Should I Go With A Truck Cap?
A truck cap/shell is a hard-bodied and windowed cargo covering that is usually the same height as the truck’s cab. Many truck owners choose a truck cap for a number of reasons. A truck cap gives your truck an SUV styling and makes it a great place to sleep during camping trips. While your truck bed is equipped to handle rain and other weather Mother Nature might throw your way, the items you’re hauling around probably aren’t. Truck caps provide the perfect level of protection against snow, UV rays, and other weather hazards that would otherwise damage valuable equipment and materials you may carry in your truck daily.
The extra height provided by a truck cap can help keep any taller pieces of cargo safe from weather. On the other hand, the height of a truck cap can limit your cargo. Say you find a ladder or awesome piece of furniture at a garage sale or auction – but it won't fit within the bed of your truck because of the cap. You might risk missing out on these great finds. Removing and storing your truck cap is something you need to plan for. It takes more than one person to remove the cap, and you will need to devote an ample amount of garage space to store it.
Are you wondering if adding extra weight to your pickup would increase the fuel efficiency? Unfortunately, a cap lowers the air resistance that is typically caused when air enters the empty truck bed and creates drag. Eliminating drag with a truck bed cap has been found to improve fuel efficiency by up to 15%.
Or Is A Tonneau Cover Better?
Tonneau covers are more popular than truck caps on pickup trucks these days. This type of cover is flush with the top of the truck bed. The thought behind the popularity might be that a tonneau cover allows a truck to keep the beloved truck style while protecting the cargo. Tonneau covers can be found in both hard and soft materials – and both types of covers have their advantages and disadvantages. Hard-material tonneau covers are available as one long piece that lifts up or as multiple pieces that slide or fold back. These covers are known for being more durable. Unfortunately, one-piece hard covers are not as versatile when you need to haul tall pieces of cargo and may restrict rear-view visibility when raised. Soft-material tonneau covers are more flexible than the hardcovers since you just roll it back.
Both truck caps and tonneau covers offer peace of mind from passer-by's with sticky fingers. Based on which cover you decide to install, your bed could become more secure than your cab. The additional security and privacy offered by these truck accessories keep your items safe from would-be thieves.