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Crash Course:
- Arduous-folding tonneau covers are sometimes inexpensive than retractable covers however supply higher safety and sturdiness in comparison with tender tonneau covers.
- A tough-folding tonneau cowl typically prices between $600 and $1,600. A lot of the covers we advocate are about $1,000.
- After consulting with an business knowledgeable and testing a number of tonneau covers ourselves, our product group recommends the BAK BAKFlip G2 and Gator EFX.
The perfect hard-folding tonneau covers supply safety, supply safety, and are constructed to final. One of these tonneau cowl is mid-priced, sometimes costing round $1,000. Folding tonneau covers are sometimes cheaper than retractable tonneau covers, although dearer (and longer-lasting) than tender tonneau covers.
Our product group caught up with RealTruck Director of Advertising and marketing Chris King, who has been engaged on automobiles for over 25 years. Along with sharing King’s recommendation, we advocate a number of hard-folding tonneau covers based mostly on our personal analysis and hands-on testing expertise.
Arduous-Folding Tonneau Covers: An Knowledgeable’s Opinion
King is an auto business veteran who has labored on all method of automobiles. He is aware of his tonneau covers underside to topside. When selecting a tonneau cowl, King recommends that drivers begin by contemplating three elements: price, safety, and use case.
Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl Worth
Count on to spend between $600 to $1,600 for a hard-folding tonneau cowl on common. One of these tonneau cowl is commonly cheaper than a retractable cowl, however dearer than a tender roll-up tonneau cowl.
| Low Worth | $600 |
| Typical Worth | $1,000 |
| Excessive Worth | $1,600 |
In case your tonneau cowl funds is beneath $500, a soft-top cowl could also be your solely possibility. Arduous-top tonneau covers are troublesome to seek out on this worth vary. If worth is not any concern, you may select a retractable tonneau cowl with all of the bells and whistles. This may price between $1,000 and $4,000.
The distinction between entry-level and the dearer hard-folding tonneau covers typically comes all the way down to supplies and mattress entry.
Supplies
Arduous-folding tonneaus are normally constructed utilizing a chunk of expanded foam sandwiched between two panels. Normally, the inside panel is fabricated from aluminum. Low-cost and mid-range hard-folding tonneaus sometimes use aluminum for the highest panel as nicely.
Costlier hard-folding tonneaus could use a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP). King stated,
“FRP is extra dent-resistant than aluminum. For those who’re parked in a driveway and a tree department fell off of a tree, the aluminum might dent or poke, and the FRP goes to be much more resistant to break from tree branches or hail.”
Whereas FRP is extra sturdy than aluminum, FRP materials isn’t pretty much as good at withstanding high-heat environments. For those who stay in a local weather that frequently experiences excessive warmth, chances are you’ll be higher off with an aluminum tonneau cowl.
Mattress Entry
Folding tonneau covers don’t at all times permit for entry to your complete truck mattress. Many are designed in order that the final fold lies excessive of your truck mattress, which means you may solely entry one-fourth to one-third of your mattress, relying on the design. In accordance with King,
“Your entry worth level hard-folding covers will solely stow within the two-thirds folded place, in order that final panel mainly received’t fold all the best way ahead to the cab. However outdoors of your entry-level hard-folding, nearly all of them fold all the best way to the cab, so that you do have the flexibleness for when you should haul one thing bigger. You possibly can drive with the tonneau covers stowed in these positions, so no points there.”
Whilst you can drive with a hard-folding cowl within the totally opened place, this may hinder the view out of the again window, so it’s not really helpful to drive this manner for an prolonged distance.
Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl Safety
A tough tonneau cowl can successfully defend the contents of your truck mattress in a means {that a} tender tonneau cowl merely can’t. Mushy tonneau covers can simply be accessed by tearing via the vinyl with a knife. King stated,
“One of many greatest advantages of hard-folding tonneau covers is, frankly, the safety that they provide. In case your truck tailgate locks when the duvet is closed, your mattress is locked. So it’s similar to the inside of your truck or automobile. Most new vans have locking tailgates. For those who personal an older mannequin that doesn’t have an OEM lock — whether or not it’s computerized or keyed — there’s a model known as Pop & Lock which you could add.”
