Almost everyone will tell you that one of the most important things to consider when purchasing a Tonneau cover is strength and stability. Yes, there are several styles, prices, and options in the market right now, but the best tonneau cover that will give you excellent service simply needs to be reliable, stable, and durable.
As far as which tonneau cover you can stand on, you can generally stand on most hard, one-piece tonneau covers. There are a few exceptions to this such as the covers made by Diamondback, which comprise of 2-3 smaller covers in one. Either way, most manufacturers will happily answer this question for you via a simple e-mail.
A tonneau cover you can stand on should be strong and built with high-quality material. In this article, we are going to take an in-depth look into tonneau covers you can stand on.
What tonneau covers can you stand on?
As you may already know, there are several kinds of tonneau covers in the market. Each have their own qualities and uses, but at the end of the day, you want to know which one can take on the standing weight of an average human being.
I contacted several of the most popular tonneau cover manufacturers and asked them which style tonneau covers could withstand being stood on. They all gave me the same general responses.
Hard one-piece
There is no doubt that a hard one-piece tonneau is sturdy and durable. It is usually made from fiberglass, polypropylene, or aluminum. All of these construction materials are quite strong and can support a lot of weight, especially that of a person standing.
If you want a reliably strong tonneau cover, you should definitely consider the hard one-piece. They are built for durability, and you cannot easily pry the side rails or cut through them.
Hard retractable
A hard-retractable tonneau cover simply retracts into itself but is made from the same materials as hard one-piece tonneau cover. The advantage of this type of tonneau cover is the ability to expose as much or as little truck bed as needed. This allows an awkward shaped or oversized load to peek above the the truck bed while protecting your other cargo.
Although they are strong and durable, most manufacturers DO NOT recommend anyone to stand on hard retractable tonneau covers.
Here are some direct quotes from manufacturer representatives about their tonneau covers’ weight capacities:
Our hard rolling covers have a 400 pounds evenly distributed weight limit. I would not suggest allowing anyone to stand on the unit.
Tasha, TruXedo representative
The top of the cover is not a load bearing surface. We do not recommend putting any weight on the top of the cover.
Ed, Pace-Edwards representative
Hard folding
Hard folding tonneau covers are not ideal for standing on since they need the weight on top to be evenly distributed. If stood upon, you are likely to damage the supports that allow the cover to fold.
We would not recommend [standing on our covers] because depending on where the person stands, it may cause damage to the seals.
Santana, Gator representative
If you have to stand on the hard folding tonneau covers, then try to fold one panel to the next so that you double its rigidity. Do this at your own risk since you may still potentially damage your tonneau cover.
In this video, you can see that the hard folding cover holds a lot of weight but it must be evenly distributed:
Soft folding
Soft folding tonneau covers are not made from durable material that offers a lot of stability. Standing on a specific area will immediately compromise the integrity of the material beneath your feet.
Other than that, the advantage of soft-folding tonneau covers is the fact that you can easily take them off or put them on. Most of the soft folding tonneau covers have a tri-fold design, and you can drive with the covers in a closed or open position.
One such tonneau cover is the Extang Trifecta 2.0 which if I were to get a soft tonneau cover, this is the one I would get myself. You can read my short review on the Trifecta 2.0 here.
Soft vinyl retractable
Soft vinyl retractable tonneau covers are an excellent sleek design that is gaining popularity. They are a cheap alternative that offers users a lot of functionality. However, you cannot put a lot of weight on these models without causing irreversible damage.
You need to be very careful when you have soft vinyl retractable models. The heaviest thing that can be put on top of them is a layer of snow.
Snap-on covers
A snap tonneau cover is simply an aluminum frame with a vinyl cover that snaps into it. The frame clamps to your truck’s bed, which gives you a unique way of closing and opening the truck bed.
Mostly people prefer the snap-on tonneau covers because they give you open access to your entire truck bed, and you can comfortably accommodate cargo of different sizes.
Due to the vinyl’s fragility and the snaps’ simple design, you will not be able to stand on snap-on covers.
How much weight can you put on top of a tonneau cover?
The amount of weight that you can put on your tonneau cover will depend on the type and construction material. Generally, different manufacturers have different specifications on the amount of weight that you can put on their tonneau covers.
The hard one-piece, retractable, and folding tonneau covers can hold anywhere between 50-100 lbs at a single point. The exact amount of weight will depend on the manufacturer of your tonneau covers. It is, therefore, vital that you do extensive research before making a purchase.
One such hard, retractable tonneau cover I highly recommend is the GatorTrax cover which I wrote a short review on.
Now, most manufacturers have customer support that you could contact and have them explain the amount of weight that their tonneau cover can comfortably hold. Ensure you ask for a specific weight and not a generalized figure.
It would depend on the model of cover. For example, the Bakflip F1 model is capable of holding 400 lbs of evenly distributed weight. The F1 cover can hold up to 250 lbs on one location of the cover. This would also be the same weight ratio for a Revolver X4 model.
Misael, BAK representative
Soft folding, snap-on, and soft vinyl tonneau covers can accommodate around 15-30 lbs depending on the manufacturer and material used in construction. This only gives you a rough estimate of the amount of weight that you can put on these tonneau covers.
Why would you need to stand on a tonneau cover?
If you have never thought of standing on your tonneau cover, then you might be wondering why someone would need to do so. Well, one of the main reasons is cleaning the truck. Most people feel that cleaning their vehicles would be much easier if they could stand on the tonneau covers.
Sometimes, however, one might need to stand on the tonneau cover during loading or offloading cargo. The oddly shaped load can be somewhat challenging to unload without standing on the tonneau cover. This is usually true when you have the hard tonneau covers.
Alternatives to standing on your tonneau cover
Tailgate ladder
A tailgate ladder attaches to one end of your tailgate when folded down. It is especially useful for those of us with extremely tall trucks. They are sturdy with steps that allow for good traction.
The one downside for me is the fact that they can be bulky. If your storage space is limited, like mine is, you may find a hard place to store the ladder.
Hitch step
If you’re like me and you find the ladder to be a bit too bulky for your liking, consider the hitch step to gain access to your truck bed. This will attach to your hitch and will require you to close your tailgate.
The hitch step is small, easy to store, and can hold few hundred pounds depending on the brand. I recommend a wide hitch step so you can place both feet on it for more stability.
What is the most secure tonneau cover?
Hard one-piece tonneau covers are the most secure type of tonneau covers. This is because they are made from a sturdy material such as fiberglass, aluminum, and polypropylene. They usually include a lock and have the ability to overlap your bed rails and tailgate.
The hard tonneau covers also ensure that no one can see what cargo you are carrying. These significantly increase security since people only steal what they can see. It’s quite hard to know whether the truck bed is empty or not when you have a hard tonneau cover.
Conclusion
Tonneau covers are an investment that you shouldn’t take lightly. Ensure that you conduct extensive research before purchasing a tonneau cover.
It is also crucial that you avoid standing on your tonneau cover even when it can accommodate your weight. Only stand on your tonneau cover when there is no other solution. Using a ladder would be an alternative solution to avoiding any potential damages.
If you’re thinking of different ways to accessorize your truck or make it more functional, consider checking out my recommended accessories page. I spent a good amount of time picking out mods that can be useful for most pickup trucks.