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One of the first accessories that people think about when upgrading their vehicle is something to cover up the bed like a tonneau, canopy, or camper top.
Whether it’s to keep out sticky-fingered passers-by, keep your load secure on the freeway, or they’re trying to find a solution to keep that load of lumber out of the rain, a truck bed cover makes perfect sense.
However, not every cover is created equal. With that in mind, we’re going to dig into the pros and cons of the famous tri-fold tonneau cover. Afterward, you’ll have a better idea of the type of truck bed cover you need for your vehicle.
Folding pickup bed covers come in two categories:
A hard tri-fold tonneau cover is generally made from durable materials and has a rigid frame compared to a soft tri-fold bed cover, but these come at the expense of cost and weight.
Hard folding tonneau covers are praised for their rugged performance. Unlike soft covers, many tri-fold hard tonneau covers can protect your load from above and support a small load on top. This weight-bearing feature is due to the tonneau’s interior fiberglass, aluminum, or plastic paneling. However, this means that accessibility and maneuverability are restricted during their use.
While both hard and soft folding truck bed covers are typically equipped with a vinyl fabric material as outer protection, they are generally designed to be tear-resistant. This layer of protection adds some modest security to having either tri-fold truck bed cover but a hard folding bed cover provides vastly more security than a soft cover. Any cover that has a vinyl surface needs to be well cared for as the vinyl will degrade over time.
Any form of cover over your truck bed is generally enough to deter nosy people from eyeballing your tools or fishing rods. The primary reasons people will consider a tri-fold tonneau cover include:
A hardcover tri-fold can secure your cargo, making it hard for thieves to get their hands on your goods.
While not as secure as a hardcover, a softcover does provide an additional layer of security and is better than leaving your items exposed to the world. Most thefts are crimes of opportunity. Don’t let your exposed bed make your rig an easy target!
In addition to enhancing security, it also better secures your cargo. This is important as unsecured loads cause millions of dollars of property damage and thousands of injuries annually. A tri-fold tonneau also streamlines the process of cargo coverage. After all, who wants to fiddle with tangled spider nets and flapping tarps?
Any form of tonneau will act as a shield from rain, hail, sleet, snow, UV rays, and even strong winds. This is important because trucks are often used to haul goods that these weather conditions could ruin. All tri-fold and retractable covers offer great flexibility for hauling and security, but they are not waterproof. They require some common sense when packing, putting items like tools or electronics into totes for extra protection. That’s the straight answer, and don’t believe a company that tells you otherwise.
Some owners just like the look of a truck bed with a tri-fold tonneau cover. While the majority are matte black, it is possible to find one with a different finish.
For every benefit that a tri-fold tonneau cover provides, a truck owner must keep in mind that there will be trade-offs.
One of the drawbacks of having a tri-fold is that most of them won’t allow you full access to your cargo space.
To secure a tri-fold tonneau cover to your truck, the last panel is usually mounted in a fixed position.
For tri-folds that allow the last panel to flip up and rest against the cabin, the wind from driving will cause them to beat against the window even if secured down and, what’s more, they block your rear-view.
While this is also an advantage for some, other truck owners may not appreciate that a tri-fold tonneau cover doesn’t provide a flush look. As they sit a few inches above the truck bed, they create a new silhouette for the truck body after installation. There are many different types available, but they are also often faced with a vinyl or bumpy plastic-looking finish that isn’t as attractive as some solid aluminum alternatives.
Tri-fold hard tonneau covers can be challenging to install and remove. Anytime you need full access to your cargo space, you will have to go through a disassembly process. They also utilize the truck’s side rails, removing the ability to use other accessories, such as a rack.
While some covers will come ready-to-fit, others will require tools, skills, and assembly, and yet others will need the aid of a professional.
Many owners claim to have experienced a circular indentation forming, which eventually turns into bubbles.
Aside from the hit to aesthetics, bubbling also compromises the tri-fold tonneau cover’s integrity, reducing its ability to protect your belongings adequately.
Another significant concern that users report is the cases of tri-folds leaking. Whether it’s because the seals are constructed from velcro or poorly affixed to the side rails, leaking is a frequent complaint.
