Of all the different pickup truck accessories available out there, the tonneau cover is my favorite. When you have an open storage like a truck bed, it can be so tempting for any potential thief to walk by and take anything within the bed. The concept of a truck bed cover is so simple, yet it has the ability to provide extra security to your belongings.
Hard tonneau covers come in so many different materials and designs. The best one for you depends on the type of cargo you regularly carry and the lifestyle you lead. If you might be more interested in a soft tonneau cover, this is my review on my favorite one. I currently have a one-piece hard tonneau cover on my Tacoma. Do I wish I had something different? Sure, but for what I use it for, it’s perfect.
If I did have the option of changing and upgrading my hard tonneau cover, I would most definitely go with the GatorTrax Retractable that can be found on Amazon (with free shipping!).
GatorTrax Retractable Features
Outside Lock
You can lock the GatorTrax retractable cover from the outside via a key. A weather-guard seal covers the keyhole that allows you to push a button to disengage the cover from the rails.
Small Rear Cannister
The cannister installed towards the front of the truck bed houses the cover when retracted. It measures 11×11 inches but it doesn’t touch the floor of your bed so you’ll have a little room underneath for storage.
2 Finishes
The tonneau cover comes in a black matte or gloss finish. I personally like the black matte better.
Locks In Any Position
This feature is useful if you have oddly shaped cargo that sticks up out of your bed. You can close your retractable cover partially to provide some security to the rest of the bed.
Ball-Bearing Operation
The sealed ball bearings that enable the cover to slide back require zero maintanence. They will also never freeze so you won’t have to worry about the cover getting stuck like a bad zipper.
What I Like About The Cover
No Drill Installation
It’s probably just me but I’m always weary about installing anything permanent on my truck. I always like to have the option to remove something just in case I don’t like it or it breaks.
Polycarbonate Slats
Polycarbonate is known to be impact resistant and shatter-proof. That means this tonneau cover can take a lot of abuse.
What I Don’t Like
Need A Locking Tailgate
This is typically a problem with all tonneau covers that aren’t a one-piece tonneau cover. To ensure that your truck bed cargo is fully secure, you’d have to make sure to lock your tailgate. If a potential thief can open up your unlocked tailgate despite the tonneau cover being locked, say goodbye to your stuff.
Cannister Takes Up Bed Space
Width-wise, the cannister takes up about a foot of truck bed space. You do have space underneath the cannister but if you need to carry something large with your truck like an ATV, you may be out of luck.
Video Review
A short an honest video review of the GatorTrax retractable tonneau cover:
Types of Hard Tonneau Covers
There are essentially four types of hard tonneau covers (with some variations):
- One-piece
- Folding
- Retractable
- Roll-Up
Each type has its pros/cons, price points, and ease of use. Again, you have to decide which one will best suit your lifestyle and cargos you regularly plan on carrying.
One-Piece
This is the best type of tonneau cover for security. Unlike the other types, you do not have to have a locking tailgate in order to have your bed cargo fully secure.
All one-piece covers are lockable and overlap the bed rails and tailgate, preventing anyone from having access to your truck bed. The one negative thing about this cover is that you are limited from carrying larger items in your bed due it hinge opening.
Folding
Also considered a tri-fold, this cover provides the most access to your your truck bed. They are the second most durable tonneau cover beneath the one-piece. The only issue is when opened all the way (as pictured to the right), the folding tonneau cover blocks your rear window, preventing you from seeing behind you.
Roll-Up
The roll-up hard cover can look deceivingly like a soft one. The top of the cover itself is vinyl (like that of an actual soft roll-up tonneau cover) but it is supported by a durable aluminum frame underneath. It also allows for full bed access if rolled up all the way but unlike the folding cover, it does not block your rear window or third brake light. To secure it when rolled back, you have to buckle an attached strap which has the ability to wear down over time if not properly maintained.
Retractable
Retractable hard covers are the easiest to operate. One piece covers take a little strength to open (speaking from experience). Roll-up and folding covers take a little more time to open up and lock back completely. Retractable covers are opened with a sliding motion and are lockable from the outside. However, they do take up about 5% of your truck bed space since the housing unit for the retracted cover is installed in the front of the truck bed.
Final Thoughts
I like the GatorTrax retractable cover because it’s durable and allows for you to access a large area of your truck bed without obstructing your rear window while the cover is open. It’s easy to open and I like how you can open the cover with the tailgate closed. If you want to see the current price on Amazon and read additional reviews, click on this link.