How To Remove A Truck Bed Cover

While truck bed covers offer several benefits to you, they can also become a hindrance in loading some things into your car. Are you planning to remove your truck bed cover but don't know how to? We gathered helpful information for you and here is what we found:

To remove a truck bed cover, you must: 

  1. Locate the attachment points
  2. Choose the correct tools
  3. Loosen the screws
  4. Remove the hinge pins
  5. Remove the truck bed cover

Now you may wonder, what are the different bed truck cover types? And why does there a need to remove truck bed covers? What are the tools needed to remove a truck bed cover? Keep reading to learn more about these questions. 

Truck bed hook, How To Remove A Truck Bed Cover

Why Remove a Truck Bed Cover?

These covers are beneficial for many people, and they don't feel the need to remove them. However, there may be times when you must remove it.

One of the primary reasons for removing the cover is to clean the truck. While the cover can be left in place while washing the truck, it will leave a few spots unwashed. However, if the cover is not water-resistant, you may need to remove it for every wash.

Red modified truck with an opened hood and truck bed cover

Another reason is you may want to replace the paint job. You'll need to remove the cover to paint underneath the unit if you want to redo the paintwork.

You may also need to remove the cover for large cargo. Truck bed covers are excellent at preventing criminals from gaining access to your belongings. However, when moving or transporting larger stuff, however, the cover may need to be removed.

What Tools do You Need to Remove a Truck Bed Cover?

A multi-layered toolbox on a white background

Please note that not all of these covers are identical, and you may need to use different tools than the ones we recommend on occasion. However, these are the common tools you need: 

  • A screwdriver
  • A C-wrench
  • Safety goggles

Additionally, you might need another person's help in holding the cover. Even if not necessary, it can make your work significantly easier.

What Are The Benefits Of Having Truck Bed Covers?

A truck bed cover

Although it is sometimes necessary to remove a truck cover, they have many advantages. Here are some of the benefits of having truck bed covers: 

  • Cargo Security. You may be targeted by thieves if you stop at a red light or park your truck for a quick toilet break. Many instances have occurred where criminals simply jumped on the truck and stole cargo. A cover can keep this from happening.
  • Reduce wind drag. When traveling at higher speeds, air resistance in the bed of the truck can slow you down. Covers reduce wind drag, allowing you to save money on gas while driving at high speeds.
  • Protect against elements. Truck bed covers protect your cargo from more than thieves. They can keep rain, snow, and dust off your belongings. There are other options for protecting your goods, but a cover is one of the most effective.

What Are Tonneau Covers?

A black high end truck bed cover

Tonneau covers are used to cover and secure the cargo tray of coupé utility vehicles and pickup trucks, and they come in several forms.

They're mostly divided into two types based on the material they're made of soft and hardcovers. Hardcovers can be rollup, folding, or one-piece, whereas soft covers can be rollup or folding.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Hard And Soft Tonneau Covers?

A huge black Ram truck moving along the highway

The most prevalent classifications of covers on the market are hard and soft covers. Now let's take a look at these different covers, what they're made of, their advantages, and disadvantages. 

Hard Covers

Aluminum, polypropylene, fiberglass, and toughened plastic are some of the materials used to make hard tonneau toppers. The majority of these covers have a hinged shape with lid-like joints. With hinged bulkheads, it almost acts like a horizontal door.

Pros:

  • Improve the appearance of your truck with its clean and eye-catching design
  • Comes with a locking mechanism that is extremely secure, handy, and dependable
  • The durable cover will not readily break, safeguarding your cargo from possible damage

Cons:

  • The installation of hardcovers is a time-consuming and difficult task
  • More expensive compared to other covers
  • Heavier and not fit for heavy load cargo

Soft Covers

These simple-to-use covers have a fantastic roll-up mechanism that enables you to open and seal the lid with ease. Leather, vinyl, canvas, and fabric are commonly used by manufacturers because they are adaptable and pliable.

