A Tacoma hard bed cover, sometimes referred to as a Tacoma hard tonneau cover, is a one-piece or folding hard cover that is especially made to fit the bed of a Toyota Tacoma. This type of cover can be effortlessly put over your truck bed to protect your cargo. It is typically constructed of fiberglass, aluminum, or ABS plastic. One or more of the advantages of a hard Tacoma bed cover is as follows:
- shields the exterior elements from your truck bed: Your truck bed and its contents might sustain damage from direct sunshine, rain, snow, and wind. An appropriately sized durable Tacoma bed cover keeps the elements at away while protecting your cargo and truck from damage.
- Better fuel efficiency: Although your Tacoma truck may not have been designed for maximum fuel efficiency, you can increase its efficiency by purchasing a Tacoma bed cover with a firm surface. When you’re driving, air flows over your truck’s windshield and roof and then lowers into the bed where it collides with the tailgate, increasing air drag. A hard bed cover creates a continuous surface that reduces wind resistance and increases the fuel efficiency of your truck.
- Maintains the stability of your cargo: When your truck is loaded, some of the items inside the bed may fall out when you’re traveling at a high speed or over uneven terrain. Additionally, heavy winds may cause lighter items in your truck to fly out. Installing a hard bed cover is a practical approach to guarantee that your cargo is secure at all times.
- Prevents theft: Without a bed cover, would-be thieves will be able to see what’s within your truck’s cargo area. If you leave your truck unattended, they can easily steal one or two expensive items. A Tacoma hard bed cover deters attention while also making it challenging for unauthorized individuals to access your goods. A hard bed cover is preferable to a soft one for the aim of deterring theft simply because it is more difficult to break.
In This Article...
What does a tonneau cover serve?
An portion of a car or truck that is open at the top is known as a tonneau (US: /tno/ or UK: /tno/). Both passengers and cargo may use it.
A pickup truck’s rear might have a hard or soft cover that spans the entire surface to protect the load or enhance aerodynamics, according to modern automotive nomenclature. Tonneau covers are available in a variety of foldable, retractable, tilting, and lockable designs. Steel, aluminum, canvas, PVC, fiberglass, and carbon fiber are often utilized materials.
Boats’ open spaces are also covered and protected with tonneau covers. Many of these covers are made of canvas that has been waterproofed and are fastened in place with snaps.
The older, original tonneau covers were used to cover the cargo bed of a pickup truck or ute as well as the unoccupied passenger seats in convertibles and roadsters (vehicle). Segmented or soft covers open by rolling up or folding, whereas hard tonneau covers open via a hinge or folding mechanism.
Tonneau covers for cars and trucks shield cargo from the sun and prospective robbers’ eyes.
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Do Toyota tonneau covers exist?
Although not weatherproof, the tonneau cover is weather resistant. This item works with 43 different car models. 43 versions across 1 model from Toyota between 2016 and 2020.
Do tonneau coverings make sense?
A tonneau cover is definitely an investment worth making. From minimizing cargo loss or damage to enhancing the appearance of your truck, increasing fuel efficiency, reducing premature wear and tear, and maintaining the resale value.
A tonneau cover may not be truly necessary.
With a tonneau cover, you can prevent theft, misplaced or damaged cargo, and poor gas mileage. Additionally, it will safeguard your truck’s bed and aid in avoiding significant harm that would necessitate repairs. However, the bed will hold up far better when you sell your truck than it would if it were uncovered.
Will a tonneau cover be harmed by a car wash?
You could be required to take off the tonneau by some manufacturers. If your tonneau is simple to remove in this situation, just take it off. You won’t have to be concerned about it getting damaged this way, and the vehicle wash will even clean the truck bed. The side rails can typically be left attached to your truck bed rails when you remove the cover itself.
Naturally, it also depends on the type of tonneau cover you have. This is undoubtedly a better alternative for a soft tonneau than a bulky, hard cover, which might require multiple people to remove. What to do with various toneau varieties is suggested here:
Hard-top hinged tonneau:
A fiberglass or hard plastic hard-top tonneau should be able to pass through a car wash without suffering any harm. You might wish to use a touchless car wash if your tonneau is painted to avoid scratching the finish. These tonneau covers hold up well and can handle anything the rest of your truck can handle because there are no moving or soft parts.
Rolling, folding, or retractable tonneau:
Tonneau covers with multiple components, including as hinges, aren’t quite as durable as hard-top tonneau covers. These kinds of covers ought to be acceptable if you use a touchless car wash. However, you should think hard before using a car wash that uses brushes with your rolling, folding, or retractable tonneau cover. We’ll discuss how brushes could harm your tonneau in more detail later.
Soft tonneau:
Continue reading to find out more about how to care for your tonneau while still using an automatic vehicle wash if removing your tonneau cover is not an option.
Make sure to conduct your homework if you want a tonneau cover that is removable and simple to remove.
How much gas does a tonneau cover save you?
The 13 tonneau covers came in a variety of soft and hard fabrics. There were many different types, such as hinged, roll up, retractable, and foldable. They made the decision not to divulge information about any particular tonneau brands they used.
