 
            Silverado Truck Bed Covers: Hard, Soft, Roll-Up, and More
A good truck bed quilt will pay for itself the first time it assists in keeping your gear dry, hides high priced instruments, or affords you a flatter airflow for a freeway trip. On a Chevy Silverado, it also cleans up the seem to be of that lengthy rectangle behind the cab and makes the truck feel greater completed. I even have put in and lived with near to each and every flavor of tonneau on substantial pickups, and the Silverado is one of the perfect systems to dial in by reason of the kind of fitments and the approach GM assists in keeping mattress rails steady throughout trims. The trick is matching the way you clearly use your truck with the way each one disguise opens, seals, and locks.
This consultant walks simply by difficult, gentle, roll-up, folding, retractable, and one-piece choices with the Silverado squarely inside the crosshairs. Along the manner I will weave in notes that apply throughout manufacturers and beds, due to the fact that lots of you power blended fleets. If you are cross-shopping a Ford F-a hundred and fifty tonneau canopy or a Ram 1500 tonneau quilt for a moment truck in the storage, the identical logic applies. Small main points like clamp layout, rail peak, and drain leadership count number more than advertising and marketing claims. Get the ones precise and you'll be able to put out of your mind approximately the cover and simply use the truck.
What things such a lot for a Silverado bed
Think in phrases of your bed length, cab configuration, and how you load. Silverados most commonly run five feet eight inches, 6 ft 6 inches, and eight feet beds. Short beds tuck near the cab and traditionally pair with loved ones responsibility, which favors brief access and a graceful profile. Long beds serve work crews with longer shipment, so clearance for tall loads and forklift get admission to turns into greater main. If you've gotten a toolbox, bed caps, or a mattress rug, check rail clearance and clamp kind beforehand you order. Most glossy Chevy Silverado tonneau duvet kits clamp to the inner rail lip with out drilling, regardless that retractables and a few one-piece lids ask for small drain holes at the the front corners.
Keep weight in thoughts. An aluminum tonneau conceal panel can weigh 40 to 80 pounds in step with section. A fiberglass tonneau duvet for a one-piece lid can push previous 100 pounds, which feels excellent once established, but you can need a 2d set of fingers for mounting and seasonal removal. Vinyl gentle covers weigh the least, normally less than 35 pounds, and they're the least fussy for the time of install on a Silverado because of the easy bed geometry.
Soft roll-up covers: mild, instant, and more advantageous than many expect
If you elevate changing plenty and want clean get admission to devoid of blocking the rear window, soft roll-up designs deserve a glance. These use a vinyl or woven polyester surface stretched on aluminum bows. On a Silverado they sit down low and retain a tidy profile that doesn't shout for focus. Brands vary, however the more effective ones anxiety smartly in iciness and latch securely on equally aspects on the tailgate.
The stereotype that delicate covers flap or leak comes from older hardware. Current soft roll-u.s.seal exceptionally neatly in factual rain, assuming the rails sit down square and the bulkhead seal is correctly compressed. I have run a smooth roll-up on a 1500 with a 6 feet 6 inches mattress because of a Colorado winter. Snowmelt located its method past the tailgate hole earlier than it determined the duvet seams. That is standard. If “waterproof” is your needs to-have, recollect that vans should not boats. Waterproof tonneau disguise claims in the main mean water-proof with authentic installation. Tailgate seals and stake pocket caps end the job.
Soft roll-u.s.play nicest with mattress racks and kayak mounts, in view that they roll up tight against the cab and leave the stake pockets exposed. They additionally payment the least, a robust factor in the event you are outfitting distinct vans. You will see same services for a Ford Ranger tonneau cover or a Tacoma bed cowl. The Silverado’s bed rails supply accurate clamp chunk, so set up in most cases takes lower than an hour.
Where they fall quick: security and cargo on properly. A knife will defeat vinyl, and also you will not stand on a tender disguise. If you park with methods inner tons, or in case you reside in which thefts spike, a exhausting method can pay off.
Soft tri-folds: straight forward and robust for the money
A smooth tri-fold duplicates plenty of the roll-up’s comfort however with panels that flip in the direction of the cab in three sections. These are wide-spread on the Sierra delicate tonneau quilt facet, and so they have compatibility Silverados identically. The bows are equipped into the panels so the canopy goes on or off quickly. For occasional hauling of tall furniture or a dirt motorcycle, you flip two sections, protected the defense straps, and power. For complete-mattress get right of entry to, remove the whole unit, that's potential for one adult for those who are at ease lifting approximately 30 to 40 pounds.
