So you’ve opted for more leg room in the back seat of your Toyota Tundra CrewMax in exchange for a shorter 5.5 ft. bed.
I can’t blame you. The back seat in a CrewMax feels like you’re lying in a recliner in your living room.
Our Best Tonneau Covers For A Tundra CrewMax
- Tonno Pro Tonno Fold Soft Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Our Top Pick)
- Gator ETX Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Best Budget)
- BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Best High End)
- Rugged Liner E-Series Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
- TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
With all those people in the backseat, you’ll be putting a lot of your cargo in the truck bed. All of that cargo will need protection, and a heavy duty tonneau cover will do the trick.
What Are Tonneau Covers?
A tonneau cover is usually made up of a frame combined with some sort of hard or soft covering material such as vinyl. This covering extends from the rear of the truck cab to the edge of the tailgate.
The two main purposes of a tonneau cover are to protect your cargo from the elements and prevent possible theft. All types of tonneau cover do both of these to varying degrees.
What Are The Different Types Of Tonneau Covers?
Most tonneau cover manufacturers make 3 types of covers; folding tonneau covers, roll-up tonneau covers, and retractable tonneau covers.
This buying guide only lists folding and roll-up tonneau covers available on Amazon because these are more applicable to the short bed of a Tundra CrewMax.
Folding Tonneau Covers
Folding tonneau covers can be made from a hard or soft material. They usually come in a tri-fold configuration and sit on top of the bed rails.
Most folding tonneau covers expose only â…” of the truck bed, but their easy installation and removal can provide full bed access in a matter of minutes.
Roll-Up Tonneau Covers
Roll-up tonneau covers are almost always made from a heavy duty vinyl allowing them to roll up to expose 100% of the truck bed.
These covers also sit on top of the bed rails and are secured along the bed rails with a frame that has velcro or buttons.
Slightly more installation is required for roll-up covers compared to folding covers, but you do get 100% bed access all the time.
Retractable Tonneau Covers
Retractable tonneau covers are the high end product in the tonneau cover world. They can be made from a hard or soft material, and they can sit on top of or in between the bed rails.
The cover retracts into a canister which houses the cover, and this takes up a decent amount of bed space. They also require more installation steps than the other 2 types of covers. These 2 factors combined make them more ideal for longer beds instead of the short bed of your CrewMax.
How Does A Tonneau Cover Work?
A tonneau cover works with a combination of clamps, latches, and seals.
Usually, a fiberglass or aluminum frame creates the basis of the bed cover. A material such as marine-grade vinyl or heavy-duty aluminum panels creates the cover itself combined with crossbars for additional support.
This is all clamped to the bed rails, and tight seals ensure weather protection all the way around the truck bed.
Lastly, there is some type of latching system at the tailgate end of the tonneau cover keeping the tonneau cover closed with its own lock or using the lock on the tailgate.
What Do You Look For In The Best Tonneau Cover?
I look for a few main factors when deciding what makes a good tonneau cover. These factors are what materials are used, installation requirements, functionality/ease-of-use, and weather resistance.
Materials you want to look for are things such as aircraft-grade aluminum, marine-grade vinyl, and stainless steel clamps. These ensure your tonneau cover has built-in durability.
Installation requirements are pretty self-explanatory. It’s much easier to install a one-piece design with a few clamps compared to an IKEA type design with multiple tools and pieces.
Good functionality and ease-of-use comes from other peoples’ experiences. It’s nice to have a tonneau cover that can be opened with one hand in a matter of seconds or one that doesn’t require you to go through 15 steps to get the thing latched.
Lastly, weather resistance is a must have. You want a cover that has tight seals all the way around the truck bed with a specific tailgate seal for your Toyota Tundra.
Best Tonneau Covers For A Tundra CrewMax Reviewed
1. Tonno Pro Tonno Fold Soft Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Our Top Pick)
The Tonno Pro soft tri-fold tonneau cover is made with a powder-coated aluminum frame and topped with double-sided vinyl for maximum protection.
It comes fully assembled allowing for a no-drill easy installation in a matter of minutes by tightening 4 durable side rail clamps.
It only provides ⅔ bed access when installed, but it’s easy removal gives you 100% bed access in no time at all.
I’ve had this tonneau cover protecting my truck bed for years now, and I have yet to see a leak from its water resistant perimeter or a tear in the vinyl.
Pros
- Easy installation and removal
- Lifetime warranty
- Durable construction
Cons
- â…” bed access when installed
Buy The Tonno Pro Tonno Fold Soft Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
2. Gator ETX Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Best Budget)
Made in the USA, the Gator ETX tonneau cover is very similar to the Tonno Pro soft folding cover.
It is also constructed with an aluminum frame topped with industrial grade vinyl. With its water resistant perimeter seals, it’s almost identical to the Tonno Pro.
It has similar mounting hardware with a fast and easy installation process as well.
Where this soft tonneau cover lacks comparatively is in the lack of quality construction compared to the Tonno Pro. It’s still a great cover, but it has slightly less sealing capabilities and durability.
Pros
- Easy installation and removal
- Durable aluminum frame
- Inexpensive
Cons
- â…” bed access
Buy The Gator ETX Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
3. BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover (Best High End)
The BAK BAKFlip MX4 is an easy best choice for you Tundra CrewMax if it’s within your budget.
This hard tri-fold tonneau cover gives you a sleek low-profile design with its matte black aluminum panels.
It also meets all of your automotive needs such as an automatic latching system, 100% bed access, and full access to the bed rails.
Its premium seal package is guaranteed to protect your bed from the elements with its dual action tailgate seal and integrated corner caps.
Pros
- 100% bed access
- High quality construction
Cons
- Expensive
Buy The BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
4. Rugged Liner E-Series Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
The Rugged Liner E-Series hard top folding tonneau cover is constructed with heavy duty aluminum panels sitting on a powder coated aluminum frame.
This tonneau cover also has an easy installation and removal process similar to #1 and #2 on this list.
If you’re looking for a hard tonneau cover with a reasonable price point, this is the tonneau cover for you.
Pros
- Easy installation and removal
- Durable construction
Cons
- No access to bed rails
Buy The Rugged Liner E-Series Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
5. TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
The TruXedo TruXport is a great all around tonneau cover for your pickup truck if you’re looking for simple protection and 100% bed access at a moment’s notice.
The soft roll up tonneau cover is made with high quality leather-embossed vinyl and durable crossbars. Its adjustable tension system allows you to keep the cover tight and water out while maintaining its good looks.
Pros
- 100% bed access
- Adjustable tension system
- 5 year warranty
Cons
- Longer installation process
Buy The TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover On Amazon
Final Thoughts On Tonneau Covers For A Tundra CrewMax
All of these Tundra tonneau covers will do an excellent job protecting the cargo in your Tundra CrewMax, and they are also available for a Double Cab. Some are also available for a Toyota Tacoma.
Make sure to identify whether your truck has a track system integrated into the truck bed before purchasing a tonneau cover as this will make a difference in the fitment of the cover. All of the covers listed above have options for trucks with or without a track system.
This goes for most makes and models of new trucks. GMC, Chevy, and Ford’s cargo management system, Ram’s utility rail system, and Nissan’s utili-track system all affect tonneau cover fitment.