Relying on the place you park and what you retain within the mattress, safety will not be an essential think about selecting a tonneau cowl. In any other case, you may think about a hard-folding cowl comprised of aluminum or FRP.
Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl Use Case
Earlier than buying any tonneau cowl, think about how you employ your truck and the way you intend to make use of your tonneau cowl. The most suitable choice could rely upon how frequently you intend to take away and reattach your tonneau cowl. King stated,
“Your soft-folding covers may be faraway from a truck in 60 seconds. For those who simply desire a momentary resolution for the occasional highway journey and an open mattress for the remainder of the time, tender roll-ups can get out of the best way utterly for a trailer. Retractable covers would roll up and be out of the best way for a fifth wheel or gooseneck. A tough-folding cowl would additionally fold up towards the cab and be out of the best way, however in the event you’re towing a trailer and it’s going to be attached for some time, I actually wouldn’t advocate blocking your rear window for a protracted interval.”
For those who frequently use a fifth-wheel hitch, a hard-folding tonneau cowl will not be the most suitable choice. Nevertheless, in the event you want one thing safe and a fifth wheel isn’t a priority, a hard-folding cowl for round $1,000 will be the proper alternative.
Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl Advantages
In accordance with King, “Arduous-folding is way and away the most well-liked class of tonneau covers. They’re very well engineered, and so they match 99 % of individuals’s use instances.” Along with the safety they supply over soft-top covers, hard-folding tonneau covers are considerably extra sturdy than soft-top choices. If correctly cared for, a hard-folding tonneau might final so long as your truck.
In comparison with retractable covers, hard-folding covers are inexpensive, typically by hundreds of {dollars}.
Lastly, a hard-folding cowl gives a glossy look that many discover fascinating. Mushy and lower-priced covers will sit above the truck mattress, whereas many hard-folding tonneau covers are flush with the mattress.
Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl Downsides
Whereas there are usually not loads of downsides to hard-folding tonneaus, there could also be higher choices relying on the way you sometimes use your truck.
Arduous-folding tonneau covers take extra time to take away than soft-folding tonneau covers. They will even block the view out of your rear window when totally opened. For these causes, a soft-folding or retractable tonneau could also be a greater possibility for individuals who ceaselessly use a fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer. Whereas hard-folding tonneaus may be appropriate with these trailers, they don’t seem to be the only option for visibility when working with a big trailer.
Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl Shopping for Information
Our assessment group has examined a dozen tonneau covers, together with a number of hard-folding varieties. Beneath, we advocate a few tonneau covers we had the chance to attempt. We additionally point out a number of promising covers we’ve but to check.
What Is the Finest Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl?
We named the BAK BAKFlip G2 and the Gator EFX one of the best hard-folding tonneau covers in the marketplace in 2025. A couple of different extremely rated covers we might think about, however haven’t examined ourselves, embrace the BAK BAKFlip MX4 and Extang Stable Fold 2.0.
| Model/Mannequin | Value | Materials | Full Mattress Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK BAKFlip G2 | From $1,100 | Aluminum | Sure |
| Gator EFX | $650 | Aluminum | No |
| BAK BAKFlip MX4 | From $1,300 | Aluminum | Sure |
| Extang Stable Fold 2.0 | From $875 | EnduraShield Polymer (just like FRP) | No |
*As a result of price information fluctuates, the costs within the desk above are approximate values that our group frequently updates.
Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl Rankings: Our Testing Course of
To pick out the hard-folding tonneau covers featured on this consumers information, our group first combed via dozens of assets akin to DIY mechanic and auto fanatic boards, producer web sites, instruction manuals from producers, and evaluations from on-line retailers. We pay significantly shut consideration to high quality evaluations and proposals that spotlight the standard of warranties, customer support help, construct high quality, supplies, and general reliability.
We additionally factored within the amount and high quality of on-line retailer evaluations from web sites akin to RealTruck and Amazon. We checked out elements akin to standout buyer evaluations, costs, significant superlatives, and low cost delivery eligibility.
