Pickup trucks are ubiquitous in the United States, owing their popularity to their versatility and overall comfort. The open bed in a pickup truck can be super useful for transporting furniture and other large items. That said, you may not need an open bed every day. The right truck bed covers can make your truck more useful for transporting items like groceries.

If you're looking for a bed cover, however, you might not know which one to select. According to Grand View Research, the United States truck bed accessories market size is worth an estimated $2.2 billion in 2022 and is forecasted to reach $3.3 billion by 2028. This means you'll have a lot of choices, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, we're going to cover some key considerations below.

What's Your Truck Make, Model, and Year?

The first thing you need to determine is the type of truck you own. You can start with the make and model, of course. However, make sure you pay attention to the year. Even if two model years look identical, subtle differences could change the exact bed cover you need.

What Size Is the Bed?

After noting the make, model, and year of your truck, you need to determine the size of the bed. Often, pickup trucks come with different bed sizes. With a Ford F150, for example, you might own a vehicle with a 5.5-foot, a 6.5-foot, or an 8-foot bed. You need to know what size the bed is before buying a cover.

What Will You Be Transporting?

With a soft vinyl cover, you can often fit in slightly oversized items in the bed for short trips. You don't want to permanently stretch out the cover, so you shouldn't overpack the bed for long periods. Hard truck bed covers are much less flexible and shouldn't be overpacked. Hard covers often offer a better seal, however, and may do a better job of keeping moisture and the like out.

How Often Will You Remove It?

If you need to frequently remove a cover, you may be better off with something like vinyl. These covers are typically easier to completely remove or roll up when compared to a fiberglass or aluminum cover. If you're rarely going to remove the cover, however, you might be better served by an aluminum or fiberglass unit.

Not sure what bed covers you should select? Don't worry, the experts here at Torrance Truck Tops are here to help. Our team can help you select the perfect bed cover. Contact us or stop by our store today!