneau covers are highly flexible, so even if you had cargo that goes past the bed rail line, it can still accommodate the item. A hard tonneau cover may have difficulty performing the same, but its feature is more on security and protecting the cargo from the elements such as rain, extreme heat and snow. When it comes to truck accessory, you should look into buying a tonneau for your truck!

Different kinds of retractable tonneau covers

Most truck owners choose retractable tonneau covers due to its capability to give instant access to your pickup bed without removing the cover. It is done by unlocking the cover and turning the latch and the cover retracts into a canister, giving full access to your pick-up truck bed. If you are looking for an F-150 tonneau cover or a Toyota tonneau cover, you may need to check what the different kinds of retractable tonneau covers.

The Rolltop cover is known as the original retractable tonneau cover across the country. It now features standard lock covers, to protect the lock cylinder from the weather. For easier and faster installation of this cover, special grooves have been added to the black powder-coated side rails. It does not require any drill clamp kits. Just like before, the roll-top features padded weather-resistant vinyl polymer laminated to rigid aluminum panels that glide smoothly alongside rails. It has been around since 1985 but is still one of the best selling tonneau covers in the market.

The tonneau covers from Pace Edwards Jackrabbit retracts automatically which allows full use of your truck bed. It features the exclusive Continuous Tension Spring that allows the cover to open automatically once the latch mechanism is turned. It will close easily with the use of a pull strap. The cover latches can be locked in to position every 12 inches. This cover can be installed in just 15 minutes and is mounted flush with the top of the bed rail.

An upgraded version of the Jackrabbit is the Full Metal Jackrabbit. It combines all the great features of the original Jackrabbit together with the strength and durability of an all-metal deck. This tonneau cover is made of tough powder coated aluminum panels, interlocked for strength and durability.

The most innovative creation of Pace Edwards is the Bedlocker. It is an electric retractable tonneau cover that has a flush mounted clamp-in design with a textured black finish that offers tremendous strength, durability and style. It is operated by a remote control that opens and closes in less than 30 seconds and can be stopped at any point. It has a drop-in clamp-in design that does not require drilling on most applications and can be installed in less than one hour. The Bedlocker is also equipped with a powerful motor drive for the ultimate in performance and reliability. It now comes with a manual driveline release option wherein if power is lost to the cover, you can manually open it.