To check tonneau covers, we put in each in line with the included directions. We hooked up covers to a variety of truck makes, together with Toyota, Chevrolet, and Nissan automobiles. After set up, we tried every cowl’s options after which left it on the take a look at automobile to learn the way it could maintain up over time.
1. BAK BAKFlip G2: Finest Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl
BAK BAKFlip G2 Overview
- Value: From $1,100
- Materials: Aluminum
- Guarantee size: Three years
The BAK BAKFlip G2 is a extremely sturdy cowl, made with aircraft-grade aluminum strengthened by a powder-coated black end, making it UV-resistant. Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber seals line the edges of this cowl, stopping water incursion.
The tonneau cowl is straightforward to make use of and may be opened to permit for full mattress entry. You possibly can see how the BAK BAKFlip G2 carried out in every of our testing classes beneath:
| Overview Class | Rating (Out of 5.0 Stars) |
|---|---|
| Ease of Set up | 4.0 |
| Ease of Use | 4.0 |
| Sturdiness | 4.0 |
| Total Ranking | 4.0 |
Beneath are execs and cons of the BAK BAKFlip G2 recognized by our testing group:Professionals And Cons
Professionals
- Constituted of sturdy supplies
- Weight tolerance of as much as 300 kilos
- Simple set up
- Prop-up capabilities for giant cargo
Cons
- Combined buyer evaluations on water incursion
Our Expertise
We felt the BAKFlip G2 carried out higher than common by all of our metrics. It installs rapidly and sits flush with the truck mattress. We just like the a number of open positions, together with the flexibility to open totally for full mattress entry.
This cowl does require extra set up steps for vans that lack sq. mattress rails. If that is so, there are extra steps required to correctly connect this folding tonneau cowl.
What Clients Are Saying
RealTruck assessment rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (over 1,800 evaluations)
Probably the most frequent items of reward for the BAK BAKFlip G2 is that it matches completely. Most say this tonneau cowl is straightforward to put in and simple to make use of. Many remark that they recognize the duvet permits for full mattress entry.
Feedback concerning the skill of the G2 to forestall water incursion are blended. Some say this cowl is watertight, whereas others say that it leaks on the tailgate. In our expertise, few tonneau covers will completely stop water incursion, particularly throughout heavy rains. For this reason many tonneau covers embrace drainage tubes. Match might also range by automobile and leaking is usually a results of improper set up.
2. Gator EFX: Finest Funds Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl
Gator EFX Overview
- Value: $650
- Materials: Aluminum
- Guarantee size: Restricted lifetime
The Gator EFX is one other well-built tonneau cowl that provides distinctive sturdiness. It will possibly additionally stop water incursion due to the EPDM rubber hinges and included drain tubes. Whereas it may be opened into the two-thirds place, it doesn’t permit for full mattress entry whereas driving.
You possibly can see how the Gator EFX carried out in every of our testing classes beneath:
| Overview Class | Rating (Out of 5.0 Stars) |
|---|---|
| Ease of Set up | 4.0 |
| Ease of Use | 3.5 |
| Sturdiness | 4.0 |
| Total Ranking | 3.8 |
Beneath are execs and cons of the Gator EFX recognized by our testing group:Professionals And Cons
Professionals
- Comparatively cheap
- Easy set up
- Sturdy building
Cons
- Can leak at tailgate in line with buyer evaluations
Our Expertise
The EFX set up course of is typical for a hard-folding cowl. Whereas the written instructions aren’t very clear, the general course of is straightforward. This can be very secure as soon as put in.
We did discover that not the entire slam latches aligned completely. The duvet has some left and proper movement as soon as put in, and chances are you’ll have to shift it from the aspect to make sure the locks are accurately engaged.
This rugged cowl makes use of aircraft-grade aluminum slats topped with a powder coat end. The rubber is so thick that we discovered it didn’t sit utterly flush with the truck mattress in some locations.