While many truck owners might consider purchasing hard or soft tri-fold tonneau covers, there are easier, sturdier, and more reliable options.
For instance, Peragon offers a bed cover that retracts with minimal effort and can be removed completely with ease. This allows you access to the entirety of your truck bed, all without having to deal with the cumbersome panels of a tri-fold cover.
The Peragon cover is constructed entirely from aircraft-grade aluminum with a sleek satin black powder-coat finish that matches the quality of your truck. It won’t fade or degrade over time and provides the maximum level of security for your bed cargo.
If you find yourself hauling furniture, you can remove our Quick-Release bed covers in less than 30 seconds with no tools. Whether you are working, playing, or heading home with a bed full of groceries, our covers have you covered.
We take pride in delivering unparalleled customer service and believe that every truck should have the best protection. That’s why we sell quality-made, durable truck bed covers that not only protect your cargo but are easy-to-use. Plus, our product is made in the U.S.A. and factory direct, allowing us to control both product and service.
To begin, we’re kicking things off with the tri-fold tonneau cover–the most well-known member of the folding tonneau cover family. Tri-fold tonneau covers are offered in two primary sub-styles: hard and soft. Hard covers feature three heavy-duty panels manufactured from impact-resistant polycarbonate, composite plastic, or aluminum. Alternatively, soft covers consist of panels constructed from marine-grade vinyl or canvas stretched over a rigid aluminum frame.
In either sub-style, each panel is adjoined to the next by a pair of hinges, allowing the rearmost panel to fold onto the middle and the middle onto the frontmost, thus exposing your pickup’s cargo area. While most soft tri-fold covers expose a maximum ⅔ of the bed, several hard tri-fold covers feature an additional set of hinges at your pickup’s bulkhead, thus allowing the cover to pivot against the rear window for complete bed access. Hard tri-fold covers also feature rubber bumpers to prevent damage to the rear window and cab in the upright position, as well as integrated prop rods to prevent the cover from collapsing while driving. Respectively, soft tri-fold covers feature nylon straps to secure the cover in the ⅔ open position while driving.
Hard and soft tri-fold covers can vary significantly in price, depending on the cover's construction. Soft tri-fold bed covers typically inhabit the bottom end of the tonneau cover market, ranging between $150 and $300. However, hard tri-fold covers fall into the mid-range price point, typically starting around $400 and reaching upwards of $1,000 at the higher end.
Soft covers are relatively affordable
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Stylish low-profile designs
Simple installation
Weather-resistant
Intuitive operation
Can be pricey (hard covers)
Some models limit cargo access
Soft covers are less secure
Next, let’s take a look at our challenger: the roll-up tonneau cover. Like tri-fold tonneau covers, roll-up bed covers are offered in two distinct sub-styles: hard and soft. While both styles typically feature a marine-grade vinyl or canvas outer shell, hard roll-up covers include an interlocking aluminum, polycarbonate, or composite slat system for additional reinforcement; soft roll-up covers rely exclusively on the soft outer shell for protection.
Both sub-styles operate similarly, featuring latches at the base of the rails (near the tailgate) and roll-up operation; release the latches and roll the cover toward the bulkhead whenever you need access to your pickup’s full cargo area. Both sub-styles include premium nylon straps to fasten the cover in the rolled position when transporting oversized cargo like furniture, appliances, etc.
Hard and soft roll-up bed covers, like tri-fold covers, can vary significantly in price. While soft roll-up bed covers tend to make up the bottom end of the bed cover market (between $250 and $400), hard roll-up bed covers fill out the mid–high range ($800-$).
Soft covers are relatively affordable
Offer uninhibited bed access
Sleek, low-profile designs
Weather-resistant
Intuitive operation
Can be expensive (hard covers)
Soft covers are prone to cuts, tears, and punctures
Now that we have a basic understanding of what constitutes roll-up and folding tonneau covers, let’s take a closer look at each cover's performance across some essential categories.
