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Pickup Truck Bed Covers

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Why You Need A Pickup Truck Bed Cover

Pickup truck bed covers might look like a luxury, something you don't really need but you'd like to have one anyway. But they're not. They're really a necessity.

So if you're trying to talk yourself out of a bed cover by telling yourself you don't really need it, then here are some good reasons you do!

Protect Your Valuables: If you're carrying tools or equipment around in your truck then you need some way to lock everything down to prevent theft.

Add To The Value Of Your Truck: The bed of your truck takes the most abuse. A truck bed cover keeps it protected from weather, helping it hold its value longer. It also just makes your truck look better.

Improved Fuel Efficiency: Yes, it's true. A pickup truck bed cover will improve your fuel efficiency!

Contents at a Glance

Improve Fuel Efficiency With A Pickup Tr...
Auto Styling Truckman - Fuel Efficiency...
Truck Bed Cover Types
Truck Bed Covers
Amazon
Guestbook Comments

Improve Fuel Efficiency With A Pickup Truck Bed Cover

You're considering putting a bed cover on your truck because you hear it can improve your fuel efficiency. But how can that be? The cover is usually higher than the cab of the truck, plus it adds additional weight. So how can is help save on gas?

Without a cover your truck experiences heavy wind resistance due to that huge open space backed up with the tailgate. Even a simple soft cover will reduce that drag and improve your fuel efficiency.

And covers that rise above the cab are aerodynamically designed to cut through the wind like the edge on a knife.

Watch the following video to see how different pickup truck bed covers rated during a test for drag vs. fuel efficiency.

Auto Styling Truckman - Fuel Efficiency (Economy) Test Toyota Hilux

Truck Bed Cover Types

Soft truck bed covers are typically made of vinyl. They're flat and extend right over the top of the bed. Most can be locked but as you can probably guess they're really not the best if you're worried about security. They will, however, protect your truck bed from the elements and offer protection for whatever you're carrying.

Aluminum Tonneaus are the next step up. Again, they're flat across the top of the bed but they're more durable than the vinyl and offer better security for your load. They're also very light weight and easy to manage.

Next up is a Roll Shutter cover. These are also hard covers so they're great for security. But they can be rolled back to any position and locked in place. You'll also see fold back covers that allow you to access only a portion of the bed if you're carrying something you want to keep covered. These are also ideal if you're carrying larger items - then you can carry them toward the back and keep smaller items tucked safely under the cover.

And finally, a hard Tonneau made of fiberglass or plastic offers the best of both worlds. They're tough and durable yet lighter in weight. These can also be locked down for security and they're available in Roll Shutter styles, as well.