One of the best ways to give your Ford trucks that “finished look” is to get a tonneau cover for it. Tonneau covers are great for adding extra space to your truck for hauling groceries and other materials. They give the bed of the truck more protection and security than just leaving it open. If you’ve never bought a tonneau cover or if you don’t know what to look for, here are five questions to ask yourself to help you make the best decision.

1. What type of cargo am I going to be hauling?
If you carry a lot of construction materials that stick out the top of your truck, a soft cover tonneau cover is probably best for you. They are easier to remove than the hard covers because they aren’t as heavy.

2. What type of security do I need with my tonneau cover?
Soft covers aren’t very secure. They are nice for bringing groceries home, but if you’re carrying tools and stuff and leaving your truck unattended, somebody can cut through the cover and steal stuff. Hard covers provide more security and they even come with a lock on the latch.

3. What type of seal do I want?
Most of the inexpensive soft-cover tonneau use snaps or Velcro to attach them to the truck. But this can let water leak inside and ruin anything that’s inside the bed of the truck. Other soft tonneau covers have rubber seals that eliminate this problem.

4. What type of material do I want?
Fiberglass tonneau covers are heavier, but they are also more secure. You can also get them painted to match the color of your truck. Vinyl tonneau covers are more lightweight, but they are easier to remove. You can also choose aluminum which offers the best of both worlds.

5. Do I want a retracting cover?
Retractable tonneau covers give you the option of having a cover on your bed or not. They simply roll into a storage box when you’re not using it.