Pros:

  • These covers are exceedingly lightweight and maneuverable
  • Soft covers are inexpensive and widely accessible
  • Simple and blends in nicely with the truck bed

Cons:

  • These tops are flimsier and less durable
  • They are not suitable for long-term usage
  • These covers are extremely light and can easily shatter
  • If you travel to locations with excessive heat or cold, this item may not be suitable

What Are Tonneau Cover Types?

These are the seven tonneau covers types:

  1. Retractable
  2. Folding 
  3. Rolling 
  4. Hinged 
  5. Snap 
  6. Tool Box 
  7. Electric

Retractable Tonneau Covers

This type of tonneau cover, as the name implies, retracts to the back of the truck. If you purchase a retractable tonneau cover, you should think about your truck bed security needs. A hard tonneau cover that retracts provides more security than a soft tonneau cover.

This type also lets you selectively expose the section of the bed you want to see. As a result, you can transport objects of various sizes while simply opening the section containing the huge cargo.

Folding Tonneau Covers

In the auto parts market, these are the most common types. They are available in a variety of styles. A trifold tonneau cover folds in three places, whereas a bifold design folds in two. These covers can be either firm or soft.

You can only access a portion of the bed by folding up a section or parts of the cover. That implies you can transport both small and large or oddly shaped things without exposing the section containing the small cargo.

Rolling Tonneau Covers

When you roll up this style of bed cover, it seems like you're rolling up a mat. A soft or hard tonneau cover is available. A soft roll-up tonneau cover is less expensive than a hard roll-up tonneau cover. The latter, on the other hand, secures the truck bed more than the former.

The roll-up feature of this tonneau cover gives you more truck bed options. You can expose the truck bed to precise or chosen stretches from the open end to the vehicle's bulkhead since you are not limited by folds or panels. As a result, you'll have a more adaptable cover.

Hinged Tonneau Covers

This style of cover is nothing more than a hinged lid. Hinged tonneau covers do not fold or retract because they are solid one-piece covers. They open instead by pushing them up. Hard or soft hinged covers are available.

Many vehicle owners choose hinged tonneau covers because of their aesthetic appeal. The hinged covers look stylish and improve the appearance of the vehicle because they are not divided into pieces.

Some truck owners may paint these covers to match the truck's color to make it look even better.

The disadvantage of hinged tonneau covers is that they do not allow for the transport of cargo that is unusually big or shaped. Everything must be contained within the cover. This may limit the types of cargo you can load in your truck.

Snap Tonneau Covers

This type of cover attaches to the truck bed or car frame with clamps. A snap tonneau cover, like other types of bed covers, can be made of soft or hard material.

The main benefit of snap covers is that you can unclamp any component of the truck bed to gain access to it. As a result, you may transport freight of any height or size.

Tool Box Tonneau Covers

These variants come with a built-in toolkit. Many people choose them for their pickup trucks. That's because not all tonneau covers are toolbox-compatible.

They give you the benefits of a truck bed cover while also allowing you to take advantage of the convenience of having a toolbox. It's a hybrid that combines the best of both worlds.

Electric Tonneau Covers

An electric tonneau cover, as the name implies, is powered by electricity. The cover is opened and closed by a built-in mechanism, which you control remotely using a button on the key fob.

A brake allows you to retract the lid to the desired length. Some even feature a light that can be controlled via the remote module to illuminate the truck bed at night.

In Closing

Truck bed hook, How To Remove A Truck Bed Cover

Having a truck bed cover is surely beneficial for you. However, there may be instances where you have to remove it.

Now you know how to remove your bed cover when the need arises. You also know more about the different styles of truck bed covers.

If you want to know the best truck bed covers for your vehicle, you can check these articles:

Best Toyota Tacoma Bed Covers (Pickup Truck Tonneaus)

10 Best Ram Truck Bed Covers (Tonneaus)

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