A Tonneau cover is one of the best things you can purchase for your truck; it protects the bed when you don’t need it. You can keep it covered to prevent rain, snow, and sunlight from ruining the finish and keep the mud and road grime off the bed to keep it in good condition for when you’re hauling things. The good news is that anyone with a Silverado truck can benefit from owning and using a cover!
It’s essential that you choose the right product, and we have focused on five different covers. Four are hard covers while one is soft; some roll up and some fold. Regardless, we’ve picked these five because we think they are the best and will let you know which one we like best at the end.
Silverado Tonneau Covers We Reviewed:
TruXedo Tru Xport – Best Fabric Cover
- Fits GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado 1500 (2014-2018 models), as well as the Limited/Legacy (2019)
- Designed for a bed of 5.8’, 6.6’, and 8’
- Sits 1.5 inches above the bed of the truck
The only soft cover we selected is the TruXedo TruXport. We understand that some people just don’t like hard covers or may not have it in the budget for one. If you must have a soft cover or like them better, this is the cover for you.
The top-mount design is something we really liked because it sits 1.5 inches above the bed of the truck, which looks stylish. We also loved the leather-grain fabric, though we do admit that we like hard covers more. The fact is that the fabric is designed to withstand harsh elements.
Our favorite thing about this cover is the pre-set tension control, which is integrated into the latching system. The cover always stays tight so that it doesn’t whip around, which could cause it to tear or wear out over time. Plus, it’s easy to install and doesn’t require special tools or drilling.
We recommend the TruXedo TruXport Soft Roll-up Tonneau cover for anyone who has a truck that will fit it, wants no-fuss installation, and likes the look/style of soft covers.
Bak Revolver X2 -Best Splurge
- Fits GM Silverado and Sierra (2004-2013 models)
- Patented Locking Rails
- Rolls tightly behind the cab
If you’re looking for something that is stylish, sleek, and designed to last, the Bak Revolver X2 is the option for you. The slats are made of aluminum with a vinyl overlay, which means you get the sturdiness and strength with the ability to roll the cover back quickly when you need it.
You don’t need a drill to install the product, and you also get patented rotational locking rails. The automatic slam latch allows you to operate it from both sides.
The feature we liked most about this product is that the cover can hold up to 400 pounds of weight, as long as it is evenly distributed. Most cover manuals tell you not to put anything on the cover, and while we can’t think of many times you’d want to do this, it’s good that you have the option to do so.
The best thing about this cover is that it looks like a soft cover and gives you the luxurious feel while still remaining secure. Along with such, you don’t have to remove the cover completely to get what’s in the bed and won’t have to worry about seeing out the back glass.
We recommend the Bak Revolver X2 if you usually store expensive items in the truck bed and need security and style.
Tyger Auto T3 Tri-Fold – Best Value
- Compatible with GMC Sierra 1500/Chevy Silverado (2014-2019 model years)
- Only works with models that don’t have a Utility Track System
- Uses aluminum, stainless steel, and marine-grade vinyl
If you desire something that can withstand almost anything, the Tyger Auto T3 Tri-Fold cover is the best option for you. It is made using dual-coated marine-grade vinyl (24 ounces), has stainless steel clamps for durability and easy installation, and heavy-duty aluminum frames that are powder coated.
Of course, we love that it is so strong and durable, but what we liked most was that the horizontal crossbars are pre-assembled, which means less work to install it. These crossbars also fold up conveniently when you fold up the cover, which means you get full access to the bed of the truck without having to remove the crossbars first. It also creates more support if you put something on the cover, such as a toolbox while you’re working.
The one thing that we didn’t quite like about the Tyger cover was that you did have to make small holes in the cover vinyl if you have a truck with over-the-bedrail bed-liners or else the clamps wouldn’t stay and be secure. However, if you have an under-the-bedrail bed-liner, you don’t need to modify the cover at all.
This is a split decision; we do recommend it if you want security and low prices, but check your bed-liner first because you’re not going to like punching all those holes!
BakFlip G2 Tonneau Cover – Best for Security
- Fits Sierra and Silverado makes (2014-2019 model years)
- Features aluminum-surfaced panels
- All-new buckle system (underneath cover for security)
Those who tend to haul expensive items and want to keep them protected need the BakFlip G2. This cover is designed for security and safety. You get a fully secure trunk when you close the cover completely and lock the tailgate, ensuring that would-be thieves can’t pry open the cover. However, when you need to use the bed to haul large items, you can just flip the cover open; flip-up one-third or all of it to gain full access to the bed.
