A tonneau is an automobile term that is used to refer to the area of a car or truck that is open at the top behind the driver. Traditionally, a tonneau is used to store cargo, although newer model trucks use it as a fashion statement. Now, a tonneau cover is what covers up whatever is kept in the tonneau to protect it. In the modern world, a tonneau cover is used to describe a pickup truck bed cover.
Most people ask whether or not they can drive with their tonneau covers open, and the answer is yes. However, you have to realize that depending on your tonneau cover style, an open cover may block your rear view or may increase wind drag, thus decreasing fuel economy. Though it may not be an ideal situation, driving with an opened tonneau cover is possible and for the most part legal.
Why would you need to drive with an open tonneau cover?
Understand that there are several reasons why you would need to drive with an open tonneau cover. Sometimes, you might need to haul tall or long cargo but you don’t want to push the tonneau cover away or remove it. When you find yourself in such a situation, your best option is to drive with an open tonneau cover.
Secondly, remember that an open truck bed grants you easy access to all the bed areas which can be crucial when performing certain tasks. Some drivers prefer being able to quickly access their truck bed especially when they want to save some time.
Is driving with an open tonneau cover legal?
Yes, it is legal to drive with an open tonneau cover. However, you need to note the following:
When carrying a load that extends four feet from the border of your truck bed, you need to place a yellow, red, or orange flag at the end of your load. The flag also needs to be 16 square inches or more. Once you do this, you will warn approaching vehicles and other road users that you are carrying a tall or long load.
In case you are transporting the load at night, then you need a visible red light that can be spotted from 500 feet. It goes without saying that you, the driver, are responsible for properly securing your load.
It is equally not illegal to transport passengers in the pickup bed. However, it is considered dangerous and you need to exercise caution. There have been several accidents where passengers have been thrown off the back of a pickup truck. Remember that a passenger carried in the back area of a covered truck is at serious risk. A passenger is not considered as cargo.
The harm of driving with an open tonneau cover
Although you can drive with an open tonneau cover, you expose yourself to all sorts of harm. Below are just some of the problems you expose yourself to when you drive with an open tonneau cover.
No security
With an open tonneau cover, you greatly reduce the amount of security for your cargo. Anyone can simply see whatever you’re transporting and even steal it. There are certain goods that are considered precious and concealing them is essential. Certain areas are equally prone to theft and you could lose whatever you had stored in the back of your truck.
Lack of weather protection
Weather changes from time to time and without notice. With an open tonneau cover, you expose your truck bed and cargo to harsh elements should the weather change without a moment’s notice. Not only do you have to worry about the wet elements such as rain, snow, hail, and sleet, but amount high winds too. If it was windy enough, light-weighted cargo can just as easily blow away.
Loss of items
With an open tonneau cover, items that you store at the back of your truck could easily get lost. This is especially true when you drive through rough roads. Your truck will bounce up and down and you could end up losing items along the way.
Does driving with an open tonneau cover affect mpg?
Yes, driving with an open tonneau cover affects your gas mileage a negligible amount. Understand that these covers reduce aerodynamic drag which improves your gas mileage and saves you money in the long run. According to researchers, a tonneau cover will cause an improvement of about 1 mile per gallon when driving at a speed of about 85 miles per hour.
Understand that the tonneau covers save gas but not a whole lot. Most people won’t even feel the difference because it saves just a little bit. You will have to keenly monitor your consumption for a long period before you even notice the difference.
What are the different types of tonneau covers?
Tonneau covers are widely available in different styles which are made from different materials. If it is your first time shopping for a tonneau cover, you may find it difficult to choose the best material that suits you.
The common types of tonneau covers include; canvas tonneau covers, one-piece fiberglass hard bed covers, roll-ups, and flip-up bed covers.
The one-piece fiberglass bed covers not only look good but are also quite durable. However, these sorts of covers limit the shape and the size of the cargo that you need to haul. These covers have to be removed entirely when you decide to haul a huge load. On the positive side, the fiberglass covers lock securely ensuring you can store your items safely in the truck bed.
Canvas bed covers are a good buy because they can be easily stored and removed. However, the canvas bed covers cannot be locked. Your items are never truly secured when you decide to go for these types of tonneau covers.
The fold-up and roll-up bed covers are ideal for truck owners who don’t cover their truck beds quite often and only need the covers every once in a while. The good news is that most of the fold-up and roll-up covers have locks making them quite secure.
Snap tonneau covers are a type of tonneau cover that has Velcro straps that are used to securely tie them to the back of your truck. This type of tonneau cover is not popular among truck drivers because it gives you a lot of work. When opening it, you need to undo several buttons before gathering it and securing it at the back of your truck using Velcro straps.
Driving with an opened hard vs soft cover
There is no difference between driving your truck with an opened hard or soft cover. The hard cover however may get damaged after prolonged use while it is open. A hardcover is held open by hydraulic hinges that are more vulnerable to damage. It is important that you also understand that if you need to transport something huge and bulky that requires the use of your whole bed, you must remove the hardcover completely.
After a good amount of research, I wrote a short review on a hard tonneau cover that doesn’t affect your fuel economy when driving with it open.
How to secure an open tonneau cover?
Securing an open tonneau cover can prove to be rather challenging. When dealing with a soft cover, start by ensuring that you under roll it rather than over roll it. Statistically, under-rolled soft tonneau covers hardly open up on transit when compared to their over-rolled counterparts.
To securely hold your open tonneau cover use binder clips to hold them at the cab. You could also use supplied straps to achieve the same goal.
Do tonneau covers ward off thieves?
Yes, all tonneau covers will give you at least some protection from thieves. Remember that most crimes usually happen when an opportunity is presented. By this logic, simply covering up the back of your truck will shun away the idea of anyone stealing anything from your truck bed.
The soft tonneau covers will not, however, protect you from a determined thief because all they would need is a knife or razor. These covers are usually made from vinyl or cloth which is quite easy to cut. If you’re looking for a soft tonneau cover that is durable and easy-to-use, read my short review on my favorite one.
Hard tonneau covers, on the other hand, offer maximum security since they can be locked and you cannot cut through them unless you have professional tools. Experts recommend that you get a retractable cover with electromagnetic locks should you want maximum protection.
Generally, a tonneau cover will give you peace of mind whenever you carry cargo. It will also ensure you get a little bit of privacy, depending on the type of cargo you usually have at the back of your truck. Not everyone wants to showcase the items they store at the back of their truck.
Conclusion
Tonneau covers are pretty important because they protect your truck and cargo from the elements. Driving with them open is fine but just be sure to secure your truck bed cargo properly. Also be prepared to have your gas mileage slightly affected.
It is a great idea to get a durable tonneau cover that suits your needs. Remember that the tonneau covers are expensive and you might not have the capital to buy more than one type of tonneau covers.
Carefully research the different types of tonneau covers highlighting their pros and cons to help you choose one that suits you. Most people end up buying the wrong type of tonneau covers because they did not go through all their available options extensively.
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.