Soft tri-folds take a seat retractable bed cover systems a bit of taller than roll-ups. The the front panel stack can colour a small slice of the rear window while folded, and the precise of the pile catches greater wind, notwithstanding now not adequate to topic at felony speeds. Like roll-ups, they seal well on the rails, less neatly on the tailgate unless you add foam. They are quiet, charge positive, and supreme for a relatives hauler that often times necessities to open up for a Costco run or a couple of sheets of plywood.
Hard folding covers: the frequent sweet spot
If individual asks me for a one-dimension-matches-so much suggestion for a Silverado truck mattress conceal, I quite often level to a complicated tri-fold or quad-fold. You get more effective protection than vinyl because of aluminum or composite panels, plus the pliability to open the mattress in segments. On a Silverado, a great folding conceal clears the 1/3 brake light while solely stacked and uses prop rods or straps to force properly with the canopy upright.
A Silverado demanding hide in tri-fold shape ordinarily weighs 60 to ninety kilos and supports static so much from anyone’s weight to a few hundred pounds, depending on creation. That capability you are able to kneel on it to reliable a kayak or wash the roof, some thing soft covers are not supposed to deal with. Locks are commonly built-in with the tailgate: when the gate is locked, the cover latches are inaccessible. That counts as a locking tonneau quilt in useful phrases, despite the fact that it isn't really kind of like a key cylinder inside the hide itself.
Drainage on tough folders is respectable, thanks to perimeter seals and living hinges. Expect several drops after a strength wash or a sideways typhoon, now not puddles. If you pair a not easy folder with bed lighting fixtures or a mattress rug, the truck looks like a mobilephone closet. Install is attainable solo with a relocating blanket, but a helper makes the closing alignment less demanding.
Hard folding designs move manufacturers smoothly, which concerns if you happen to proportion fleet requisites. The logic that recommends a Colorado folding disguise for a mid-size Chevy Colorado also supports that option for a GMC Canyon mattress disguise or a GMC Sierra mattress conceal on the full-size trucks. You are picking a role, no longer just a badge.
Retractable covers: blank traces, key locks, and a canister to consider
Retractable tonneau procedures use slats that roll right into a canister at the bulkhead. In alternate for just a little of mattress period sacrificed to that canister, you get one-hand operation, partial establishing positions, and a genuine keyed lock on many items. For householders who bring a combination of instruments and passion tools, a retractable is a joy. I ran a Ram retractable cover on a piece truck for 2 years and stopped fascinated about it after the 1st week. You close it, turn the major, lock the tailgate, and it will become a trunk.
On a Silverado, the canister basically eats approximately 10 to 12 inches at the entrance of the mattress and lowers your greatest period for lengthy objects. That subjects for contractors carrying eight foot materials on a 6 feet 6 inches bed. The rails take a seat a bit of taller than low-profile folding covers, however the accomplished seem to be is modern. Water administration relies on the drain tubes you direction thru the mattress caps or manufacturing unit holes. Plan the drain direction beforehand you tighten the rails. If you drill, add paint or a rust inhibitor to the hot holes so winter salt does now not get a loose delivery.
Retractables can charge more and weigh more than cushy or folding covers, and the canister makes deep the front-corner get right of entry to trickier when loading through hand. On the alternative hand, the smoother desirable and routinely aluminum slat build presents you enhanced have an impact on resistance and a tidy aerodynamic facet. Many Silverado homeowners pair a retractable with a ladder rack that mounts to the stake wallet, developing a versatile setup for ladders, SUP boards, or a rooftop tent at the same time maintaining the bed enclosed. If you're balancing builds across structures, the related considering that works for a Ram truck bed disguise or a Tundra truck bed canopy will paintings the following.
One-piece lids: paint-matched and safeguard, with genuine commerce-offs
A one-piece tonneau duvet, sometimes fiberglass or ABS composite, turns the bed right into a gigantic trunk with a paint-matched surface that looks manufacturing unit. On a Silverado in a upper trim or a targeted shade, this may be gorgeous. The surface is powerful adequate to aid snow lots and survive carwash blasts, and it uses gasoline struts to lift. When closed, the lid can lock with a key and act as a true barrier for tools. It keeps young ones’ sports baggage, digital camera instances, and bags invisible and dry.
