Truck bed covers protect, but they also enhance and protect the looks of pickups. You can just get the basics or choose the premium version. Read on to see the contrast of the low-end covers and the most expensive, top-of-the-line tonneaus.

Low Price Tonneau Covers

For basic truck bed covers, look at soft covers first. Many brands include soft cover options. Extang is one example worth looking at. Soft covers consist of a heavy vinyl cover, but the shape and configuration of the covers vary widely.

Most commonly the covers are simple roll-up sheets. That means to access the bed, the cover rolls forward completely out of the way. What you look for is a closure design that's easy to use. Snaps are common as the closing method. As you have probably experienced, snap closure can be major aggravation. The snaps always in the wrong position. It's either placed so it's impossible to close or it's too loose and the cover isn't tight enough.

That's why it's best to look either at velcro closure and other methods. Also, closely examine how the cover mounts to the bed rails. Often the mount is clamped on and consists of metal rails that form the frame for the tonneau. It is surely easier to deal with clamp mounts rather than screw-type mounting.

You do have other choices for soft covers than just the basic roll-up designs. Soft covers come as tilt-up models as well as fold-ups too. Each has advantages, but for low cost and easy use, it's hard to beat the simple roll-up covering.

Speaking of cost, the simplest soft covers set you back very little. There are so many manufacturers, the competition must benefit the consumer.

Best Tonneaus

Looks and security favor the better covers. Any cover increases security since whatever you're hauling remains out of sight. But some covers turn truck beds into a virtual locked vault. The metal retractable covers do just that and are possibly the very best cover if you don't mind the price tag.

Instead of vinyl, the best covers offer aluminum sheets for covering you bed. The sheet rolls hide to the front of the pickup bed when not in use and store right in a metal can completely out of the way. Though the retractable feature is easy enough to operate manually, the premium option includes electronics. That feature offers push-button open and close for remote control bed cover operation.

Talking about luxury, open the bed for use as you walk toward your truck across the parking lot. And why not, if car trunks open by remote control, why not a truck bed. Since in effect a metal retractable bed cover is just about like a giant, locking truck trunk anyway.

Just like soft covers, retractable covers mount low and are little if any above the top of the bed rails. The look is a low-profile look that is not very noticeable and finished to complement the look of any pickup.

Soft truck bed covers offer just basic protection for cargo and bed paint. But that protection costs just a fraction of what the best retractable covers will set you back. Retractable covers offer vault-like security plus easy to use convenience but at a luxury price.