Introduction
Although pickup truck beds are very convenient to have for an wide array of purposes, sometimes they are a bit more of an inconvenience to have. For example, if you live in an area with plenty of rain or snow, they can easily fill up and add more weight to your vehicle while preventing you from putting any water-sensitive items in the truck bed. Or if you want items to be more secure and not out in plain site. This is a common reason why many people will consider getting one of the best folding tonneau covers. If you have been searching for a way to cover up your truck bed, this is probably the best product in helping you do so.
No matter what make and model your truck is, how big the bed is, and so on, it is possible to get a folding tonneau cover which perfectly seals your truck bed from the outside world and helps you keep this space clear and protected. For your reference, we have included the best truck folding tonneau covers below for you to look through so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not this product will work with your individual needs.
Contents
Best Truck Folding Tonneau Covers: Buying Guide
Before we look at the best folding tonneau covers, let’s first break down the variables which matter most in your decision of whether or not you want to purchase a truck folding tonneau cover. Since there are many different sizes and shapes that truck folding tonneau covers can come in, it is important that you know exactly what you want before you purchase it. Here are the top things you should consider before making a final decision.
Price of the Tonneau Cover
Tonneau covers are not that expensive, but can still take a decent chunk out of your paycheck if you simply go for the most expensive one you can find. Since they normally matched your vehicle’s make and model, they can be worth the extra dollars for the nicest one if it comes with plenty of attractive features. However, not everybody has the money to invest in the best folding tonneau cover.
However, most of the top tonneau cover options will be priced in the range of $200-600. Depending on the other variables presented below, this will give you an idea of how high you should set your budget for a good tonneau cover. Just keep in mind that the variables of the economy might make this price range higher or lower in the near future.
Durability of the Materials
There is little sense in getting a tonneau cover if it can be easily broken. For this reason, it is important that you get a cover which both covers your truck bed, and is strong enough to resist tears and scratches. If you want to get the best tonneau cover possible, make sure that there is some sort of metal protection to go along with the vinyl exterior. This way, you can ensure the cover both protects and locks in your truck bed’s contents.
Extra features of the Tonneau Cover
Perhaps the most prominent extra feature of a folding tonneau cover is the ability to seal away water and prevent your truck bed from being filled with snow and ice on an inclement day. Although not every folding tonneau cover does this, there are many options below which have this feature. There are also covers which come with all of the tools for an easy, no-drill install. However, outside of the benefits of receiving the cover, cleaning components for maintaining the cover, and so on, there are few extra features that you expect to receive.
Truck Bed Tonneau Cover Maintenance
Believe it or not most people have not been caring for their tonneau covers properly for decades. What most people do while washing their truck is they use the same chemical or soap and water on their covers as they do the paint and this is wrong. Most of these chemicals and soaps that are made for the rest of the vehicle are petroleum based. Petroleum is very bad for the vinyl in which most tonneau covers are made of. In many cases if you are not caring for your cover properly with the right cleaning product you will void the manufactures warranty of the entire truck bed cover. To learn more about the proper care of vinyl truck bed covers check out our how to article here.
Size of your Pickup Truck Bed
As you have probably already learned, not all truck beds are made at the same size. This is one of the biggest hindrances to purchasing a folding tonneau cover for many people. Since it can be difficult to find a model within your budget and expectations that perfectly fit your vehicle, people can sometimes be discouraged from purchasing a cover altogether.
However, it is important to keep in mind that there are many standard sizes that truck beds come in. Some of the most common sizes are 8’, 6.5’, 5.8’, and 5.5’. If you have a truck bed which is right around this measurement, you will be able to find a tonneau cover rather easily using the products presented below.
