Truck Bed Covers - A Buyer’s Guide
May 25, 2009 More Saving
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Truck bed covers pertain to any type of hood that wraps a pickup’s cargo box. Truck bed covers can be soft or stiff. The use of a truck bed cover is to provide a sleeker looking truck while draping a storage corner in the truck. A truck bed cover can protect materials such as heavy furniture and groceries from theft, damage, and weather conditions like rain.
Apart from hiding a messy cargo bed, truck bed covers also provide an advantage when it comes to saving money on gas. An uncovered truck bed results in greater wind resistance, forcing the engine to work harder to propel the vehicle. It is estimated that a truck bed cover can help save up to 10 percent on fuel costs.
Truck bed covers come in three main types, including soft, hard, and retractable. Each of these styles has certain pros and cons, so truck owners should carefully evaluate these before choosing which style of truck bed cover will best suit their needs.
Hard truck bed covers are made from aluminum, fiberglass, or rigid plastic. In general, a hard style cover is smooth and can be purchased in a color to match the rest of the truck. To gain access to the interior of the truck bed, one end of the hard style truck bed cover can be lifted up. This is typically the most durable of the various truck bed covers, and it is able to withstand many types of weather conditions.
But, you should be aware that there are some downsides to this style. First, it is very difficult to take off, so it is not recommended that truck owners who frequently haul vertical loads that protrude higher than the sides of the truck use this style. It’s also one of the more expensive styles available.
The soft type is made from a durable fabric. It has bows to maintain its shape under tough weather conditions like rain or snow. They can be attached to the truck using snaps, a groove and tongue set-up, or Velcro. There are some models that can be rolled up, while some have hinged lids.
The soft style can actually hold up under the weight of two people standing on it, and some truck bed cover manufacturers even offer a soft style cover with a built in tent. However, a soft truck bed cover is not as secure as a hard truck bed cover.
Considered as the most popular among truck owners, the retractable type of truck bed cover offers a lot of convenience. It allows truck owners to drag large things out without having to remove the cover. However, space may not be maximized in this kind of truck bed covered, and it can also be prone to leaks.
Truck bed covers are available in a range of prices. Retractable ones are often as inexpensive as $500, while the hard kind may sell for as little as $600. A soft cover is typically the least expensive with pricing starting around $200. For the best deals, truck owners should compare prices online, since there are a number of websites that offer truck bed covers at discounted prices. In addition, shopping online is more convenient than shopping in person.
Truck bed covers serve a number of purposes. They make a truck look great, protect a load, and save on fuel costs. Truck owners should thoroughly research the features of each kind of truck bed cover before buying online and making a final decision about which cover has the most to offer for their particular needs.
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Tags: auto, car, More Saving, truck, truck accessories, Truck Bed Covers
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