4 Advice to Choose a Waterproof Manual Tonneau Cover

Author: Bonny

Jul. 07, 2025

Choosing The Right Tonneau Cover - Eagle 4x4

Shopping for a Tonneau Cover

When choosing a tonneau cover for your truck, there are many options. From materials to how they open and close, the choices can be overwhelming. This guide will help you find the perfect cover to protect your cargo. If you need more help, feel free to call us at 339 339 or use our contact form.

You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.

Most Popular Tonneau Covers

Here are the most common types of tonneau covers:

  • Soft Roll-Up Covers
  • Soft Folding Covers
  • Hard Folding Covers
  • Retractable Covers (Roll Top)
  • Solid Covers (1-piece or 3-piece)

Things to Consider When Choosing a Cover

Security:
Think about how secure you need the cover to be. If you're just covering items while driving, a soft cover is an affordable choice. But if you're leaving tools or goods unattended for long periods, you’ll want a retractable or solid cover for better protection.

Truck Bed Access:
If you often carry tall or large items, consider how much space the cover takes up. Retractable covers are easy to open but reduce your load space due to the canister at the front. Soft roll-up covers take up little space but are less secure when closed.

Ease of Use:
Most covers are easy to operate, but electric retractable covers are the easiest—they work with a remote or app. Soft roll-up covers are simple to open but can be tricky to close and seal.

Durability:
A tonneau cover is an investment, so you want it to last. Soft covers can stretch and fade over time but offer great value. Manual roll-top covers are more durable, though springs or locks may wear out after a few years. Electric retractable covers are the most durable, with the motor being the only part that may eventually need replacement.

Budget:
Your budget will play a big role in your choice. If price isn’t a concern, go straight to the electric roll covers for ease and durability. If you're on a budget, weigh the pros and cons of each type and pick the one that fits your needs.

Weatherproofing:
Is there a tonneau cover that keeps everything 100% dry? Maybe not, but some come close. Solid 1-piece covers and the EGR RollTrac offer great protection against the elements. While other covers provide good weatherproofing when installed correctly, soft and hard folding covers are less waterproof due to their hinge points.

Which Cover Should You Buy?

We’ve rated each cover type based on the criteria above with a 5-star system. Each cover is excellent for its intended purpose—you just need to match your needs to the right one. If you're still unsure, give us a call at 339 339.

Soft Roll Up Cover

Security Bed Access Ease Of Use Durability Budget Weatherproofing

Soft Folding Cover

Security Bed Access ★★ Ease Of Use ★★★ Durability ★★ Budget ★★ Weatherproofing

Hard Folding Cover

Security ★★★ Bed Access ★★ Ease Of Use ★★★ Durability ★★★ Budget ★★ Weatherproofing

Manual Retractable Roller Shutter

Security ★★★★ Bed Access ★★ Ease Of Use ★★★ Durability ★★★ Budget Weatherproofing ★★

Electric Retractable Roller Shutter

Security ★★★★★ Bed Access ★★ Ease Of Use ★★★★ Durability ★★★★ Budget Weatherproofing ★★

1pc & 3pc Solid Covers

Security ★★★★★ Bed Access Ease Of Use ★★★★ Durability ★★★★ Budget  ★★★ Weatherproofing ★★★★

Can I install a tonneau cover myself?

With competitive price and timely delivery, Zhenlonghui sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Yes, some covers come completely assembled and ready to mount to the truck bed in just minutes. Other covers come with all the necessary hardware you need to install yourself. Eagle 4x4 offer an advice helpline and our library of installation videos on our YouTube Channel is growing all the time.

The only tonneau cover we don't recommend DIY installation on uis the EGR RollTrac which is ultra-sophisticated and requires professional installation.

Do tonneau covers improve fuel economy?

Yes, tests have shown that a closed tonneau cover improves aerodynamics to give you better fuel economy than an open truck bed. The amount of improvement in fuel economy depends on the type of cover and the type of truck but it will have some impact.  