You pay for the glance and the protection with weight and entry constraints. A fiberglass tonneau disguise weighs a great deal, around 100 to a hundred thirty kilos, and install is a two-adult activity. The hinges and struts are wear gadgets, so budget for replacements after a few years in the event you open and close it on a daily basis. You is not going to in part open a one-piece lid in powerfuble tactics for hauling tall shipment, and driving with it lifted will not be clever. If your ordinary includes frequent journeys to the mulch yard or a filth motorcycle inside the returned each and every weekend, the limitation will sour you. But if your Silverado spends its existence wearing baggage, equipment in packing containers, and the occasional small appliance, a one-piece lid is stunning.
Paint tournament is more desirable than ever, but prevent sunlight fade in thoughts. After 4 or five years, the lid may possibly cling color otherwise than the cab. A detailer can combo gloss to store the whole truck presentable.
Materials and what they consider like in real use
Material decision alterations the day-by-day event greater than you would believe. Vinyl tonneau cover skins shed rain and remain flexible in chilly weather. They want occasional vinyl purifier to keep from chalking in direct sunlight. Aluminum tonneau cowl panels do no longer stretch, dent much less smoothly than you suspect, and come up with a reassuring stable believe if you close them. Composites are quieter while tapped and may be offering bigger thermal balance, handy when you convey products sensitive to warmth. Fiberglass can provide the major paint finish but the least forgiveness at some point of deploy. Across these, clamps and seals count greater than the floor. I actually have noticed a affordable clamp bite right into a painted rail and start rust, whereas a premium clamp with a rubber pad left a factory finish untouched.
Security, weather, and the conception of “water-resistant”
People ask for a water resistant tonneau cover, yet trucks have too many seams. Stake pockets, the tailgate perimeter, and the bed floor drains all invite water. A Silverado with a properly-put in challenging folding canopy and a tailgate seal equipment will preserve out such a lot rain. Parked on a slope with the tailgate low, you shouldn’t see more than a few tablespoons after a severe storm. If you pressure wash directly on the seams, it is easy to get seepage.
For robbery resistance, the hierarchy is straightforward. Soft covers prevent honest human beings fair. Hard folding and retractable covers strongly deter casual robbery on account that getting into takes time and makes noise. One-piece lids with inner rods and key locks offer the so much resistance. If you lift costly equipment, a locking tonneau conceal paired with a locked tailgate and an alarm makes feel. If you desire belt and suspenders, add a metal toolbox that sits less than the duvet close the cab.
 
Compatibility with racks, liners, and tie-downs
Silverado stake wallet receive aftermarket rack posts and accessory rails. If you plan a rack for motorcycles or lumber, prefer a cowl that leaves the wallet uncovered. Most gentle roll-ups and plenty of challenging folders do. Retractables generally comprise T-slot rails that combine with crossbars, a clean solution if you happen to convey kayaks or a roof container. One-piece lids and a few fiberglass programs do no longer play neatly with racks, unless you decide to permanent mounts, which defeats light removal.
Bed liners amendment clamp fitment. A drop-in liner thickens the rail, so look at various clamp throat intensity. Spray-in liners are friendlier. Bed rugs upload alleviation and maintain your knees, but push up a little bit less than the rail. Dry-are compatible clamps until now you peel adhesive. On one Silverado I hooked up a folding duvet over a heavy spray-in liner and needed to shim a rear clamp to prevent twisting the panel. That five-minute adjustment kept the seal tight and diminished latch effort for years.
Real-world use cases
Family hauler with weekend tasks: A tender roll-up or delicate tri-fold continues strollers and groceries out of sight and swings out of the method for mulch or a cloth wardrobe. The shrink cost allows while family budgets compete with activities fees and tires. This equal good judgment works for a Ford F-one hundred fifty smooth duvet in the event that your driveway consists of a blue oval subsequent in your bowtie.
Daily contractor with mixed quite a bit: A demanding folding hide balances safeguard and versatility. You can load pallets with the the front part down, then close it at night time to lock instruments within. On crews that break up trucks between GM and Ford, I actually have spec’d an F-one hundred fifty hard tonneau quilt with the similar style tough fold we wear Silverados, definitely as a result of the crew already knew learn how to latch and open it with one hand although retaining a drill inside the other.
