It's no secret that the Ford F-150 is one of the most popular trucks on US soil, and why shouldn't it be? It offers a lot for the money, and with a wide range, there's a model for every need. If you own a Ford F-150, it's only a matter of time before you're curious about how to make your Ford stand out more. One of the best ways to do that is with the use of a tonneau cover (also known as a bed cover). It not only serves a great purpose (of covering the bed), it also makes the truck look more streamlined and, therefore, even more attractive. Keeping various uses and types in mind, we have a list of popular products to help you decide the best tonneau cover for F150.
Tyger Auto (Soft Top T3 Tri-Fold Truck Tonneau Cover TG-BC3F1042 Works with 2015-2019 Ford F-150 | Styleside 6.5' Bed
MAXMATE Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover for 2015-2020 Ford F-150 | Styleside 8' Bed
BAKFlip G2 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover | 226329 | Fits 15-20 FORD F150 5' 6" Bed
RetraxPRO XR Retractable Truck Bed Tonneau Cover | T-80371 | fits F-150 Super Crew & Super Cab 5.5' Bed (09-14)
Gator Hybrid Hard Folding (Fits) 2015-2019 Ford F150 5.5 FT Bed Only Hard w Soft Looks Tonneau Truck Bed Cover (GHF0339) Made in The USA
Among the different types of tonneau covers, the soft-top has two major advantages: it's easier to fold, and it weighs less. The high-quality material means it offers some protection to the bed, and there's some weather protection as well.
The cover itself is supported by an aluminum frame bolted onto the body with steel clamps. Since this is a tri-fold mechanism, getting partial access to the bed is easy, and whenever you need to load or unload bigger items, that's just a fold away. The cover itself is said to be made of heavy-duty vinyl, the tension control for the cover is pre-set, and it does offer weather protection.
It's almost a plug-n-play tonneau cover for F-150, but small holes need to be cut in the bed liner to place the clams. But, then after that, you can put away the drill. Both the instructions and mounting hardware are included in the package. The Tyger Auto tonneau cover for Ford F-150 is backed by a limited lifetime warranty, and the product we've included here is compatible with the Ford F-150 trucks made with the model years 2015 - 2019.
It's not as protective as something like a hardcover or even a tri-fold hard bed cover, but at a lower cost, this serves the purpose. The model mentioned here is for the 6.5-ft bed, but please get in touch with the seller for further information about compatibility. Some users have mentioned that water can leak while others have maintained that the fit is super-tight, and water doesn't leak at all. There's also a claimed gas mileage increase of up to 13 percent - we doubt it can be that huge a difference unless you've been lugging around a billboard all this while.
Priced less than the soft-top tri-fold cover mentioned above, the MaxMate Tonneau Cover for Ford F-150 does the job, comes backed by a 10-year warranty, and it's easy to install. The low price is down to the fact that it's a fabric top attached to a roll-up mechanism.
Aluminum rails and steel clamps
That means while it's easy for accessing the cab, it doesn't provide as much protection as other types of tonneau covers for F-150. The material is said to be heavy-duty vinyl, which ideally should withstand years of use without an issue. The rolling mechanism consists of aluminum rails and steel clamps are used to mount the cover onto the bed. The version here is made for the Ford F-150 with the model years 2015 - 2020 and an 8-ft bed.
It's a good cost-effective solution, and certainly provides much more protection than an open bed. This also enhances the visual appeal of the truck. And since you can adjust the tension, if you think the cover has started to slack, you can always bring it back to its original shape. Users have appreciated that for relatively little money, it does the job well. But a good fit here is key, which is why we'd suggest you get in touch with the seller with the exact dimensions and your specific truck model to get the best fit.
What can't everyone do? A Backflip or BAKFlip if you will. But also the way this tonneau cover for F-150 is designed, it does things that neither softcovers nor the full one-piece hardcovers can manage. And what might that be?
To start, it offers the protection of a hardcover but with the ability to access the bed like you would with a tri-fold softcover. This means partial access isn't a pain, and even when you fold the entire thing, the third brake light is still visible. Easy to install, the cover is made of aluminum panels, with a solid dual-action tailgate seal (which further ensures weather sealing is top-notch). It also has automatic latching panels for more secure use, and it's UV-resistant so it won't fade as much due to the sun.
