A tonneau cover is a sort of protective cover in an open car or even a carbon cruiser that is not in use. The word itself was obtained from the French word ‘ cask’ or ‘barrel’, although the present term ‘tonneau’ is commonly used to describe a kind of hard truck bed cover.
Traditionally, tonneaus mostly include soft leather coverings that protect a compartment whenever it is not being used. How do we choose the best tonneaus against snow and ice, what are the factors to consider in selecting the best tonneau covers for this condition?
The article will look at some of the best tonneau covers according to certain criteria that will evaluate their overall usefulness.
If you’re in a hurry to just grab the best tonneau covers for snow and ice, we strongly recommend the bed covers below, they are the most efficient based on several criteria we considered.
- UnderCover Ultra Flex Hard Folding Tonneau Cover
- BAK BAKFLIP G2 Hard Folding Tonneau Cover
- BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
- Access B1040019 5′ 7″ Lomax Hard Tonneau Cover
Best Tonneau Cover For Snow And Ice – Buyer’s Guide
Structural designs of the tonneau covers
The best tonneau covers are those that can seal up the truck bed against the elements like rain, sunlight, wind, and flying debris with their tailgates either up or down, which are fitted with aluminum panels that have a stylish and matte finish.
They should combine a resilient structure with a sleek, flush-mount, and low-profile design. In some cases, tonneau covers can fold upright against the truck bed to allow unfettered access to the truck bed, thus enabling you to haul cargoes without necessarily having to remove the cover itself.
Specifically, some backflip tonneau covers can be opened from the side of the truck. This kind of backflip tonneaus includes injection-molded latches that house various components for improved strength and overall resilience.
They do not obstruct the third brake light even when they are folded upright in the open position, thus enabling you to move your cargo safely across any kind of terrain.
Furthermore, they are equipped with very strong prop rods which can be folded very fast without the need for any tools.
They should improve the overall appearance of your truck, while at the same time securing your cargo on the truck bed. They also protect the truck bed against sunlight, fingerprint marks, and needless scratches.
Usually, they are equipped with cab corner caps and rail end caps, a matte finish along the whole side rails of the covers, clamps, and elevator bolts.
To access the truck bed, you should simply unlock the cover from any of the sides through its pull latches and fold them up against the cab.
To improve further on its durability, some bed covers have a pre-molded, shock-absorbent bumper on both sides of the panels, thereby preventing the folded panels from hitting the cover when driving in turbulent terrains or conditions.
Some of the best tonneau covers have cargo storage that is fitted with double drain tubes that serve to divert water away from the bed of the truck, while the full perimeter seals assist in protection against water intrusion. Finally, good tonneau covers should hold as many cargo weights as possible, that are evenly distributed.
Terms of sale and availability
These high-end tonneau covers are sold subject to eligibility for return, full refund, and replacement after purchase in cases where you are dissatisfied with any defective product or even when you no longer desire it anymore.
To this effect, they should be covered with at least a 3-year hassle-free warranty agreement. They should be sold at affordable prices and should also be available in as many places as possible for ease of purchase.
Durability
Good tonneau covers should provide ultimate security against the elements as well as any intrusion by fraudulent persons will evil designs on your cargo through their aluminum or iron panels, which should automatically latch when the cover is either partially or fully closed and locked.
The matte finish should also protect against marks, scratches, and damage by sun rays. They should also give you total access to the truck bed at all times.
All the various components of these highly recommended tonneau covers should be able to withstand the onslaught of the elements for extended periods.
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Best Tonneau Cover For Snow And Ice – Reviews
1. BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
This tonneau cover is quite roomy since it measures about 6′ 7″ for the tailgate and 79.4″ for the bed, and as such, it can accommodate sizeable cargo on the truck bed. It can also be closed with its tailgate either up or down and is equipped with aluminum panels that have a stylish matte finish.
It has a combination of durable structures with a very sleek, flush-mount, and low-profile design. It can equally be folded upright against the cab to allow you complete access to the truck bed, and it can be opened from either side of the vehicle too.
Additionally, it has an injection-molded latch that houses the components for improved strength and durability as well. Furthermore, it does not obstruct the third brake light even when it is in the open position, thereby giving you the chance to haul any cargo safely.
Its durable prop rods secure it in the upright position at a short notice even without tools. It guarantees optimum security with its durable aluminum panels which latch automatically when its cover is either partially or fully closed as well as when it is fully locked with the tailgate closed.
It features matte-finished aluminum panels which protect against scratches, smears, and UV light. You have 100 percent access to the truck bed whether you operate it closed, folded, or flipped up without obstructing the third brake light. It is chrome, painted, and highly polished to give it more appeal.
Pros
- It is as easily operated as any other bed cover you can find on the market.
- It prevents water from getting into the truck bed and your cargo.
- The strong materials used in its production make it extremely long-lasting.
Cons
- It is not compatible with some vehicles like the 2015 Crew Cam Silverado.
2. BAK BAKFLIP G2 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
The Bak Flip G2 hard folding tonneau cover provides improved and reliable security for your truck bed and cargo alike.
In addition, you have total access to the truck bed as well as enough protection from adverse weather conditions. The heavy-duty aluminum panels and automatic latching system add to its security and durability too.
It is presently upgraded in the provision of a dusk action tailgate seal with durable prop rod clips. It is widely available and is covered with a three-year warranty for return or replacement as the case may be.
Its weight is evenly distributed throughout the truck bed for stability and reliable security. Installation of the product is easy to undertake and fast too.
Its durable prop rods secure it in an upright position, thus allowing you to transport your cargo without necessarily removing the truck bed cover.