Adventure build with rooftop equipment: A retractable with T-slots and mid-top rack posts gives you surfboards or a platform tent on appropriate, with the bed sealed for totes and camp tools. The comparable formulation proposal adapts to a Toyota Tacoma tonneau conceal on a smaller truck or a Toyota Tundra tonneau cover for a bigger body.
Show truck or weekend cruiser: A paint-matched one-piece tonneau makes the mattress suppose like a complete factor. Parked at motors and coffee, it cleans up the silhouette and attracts compliments. If you split time between a Silverado laborious canopy and a One-piece tonneau duvet on diversified vans, you could detect the only-piece supplies the quietest trip, with less wind noise and zero panel rattle.
Fleet people today and resale: A Chevy Silverado tonneau conceal that helps to keep the bed from sun fade and dings facilitates at resale, quite on lease returns. Soft covers are basic to maneuver to a better truck of the same mattress size, but cost iteration fitment. Hard covers fetch improved cost in case you promote them one after the other. If you also run a Ford pickup tonneau duvet or a Super Duty truck mattress canopy throughout the fleet, standardizing on establishing form saves time in tuition and decreases parts complexity.
Fitment specifics and measuring once
Measure the mattress from bulkhead to interior tailgate lip. Silverado beds degree actual to the spec, but equipment switch usable duration. A toolbox or a sliding tray steals inches from the front. If your truck has tail bed cover a multi-flex tailgate, investigate latch clearance and panel overhang on tough folders. Some early covers rubbed the flex joint when losing the inner gate, notwithstanding contemporary kits deal with this with notches or shorter caps.
Stake pockets every now and then send with plastic caps. If the cover rails sit down over them, dispose of the caps so that you can add rack posts later. If you not ever plan to take advantage of the wallet, leave them in and you upload a tiny climate facet.
If your truck wears the Z71 or a an identical off-avenue equipment, bed stream on hard roads will increase. That makes a case for forgiving seals. I select covers with compressible foam gaskets at the bulkhead and molded rubber at panel seams, not difficult plastic lips that desire unique spacing.
The quiet stuff: noise, vibration, and aero drag
At 70 mph with a headwind, an amazing conceal disappears. If you hear flutter, investigate rail clamp torque and the the front seal. Soft covers can hum if bows loosen. Adding a half-turn to the tension knobs fixes it. Hard covers hardly rattle unless a latch is out of adjustment. Many brand new designs comprise adjustable striker plates at the rear panel. Move them a millimeter at a time till the latch roll away truck bed cover closes with a agency push and the panel sits flush.
On motorway gasoline economy, covers aid on sizable vehicles, yet it’s not magic. Expect a modest bump, typically 0.five to at least one.zero mpg in blended driving. The achieve is steadier airflow throughout the bed as opposed to a healing-all. If your Silverado wears heavy all-terrain tires or a roof rack, these variables bury the canopy’s aero knowledge.
When you could not purchase a cover
If you load tall products day by day and will not leave whatever underneath cowl overnight, a naked mattress with a toolbox can also fit you more advantageous. If you have faith in a forklift broadly speaking and want full overhead clearance, folding panels stacked towards the cab can even nevertheless be in the method. If your paintings comes to gravel or demolition, think of how usally it is easy to drop debris into the bed. A conceal complicates dumping materials and invitations ruin from sharp edges. In those situations, a removable tender roll-up is the least intrusive compromise.
The pass-logo photo: instructions from other trucks
Shopping Tonneau Covers on the market is more convenient whenever you deal with manufacturers as structures with equivalent demands. The F-one hundred fifty bed canopy conversation mirrors the Silverado’s considering that both beds clamp well and both have stable aftermarket support. On smaller beds like a Ranger bed hide or a Toyota pickup bed cover, weight subjects extra, which pushes buyers toward delicate or gentle not easy folds. On heavy-accountability rigs, like a Ram 2500 tonneau disguise or a Super Duty, the bed flex beneath load is superior and you must always select covers with more potent hinges and extra seals.
