Our trucks take us where we need to go and let us bring whatever we want along for the trip. They are capable machines built for function.
Whether it’s to haul ATVs, furniture, mulch, or a trophy buck, it’s hard to find a better solution than a pickup bed.
The freedom and flexibility that a truck bed provides are compromised when we have to rely on tarps, bungee cords, or spider nets to keep our loads secure and dry. Loose items become vulnerable to weather conditions or the hands of the occasional roving thief.
Thankfully, there are many options to choose from when it comes to keeping your truck bed safe, secure, and dry. One popular choice is a roll-up tonneau cover.
They are a simple solution to keep your tools secure and provide you some peace of mind. While other options, such as a tri-fold tonneau, can be unwieldy and cumbersome, a roll-up bed cover can be much easier to maneuver.
Types of Roll-Up Tonneau Covers
Like other types of tonneau covers, roll-up truck bed covers provide some access to your cargo space. When making a tri-fold to roll-up tonneau cover comparison, it is essential to understand what we mean by “rolling up.”
Roll-up tonneau covers roll up like a rope ladder or a carpet toward the cab. When rolled up, they are secured in place when you need to haul furniture or a grill. This allows you to adjust the amount of exposed cargo space. Keep in mind that this feature is at the expense of security.
It’s best to understand the different types to determine what could potentially be the best roll-up tonneau cover for you.
Soft Roll-up Tonneau Cover
The most common and basic version is the soft tonneau cover. A low-profile tonneau cover is usually composed of a budget-friendly vinyl fabric that offers a layer of weather-resistance.
You can find manufacturers that also provide UV-resistance and waterproofing coatings to mitigate cosmetic damages to the soft tonneau cover’s surface.
Hard Roll-up Tonneau Cover
To address the security issues left by a soft roll-up tonneau cover, manufacturers have also released versions of a hard rolling tonneau cover.
These covers are usually constructed using durable plastics, and the best hard roll-up tonneau cover will be made from light-weight aluminum strips. While these do provide an extra layer of theft prevention, the trade-off is a more complex installation.
This challenge is accompanied by an additional decrease in cargo space access. Since the material is bulkier, it requires more space when rolled up than a soft tonneau cover does when retracted.
A hard roll-up tonneau cover usually requires support rails that need to be correctly aligned, creating extra steps when comparing the two types.
Roll-Up Tonneau Cover Pros
Creates a Layer of Security
While a soft tonneau cover wouldn’t fare well against a small knife, the principle of out-of-sight, out-of-mind works just as well for thieves; having any form of coverage is a theft deterrent.
Style
Installing a bed cover is an easy way to make your truck appear modern and stylish. While a vinyl roll-up tonneau cover may not deliver the most rugged look, it shows that you care about your vehicle.
You can even find a low profile tonneau cover that won’t alter the silhouette of your truck by sitting flush with the truck bed.
Roll-Up Tonneau Cover Cons
While having any cover is better than none at all, there are reasons to invest in a more well-constructed product.
Accessibility to Cargo Space
While a hard roll-up tonneau cover will take up more space retracted than a softcover, both will create limitations on the accessible space to your truck bed. Additionally, cloth straps and velcro used by soft tops can collect mold or weaken over time.
Theft Prevention
As stated above, if a determined criminal wants access to your cargo, they’re going to have a much easier time getting to it if you have a roll-up tonneau cover than a more substantial barrier.
Leakage
For a soft tonneau cover, you have to ensure that it’s been correctly positioned and adhered to the Velcro pads for any form of weatherproofing.
A hard roll-up tonneau cover can suffer from leaks if the railing system has been compromised or was improperly installed.
Restricts Use of Accessories
It’s no surprise that we love trucks, and one of the reasons is the accessories that can improve their functionality, like LEDs, racks, or even hammock chairs.
However, both a soft and hard roll-up tonneau cover will either block or use the stake pockets on the bed rails, making it difficult to utilize other truck accessories.
Roll-Up Tonneau Cover Alternatives
One of the best ways to get the ease of access provided by a roll-up tonneau cover and mitigate any of its disadvantages is to opt for a retractable tonneau.
By selecting a retractable tonneau cover, you have an extremely durable and secure bed cover for your truck. However, unlike a tri-fold or roll-up tonneau cover, when it’s retracted, you have access to your entire truck bed.
It can even be removed entirely in less than 90 seconds.
At Peragon, our truck bed covers come with automotive-grade EPDM rubber seals to manage any potential water getting into the bed. These seals have been designed to expel water, maximizing your cargo’s protection and minimizing the potential for leaks.
One of Peragon truck bed covers’ best features is that they provide you full access to your truck’s stake pockets, giving you the freedom to equip your truck as you see fit.
Contact Peragon today to learn more about the pros and cons of a roll-up tonneau cover and how we can help protect your truck.
[…] its name implies, roll-up tonneau covers fold or roll like a carpet or rope ladder for storage. You can unfurl them to cover the truck bed when […]