New TRD Pro owner with a question to the board?

Board - this is my first truck ever! I have always owned sport cars or high performance motorcycles. I made the jump because we bought a house with some land and the sports car was impractical and got tired of calling my friends who owned trucks (they are happy as well).

I bought a 2018 Tacoma TRD Pro and my question is do I need a tonneau cover? Some friends say yes and some say no. I am looking Pros and cons. Thank you in advance.

 

I didn’t buy a pro, but the closest thing to it which is. 2018 OR 4x4 white. & it was te first thing I bought!

 

I was looking at and ready to buy a white OR and I found a Pro in the next state for the same price.

 

Need? Your truck NEEDS 4 wheels. Doesn’t need a tonnaoeah. Welcome. Install it if you like the security/way it looks.

 

Well for the joy of helping someone spend more money. Yes buy the most expensive one you can find.

Now as to whether you need one or not, Thats up to you to figure out. Do you need more secure storage area? Do you need an open area to carry large items? It all comes down to how your going to use your truck. Nobody can decide if you need something or not besides yourself.

 

My question derives from will it hurt my truck to not have one (ie bedmat or rust the frame?)

 

Pros:

Keeps items out of the weather and secure (level of security and weather resistance depends on style of cover)

Cons:

Costs money
Some covers can really limit some usage of the bed

 

Do you live where it snows or rains a lot? It’s nice to have a dry covered space to put stuff you don’t want in the cab.

I don’t see how anyone could possibly think it could hurt the truck to not have a tonneau cover.

 

No it won’t hurt anything. Your bed is plastic, tonneau does nothing for your frame.

 

I love in Ohio where it can be hotter than hell and then snowing the next day, to rain to pleasant all in the same week. Ohio weather does suck.

 

No. I question your friends.

 

yes, to save gas and security your personal item, my tonneau cover all aluminium , here Indiana the weather suck too.

 

Indeed it does suck, this is my 4th Tacoma and i have never had a bed cover.

 

What part of Ohio are you in?

I haven’t bought one for mine yet. I keep jumping around between thinking I need a Tonneau or a fiberglass cap. I’m starting to think I should split the difference and get a Softopper.

 

I use a roll up cover. It works great and I can roll it up and out of the way to use the full bed. While it’s covering the bed, I can easily store items like camping/fishing equipment or firearms. It’s not completely secure but if they can’t see it they won’t know it’s there

 

At highway speeds the EPA rating on my truck is 20MPG. With the tonno, I get 21-23 depending on the speed. At 65, I get definitely get 21 at least.

I got 19-20 before the tonno. I definitely makes a difference.

I have a tri-fold hard-top that can be easily removed. It also can be repaired with Home depot parts if necessary, which I really like.

The ability to fold the tri-top helps immensely. For instance, I loaded the whole bed with tree branches today. I'll I had to do was unlatch and fold the tri-fold it was a breeze.


Don't expect a tri-fold to be water-proof because mine certainly isn't, and I don't think any of the other options will completely seal your bed from rain either.

 

Mine came with the factory cover and I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love it when I have something valuable back there and need it out of sight and locked. I hate it when I need to haul something and have to call someone to help me take it off. (I'm old and weak) For trash or something I can just fold it up but to haul a couch, freezer or chest of drawers, it has to come off.

 

I live just outside of Columbus

 

Who make that cover? It looks good

 

I own a Pro and this is my 4th truck. First Tonneua cover. If you need an open bed on a regular basis a roll up tonneau would be great but if you don't then maybe a hard one will suffice. I guess the point is if accessing the bed a lot to move stuff maybe a cover is not for you unless it can be rolled out of the way.