As one of the BakFlip lineup, the G2 is a top seller for a reason. The aluminum-surface panels look sleek, stylish, and rugged all at the same time. We still don’t know how the company managed to do that, but it looks amazing, and you’ll love it every time you look at it.
What we liked best about the G2 is that the cover lies flush with the sides/tailgate of your truck, which means there aren’t any dips, bumps, or space between them. It looks much better to us, but it also adds more security.
Looks aside, we also like that the cover is easy to install. No drill is required for installation, and the panels automatically latch. It’s also designed to work with many other accessories and gives you full access to the pocket holes.
The one caveat is that security doesn’t come cheap; the price is a little higher than we would have liked to see, but it is comparable with many other Tonneau covers we’ve reviewed. However, if you need to ensure the safety of your items for work or other needs, we think this is an excellent option.
BakFlip MX4 Hard-folding Cover – Best Overall
- Designed for Sierra and Silverado trucks (2014-2019 model year)
- Aluminum panels and Matte Finish
- 400-pound weight capacity
Have you ever been working on your house/car/lawn/any home improvement project and go to set something on your truck bed cover? Most of the cover manufacturers recommend that you don’t set anything on them because they could tear or otherwise get damaged. However, the BakFlip MX4 features scuff and scratch resistance because of the aluminum panels used. The Matte finish looks stylish and ensures that the color is uniform throughout. While looks aren’t everything, we like that the MX4 looks streamlined, modern, and stylish all at the same time.
We also really liked that the dual-action seal ensures that you can open/close the cover regardless of the position of the tailgate. Plus, you get full access to the truck bed when the MX4 cover is folded up, which means you can haul anything; if it’s too big for the cover, roll it back!
A unique feature that most people wouldn’t think about is that this cover has a low-profile appearance; you can still see the third brake light, even when the cover is folded up to the cab.
We really didn’t find much that we didn’t like about this product, though the price is a little steep. However, with all the advantages, you may not care and may find that a splurge is in order to have something so unique and so beneficial; this was our favorite Tonneau cover for Silverado models.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Cover for Your Chevy Silverado
When focusing on a truck bed cover for your Silverado, there are multiple factors to consider. The first is the quality; while price can be an indication of quality, it’s not the only thing to focus on, and you shouldn’t sacrifice quality of construction, appropriate materials, or the ability to do the job you need it to do.
First and foremost, you need the cover to cover the entire truck bed; some are going to do this better than others. For example, you may want the cover to be flush with the sides/tailgate or may want it to have a small lip or rise. The ones we reviewed did not have a dip (depression); they are available, but we feel that they don’t do the best job of keeping off rain and could be subject to burglary.
Other things to consider when finding the right truck bed cover for your Silverado include:
Hard/Soft Covers
You can find both options, and we did review one soft cover. However, soft covers don’t have much security and the one we reviewed for being good as a soft cover was just as expensive as hard covers.
Hard covers have a hard shell or vinyl as the cover material. You are likely to want something that folds or rolls away so that you can easily and quickly access your truck bed.
Installation
All the covers we reviewed were easy to install; most didn’t require any tools and some only required a wrench. However, you also have to factor in your bed liner. For example, the Tyger cover required modifications if you had an over-the-bedrail liner, which could void the warranty.
Warranty
If you’re going to purchase something, it is essential that it has a warranty. All of the products we reviewed had a warranty, with the TruXedo TruXport having the best warranty (five years). Others had two- or three-year warranties and the Tyger cover had a limited lifetime warranty. Make sure you read all the warranty fine print so that you know what it covers.
What Is Best for You?
While we can’t answer that because we don’t really know what you need or why, we do have a few pointers. The first step is to determine if you want a hard or soft cover. The next step is to determine how you want the cover to open and close. You may want something that rolls back to the cab window, folds, or retracts. We did not review any retractable covers because we felt they were too expensive, and they required a lot more work to install them. Primarily, we believe that they are a good choice, but didn’t fit in with the overall theme of this review.
You should also consider how you use your truck and cover. If you are going to keep the cover back most of the time, a low-profile cover is best. If you plan to keep the cover closed to protect the bed most of the time, you may want something that runs flush with the tailgate/sides and something that is UV- and weather-resistant. It’s also important to determine if you’re going to put things on the cover itself, such as rock or work tools while you’re working, as many of them don’t specify weight options.
Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed reading our research and found it useful. We also hope that you can use this information to find the best truck bed cover for your needs.
If you chose not to read through everything and wanted to skim down to the bottom to find out what we liked best, we think the BakFlip MX4 is the best product overall, though the best value was the Tyger Auto T3 Tri-fold Cover.
If you want something durable, reliable, and functional, either of these options is going to work well for you.
Also find the best programmer for 5.3 Silverado.
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