When you decide to buy a truck tonneau cover, you have several options as to material used in lid itself. There's aluminum, canvas, vinyl and plastic polymers. But, by far the most expensive option is fiberglass. You really have to think carefully if a hard fiberglass tonneau cover is right for you or whether you should save yourself a few hundred dollars and fit one made of one of the other materials.
Advantages of Fiberglass Truck Covers
Along with aluminum and polymers, fiberglass offers good security for your cargo. Most quality models are fitted with just one lock (found at the tailgate). The locking mechanism ensures that the lid is tight-fitted along the entire bed rail making forced entry difficult. Quality manufacturers like Gaylord Tonneau Covers offer bitted key systems or remote control devices.
They're also very weather-tight. Look for those that are fitted with neoprene seals. When was the last time your saw a hard fiberglass cover flap about on the back of a truck on the highway?
They can be the easiest type of cover to open and close. While vinyl covers may be light, access to your cargo is by means of undoing snaps, Velcro or peeling back a peel-and-seal system. This can be time consuming and fiddly especially if you need to get at a large part of the truck bed. Quality fiberglass covers come with hydraulic, lift assist hinges; they are designed to automatically open and close the lid with the slightest effort on your part - some can even be operated by remote control. The hinges also keep the lid open so both hands are free to haul in and out cargo.
Optional extras like inside lights make operating them easy. Carpeted interiors also help to protect your cargo.
Without doubt, when paint-matching the tonno to your truck, fiberglass is the best material. No other material has that wonderful, lustrous look when painted. If you want a factory-fitted look, you must choose fiberglass.
Finally, some manufacturers will make specific models to fit vintage or Classic trucks. These beautifully crafted tonnos add to the wonderful lines of these trucks. Can you really imagine one of the classics being fitted with a vinyl cover?
Disadvantages of Fiberglass Truck Covers
There's no denying that they are heavier than plastic polymer and vinyl versions. This makes self-installation problematic for some. Most installations are a two-man job.
Their weight also makes them less than ideal for those who need to regularly remove the cover for carrying large cargo loads. Again, a helping pair of hands is required.
For trucks that work for a living or those that take a lot of knocks, aluminum or plastic polymer versions might be well suited. However, don't rule-out fiberglass altogether; the Gaylord Butterfly tonneau is a very practical - and stylish - cover specifically designed for work.
Some might argue that price is also a disadvantage, but I'd argue that the price of fiberglass is a reflection of the materials and component used. A hard fiberglass tonneau cover is worth its price tag: you get what you pay for in life.
Follow the links for hard fiberglass tonneau covers like Leer and Gaylord truck covers. The best truck tonneau cover is one made of fiberglass
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Cassidy
By Robin Cassidy
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