In a full-size wind tunnel, the trucks were put to the test. They conducted their experiment at Mooresville, North Carolina’s AeroDyn Wind Tunnel, which is frequently utilized by NASCAR. They were able to test how well the vehicles worked both with and without tonneau coverings in the tunnel.
Each truck had less drag when utilizing a tonneau, according to the results of the wind study tunnel. Although the outcomes were modest, they were quantifiable. On average, using a tonneau cover reduced drag by 5.7%. An gain in fuel economy of around 1.8% resulted from the reduced drag.
Although 1.8% improved gas mileage isn’t a huge improvement, it does matter over the course of a year of filling up your truck. What was the wind tunnel study’s conclusion? You might be able to save a little bit more money on petrol by using a tonneau cover.
The “MythBusters Study
Did you watch the MythBusters episode where TV’s favorite crazy scientists investigated whether tonneau covers actually reduced gas consumption? Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman modify a truck in episode 64 of the show (2006 Season Episode 21 repeated), then test which adjustments increase fuel efficiency. They examine the following variables:
- Meshed tailgate.
- a sturdy tonneau cover.
- Down the tailgate.
- No tailgating.
The mesh tailgate, however, was shown to significantly increase the car’s MPG, whereas the other adjustments had little effect.
They have received criticism for employing only one truck in their investigation. But if you want to adopt Adam and Jamie’s viewpoint, you shouldn’t get a tonneau if your primary concern is saving money on petrol.
MythBusters has discussed this topic twice already. We wouldn’t be surprised if it appeared in another episode given the uproar surrounding this resurrected story.
Consumer Reports Test
In 2013, Consumer Reports did a brief test of their own using a Dodge Ram V8. They examined two variables. One was whether the tailgate’s positionup or downaffected fuel efficiency. The second was whether or not a soft tonneau cover increased fuel efficiency.
Surprisingly, they discovered that using a soft tonneau cover or driving with the tailgate down significantly reduced fuel efficiency. But it’s vital to remember that they only used one truck in addition to the one tonneau cover.
Even though this study on the subject of tonneau covers and fuel economy doesn’t have much significance, it frequently comes up in conversations on the topic.
Do tonneau covers improve fuel economy?
Owners of trucks adore their vehicles. However, if there is a typical criticism about them, it would be their gas mileage. But what if there was a way to increase your truck’s fuel efficiency while still keeping the stuff in the truck bed safe, tidy, and dry? The tonneau cover is here.
Tonneau covers can increase your truck’s fuel efficiency. Continue reading to find out how tonneau covers reduce fuel consumption and to receive more advice from the pros at LINE-X on how to increase the fuel efficiency of your pickup truck.
Your truck bed functions like a bucket without a tonneau cover, gathering air as you drive over it. Your engine has to work a little bit more because to this drag. By shielding your pickup truck bed from this wind, tonneau covers increase gas mileage by enhancing aerodynamics.
Savings will range depending on driving patterns, tonneau cover type, and truck type. They will be minimal.
Tonneau covers from LINE-X offer safe, secure, and weathertight storage in addition to improved fuel economy. In order to provide you with a product that looks beautiful, works well, and appears factory fitted, all of our tonneau covers come with lifetime warranties and are supported by extensive research.
Tonneau covers and truck tops both help your truck’s aerodynamics. Visit our selection of pickup truck toppers if you require more storage than a tonneau cover can offer. LINE-X truck tops come with a lifetime warranty and are constructed to last, much like all of our Truck Gear accessories.
Your gas mileage may increase with tonneau covers, but the cost reductions are probably not spectacular. Use these additional suggestions to increase your gas-pump savings:
- Clean your air filter regularly.
- Avoid using the cruise control.
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated at all times.
- Breathe easily! The fuel efficiency of your truck can be considerably increased by relaxed driving practices.
- Keep your truck aligned properly.
A tonneau cover will save you money on gas and keep your equipment secure and dry. You have a range of alternatives with our tonneau covers, whether they are stiff, flexible, or folding, depending on your needs and financial situation. To schedule an appointment, speak with your nearby LINE-X dealer. Online quote requests are also available.
Tonneau covers are watertight, right?
When a buyer expresses interest in a tonneau cover, one of their first queries is “Are tonneau covers watertight?,” “Is this thing waterproof?,” or “Is there a waterproof truck bed cover?” The short answer to this is that, when put correctly, a tonneau cover will prevent the bulk of water from getting into the bed of your truck. Although it would be misleading to describe a tonneau cover as 100% watertight or waterproof, the worst that typically happens is a few drops sneaking in during a downpour. You’ll have a better sense of how much weather protection you can expect when you install a tonneau cover after reading a thorough description.
Tonneau covers come in a range of designs, including soft and hard coverings that open in various ways, on the market. The degree of water resistance you can anticipate will frequently depend on the tonneau cover’s design. We’ll analyze and rank the most common tonneau cover designs’ water resistance in the section that follows.