Best Tonneau Covers For RAM 1500

Best Tonneau Covers For RAM 1500

1. Tyger Auto Top T3 Soft Tri-Fold – Best All-Around Cover

This cover is a classic trifold type, but it is easier to install than most others. Six clamps hold it to the truck, and tightening these clamps is the majority of the installation process. It attaches very securely and does not wiggle in the wind. This is in part because they included some adaptor strips that can be used if the sides of your truck are not level with the front or back.

Unfortunately, this one can only work with a 6.5-foot-long truck bed. As far as we know, they don’t make this particular model of tonneau cover in any other size. Another little problem is the fact that this is a softcover. It might be light and easy to move, but a thief could easily cut through the top.

2. TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll-up – Premium Truck Bed Tonneau Cover

This is a lot like our first choice in the fact that it’s a soft cover that attaches with six clamps. However, this one is a roll-up cover, and that adds an extra element of convenience. When you roll the cover up, you gain full access to the bed of your truck, something that choice number one did not offer.

At the same time, this cover is quite a bit more expensive. We can see from the ads that it was meant to be a hard-use kind of cover that stands up to the elements very well. While we don’t really doubt those claims, we are concerned with the velcro that partly holds the cover in place. No matter how good velcro is, it will eventually wear out.

3. MaxMate Soft Roll Up – Most Affordable Tonneau Cover

This is another soft roll-up cover, which is great because it provides the best access. If you regularly haul large objects that won’t fit under most tonneau covers, this one might be a good choice for you. It’s cheaper than our other two soft covers and seems to be a little more durable.

It has the same compatibility problems as the others. It will only fit a truck with a 6.5-foot bed and is not compatible with racks or rails.

We do really like the secure tension-based latching system, but it’s kind of hard to remove this cover quickly, which is kind of a pain.

4. Tyger Auto 6.4 T1 Roll Up – The Heaviest Tonneau Cover

This is another soft roll-up cover that looks very similar to the others, but we do see a few distinct features here. First of all, we really like it when we see a lifetime warranty on an auto part. Auto parts tend to take a lot of abuse, and so their warranties are often either nonexistent or full of loopholes. So far as we can tell, this one seems okay.

The whole thing is made of marine vinyl, which is some of the heaviest around. The only real issue is that most bed liners will require you to drill holes in them to accommodate the rails for this thing. If your bed liner doesn’t cup over the walls of the bed, then you won’t have to worry about that.

5. Gator ETX Soft Roll Up – Best For Everyday Use

This is another soft roll-up cover, and this one is obviously built for maximum speed and convenience. For people who use their trucks for work every day, that’s pretty important. Unlike many other models, this one only requires that you hit a single latch on either side to detach the tonneau cover. After the latch is unhooked, you can simply roll it up and buckle it in place with a couple of nylon straps.

The problem that we see here is that this tonneau cover is mostly held on by velcro. They can call it an “industrial hook and loop system” all day long, but we all know what that means. Everyone also knows that velcro doesn’t tend to last very long under hard conditions. This cover also only fits a truck with a 5.7-foot bed.

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How to Choose the Right Tonneau Cover

Now that you have seen some of the better products on the market let’s talk a little bit more about the things that you need to consider when buying an item of this sort. As we have already seen, there are many different options out there.

The first and most important thing to realize is that you have to find a tonneau cover that fits your truck. When we say that, we don’t just mean your make and model of truck we mean your truck, specifically. Obviously, the make and model do need to be taken into account, but you need to think about all the features of your particular truck. For instance, do you have a toolbox in your truck bed? If so, you will have to either give up your toolbox or find a tonneau cover that will fit a toolbox.

The same is true of bed rails, bed caps, and every other part of your truck bed. It’s not always as simple as measuring the length and width, either. You have to match up the anchor points that hold the cover in place, and that’s where it really gets tricky. The best thing you can do is make the most precise measurements that you can. Then, when you are going to buy the cover, bring those measurements and make sure the product fits.

When you do this, don’t just measure the length and width of the bed. Measure the distance between the anchor points. As you have already seen, some covers are attached using a slot mount, and some are attached with buttons, while some others roll up, and others are merely pulled off, etc. With so many options, take nothing for granted. Take your measurements with you, and a qualified auto parts dealer should be able to match them up and get you something that will fit.

Choosing the right style is mostly a matter of personal preference. The most popular form of tonneau cover is the tri-fold, which simply detaches and folds at three points. There are also retractable covers that never require removal. You simply slide them open in much the same way like a garage door. When choosing which style you want, think about how you usually use your truck. Think about each option and ask yourself if it would interfere with your usual way of doing things. If so, you should probably choose something else.

You also need to think about the level of security that you require. This question can be answered simply by asking yourself if you usually haul valuable things in the back of your truck. If you do, then you need to look for a tonneau cover that locks securely in place with a key, and which provides a strong barrier against any potential break-in. Ideally, you want a model with a hard metal cover that is just as durable as the rest of the truck.

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Conclusion

Choosing the right tonneau cover for Dodge Ram 1500 can be a difficult thing to do. On the surface, many of them appear to be similar or even identical, but it’s important to remember that not all brands are created equal. That’s why you should always be sure to check out the little details, as these will give you the real story as to the quality of a tonneau cover. We hope that we have given you enough knowledge to make the decision easier.

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Sources:

1. Truck Bed and Cab Combinations – TruckBedSizes.com
2. Types of Tonneau Covers – PartCatalog.com
3. How Secure Are Tonneau Covers? – RealTruck