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Pickup trucks are a highly popular choice of vehicle for drivers as they check a lot of boxes, particularly if you're traveling long distances frequently and need a form of transport that can accommodate everything you need to bring with you. The open storage space at the back of a truck is a crucial selling point, but understandably, some drivers have concerns relating to safety and security.
Leaving the back-space open isn't a viable option. Besides the damage that your stored items could face from general travel factors (bumpy roads, weather conditions), it also poses a security risk in the form of theft. These risks are where tonneau covers become desirable additions, as they provide a covering for your storage space.
The history of tonneau covers goes as far back as the days of horses and buggies. In modern times, if you drive a truck, the general advice is to get a hard tonneau cover. However, with so many options, the quality can vary significantly from one another. Knowing which one is the best hard tonneau cover for you can take a little research and requires wading through an innumerable amount of hard tonneau cover reviews. Luckily, we've streamlined the process for you.
What Kind of Truck Do You Have?
Just as various trucks have different requirements, different hard tonneau covers have designs with particular vehicles in mind. Select which truck from the following list you own and check out our recommendations in the best hard tonneau cover reviews for your specific vehicle:
Toyota Tundra
Best Hard Tonneau Cover for Toyota Tundra: BAKFlip MX4
Available in both a glossy finish and a matte finish, the BAKFlip MX4 provides security and practicality without sacrificing any aesthetic quality. It's one of the best hard panel tonneau covers in our reviews.
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
Created from heavy-duty aluminum panels that work to provide heightened UV protection with a scratch-proof finish, you can rest assured the contents of your truck have robust protection.
The BAK designed the MX4 to endure the most extreme of weather conditions while also being suitable for everyday use. Its impressive qualities should appeal to even the most casual of truck-owners. This tonneau cover is versatile.
Pros
Cons
Best Budget Hard Tonneau Cover for Toyota Tundra: Tyger Auto T5
For those looking to spend a little less without sacrificing on quality, the Tyger Auto T5 is a great option.
Our Rating
4 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
The Tyger Auto T5 features heavy-duty marine-grad vinyl and air-craft grade aluminum side-rails. If you wanted a military upgrade for your truck, this cover might just be the one.
Pros
Cons
Ford F-Series
Best Roll-Up Tonneau Cover for Ford F-Series: BAK BAKFlip MX4
The BAK BAKFlip MX4 folding cover fits the Ford F-Series perfectly. With no drilling required on installation, it's one of the best hard folding tonneau covers in our reviews.
Our Rating
4.7 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
The BAKFlip MX4 utilizes easy-to-use clamps, making for a quick installation. The end design is sleek and aesthetically pleasing, without sacrificing on quality or security. It can also extend to open against the truck cab fully, so you can transfer large cargo without having to remove the tonneau cover each time.
Pros
Cons
Best Budget Hard Tonneau Cover for Ford F-Series: Gator EFX
The Gator EFX cover is one of the most secure hard panel covers available for the Ford F-Series, and it is available at a lower price point than many of its competitors.
Our Rating
4.3 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
The Gator EFX features automatically-locking, heavy-duty aluminum panels that slot together easily, ensuring secure storage of your cargo. The panels are also UV-resistant, scratch-proof, and sport a black powder finish.
The rubber seals and drainage tubes make this one of the best covers around for leak resistance. Heavy rain can be the bane of truck beds. If you spend a lot of time traveling in wetter environments, the Gator EFX could be the hard panel tonneau cover for you.
Pros
Cons
Chevrolet Silverado
Best Hard Tonneau Cover for Chevrolet Silverado: Undercover Flex
Providing you with complete access to the back of your truck, the Undercover Flex might be the perfect cover for your Chevrolet Silverado.
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
The Undercover flex features a roll-back folding system, meaning you don't have to remove the cover every time you want to access the truck bed. The hard folding tonneau cover breaks down into three separate positions while driving: fully closed, half-closed, and partially closed. The versatility is the ideal mix of soft-cover flexibility with hard-cover security.
Pros
Cons
Best Budget Hard Tonneau Cover for Chevrolet Silverado: Riseking
The emphasis with the Riseking is security, and it succeeds in its aims, providing a hardened cover that locks securely into place while being available at an excellent price.