Everything You Need to Know Locking & Waterproof Tonneau Covers

If you've ever looked at a pickup truck with its open bed exposed to the environment, you've probably wondered how you're going to carry luggage like in a regular car, SUV, or off-roader, without it being exposed to the weather, as well as opportunistic thieves. Fortunately, there's an answer to that question, and that is the tonneau cover. A tonneau cover converts your truck's open bed into a closed, weatherproof — and in some cases — lockable and secure storage area. In this article, we will be taking you through the topic of tonneau covers. We'll talk about the most popular types, as well as how a waterproof tonneau cover can offer weather protection and security with locking truck bed covers.

Want to browse a wide range of tonneau covers? Just hit up our Tonneau Covers For Trucks section, where you'll find everything you need, including related hardware, as well as protectants and cleaners that are important if you want to keep your tonneau cover in pristine order and working perfectly.

Types Of Tonneau Covers

There are several popular types of tonneau covers that are available on the market, each with its own pros and cons. Let us take you through a few in order to help you make a decision.

Folding Tonneau Covers

As the name suggests, folding tonneau covers fold up and away when not in use. They usually come with a matte black grain finish and are simple to install. Some hard folding tonneau covers can also offer a locking function for security, as well as better weather protection than soft folding tonneau covers, which tend to be cheaper. Folding tonneau covers can be fairly durable, but even a hard folding tonneau cover isn't very strong, so don't be tempted to keep anything heavy on top of it, or, worse, sit on it.

Retractable Tonneau Covers

A retractable tonneau cover is a bit easier to use than a folding tonneau cover, as it retracts into a housing mounted at the front of your truck bed. It offers similar weather protection to a hard tonneau cover, and will typically come with a lock to keep your cargo safe and secure. However, owing to its retractable nature, you can't really place anything heavy on top of it or sit on it.

Roll-Up Tonneau Covers

The most versatile of them all, roll-up tonneau covers are best for occasional use as they can easily be rolled up and stored. This does come at a price, and that is reduced durability and weather protection. Roll-up tonneau covers tend to be lightweight and hence can't bear much weight too, so don't try to sit or climb on them when deployed.

Hinged Tonneau Covers

A hinged tonneau cover tends to have a sturdier construction, so you may be able to place things over it without worrying about breakage, however, we'd recommend that you don't sit on it unless the manufacturer load specifications support it. Offering solid weather protection, coupled with sturdy locks and available in a variety of finishes to match your truck's body color, this is the most expensive option, but the best if you regularly carry cargo in your truck that needs protection from weather and thieves.

Secure Your Flatbed from Rain Damage

Even if you don't use your truck's bed regularly, a tonneau cover can save it from water damage, caused by rain, as well as melting snow, and even regular washing of your truck. This is because as you use your truck bed the way it's meant to be, loading and lugging, you're inevitably going to scratch and scrape the bed liner and bed's sides, exposing your truck's metalwork to water ingress. Water may also pool in low points or accumulate in crevices, slowly eating away at the metalwork. A tonneau cover that's always on, especially in rainy weather, can be a great thing to keep your truck bed safe from rust.

Rain damage is not the only thing that a tonneau cover will protect your truck bed and bed liner from. Sunlight contains harmful ultraviolet rays that can deteriorate your bed liner over time. It's the same thing that causes headlamp lenses to turn yellow over time. A truck bed cover or tonneau cover will bear the brunt of those UV rays, as they are typically designed as such, saving your bed liner from disintegrating.

Security for Your Merchandise

A locking tonneau cover ensures that you can embark on a cross-country trip with luggage and all, and not worry about some miscreant stealing your belongings. Of course, we don't recommend that you keep sensitive electronic equipment such as notebook computers and cameras in the bed, as a tonneau cover doesn't assure protection from temperature extremes, but keeping your family luggage back there is perfectly fine. The best locking tonneau covers come with high-quality locks and keys, and can even integrate with your truck's tailgate sensor to alert you if the tonneau cover is unlocked via the "door open" indicator lamp.

You should also ensure that your chosen tonneau cover's construction is sturdy enough to withstand attacks with common items such as a baseball bat or hunting knife if you regularly drive to, and park in desolate areas. This is where a soft tonneau cover can falter, particularly to an attack by a sharp hunting knife.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Waterproof Manual Tonneau Cover. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

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