There are a lot of good things to be said about modern trucks like the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado. They are massive, comfortable, easy to drive and provide a great deal of useful cargo space.
If there is something to take away from this story that would be that, regardless of the brand, the cargo we have mentioned features pretty poor protection from the elements. Unless you are driving in the bright clear weather, there is a chance your shipment will end up damp.
Fortunately, this problem can be easily solved with the best roll up truck bed tonneau cover that solves this problem with ease and grace.
What’s even better, these products are more than affordable so you are getting reasonably durable and effective shelter for the items you are going to move without having to spend a small fortune. Really, what else could you ask for?
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the best roll up truck bed tonneau cover reviews and see which one of these units suits your needs the best. We are already way into the fall season and the rains are becoming more frequent with each passing day.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Top 5 Best Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover on the Market 2020 Reviews
1. Gator ETX Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Gator is a name that is no stranger to the lovers of affordable automotive equipment. This Gator roll up tonneau cover lives up to the high expectations set up by the brand and offers true quality coming at a reasonably affordable price.
So, where to start with this one? Well, let’s say that we are extremely pleased with the materials and the craftsmanship on display here.
Gator ETX Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
The very cover is made from quality vinyl that has no problem protecting the transported cargo from debris you can pick up on the road. The fact that the surface is textured makes sure the tarp will be able to sustain minor physical damage and come out virtually intact.
But, all this would mean very little if the cover wasn’t able to seal the space alongside the mounting rails. We are happy to report that this issue is successfully addressed as well. The Velcro straps do an excellent job of keeping the fabric in place and leave very little room for moisture to crawl in. Seriously, we tested this bad boy in all weather conditions and the results were near flawless.
When it comes to the ease of use, Gator SR1 roll up tonneau cover scores high points as well. Mounting the unit to the truck is extremely easy and when you finish the job, the side rails will stay firmly in place. Rolling takes no more than a couple of seconds and only one free hand.
As a matter of fact, the only problem we see with this one comes in the form of tailoring. Namely, although it was supposed to fit truck models like Silverado, the cover makes for a pretty tight fit and requires constant readjustments. On other vehicles, this problem was not present.
Pros:
- Good price-value ratio
- Easy to use
- Excellent performance
- Strong durability
Cons:
- Some tailoring issues
2. TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Truxedo Truxport soft roll up tonneau cover is a product that may cost a bit above your average but also provides an incredibly satisfying performance that more than makes up for that hefty price tag.
For a start, we have to point out that the industrial leather-grain vinyl used for the production feels strong, reliable, and extremely durable. To illustrate the impression – when the cover was spread we tried dropping a couple of objects on top of it (some of them were pretty sharp). The textured vinyl surface left out barely scratched.
TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
We would like to see the next iteration of the cover to pack more weight, though. You can never be sure enough.
In terms of sealing properties, Truxport soft roll up tonneau cover once again performs one more than admirable job. The Velcro straps are probably as strong as they get in this product range while dual paddle latches make accidental unfastening virtually impossible. Put these two things together and you will get an excellent level of protection that allows the transport of even some more sensitive items like groceries.
But the feature that easily earns the most praise comes in the form of a pre-set tension control system that is integrated into the dual latching system and makes the cover tight and good-looking over the ridiculously long periods of time.
Throw into the mix hassle-free installation and you will get very few things left to be desired. Well, unless you own the latest GMC Sierra. In that case, you will need to remove the grab handle, which is not something we are otherwise very keen on doing.
Pros:
- Good build quality
- Efficient top-mount design
- Excellent sealing properties
- Hassle-free installation
Cons:
- Occasional compatibility problems
3. Tyger Auto T1 Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
If the previous product was designed for the customers with slightly deeper pockets, Tyger roll up tonneau cover definitely shoots at the opposite end of the customer pool. But, don’t worry – in this case drop in price doesn’t necessarily translate to a drop in quality. Well, not to the extent where we would have some major complaints.
Tyger Auto T1 Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Let us first see where this Tyger roll up tonneau cover falls short.
First and foremost, the rubber seal located at the bottom of the unit could be far better. After extended testing, we were able to notice the first signs of attrition which is not a good sign. And with the sealing compromised, the best you can hope for is the protection against physical damage.
The second, far more minor complaint is the instruction manual. It could’ve been written far, far better.
But, that’s it. From this point on, things only get better. Putting the rubber sealing aside, we can conclude that the rest of the cover is really well made and provides above the average protection from debris and elements.
The top-mount design is just reliable as ever (the water has the opportunity to “slide” from the top of the cover over the rail-seals), the materials feel robust, while Velcro straps are rock-solid and go all the way to the tailgate. Also, the unit features a reliable adjustable tension system that keeps the fabric firmly in place.
Honestly, all of the things we have mentioned feel and sound way above the price the unit is sold. If not for the slight problem with the sealing system we would give our wholehearted recommendations even to the more demanding users.
Pros:
- Excellent price
- Reliable performance
- Easy to use
- Great adjustable tension system
- No-drilling mounting system
Cons:
- Compromised sealing
- Poor instructions
4. Tonno Pro LR-3050 Lo-Roll Black Roll-Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Tonno Pro roll up tonneau cover is a product so hard to review. On the one hand, the cover knocks some things out of the park and easily comes ahead of the competitors. On the other, we can’t help to wonder how the manufacturer managed to botch some basic things so badly.
Ok, “botch” is probably too harsh of a term to describe the mounting rails of this affordable cover. As a matter of fact, they are decent as far as entry-level rails go. But, compared to other parts of this cover, and for that matter other products on this list we can’t help but describe them as subpar.
Tonno Pro LR-3050 Lo-Roll Black Roll-Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Furthermore, the plastic hook does not properly align with the opening and locking pin which makes opening and closing needlessly hard.
