Do you have a tonneau cover on your Ford truck – if so, tell us what kind?
Tonneau covers are among the most popular aftermarket application in the truck segment. If you’re shopping for a cover for your Ford truck, there are lots of options on the market.
The most cost effective option is a soft tonneau cover. This is generally manufactured from canvas or faux leather, and it snaps and locks into place along the bedsides and the tailgate of your truck. Newer soft tonneau covers connect by means of a hinged framework, which makes them easier to move in a hurry when compared to rolling up a traditional soft tonneau. In addition to being the least expensive options, these soft covers are generally lighter than hard covers.
The more premium option for your Ford truck’s bed is a hard tonneau cover. Some hard covers are a one-piece design, are painted to match the truck, and supported by struts similar to the ones found under the hood. The other popular style is a multi-piece hinged design, which are often black and sit flush to the bed. While they aren’t body colored – they present a cleaner look than a cloth cover. More importantly, many of these hard covers have a locking feature, and since they cannot be cut like a cloth tonneau they offer far more security for your cargo.
The key downside of installing any kind of cover on your Ford truck is the expense, and some have to be painted to match the body color. Still, for some drivers it’s totally worth it.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
