The best selling pickup trucks in America, from a base model to a Raptor, all have a lot in common, and one of those is that they all have a truck bed that needs protection.
Whether it’s a short bed, regular bed, or long bed, the Ford F150 has many options, but they can all be protected for a relatively low price that will pay off down the road.
Let’s take a look at our top 5 tonneau covers for a Ford F150.
Our Best Tonneau Covers For A Ford F150
- Tonno Pro Tonno Fold Soft Tri Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Our Top Pick)
- Gator ETX Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Best Budget)
- BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Best High End)
- Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
- TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
What Are Tonneau Covers?
Tonneau covers are a truck accessory meant to protect the truck bed from the back of the cab all the way to the tailgate.
They’re made to fit your specific make, model, and bed size, and they’re constructed with heavy-duty materials to satisfy the needs of the truck owner.
There are a wide variety of tonneau cover manufacturers who make many different models of tonneau covers, but all of these boil down to 3 main types of covers.
What Are The Different Types Of Tonneau Covers?
The 3 main types of tonneau covers you’ll see when searching on Amazon are folding tonneau covers, roll-up tonneau covers, and retractable tonneau covers.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
Folding Tonneau Covers
Folding tonneau covers are one of the most common covers you’ll see on the road today because of their simple installation and operation.
They can either be made from a soft vinyl or a hard aluminum or polymer, and they work by sections of the cover folding over itself to expose more of the truck bed with each fold.
Most folding tonneau covers come in a one-piece design that simply fits over the bed rails, and they usually only allow for â…” bed access.
Roll-Up Tonneau Covers
Roll-up tonneau covers are the next most common tonneau cover.
These covers are usually made from a marine-grade vinyl or similar material that rolls from the tailgate and is secured in a tight roll at the back of the cab to expose 100% of the truck bed.
Roll-up tonneau covers are mainly used for weather protection because the soft vinyl doesn’t give much protection from thieves.
Retractable Tonneau Covers
Lasty, retractable tonneau covers are on the higher end of the tonneau cover spectrum.
They work similarly to a roll-up cover, but the material retracts into a roll that is housed in a canister that sits at the front of the truck bed.
Retractable tonneau covers are extremely simple to open and close, but the canister takes up some of the bed space.
How Does A Tonneau Cover Work?
A tonneau cover works in many different ways depending on the model, but they all have a general operating system.
Some sort of clamping system attaches a fiberglass or aluminum frame, if not the entire tonneau cover, to the bed rails.
Additional hinges, bearings, or framing allows the cover to open and close.
An additional latching system usually keeps the cover closed and locked along with keeping the cover tight.
Lastly, a series of perimeter seals keeps dust and water out of the truck bed to protect your cargo.
What Do You Look For In The Best Tonneau Covers?
The main things to look for when deciding what makes a good tonneau cover or not are materials used, installation requirements, functionality/ease-of-use, and weather resistance.
Materials
Good materials will determine the durability of your tonneau cover.
You want to look for materials such as aircraft-grade aluminum, stainless steel clamps, marine-grade vinyl, and OEM quality rubber seals.
Installation Requirements
It’s ideal to have as simple of an installation as possible, and that should be looked at based on the type of tonneau cover you choose.
Simple covers such as a soft tri-fold tonneau cover usually have the easiest installation, but they have the least amount of features compared to something like a retractable cover which has more installation steps.
After deciding on a type of tonneau cover, it’s important to look for which cover has the easiest installation process for that type.
Functionality/Ease-Of-Use
A good tonneau cover should be packed with features like an automatic latching system, easy opening & closing, and locking positions.
Your tonneau cover should be as user friendly as possible, so anyone that tries to use it should be able to instantly.
Weather Resistance
Lastly, weather resistance is probably the most important factor when looking at tonneau covers because that is most likely the main reason for purchasing one.
A good tonneau cover should be able to withstand almost all weather conditions. It should have high quality materials and construction such as tear-resistant vinyl and an integrated tailgate seal.
Best Tonneau Cover For A Ford F150 Reviewed
1. Tonno Pro Tonno Fold Soft Tri Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Our Top Pick)
If you’re looking for a simple, functional, and reliable tonneau cover, then the Tonno Pro tri-fold tonneau cover is exactly what you need.
It has a powder-coated aluminum frame topped with tear-resistant vinyl to meet all of your durability needs.
Add in its water-resistant perimeter and easy installation and it makes for a great tonneau cover all around.
I’ve used this tonneau cover on my truck for a few years now, and I have yet to have a complaint or a damp piece of cargo.
Pros
- Easy install & removal
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Inexpensive
Cons
- â…” bed access
Buy The Tonno Pro Tonno Fold Soft Tri Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
2. Gator ETX Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Best Budget)
You would be hard pressed to find a tonneau cover under $200 that’s better than the Gator ETX soft roll-up tonneau cover.
It gives you full bed access to your F150, is easy to install, and is incredibly easy to use.
The sleek low-profile design gives you better aerodynamic performance increasing your gas mileage along with giving you access to the top of the bed rails.
Velcro holds the sides of the cover down, and an adjustable tension system keeps the cover tight and looking good.
Pros
- 100% bed access
- 10 year warranty
- Easy installation
Cons
- Little structural support
Buy The Gator ETX Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
3. BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Best High End)
The BAKFlip MX4 is the top of the line for a hard folding tonneau cover.
Made in the USA, this hard tri-fold cover has just about everything. It’s made with heavy-duty aluminum panels with a stylish, matte finish. It can also fold completely upright against the cab allowing for full bed access.
This cover includes many other features such as an automatic latching system, cab corner caps, full perimeter seals, and dual drain tubes.
If this tonneau cover is slightly out of your budget, check out the very similar BAKFlip G2.Â
Pros
- High quality construction
- 100% bed access
- Multiple features
Cons
- Expensive
Buy The BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
4. Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
The Tyger Auto T3 soft tri-fold tonneau cover is another great tri-fold cover similar to the Tonno Pro at #1 on our list.
It has dual-coated 24oz vinyl, an aircraft-grade aluminum frame and crossbars, and stainless steel clamps to latch it all down.
Small holes may need to be cut if your F150 is equipped with an over-the-bed rail bed liner.
Pros
- Easy installation & removal
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Possible installation issues
Buy The Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
5. TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
The TruXedo TruXport soft roll-up tonneau cover is a great simple cover for someone looking for basic truck bed protection.
Made from quality leather grain vinyl with a matte black finish, it’s both stylish and tough.
It’s horizontal cross bars provide additional support, and the manual tension adjustment keeps the sleek look at all times.
Pros
- Easy installation & removal
- 5 year warranty
Cons
- Sits above bed rails
Buy The TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
Final Thoughts On Tonneau Covers For A Ford F150
Whether it’s a Dodge Ram 1500, Chevy Silverado, or of course, a Ford F150, there’s one thing they all have in common. A nice-looking quality tonneau cover sitting over the truck bed is going to provide a lot of benefits down the road on top of also looking good.
What truck is the best truck is going to be up for debate forever, but it’s slightly easier to come to a conclusion on what tonneau cover is the best.
Decide on whether you’ll be hauling small or large items, how much weather and theft protection you want, and how many features you want, and the best tonneau cover will jump out at you.
