Last Updated on May 24, 2022
Top Pick: Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold
If you are looking for a Tonneau Cover under 300$ and you don’t have the time to shop around, go for this one. Overall its performance and build quality are better than most others.
Are you confused about buying a budget tonneau cover? Or, are you worried that a low-cost tonneau cover won’t be a good category to choose from? We can help you to select the best budget tonneau cover.
A tonneau cover doesn’t only help protect the cargo you carry, but also helps to protect the truck bed. Picking the perfect tonneau cover on a specific budget is quite hard. To help you with that, we have created a list of the best budget tonneau cover under $300.
Before we start talking about all the suggested tonneau covers we have selected, let’s talk about deciding on a tonneau cover in general. You should always look for the following things whether you’re buying a budget or premium tonneau cover.
- Good and durable build quality
- Quality material
- Easy installation
- Enough truck bed access
- Easy to use
- Good sealing against weather
- Security
We will talk about all these factors along with all their features later in this article. You will have a clearer idea about these products once you read the article.
A tonneau cover with all the properties mentioned above should be a great option for any truck owner. You should check if it has all the necessary features you need and any deal-breaking downside. That way, the selected tonneau cover will be the perfect option for you.
Let’s move on to the list of the best budget tonneau covers or the best tonneau cover under $300 we made for you.
Top 3 Best Tonneau Cover Under 300$ Review
In this list, we have described every product in detail. So, you will have a better understanding of those tonneau covers. After reading the full review, you will be certain to choose the perfect tonneau cover for your truck.
1. Tyger Auto T3 (Soft Top) Tonneau Cover Tri-Fold
Style: Soft Tri-Fold
Material: Vinyl, Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Exterior: Dual-coated Vinyl
Lock Type: Tailgate
Tyger Auto is so popular that pretty much every truck owner knows this company’s name. This company offers various tonneau covers at every price point. We are going to talk about the T3 tonneau cover here. This custom tonneau cover fits on any truck bed. You just need to buy the right sized one.
First of all, let’s describe the build quality of this truck bed cover. Tyger auto used heavy-duty aluminum to make the frame of this tonneau cover. The frame is also powder-coated to prevent rust and corrosion. The covering part is made from dual coated 24 oz. marine-grade vinyl.
It is quite easy to install the Tyger T3 tonneau cover. You won’t need any tools to install this cover. The cover has pre-installed stainless-steel clamps. Aligning the cover with the truck bed rails and fastening the built-in clamps are the only things required to install the T3. It takes about 10 minutes to install this tonneau cover.
This tonneau cover sits right over the truck bed rails and doesn’t increase much of a height. That is why most truck drivers prefer low-profile tonneau covers. This soft-folding tonneau cover makes the truck more aerodynamic and helps reducing wind drag and also increases fuel efficiency. So, this tonneau cover can reduce fuel consumption.
You will get pretty good cargo security from this soft tri-fold tonneau cover. Two stainless steel clamps on the tailgate side lock the cover securely. These clamps are hidden under the vinyl cover and accessible after unlocking the tailgate.
You must be wondering about the weather protection. Well, it’s good in that department as well. T3 has integrated rubber seals on all sides. These rubber seals will work great against pretty much any weather. A bulkhead rubber seal is also included in case if you need it for your truck.
Pros
- Good build quality
- Durable material
- Easy and doesn’t require any tool to install
- Good security
- Seals well against weather
Cons
- One-third of the truck bed isn’t accessible
- A small amount of water can get inside on heavy rain
This tonneau cover is the perfect example that a low-budget tonneau cover can deliver you a good experience. It is well-built and durable for a soft-folding tonneau cover. The installation process is quite easy and you’ll get good security and weatherproofing from this cover. In a simple way, it is a good tonneau cover from every aspect. And from the budget perspective, this is the best tonneau cover under $300.
2. Gator ETX Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Style: Soft Tri-Fold
Material: Vinyl, Aluminum
Lock Type: Tailgate
Gator makes almost every type of tonneau cover. Most of their tonneau covers have a low-profile design. Gator gained popularity for its sleek and beautiful design language. Gator ETX is one of the most popular budget tonneau covers. This cover is available for almost all truck brands and models.
For the materials, Gator choose the best possible combination for this soft tri-fold tonneau cover. Gator used heavy-duty aluminum for the frame and industrial-strength vinyl for the top covering part. So, there is no doubt about the durability and build of this tonneau cover.