It is also produced using top quality and UV resistant panels that create an added layer of protection for your cargo. It is compatible with many trucks such as the 2015 to 2020 Ford F-150.
Whatever the case may be, this tonneau cover got your back. For beauty, it is chrome, painted, and impressively polished too.
Pros
- It is extremely durable.
- This truck bed cover is capable of preventing water from getting into your truck bed.
- It adds to the overall appearance of your truck.
Cons
- It does not fit some vehicles.
3. UnderCover Ultra Flex Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
It is extremely durable due to the resilience of the materials used in its production like aluminum and fits many types of vehicles too. Its bed is quite spacious for the haulage of sizeable cargo conveniently.
Fitted into this truck cover are a stylish matte black finish, carpeted under panels, integrated luminous bed rail light, and a dual-action tailgate seal for easy operation.
Additionally, it can be installed easily even without any assistance by just one person in mere minutes and it gives full access to the truck bed.
To make it more interesting, this truck bed cover is sold with a 5-year warranty for return, refund, or replacement for your protection. On a general note, the UnderCover Ultra Flex truck bed cover is a hard folding type that accords you with several riding positions and equally allows you to ride while maintaining full access to the truck bed as well.
It is weather-resistant and commands a stylish, matte black finish with automatic latching panels and carpeted under panels.
It can be installed or removed easily with its latest design and improvements without the need for any drilling too. It is the most watertight hard folding truck bed cover on the market today.
Pros
- It is easy to install.
- The device effectively guards against water getting into your truck bed.
- It is sold at an affordable price too.
Cons
- Poor or wrong installation can adversely affect its performance.
4. Extang Trifecta 2.0 Soft Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Like all the others discussed before it, the Extang Trifecta Bed Cover is also compatible with most vehicles. Similarly, it is guaranteed to be very long-lasting and is sold widely at very customer-friendly prices too.
Some of the vehicles it fits are 2014 to 2019 Legacy Chevy and GMC Silverado as well as Sierra 1500, 2014 to 2018 models. Its bed is sizeable and measures 6′ 7″ which is made of leather grain vinyl material that adds to its beauty and appeal. It can be installed and removed easily in just mere minutes.
Finally, it has a leather-grained fabric, it is easy to use rear clamps on it and it has weather-tight seals as well. To make it more convenient for you, it is supplied fully assembled, which makes it very simple and easy to operate even without assistance.
Other features it commands are a stylish truck bed cover, tailgate clamps, a simple rotary release knob, and an automatic latching component, among several other impressive qualities. Its tarp is constructed for heavy-duty with a leather-grained fabric as well as an integrated truck corner system which adds to tarp tension.
Pros
- It is extremely durable and beautiful.
- This truck cover can keep water out of your truck bed even under very heavy rains.
- It is sold at very affordable prices and is available in most retail outlets, one of which is Amazon.
Cons
- Poor maintenance can lead to premature or untimely damage to the equipment.
5. Access B1040019 5′ 7″ Lomax Hard Tonneau Cover
It is made of vinyl material which is why it is extremely beautiful and very durable too. This cover can automatically lock at ten points when you close it, thus maintaining your cargo protected and out of sinister sights.
Its water-shedding feature, waterproof design, and reinforced vinyl coated hinges will keep water out of your truck bed.
The extruded aluminum channels support the panels so that they can hold up to about 400 pounds of cargo whose weight is evenly distributed to all the wheels of the truck. The rails can be installed with about 8 bite clamps in just a couple of minutes.
Pros
- It can be installed and removed with just simple tools and in a few minutes.
- It is very long-lasting and roomy.
- It fits most types of vehicles.
Cons
- It can be damaged when installed not according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, which may cause it to leak.
FAQs
(1). Are tonneau covers good for snow?
In an environment with the tendency of having occasional swathes of inches of snow yearly, especially wet snows, a hard tonneau cover isn’t much more than just a soft one.
This is true, even though some soft tonneaus are fitted with braces. All the same, heavy wet snow can represent too much weight for a soft tonneau cover to cope with. Therefore, a soft tonneau cover isn’t a good snow cover.
(2). How do I protect my truck bed from the snow?
There are some effective measures you can adopt to protect your truck bed covers from the effects of snow. These measures are: using a tonneau cover for your truck bed, adding a truck cap to the tonneau, removal of the snow promptly when it falls on the tonneau to minimize the effects, applying a bed liner, and finally, taking care of the truck’s underside. These measures will certainly help in the protection of the bed.
(3). How do you keep a tonneau cover from freezing?
To keep a tonneau cover from freezing to the side rails, you should use a good silicone-based lubricant spray such as Roadmaster LibeMaster Dry Silicone 747 on it.
(4). How much snow can a soft tonneau cover hold?
Since soft tonneau covers have lighter weights compared to the hard ones, they can withstand not more than about 15 to 30 lbs of snow.
(5). Can I leave snow in my truck bed?
Snow is known to contain an appreciable quantity of salt. Therefore, leaving it on your truck bed will most likely corrode it over time.
This can wreck the bed significantly and eventually weaken it. Furthermore, even just the weight of the snow can present an issue in times of heavy snowfall. In summary, don’t leave snow on your truck bed, especially for long periods.
Conclusion
Tonneau covers are effective in protecting your truck beds and cargo from the elements, peeping eyes, and the nefarious intentions of dubious persons.
All the same, how effectively they do so depends squarely on the type of tonneau covers you have. Although generally, hard truck bed covers are a lot better in this regard than their soft counterparts.
This means that the hints given in the article should come in handy with regards to the decisions you take and the kind of satisfaction you will eventually receive.