Top 5 Folding Tonneau Covers
MaxMate Premium TCD371015 Tri-Fold Tonneau Truck Bed Cover
Consumer Ratings 
(4.8 / 5)
If you have a truck bed which measures in at 5.8’, this might be best truck folding tonneau cover to fit your personal needs. This is especially true if you own a 2009-2018 Dodge with a 5.8’ truck bed. However, other trucks with a similar size might still be able to use this folding tonneau cover since they can always have the same dimensions as these models. There are also several other MaxMate Tri-Fold Tonneau Covers made for other models. Although this is a very attractive and durable cover, it can be a little more difficult to install since it requires you to cut small holes for the clamps.
Since this product comes with an impressive 10-year no-hassle warranty, you can rest safely knowing that your investment will be guaranteed for what could be the entire life of the truck. Since it comes with a make and model check to ensure that it will fit perfectly on your vehicle before it ships, there is little risk in placing an order for a folding tonneau cover like this.
Pros
- 8’ truck folding tonneau cover
- Made with 24 oz. marine grade vinyl and heavy duty-aluminum powder coated frames
- Horizontal frames allow you to easily fold up the cover at will
- Clamp-based covers are very secure and easy to keep in place once installed
- No-hassle 10-year warranty
Cons
- Requires you to cut small holes to secure the clamps
What Consumers Say about the MaxMate Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
- It arrived a few days earlier than expected. Mine is for a Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab with the 5″8″ bed. It came neatly packaged in a nice storage bag within a sturdy box. The instructions are a little vague but having already purchased a similar cover I knew what to do. It seems to be very well-made and I felt that the price was quite reasonable.
- Fits my 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab bed perfectly as advertised. When I opened the shipping box I thought I received a gray colored tonneau cover, but to my surprise I was looking at a custom cinched cover that protects the tonneau cover if you decide to store it! It was very easy to install, came with easy to understand instructions, extra foam strips and a (under the bed rail) battery operated light. This is a quality made bed cover at a price you can’t beat! It looks great and it is very securely held. If you have a Dodge Ram like mine buy one today!
- Absolutely love it. Fits great. Well made. I have it a good test at a drive through car wash and had zero water penetration inside of the bed. Same thing after a heavy thunderstorm. Not a drop. Cover fits securely and looks great. Worth every penny of an already low price.
- We’ve used this cover extensively on our 2003 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4×4 Cummins diesel with long bed and we love it. It has kept all of our gear clean and dry this summer and that is saying a lot considering how many times it rained and the fact that we live on a long, dusty, dirt road. I went the extra mile and installed a locking handle on the tailgate. So, when the top is clamped down and the tailgate is locked, it is as secure as it can be considering the soft vinyl top.
View MaxMate Tri-Fold Tonneau Covers on Amazon
Extand 92450 Trifecta 2.0 Folding Tonneau Cover
Consumer Ratings 
(4.4 / 5)
If you need one of the best truck folding tonneau covers for your 6.5’ truck bed, this may be the cover that fits perfectly on your vehicle to provide complete protection for your bed. This truck folding tonneau cover will perfectly on most Silverado and Sierra 1500, 2500, and 3500HD models, but can also fit on another vehicle if it has the same truck bed dimensions. For your reference, you can check to see if the folding tonneau cover will fit onto your truck before you even put forth the investment to purchase it.
There is an easy-to-install JawGrip at each of the important locking locations which are used to lock the folding tonneau cover in place. and will stay there permanently. The material is made of aircraft grade aluminum and leather-grained fabric, making your tonneau cover very durable and difficult to break into. Since it folds up very easily, this is a great way to protect the contents of your truck bed. As the tonneau cover is attractive and good-looking, many people prefer using a product like this instead of simply leaving the bed open.
Extang even makes it’s own Vinyl Tonneau Cover Cleaner called Tonno Tonic that they recommend you use to not void the warranty while extending the life off your tonneau cover.