What Clients Are Saying
RealTruck assessment rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (over 3,100 evaluations)
In accordance with on-line evaluations, the Gator EFX works very nicely for such a low-cost cowl. Most discover the duvet straightforward to put in and recognize the glossy, flush look.
Some really feel this cowl shouldn’t be utterly waterproof. Those that have a truck mattress liner point out the EFX could not match completely with out first trimming again the liner.
Different High-Promoting Arduous-Folding Tonneau Covers
Whereas our group has examined many tonneau covers, we haven’t but had the chance to attempt the covers beneath. Based mostly on producer popularity, options, and buyer evaluations, we expect these could also be value contemplating.
BAK BAKFlip MX4
As with many folding tonneau covers, the BAKFlip MX4 may be put in at residence with out energy instruments. It incorporates a matte end and sits flush with the mattress rails for an aerodynamic look. It’s reasonably priced for this kind of tonneau cowl however particularly heavy-duty and dependable in line with hundreds of buyer evaluations.
With a five-year guarantee and aluminum composite building, anticipate this cowl to final via many seasons. The security measures ought to defend your gear from would-be thieves in addition to the weather.
Truck house owners select the BAKFlip MX4 for its look, sturdiness, and ease of use. Essentially the most generally praised elements of this tonneau cowl are that it’s straightforward to put in and matches completely. A number of reviewers additionally recognize that this hard-folding tonneau cowl permits for full truck mattress entry.
Some have had points with the weatherstripping coming off and the duvet leaking.
Extang Stable Fold 2.0 Tonneau Cowl
The Extang Stable Fold 2.0 is a composite hard-folding tonneau cowl that includes 1.0-inch thick EnduraShield polymer panels with a powder-coated end. Triple-fin rubber seals across the edges scale back water incursion, and every cowl is examined for water administration, load capability, and fading.
We predict this might be a superb decide for individuals who need the look of a composite tonneau cowl that’s straightforward to make use of. The Stable Fold 2.0 doesn’t permit for full mattress entry, however it’s reasonably priced for this kind of tonneau cowl.
Many purchasers declare that they had been capable of set up the Extang 2.0 in round 10 minutes. As soon as put in, it’s straightforward to open and the composite panels have a pleasant thick really feel in line with reviewers. Reviewers declare you may put heavy objects on high of this cowl with no noticeable bowing.
Critiques concerning the waterproofing are blended. A variety of 5.0-star evaluations describe little or no leaking, whereas 3.0-star evaluations (the minority) point out points with water incursion. One reviewer stated their first mannequin leaked and so they complained to Extang, which rapidly equipped a alternative that didn’t leak.
A couple of reviewers word that the {hardware} for mounting the entrance of this tonneau cowl shouldn’t be of top quality. One recommends shopping for your individual nuts and bolts (round $15) to make use of as a substitute.
Finest Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl: Backside Line
hard-folding tonneau cowl ought to be sturdy, open rapidly, and permit little water incursion. Most tonneau covers can deter theft, too. On this consumers information, we reviewed a number of the greatest hard-folding tonneau covers in 2025:
- Finest Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl: BAK BAKFlip G2
- Finest Funds Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl: Gator EFX
The next covers might also be of curiosity to you, although we’ve got not examined them ourselves:
- BAK BAKFlip MX4
- Extang Stable Fold 2.0
Arduous-Folding Tonneau Covers: FAQ
Are exhausting tonneau covers value it?
A tough tonneau cowl can defend your truck mattress from theft and excessive climate. If these are considerations for you, then a tough tonneau cowl could also be value it. In comparison with a tender tonneau cowl, a hard-folding tonneau cowl is often extra sturdy and safe towards thieves.
Which is best, tri-fold or quad-fold tonneau covers?
The primary distinction between a tri-fold and a quad-fold tonneau cowl is the looks. Each types may be straightforward to open and safe from the weather. As for one of the best, that comes down to private style.
Which is best, tender or hard-folding tonneau covers?
A soft-folding tonneau cowl is prone to be a lot inexpensive than a hard-folding tonneau cowl. Mushy covers are sometimes made with marine-grade vinyl and are good at stopping rain however not as safe towards theft.