The GMC Sierra bed quilt marketplace shares edge numbers with Chevy. The Sierra gentle tonneau duvet language is more marketing than big difference. A Chevy Colorado tonneau cowl and a GMC Canyon mattress cover teach you about rack integration at a tighter scale, which then transfers to the big alternatives once you plan an experience setup. On the Toyota aspect, a Tacoma rough tonneau cowl and a Tundra tender duvet usally come up when households mixture brands. It simplifies life to standardize on operation fashion: roll-up across the board, or folding across the board, so muscle memory allows inside the dark.
Pricing, magnitude, and the long game
Soft covers run low to mid countless numbers. Hard folders quantity from the top hundreds and hundreds to low 1000's based on parts. Retractables and one-piece lids step into the larger bracket. Labor to put in professionally varies via region, but for a Silverado truck mattress canopy are expecting an hour for soft, up to 2 for arduous folding, and two to three for retractables and one-piece lids. Doing it your self is extraordinarily potential with folding and mushy covers. Set apart a relaxed afternoon, a 10 mm socket, Torx bits if targeted, a tape measure, and endurance.
Consider overall payment. A cheap latch that fails costs you time and probably your equipment. A brilliant seal and a clear clamp set up preserve paint and reduce long-%%!%%82b51deb-1/3-4110-942b-ffe8e7f03690%%!%% rust chance on the rail edges. If you resell covers individually if you happen to business trucks, tough folders cling worth most advantageous seeing that they more healthy more investors and ship less complicated than a monstrous fiberglass lid.
A quick pairing e book for straightforward Silverado uses
- Daily driving force, mild hauling, finances delicate: Soft roll-up or smooth tri-fold. Quick deploy, low can charge, decent climate security.
- Mixed paintings and personal use, want security devoid of complexity: Hard tri-fold or quad-fold. Locks with tailgate, supports a few pinnacle load, opens in sections.
- Adventure construct with bikes or boards, desire key lock and rack options: Retractable tonneau duvet with T-slot rails and stake pocket racks.
- Style-first, exhibit truck, guard trunk-like mattress: One-piece tonneau conceal, paint matched fiberglass, plan for 2-consumer installs and strut protection.
- Fleet with drivers swapping among vehicles: Standardize on folding tonneau hide style across Chevy Silverado, Ford F-one hundred fifty tonneau cowl, and Ram 1500 rough quilt wherein a possibility.
Installation notes that shop time
- Dry-fit the rails, then near the tailgate and money rear cap alignment ahead of you tighten something. A misaligned rear seal is the maximum effortless leak point.
- If the kit involves drain tubes, look at various them with a cup of water beforehand finalizing. Water deserve to go out below the mattress, now not within the quarter panel.
- Lubricate latches with a silicone-nontoxic spray as soon as a year. It keeps them modern and decreases slam pressure.
- If you add a tailgate seal, clean with isopropyl alcohol and observe in heat weather so the adhesive bonds completely. Cold installs peel early.
- After the first dual carriageway power, retorque clamps. Aluminum relaxes a hair, and that sector turn stops long term squeaks.
Final recommendations from the mattress rail
A Silverado wears a tonneau properly considering that the proportions in shape. Whether you decide on a Silverado arduous canopy that folds cleanly, a vinyl roll-up that practically disappears whilst open, or a retractable that lends a top rate believe, the exact preference depends to your conduct, now not your neighbor’s. Pay awareness to how typically you need full bed entry, who needs to open and near the duvet, and what kind of you value a real lock. If you handle distinct trucks across manufacturers, hold the comparable good judgment over to a Ford F-150 tonneau disguise, a Dodge Ram mattress canopy, a Tacoma or Tundra, even a Colorado. The names switch, however the exchange-offs reside the similar.
Most proprietors grow to be happier after they opt for for purpose first, then coloration and trim. A folding tonneau conceal solves the so much problems for the such a lot laborers. A retractable feels the so much sophisticated if you happen to favor a key and clean rails. A one-piece lid seems to be the premier while the truck is polished for a night out. And a cushy canopy, chosen effectively and installed right, will wonder you with how a whole lot work it quietly does each day.
 
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Tonneau Covers
 
        Frequently Asked Questions About Tonneau Covers
What is a tonneau cover?