Pros
- 5’ truck folding tonneau cover
- Easy installation using the Extang Exclusive Clamping System
- Aircraft grade aluminum material blended with leather grained fabric
- Clamps are very easy to lock and release
- Attractive and natural look added to your truck bed
Cons
- Doesn’t fit on many truck beds
- Normally not the most affordable tonneau cover
What Consumers say about the Extand Trifecta 2.0 Folding Tonneau Cover
- Fits my 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab perfectly. The seals around the unit are great and the folding feature is a great one. I have had a number of Tonneau covers, but this one is the best I have had yet. My truck is used to pull a fifth wheel on camping weekends and with the old snap down style I would spend way too much time snapping and unsnapping the unit. This is a huge time saver and looks great on my truck. I highly recommend this product.
- This was for my husbands truck, He has used this company on his two previous trucks. It fit perfectly and took him longer to cut the box up to place it in the recycling bin than it did for him to install the cover on his truck! Extang rocks!
- The cover arrived very fast and was packaged well. It is exactly what I expected and was very easy to install with a perfect fit. I love it.
- Great tonneau cover this is the 3rd Extang Trifecta I have owned on my 3rd truck, this has always been a great product.
View Extang Trifecta Folding Tonneau Covers on Amazon
Gator EVO Hard Folding Bi-Fold Tonneau Truck Bed Cover
Consumer Ratings (4.4 / 5)
If your truck bed measures at a mere 5.5’ feet, it can be a tad more difficult to find a folding tonneau cover that will perfectly fit on your truck. However, this option from Gator Covers might fit your vehicle, despite the exact make and model you have since there is a test to ensure that the cover will work perfectly. Made of aluminum, this cover is considerably durable and will protect the contents of your truck bed effectively.
Although this is a very durable cover which will easily install onto many truck beds which are 5.5’ in length, it doesn’t seal the bed completely away from water. It does keep most of the water out but it should nevertheless be considered a product solely for covering and protecting the contents, but not acting as a waterproof seal. If you simply want a cover which will allow you to hide valuable contents and lock them away from thieving hands, this is a great tonneau cover to consider.
Pros
- 5’ truck folding tonneau cover
- Made of aluminum panels to make it durable
- Easily uncovered one half of your truck bed by folding it
- Very easily installed
- 3-Year Warranty
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Doesn’t seal away from water entering the truck bed
- Usually not the most affordable tonneau cover
What Consumers Say about the Gator EVO Hard Bi-Fold Tonneau Covers
- I would start off by saying that this is a great buy if you just wanna keep your bed clean from any of the elements, such as water, snow or leaves falling from trees.. If you keep valuable things in your bed I do not recommend some one can just take a decent size hammer and smash it open.
- I wanted a hard cover and chose this one because I wanted to preserve my option to install a stake pocket rack. It has met my expectations. It allows a few drops of water in at the tail gate but no problem. The bifold is optimum for my 5.5’ box. It does not move or flutter at highway speeds. It is easy to open with an open tailgate but should be closed after the tailgate is closed. I had trouble getting the first rail clamp on ( in cold weather) during installation but the rest went quickly after I figured it out.
- This cover was the perfect fit for my 2017 F-150! I’m happy to have found a cover that was easy to install and meet the needs for my truck.
- The cover looks damn good. I’ve never had any other tonneau cover before so I don’t have anything to compare it to. Installation is pretty easy. No drilling required which really makes me happy. I haven’t put the drain tubes in yet but I probably will.
View Gator Bi-Fold Tonneau Covers on Amazon
Lund 95065 Genesis Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
Consumer Ratings 
(4.3 / 5)
A final option to consider for trucks which have a 5.5’ cover is this high-quality tonneau cover from Lund. Featuring a tri-fold opening which will easily allow you to climb up into your bed and look through everything you have stored in there, this cover is made with clamps and tear-resistant fabric which will keep the cover secure and the contents it hides protected.
People who are new to purchasing a tonneau cover are likely also the same people who don’t wish to use a power drill on their truck to install a cover. Thankfully, this model will easily install within minutes without the need for any sort of power tools which can otherwise be used unsuccessfully and harm your vehicle. There is also a limited lifetime warranty on this cover, meaning that it should be expected to last the entire lifetime of your truck.