It comes with a glossy finish, and since it sits low, it means the truck looks cleaner from the rear. There's a 2-year warranty, and it's tested to deal with up to 300 lb of evenly distributed weight. This example here fits the 5ft 6in bed on the Ford F-150 trucks made with the model years 2015 - 2019.
It looks like a great product, and while users like how it looks, there have been some quality-related concerns. It's also easier to scratch, mention certain users, which at this price point might be upsetting.
The premium pricing lets you know that the RetraxPRO has something very different to offer from the other popular choices we've discussed while talking about the best tonneau cover for Ford F150. It's twice as expensive as the hard-folding one mentioned right before this. But let's not make the price do the talking.
Let's look at what it offers. It's a hardcover that can be folded and retracted without protruding like a tri-fold or having a roll sit outside like a roll-up. It instead works like a roll-up cover but folds inside, has a much stronger ability (it can withstand balanced loads of up to 500 lb), and looks way better than anything else featured here.
Great partial access; sealed tight
The other aspect that stands out is that you can very easily key lock the cover in whichever position you want, so partial access is possibly the best here. Since it's sealed tight, weather protection isn't a problem. And there's even an extra lock on the outside, to ensure it stays out of sight and access of the prying eyes and hands.
While it's not electrically operated (a shame considering the price), it comes with rack-compatible rails, so you can pick up your favorite pair of crossbars and fit them over it. That not only makes it more practical but also looks way cooler as well. And to top it all, apart from the limited lifetime warranty, the RetraxPRO tonneau cover also comes with a drainage system, to ensure that the bed underneath stays dry always.
It's an amazing product, only marred by its high price. The users are overall happy with it. It's easy to install, and the reassuring warranty coverage makes the deal even sweeter. The Amazon seller mentions that the tonneau cover is compatible with Ford F-150 Super Crew and Super Cab versions with a 5.5ft bed and made with the model years 2009 - 2014. But we'd still advise you to check with the seller if it'll fit your truck.
- Looks great
- Great fit
- Partial access but with hardcover's protection
If you're looking at finding a niche within a niche, here's one good way to do that. You see the softcovers lack protection, and the hardcovers lack versatility. But if there was a softcover that acted as a hardcover but without losing its flexibility, how bout that! That's this Gator Tonneau Cover for you.
It's a tri-fold cover with plastic panels (unlike the BAKFlip G2's aluminum ones), has a clean overall look (thanks to the matte black vinyl on it), and is backed by an aluminum frame and steel hinges. It also includes weather seals on the sides and a rear fin to keep the bed protected.
Easy to install, the cover poses no problems to partial access at all. And when you want 100 percent bed access, the cover can be taken off in minutes - otherwise, it's a 2/3 opening with the three panels stacked atop each other. It's backed by a limited lifetime warranty and is compatible with 2015 - 2019 Ford F-150 5.5ft bed.
It's a good compromise between a hard tri-fold and a soft tri-fold. So while this Gator bed cover is less expensive, it also can withstand less weight (100 lb) but is backed by a solid lifetime warranty.
Final thoughts on Best Tonneau Cover for F150
Choosing a tonneau cover should ideally start with prioritizing what you want from it. If you're looking for a value-for-money solution, then the softcover is a no brainer. There are two types in that: the Tyger Auto Soft Tri-Fold cover and the MaxMate Soft Roll-up cover. The amount of protection is going to be limited because of the internal construction, but choose either and you'd get a much sleeker-looking rear end of the truck. And with some degree of protection from the environment, it's much better than leaving the bed open. But if you want something more rugged, then there's the folding hardcover. Its aluminum panels ensure the bed's safe underneath, whereas with the tri-fold mechanism, partial access isn't a problem at all. It's on the expensive side, and alternately, you can also check out the Gator Hybrid cover that has plastic panels instead of aluminum. While that's a clear compromise, you still get a hardcover and at a lower price. But if price wasn't a concern, the RetraxPro XR Retractable cover is an easy choice.