Do exhausting tonneau covers save fuel?
Do exhausting tonneau covers preserve water out?
A top quality exhausting tonneau cowl will preserve most water out. Climate safety varies amongst merchandise and relies upon largely on the standard of climate stripping.
Full Arduous-Folding Tonneau Cowl Testing Methodology
When testing tonneau covers, we assessed ease of set up, ease of use, and sturdiness. We predict these are a number of the most essential elements when selecting a tonneau cowl.
Our product testing group then ordered the tonneau covers that greatest met these requirements. A group member examined every product on one of many following testing automobiles:
- 2013 Toyota Tacoma (Normal Cab) with a 6.0-foot, 2.0-in. mattress
- 2016 Toyota Tundra XS1 with a 5.0-ft., 7.0-in. mattress
- 2016 Chevrolet Colorado with a 5.0-ft. mattress
- 2017 Toyota Tundra with a 5.0-ft., 7.0-in. mattress
- 2022 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab with a 5.0-ft. mattress
- 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trailblazer with a 5.0-ft., 8.0-in. mattress
- 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 with a 6.0-ft., 9.0-in. mattress
We took word of how straightforward the tonneau cowl was to put in, general construct high quality, and ease of use. Every exhausting tonneau cowl was given a score out of 5.0 stars based mostly on these standards.
Ease of Set up
Ease of set up is a measure of how straightforward or troublesome it’s for a layperson to put in this tonneau cowl at residence. Requiring few instruments, putting in rapidly, and utilizing only some elements assist tonneau covers rating greatest on this class. We give decrease rankings to tonneau covers that take a very long time to put in or appear particularly difficult.
Among the many tonneau covers we’ve got examined, it appeared common that the included directions had been mediocre at greatest. Typically, we advocate trying up set up movies on Google or YouTube to your particular truck cowl. These movies typically embrace easier-to-follow directions than the written handbook, which frequently contains ambiguous diagrams.
Ease of Use
Our ease of use rating is a measure of how easy it’s to open, shut, and usually function the tonneau cowl as soon as put in. For this score, we search for issues like functioning latches, easy gliding alongside rails, or built-in straps for securing the tonneau cowl within the open place.
To attain greatest on this class, a tonneau cowl may have easily functioning latches and received’t jam on the tracks whether it is retractable. Light-weight tonneau covers additionally rating higher on this class.
Sturdiness
Our sturdiness score represents the power and longevity we anticipate from a tonneau cowl. We base this rating on the texture of the supplies, our personal expertise utilizing the duvet, and buyer evaluations. tonneau cowl ought to final for a few years, so to get a way of how these covers maintain up 4 or 5 years down the highway, we flip to buyer evaluations.
How We Rating Merchandise
Each tonneau cowl we take a look at is given a rating between 1.0 and 5.0 stars in every class. Right here’s what these star rankings imply in concrete phrases:
- 5.0 Stars: A 5.0-star score means a tonneau cowl is among the many greatest in a class. It could connect in minutes utilizing no instruments. To attain 5.0 stars for sturdiness, it ought to be made with the strongest supplies.
- 4.0 Stars: A 4.0-star score means a tonneau performs higher than common in a class. Set up could require a wrench, however the tonneau cowl should still be arrange in beneath 10 minutes. For ease of use, a tonneau cowl may have slam latches and pull strings for simple opening.
- 3.0 Stars: A 3.0-star score signifies what’s common or typical for a tonneau cowl, based mostly on our testing expertise. This implies a tonneau cowl that takes 20 to half-hour to put in and will lack slam latches or retractable options.
- 2.0 Stars: A 2.0-star score signifies the tonneau cowl performs adequately in a class however is poorer than common. Covers could not match completely or really feel totally secured as soon as put in.
- 1.0 Star: A 1.0-star score signifies that the tonneau performs nicely beneath expectations in a class. A 1.0-star cowl could not match in any respect or break simply throughout testing.
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*Information correct at time of publication. Merchandise topic to availability.