Pros
- 5’ truck folding tonneau cover will fit many short bed models
- Tri-fold opening system allows you to easily access all parts of your truck bed
- Made with tear-resistant fabric with a black finish resembling leather
- Easy installation without a drill
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Can be easily punctured while folding if not operated with care.
What Consumers Say about the Lund Genesis Tri-Fold To
View Lund Genesis Tri-Fold Tonneau Covers on Amazon
Tonno Pro 42-400 Tonno Fold Track Tri-Fold Truck Tonneau Cover
Consumer Ratings 
(3.9 / 5)
If you have a 5.5’ truck bed and want to protect the contents of your truck bed from precipitation, this should be one of your top options. Since it has a nice rubber seal which will protect the inside of your truck bed from water, it is almost like adding more inside space to your truck by using this tonneau cover. It is constructed with an aluminum black powder coated and double-sided tear-resistant vinyl material to provide a durable cover which is easy to access.
This product also comes with a seal to protect your tailgate, a detachable LED bed light, cleaner for your cover, and gloves to use while installing your cover. It can be easily installed by an average Joe within minutes and folds up compactly within seconds after install. Since this tonneau cover is durable, waterproof, and can fit most 5.5’ truck beds, anybody with a truck this size should consider getting this tonneau cover.
Pros
- 5’ truck folding tonneau cover fits many different short beds
- High-quality double-sided tear-resistant vinyl material
- Aluminum black powder coated frame
- Weather seal protects from water
- Comes with a tailgate seal, detachable LED bed light, and vinyl cleaner
- Installs within minutes without tools
Cons
- Only fits 5.5’ truck bed models
What Consumers Say about the Tonno Pro Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
- The only “complaint” that I have is that at speeds over 70 MPH the wind causes the cover to flap against the frame some, and this results in some noise. This also seems to happen in certain wind conditions. It is installed correctly, and my opinion (I am a mechanical engineer and registered PE) this is expected given the design. The noise wasn’t annoying.
- Very easy to install on my 2012 Nissan Titan Pro 4X with utility track. It comes with brackets that mount at 4 points to the top of the truck bed. My only complaint is it seems to sit crooked and there is nothing I can do about it-it seals out water and let’s me protect the bed of my truck but it is always a little of center. To adjust it is a little bit of a pain.
- It’s lasted against highway driving, heavy winds, and cold conditions. The materials are pretty decent. It came quicker then expected.
- Received my new bed cover in the mail last week. It fit perfectly on my ’12 Nissan Titan and only took me about 10 mins to put it on. Since I have had it on, the cover has been tight and has kept my bed dry even through a driving rain storm. Great product so far.
- Fits perfect. Easy install less than 10 mins. Came with tonno pro bed light, wasn’t expecting that. Quick delivery. Great experience, product and satisfaction.
View Tonno Pro Tri-Fold Tonneau Covers on Amazon
Best Truck Folding Tonneau Covers: Summarized
Finding the best truck folding tonneau covers is something that requires you to find the perfect balance between price, durability, features, and the size which fits your truck. If you can find a product which perfectly meets your needs in all of these categories, getting the right tonneau cover for your vehicle will prove to be an easy experience. However, in any case, make sure to get a tonneau cover which perfectly fits your truck bed. After you decide which tonneau cover to buy make sure you are taking care of your investment so it last for several years. You can do this so by learning how to properly care for your brand new tonneau cover, check out our Guide to cleaning and maintaining a soft vinyl tonneau cover.
If you have a 6.5’ truck bed, you should first check out the Extand 92450 Trifecta 2.0 Folding Tonneau Cover. People with a 5.8’ truck bed should first look at the MaxMate Premium TCD371015 Tri-Fold Tonneau Truck Bed Cover. Lastly, if you have a 5.5’ truck bed, your first option might be the Gator EVO Hard Folding Bi-Fold Tonneau Truck Bed Cover.
