Once you find a good tonneau cover for your truck, you might end up in a situation when you need to remove it.
Learning how to remove a tonneau cover doesn’t need to be difficult if you have the proper steps.
Can tonneau covers be removed? Yes, and we will show you how.
Why would you need to know how to remove a hard tonneau cover? There are times when you need to carry larger cargo items in the truck bed. Some will roll back to make additional room, while others need to be taken off completely.
Additionally, you might want to install some truck accessories, such as a bed roll bar or cargo management system. During the installation, the tonneau cover might need to come off. Finally, when the time comes to replace the tonneau cover, you will also need to remove the old one.
Related Article: Measuring For A New Tonneau Cover
Can You Remove A Tonneau Cover By Yourself?
Are tonneau cover removal steps easy to learn? Yes, but if you want to learn how to remove a tonneau cover by yourself, you are going to need a little extra time and some patience. Obviously, it would be easier to remove the truck bed cover if you had a friend to help you.
The most difficult to remove are hard, hinged tonneau covers. However, if you are only using a textile cover, you should be able to remove it fairly easily, even by yourself.
How To Remove A Tonneau Cover: Different Types Explained
If you need to learn how to remove tonneau cover clips and the cover itself, you should ideally have a helper and a few tools. We recommend grabbing a screwdriver and wrench. However, some models might require more equipment.
You could always read the owner’s manual for more instructions. If you can avoid learning how to remove tonneau cover rails and just stick to the top, you could save yourself some time.
Hard Tonneau Cover
Is the hard tonneau cover easy to remove? Typically, you will need two people to remove this cover safely. Follow these steps if you want to figure out how to remove a hard tonneau cover.
- 1Open the tailgate and find the attachment points.
- 2Remove any clips with your screwdriver.
- 3Remove the shocks included with the tonneau cover.
- 4Take off the pins from the hinges. You might need to crawl into the bed with a flashlight to complete this job.
- 5Release the tonneau cover from the curved arms.
- 6Loosen the mount and take the cover off of the bed carefully. If you are trying to do it alone, you might want to use a small crane.
Soft Tonneau Cover
Figuring out how to remove a soft tonneau cover is the easiest of them all and can probably be done alone. Just follow these simple steps.
- 1Open the tailgate and find the attachment points.
- 2Remove the cover clips with the screwdriver.
- 3Take off the pins. You may need to get into the truck bed with a flashlight for this step.
- 4Release the soft cover from the arms.
- 5Take the tonneau cover off of your truck bed.
Of course, if you have a rolling or sliding tonneau cover, you might not need to remove it all. Instead, consider just folding it back or rolling it to accommodate your gear.
Fiberglass Tonneau Cover
Removing a fiberglass tonneau cover requires you to follow many of the same steps as we covered with the hard tonneau cover. This isn’t an easy process, so grab a friend if you can.
- 1Open the tailgate and find the cover’s attachment points.
- 2Remove any clips with your screwdriver.
- 3Remove the shocks included with the tonneau cover.
- 4Take off all of the pins from the hinges. Crawl into the bed with a flashlight to finish this job.
- 5Release the tonneau cover from the curved arms.
- 6Loosen the mount and take the cover off of the bed carefully.
Removing The Most Popular Tonneau Cover Brands
Bakflip Tonneau Cover
If you want to know how to remove a Bakflip tonneau cover, or you are attempting to figure out how to remove a tonneau cover on Tacoma trucks, follow these simple steps. These instructions should also work if you are trying to figure out how to remove a Ford Sport Trac tonneau cover made from this brand.
- 1Flip the Bakflip cover all the way back.
- 2Find the two plastic knobs underneath the cover in the corners and unscrew them.
- 3Lift off the truck bed cover and store it safely.
Snugtop Tonneau Cover
If you want to know how to remove a Snugtop tonneau cover or you are trying to figure out how to remove a tonneau cover on F150 trucks, here are some basic steps for you.
- 1Use a flathead screwdriver in the two disconnects at the end of the cab.
- 2Twist it in the hole until the rings come out.
- 3Open the cover and have a friend hold it vertically.
- 4With your screwdriver, pry off the clips located at the ends of the shocks.
- 5Take the shocks off the bed rail mounts.
- 6Release the cover from the bed.
Leer Tonneau Cover
Removing a Leer tonneau cover can be different depending on what model you choose. If you are trying to learn how to remove a Ford Ranger tonneau cover, the instructions will vary based on whether the Leer cover is a folding, rolling, or fiberglass model. In every circumstance, you will need to remove the clips and gently take the cover off.
Undercover Elite Tonneau Cover
If you want to know how to remove an Undercover Elite tonneau cover, you may find yourself needing some help. These covers aren’t unnecessarily heavy, but they are bulky as a one-piece model.
- 1Raise the truck bed cover.
- 2With a person on either side, pop off the support strut located at the bracket.
- 3Swing the cover up and place it in the hanger.
- 4Turn the release until the hinges are free.
- 5Lower the cover and slide it off the back of the truck carefully.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
How do you adjust a tri fold tonneau cover?
You start by folding the cover, without adjusting its position on the bed. With the front cab latch under the metal bed rail, tighten the latch until the lip is in direct contact with the bed rail. You want the fit to be snug, but you should never over-tighten it.
Will a tonneau cover fit with a bed liner?
The majority of tonneau covers are going to fit fine with spray-on bed liners and under-the-rail systems. Retractable covers sometimes need the liner to be trimmed slightly at the bulkhead. If you want to install a tonneau cover with an over-the-rail bed liner, you might need to make some modifications.
Are tonneau covers easy to break into?
Some tonneau covers are more secure than others, but anyone can break into your truck bed if they really want to. Research the various materials to find the option that will provide you with the most security.
Is soft or hard tonneau cover better?
The hard tonneau cover is going to offer increased security from would-be thieves, and they offer a durable, rough look. On the other hand, the soft tonneau cover tends to cost less, is easier to install or remove, and often allows you to use part of the truck bed without taking it off completely.
Will a car wash damage a tonneau cover?
If you take your truck through an automatic car wash, you risk causing damage to the tonneau cover and other components. If you must go through the automatic car wash, remove the tonneau cover first. Otherwise, we recommend learning how to detail a car for the best results.
Conclusion
Tonneau covers have many benefits, some people say that they might even help save on fuel consumption. It doesn't take a lot of skill to learn how to remove a tonneau cover, just patience and time. If you want access to your truck bed or you are ready for a change, follow the steps we outlined to get started.