A tonneau cover is a hard or soft cover that fits over your truck bed to protect cargo from weather, theft, and UV damage. Unlike truck caps, tonneau covers are flush with your pickup bed and designed to fit perfectly, transforming your truck bed into a secure, trunk-like storage space.
How much do tonneau covers cost?
Tonneau cover prices range from $160 to $4,200 depending on the type and features. Soft roll-up covers start around $250-$500, hard folding covers range from $800-$1,500, and premium retractable covers can cost $2,000-$4,200. The price varies based on materials, security features, and brand quality.
Are tonneau covers easy to install?
Yes, most tonneau covers are very easy to install and require no drilling. They typically come fully assembled with clamp-on mechanisms that attach to your truck bed rails. Installation usually takes 10-30 minutes with basic hand tools and can be done by one person following the included instructions.
What's the difference between hard and soft tonneau covers?
Hard tonneau covers are made of aluminum, fiberglass, or composite materials, offering superior security, weather resistance, and durability but cost more. Soft covers are made of vinyl or cloth, are more affordable and lightweight, but provide less security and weather protection. Hard covers are better for valuable cargo, while soft covers are ideal for basic weather protection.
Do tonneau covers improve gas mileage?
Yes, tonneau covers can improve gas mileage by up to 10% by reducing aerodynamic drag. They prevent air from flowing into your truck bed, which creates turbulence and resistance. Roll-up covers provide the best fuel economy benefits due to their lighter weight and streamlined design.
Are tonneau covers waterproof?
Most tonneau covers are water-resistant rather than completely waterproof. Premium models with quality seals minimize water intrusion significantly, but some moisture may still enter during heavy rain, especially around the tailgate area. Hard covers with overlapping designs typically offer better water resistance than soft covers.
How do I measure my truck bed for a tonneau cover?
Measure from the bulkhead (against the cab) to the inside of the tailgate. Tonneau covers are sized in feet, so a 62.7-inch measurement would be a 5'3" cover. There's typically 1-2 inches of wiggle room, so round to the nearest manufacturer size. Most covers are model-specific for the best fit.
Can I use my tailgate normally with a tonneau cover?
Yes, tonneau covers allow for normal tailgate operation when both open and closed. Quality covers are designed to accommodate tailgate movement without interference. Some electronic tailgates may require slightly higher rail mounting to eliminate interference, but functionality remains intact.
Do tonneau covers work with toolboxes?
Some tonneau covers are compatible with over-the-rail toolboxes (19-21 inches), while others are not. Toolbox edition covers are specifically designed to work with most standard toolboxes. Under-the-rail and in-bed toolboxes generally don't interfere with tonneau cover installation.
What's the best tonneau cover for security?
Hard covers offer the best security, especially one-piece hinged and retractable styles with locking mechanisms. Aluminum and fiberglass covers with integrated locks provide maximum protection for valuable tools and equipment. Soft vinyl covers can be cut and offer minimal security against theft.
How do I clean and maintain my tonneau cover?
Clean tonneau covers with mild liquid soap and water. For vinyl covers, use UV protectant products periodically to prevent fading and cracking. Avoid citrus or petroleum-based products. Lubricate hinges and moving parts with manufacturer-recommended lubricants, and inspect seals regularly for wear.
Can tonneau covers handle snow and cold weather?
Yes, quality tonneau covers can endure heavy snowfall and extreme cold. UV-protected vinyl stays flexible to -40°F, and covers are tested under all weather conditions. Remove snow loads carefully and avoid forcing mechanisms when frozen. Aluminum and fiberglass covers handle weather extremes particularly well.
What's the difference between tri-fold and quad-fold covers?
Tri-fold covers have 3 panels and when fully open, take up one-third of your truck bed space. Quad-fold covers have 4 panels, are more expensive, but provide more cargo space when opened since each panel is smaller. Quad-fold covers offer better access for larger items.
Are retractable tonneau covers worth the extra cost?
Retractable tonneau covers offer maximum convenience with quick bed access but cost significantly more ($2,000-$4,200). They're worth it for frequent users who need easy cargo access. The canister takes up bed space near the cab, and manual versions require more maintenance than folding covers.
Do I need professional installation for a tonneau cover?
Professional installation isn't necessary for most tonneau covers as they're designed for DIY installation. However, professional installation ensures proper fit, prevents damage, and may be required for warranty coverage on premium models. Complex retractable covers might benefit from professional installation.