On occasion, you may be tempted to load some cargo onto your truck’s tonneau cover when unloading or traveling short distances. While some covers can handle a substantial amount of weight, others are best left unloaded.
Roll-up tonneau cover weight limits are entirely determined by the construction of the cover. For instance, it isn’t advised for a soft roll-up tonneau cover to carry over 15–30 pounds evenly distributed, let alone in one spot. Exceeding this limit can result in serious structural damage. On the other hand, hard roll-up tonneau covers can typically carry between 200–400 pounds evenly distributed, or 50–100 in a single location.
Tri-Fold tonneau covers come in at similar weight limits to roll-up tonneau covers, also dependent on the style of tonneau cover in question. Soft tri-fold tonneau covers max out around 20–30 pounds, considering the nature of the canvas or vinyl outer shell. Any higher may damage the cover. However, hard tri-fold tonneau covers can support approximately 400 lbs evenly distributed, allowing them to easily handle lumber, snowboards, skis, and other gear.
Security is one of the key factors of a tonneau cover, ensuring your valuables are guarded against potential thieves. Let’s see which style offers the best protection against theft.
Like weight, a tonneau cover's security depends on its construction. For example, soft roll-up tonneau covers are less secure than hard roll-up covers due to the soft outer shell. Even when paired with a locking tailgate, it only takes a thief with a sharp blade slicing through the outer shell to gain access to your cargo.
Hard roll-up tonneau covers are far more secure, featuring cut, impact, and puncture-resistant aluminum, polycarbonate, or composite interlocking slats. While finding a key-lockable roll-up hard tonneau cover is rare, most feature rolling lock rails that secure the sides of the cover to the bed. Your cargo will be safe and secure beneath a hard roll-up tonneau cover, especially when paired with a locking tailgate.
Tri-fold tonneau covers also vary significantly in security. Soft tri-fold covers are theft-deterring rather than theft preventative due to their soft vinyl or canvas shell. Like soft roll-up covers, a pocket knife or box cutter can cut through soft tri-fold covers. However, hard tri-fold covers are far more secure. Though they aren’t typically equipped with locks, the integrated slam latches secure the cover in place. With the tailgate locked, your cargo in the bed is safer than in the cab.
While some pickup owners keep their tonneau covers installed year-round, others may take them on and off numerous times throughout the year. As a result, it’s essential to weigh the difficulty of installing each tonneau cover style.
Roll-up tonneau covers are typically quick and easy to install, featuring clamp-on, no-drill side rails. Once you install the side rails, secure the cover to them, align the latches, and you’re good to go.
Tri-Fold tonneau covers also offer a simple and intuitive installation on most applications. Soft tri-fold covers often feature quick-release tool-free clamps, allowing you to install and remove the cover in seconds without requiring any tools.
Besides theft protection, weather-resistance is one of the primary benefits of installing a tonneau cover. Whether caught in a rainstorm or giving your pickup a quick wash, tonneau covers prevent damage from excess water intrusion; but how do roll-up and tri-fold covers stack up against one another?
Roll-up tonneau covers feature excellent weather resistance in both hard and soft sub-styles. Hard roll-up tonneau covers feature four-sided rubber or water-resistant foam seals, including the bulkhead and tailgate. When closed, the cover thoroughly protects your cargo from moisture.
Soft roll-up tonneau covers feature four-sided seals as well; however, the side rails are sealed to the bedsides with foam-rubber strips, while angled hook-and-loop strips keep the cover sealed against the rails. Rubberized bulkhead and tailgate seals keep moisture from penetrating the front or rear of the cover, keeping your valuables dry.
Tri-fold tonneau covers are also highly weather-resistant in both hard and soft configurations. Hard tri-fold covers feature moisture-proofing between every panel, while bulkhead and tailgate seals keep moisture from penetrating the front or rear of the bed. The cover’s side rails feature EPDM rubber seals to prevent water intrusion; however, if any water happens to sneak past the seals, integrated rain channels and drain tubes redirect it outside of the bed.
Soft tri-fold covers typically feature integrated foam-rubber seals at all four sides, preventing moisture instruction.
For more Tri Folding Tonneau Coverinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.