Our Rating
4.1 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
The Riseking offers true weather resistance, with a sealing that keeps out rain, wind, snow, and dirt. It is also erosion-resistant, ensuring longevity for years to come.
The Riseking is also highly lightweight, meaning install and removal is easy in comparison to other covers of its kind. There's no need to worry about having to waste time on a length uninstall process. It's user-friendly and straightforward, saving you time and hassle.
Pros
Cons
GMC Sierra
Best Hard Tonneau Cover for GMC Sierra: Undercover Flex
Providing the best features of both soft-cover and hard-cover, the Undercover Flex delivers all the flexibility of a soft-cover without sacrificing on security or durability.
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
Designed as an ideal middle-ground for buyers who can't decide whether to go for a soft roll-up or a hard, paneled cover, the Undercover Flex makes for a happy compromise.
Pros
Cons
Best Budget Hard Tonneau Cover for GMC Sierra: Riseking
For a lower price point that values weather resistance over versatility, look no further than the Riseking.
Our Rating
4 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
Perfectly sealed to prevent rain, snow, or dirt from entering the truck, the Riseking also easily folds into thirds to provide quick access. Superior durability and corrosion-resistant design make this an excellent value hard folding tonneau cover at a fantastic price.
Pros
Cons
Dodge Ram
Best Hard Tonneau Cover for Dodge Ram: BAKFlip G2
Pairing maximum security with full access whenever you need it, the BAKFlip G2 is yet another solid choice from BAK.
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
Due to the multiple ways the panels can fold back, you have complete access to the cargo bed whenever you need it, and you don't have to remove the cover when transporting larger items.
The built-in buckle system also means you can drive with your cover either closed, partially closed, or fully open, allowing for complete flexibility in how you want to travel. The G2 also boasts a QE quality perimeter sealant that protects your items from all weather conditions, so you don't have to worry about leaks.
Pros
Cons
Best Budget Hard Tonneau Cover for Dodge Ram: Tonno Pro HF 251
For a straightforward cover that successfully gets the job done without bells and whistles, the Tonno Pro HF-251 may be the one for you.
Our Rating
4 out of 5 stars
Overview
Highlights
Constructed entirely from highly durable aluminum under-body paired with a marine-grade vinyl finishing on top, the Tonno Pro HF-251 finds its strength in durability and longevity. Snow, rain, hail, whatever you throw at this cover, it will endure, which makes it one of the best hard tonneau covers for drivers who find themselves in tougher environments.
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts: Purchasing Tips
There are a few things you need to consider before investing in your first (or replacement) truck bed cover, and many of them may seem obvious. Still, if you don't check them off your list, they can result in the purchase of an entirely unsuitable item. That isn't ideal in any situation, but with hard tonneau covers, the prices can run pretty high. It's better to be safe than out of pocket. As we created our hard tonneau cover reviews, we compiled a list of features you need to consider.
Here are our tips on what to look for when purchasing the best hard tonneau cover:
1. Know Your Truck Model
As we said, this seems obvious, but tonneau covers aren't a one-size-fits-all regime. The manufacturers design each one with specific vehicles in mind and particular measurements for those models. Not only do you need to know your model, but you also want to know the year of production, as many covers will only fit car models built between certain years. The restricted fit is because trucks are changing their specifications all the time, so what fit one model years ago will not fit a more modern edition, and vice versa.
2. Prioritize What You Need
Are you an avid explorer, frequently facing down the elements in your truck? Or, do you just need a cover to keep your items safe when you're storing them in your truck bed? Knowing the level of durability you require can save you a lot of money in over-spending on something you never needed to begin. Know what you specifically require, and shop with that in mind.
3. Pay Attention to Warranty
Product faults can happen to anyone, at any time, in any way. Even the greatest of hard tonneau covers can suffer from failure somehow, and no product can account for every single eventuality your cover may experience. For this reason, ensuring you have a quality warranty on the cover you opt for is paramount. Don't spend hundreds on the best cover if it doesn't have coverage because even the best cover can incur faults.
Hopefully, this guide helped you to find a hard tonneau cover right for you and your vehicle. With options for the best on the market and the best budget option, our reviews can help you find the best hard panel tonneau covers available. Check out the ones for your truck model, or learn more by reading our full reviews!