Gator ETX soft-folding tonneau cover is also easy to install. You don’t need any tool at all for the installation. You just need to align the tonneau cover with the truck bed rails and adjust the pre-attached clamps. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to install.
This is a sleek-looking custom-fit low-profile tonneau cover, just like most other Gator tonneau covers. A low-profile cover doesn’t add any extra height to the truck bed. So, this cover looks sleek and makes the truck more aerodynamic.
The ETX tonneau cover locks with the tailgate. Two hand-operated quick latches help to lock the cover. These latches aren’t accessible without unlocking the tailgate. This way your cargo will be totally secure all the time. To drive safely in the fully folded position, there are two attached buckle straps to hold the cover firmly.
You will get good weather protection from this tonneau cover. It has rubber seals on every side to seal the truck’s bed. This sealing can withstand dust, rain, and snow.
Pros
- Well-built and durable
- Easy installation process
- No-tool installation
- Good security and weather protection
Cons
- Offers only two-thirds of bed access
- Releasing a single quick latch doesn’t unlock the tonneau cover
The best thing about this tonneau cover is the look. It has the best look among all the tonneau cover we selected for this article. It’s also a good tonneau cover in terms of build, security, weather protection, and features. If you want the best-looking soft-folding tonneau cover under $300, this one is the best option for you.
3. Truxedo Truxport Soft Roll-Up Truck Bed Cover
Style: Soft Roll-Up
Material: High-quality leather-embossed vinyl
Exterior: Black
Lock Type: Tailgate
Truxedo is a renowned brand for making various types of tonneau cover. This brand offers some patented features exclusive for its tonneau covers only. Truxedo Truxport is the most popular and cheapest tonneau cover from the brand. It is compatible with any truck that came after 1975.
The top rolling part of this tonneau cover is made out of leather grain vinyl. This fabric is also UV-resistant to protect the cargo better. To attach the metal side rails with the truck bed rails, Truxedo provides industrial clamps. A few metal bars help to maintain tension on the vinyl.
Installing the tonneau cover isn’t as simple as the other two mentioned above. But compared to other tonneau covers, it’s way easier. You’ll only need a half-inch (0.5”) ratchet to install this tonneau cover. It’ll take about 20 minutes of your time.
The design of this soft roll-up tonneau cover is very minimal. The low-profile design will only increase 1.5” of your truck bed height. This helps the cover maintain the original design of the truck and a minimalistic look. This cover will give you 100% bed access in the fully open position.
Truxport tonneau cover will provide good security for your cargo. The cover locks with dual latches on the tailgate side. These latches are easy to lock and unlock. They aren’t accessible when the tailgate is locked.
The side rails of this tonneau cover have rubber seals pre-installed for better sealing. The vinyl attaches with two Velcro on the side rails which ensures better sealing. This tonneau cover also has built-in tension control to adjust the tension on the fabric. This spring-adjusted automatic tension control keeps the tarp tight in any weather.
Pros
- Well-built
- Easy to use and no-drill installation
- 100% truck bed access
- Automatic tension control
- Integrated metal bars to support the tarp
- Velcro strips keep the cover tight and sealed
Cons
- Included clamps aren’t that good (buying better clamps is suggested)
- Some water may get inside while raining
Truxedo Truxport is the only soft roll-up tonneau cover we have included in this article. That’s because there aren’t too many good options available and none of them aren’t as good as this one. It’s built well, easy to install and use, offers good sealing and security with some interesting and useful features. If you want a good roll-up tonneau cover under $300, this is the best option you can choose.
Final Words
In this article, we have described all the selected products thoroughly. This will help you get a better idea about these products. We have included pros and cons for all the tonneau covers to let you know what you’re getting into. We hope you have an absolute idea about the product you choose by now.
You may have already understood that a budget tonneau cover won’t have the best features as the premium ones. You’ll have to deal with that when you are buying a budget tonneau cover. But, one thing we can assure you is that these tonneau covers are the best tonneau cover you can find on the market.
As our final words about the products, we will say that if you want a good and sleek-looking tri-fold tonneau cover, the choice should be Gator ETX. And the best roll-up tonneau cover under $300 will be the Truxedo Truxport. The 100% bed coverage is the bonus with that.
For the best overall budget tonneau cover or the best tonneau cover under $300, go with the Tyger Autos T3. It’s undoubtedly the best among all the above.
Read Also:
Recommended jeep tj tonneau cover