But, if you are ready to bear with these drawbacks, you will be glad to know that the double-sized 24 oz. vinyl the main part of the cover is incredibly durable and virtually tear-resistant. Believe us, we tried to damage the fabric with different objects at different velocities and the vinyl came out undamaged.
Also, we would like to give a special shout-out to the marine-grade stitching and incredibly efficient water-resistant seals that are built to last and keep the cargo dry and safely tucked in. Low-profile design makes all of the things we have just mentioned even better.
So, when it’s good, this is a good roll up truck bed tonneau cover . We just wish it was more even. This way, the product packs some noticeable flaws we simply can’t ignore in spite of all of our efforts.
Pros:
- Double-sized 24 oz. vinyl
- Excellent stitching
- Great durability
- Good protection from elements
Cons:
- The rails are subpar
5. MaxMate Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Last but not least, we have yet another product situated in the lower price segments. This description comes with adequately lower expectations. And to be quite honest, Maxmate roll up tonneau cover does make some compromises to earn that affordable price tag. But, the overall impression is still more than positive.
Tonno Pro LR-3050 Lo-Roll Black Roll-Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
So, let us start with the positives.
For instance, the materials the covers are really durable and do quite an effective job in protecting the cargo from the elements and debris you can pick up while driving. We tried transporting some very sensitive items like groceries from point A to point B and none of them sustained any damage.
Once again, the base material for the cover is comprised of dual-coated 24 oz. marine-grade vinyl which guarantees extraordinary longevity and endurance. To back up these expectations, the good people from MaxMate even gave the 10-year warranty.
So, we can sum up that, when it comes to the very fabric, the building blocks of Maxmate roll up tonneau cover are definitely above the average.
The same can be said about the side rails and sealing mechanism. They are easy to use, easy to mount, and perform well while keeping the cover safely closed. We haven’t noticed any huge traces of humidity which is more than enough for the product of this price.
The thing we are not so pleased with is that the tension system does a horrible job in keeping the fabric properly stretched so the noise the whole thing makes while the car is running at high speed is quite horrible.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Reliable materials
- Easy to use
- Sealing mechanism is excellent
Cons:
- The wind noise is horrible
Best Roll Up Tonneau Covers Using Guide
And now that we had a good opportunity to take a look at the 5 best roll up truck bed tonneau covers, let us quickly try to answer some of the important questions regarding these products.
Knowing more about them can only help you to find a better pick the next time you hit the store.
What kind of styles are there in roll up tonneau cover?
The tonneau covers can be roughly divided into two major groups based on the hardness of the material they are made from. These two groups are as follows:
- Soft roll-up tonneau covers – As the name suggests, soft roll-up truck bed covers are the tonneau covers made from soft, flexible materials like vinyl and canvas. They are also the most affordable cover variety. But, don’t mistake these properties for subpar performance. Soft roll-up covers still provide reasonable protection from elements.
- Hard roll-up covers – Unlike the covers, the hard roll-up covers are made from more resistant materials like more rugged materials like aluminum. They are also far more resistant to physical damage.
How do you lock a roll up truck bed cover?
Most of the contemporary tonneau roll-up covers are extremely easy to install. Namely, some of the previous iterations of these products needed to be drilled into the bed cover. These days, things are far simpler. If you know how to tighten the C-clamps you won’t have any problem mounting these products.
All you need to do is to follow the instructions you can find in the package and make sure that the clamps are spread enough to provide optimal tension and structural integrity.
How to roll up a tonneau cover?
Rolling up the tonneau cover is an extremely easy task. First, you need to make sure to release the latches that are keeping the cover hooked to the tailgate.
Once you are done, all you need to do is to make sure that the Velcro straps are safely unsealed. Take a couple of seconds to make sure this is performed correctly. You don’t want to damage the material that is keeping the sealants latched together.
Last but not least, roll-up the cover and secure it with the help of safety straps. And that’s pretty much it.
How to remove a roll up tonneau cover?
Removing the roll up tonneau cover is just as easy as the process of installation. Since most of the contemporary units are designed to be attached with C-clamps all you need to do is to unscrew these fixators and you will be able to remove the side rails.
How to choose a roll up tonneau cover?
Choosing the ideal tonneau cover boils down to a couple of pretty straightforward decisions. The first one among them would be choosing the proper tonneau bed cover type. You can find the detailed breakdown of the two main varieties a couple of passages above.
The second thing you need to take into consideration is the type of your vehicle. Although most of the contemporary tonneau bed covers are made for the entire lineups of trucks from different brands the distinctions do exist. So, be sure to check the list of supported vehicles before making the final decision.
Then you have to make the decision about the preferred sealing option. Usually, we tend to split them into three groups:
- Snap-down tonneau covers – Essentially, snap-down tonneau covers are attached to the rails and safely sealed with the string of buttons. Not the most effective mechanism in existence, so these days, the snap-down covers are mostly out of the stores.
- Low profile tonneau covers – Low profile tonneau covers seal the truck bed with thin rubber or plastic seams that are inserted into the aluminum channels. Since they are so thin they produce the least impact on the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
- Velcro tonneau covers – This is, by far, the most common variety of tonneau covers. No wonder since Velcro is easy to seal, easy to open, and affordable. The chances are that your next purchase will feature this type of sealing option.
The Conclusion for You to Buy The Best Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
We are finally at the very end. Hope this short breakdown of the five most popular tonneau covers was helpful to you. All of the products we have reviewed pack their own set of pros and cons, so the final decision will be up to you and what you need the most.
So, to make this task if just a bit easier, check the short buying guide we have presented just above. You’ll find a lot of useful info up there. Hope to see you soon. Until the next reading.
