A bed cover, or tonneau cover as they are often called, is one of the most useful accessories you can install on a pickup truck such as the Ram 1500. They can prevent damage that naturally occurs over the lifespan of the truck, caused by everyday wear and tear as well as rain, snow, falling leaves and more. In addition to that, the right tonneau cover can add some security to your truck bed, keeping away any wandering eyes or hands.

The difficulty comes in choosing the right tonneau cover. How does one choose the best tonneau cover for Ram 1500 trucks? Here at Ultimate Rides, where we build custom trucks and sell them to customers across the country, we deal with tonneau covers on a regular basis. That experience has given us a lot of expertise when it comes to finding a high-quality cover.

Check out the list we’ve compiled below for our recommendations on a tonneau cover for the Ram 1500. After that, stick around for more context and details on choosing the best cover. Finally, if you have any questions or are thinking about buying your next vehicle soon, feel free to reach out to Ultimate Rides over the phone!

1. PowertraxONE MX Power Retractable Ram 1500 Tonneau Cover

Compatibility: 2019-2023 Ram 1500, 5’7″ Truck Bed (Does Not Fit with Multi-Function Tailgate)

The first tonneau cover we’d like to recommend might be costly, but drivers with enough room in their budget should find the product worth it. It’s a heavy-duty power retractable hard tonneau cover, allowing you to open and close it with the press of a button. This tonneau cover fits modern Ram 1500 models, but only those with the smaller truck bed size. The cover provides excellent security for your truck bed, and you’ll have the ability to lock the tonneau cover in place at any point along the track. If you own a Dodge Ram and plan to keep any valuable items in your truck bed, this is certainly the best option we can recommend.

PowertraxONE MX Retractable Truck Bed Tonneau Cover

2. Syneticusa Automatic Retract Hard Tonneau Cover

Compatibility: 2009-2023 Ram 1500, 5’7″ Truck Bed (Does Not Fit with Multi-Function Tailgate or RamBox)

Looking for a hard retractable cover, but don’t feel as though you need the power enhancement? This tonneau cover from Syneticusa might be for you. It fits on a wide range of Ram 1500 trucks, and it’s without a doubt another one of the best options available to modern drivers. This company’s tonneau covers are highly durable, able to support plenty of weight and will stay closed when you need it to. The cover may not be cheap, but it will help keep the value of your Ram 1500 high as you continue driving it. Consider how much the quality of your truck is worth to you, and decide if this tonneau cover fits the bill.

Syneticusa Automatic Retract Hard Tonneau Cover

3. Gator Recoil Retractable Truck Bed Tonneau Cover

Compatibility: 2009-2018 Ram 1500 and 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Classic, 5’7″ Truck Bed

Next up, we have another retractable hard cover, this time from manufacturer Gator. They’re one of the most popular providers of tonneau covers, and for good reason. Their products are reliable, usually fairly simple to install, and do an excellent job defending your truck bed from harm. If you drive a Ram 1500 Classic from 2019 or 2020, or a typical Ram 1500 from 2009 through 2018, this is the cover for you. It’s easy to use, and even comes with a two-year guarantee from the manufacturer. The textured powder black coating will even help ensure rust doesn’t form over your time using the tonneau cover, making it one of the best choices for Dodge Ram drivers.

Gator Recoil Retractable Truck Bed Tonneau Cover

4. BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Tonneau Cover for Ram 1500

Compatibility: 2019-2023 Ram 1500, 6’4″ Truck Bed (Does Not Fit with Multi-Function Tailgate)

Do you drive a modern generation Ram 1500 with a longer truck bed? This tonneau cover from BAK may be the one for you. It is a hard folding tonneau cover, simple to use and install. The tough aluminum panels ensure an impressive level of durability, and the tonneau cover automatically latches in place when put into certain positions for ease of use. This tonneau cover can support as much as 400 lbs. of weight on top, while also including a five-year no-hassle warranty from BAK. Unlike some lesser tonneau covers, it won’t block your third brake light either. In our opinion, this is easily one of the best options out there for the Dodge Ram pickup truck.

BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Tonneau Cover

5. Gator EFX Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover

Compatibility: 2019-2023 Ram 1500, 5’7″ Truck Bed (Does Not Fit with Multi-Function Tailgate or RamBox)

With our next tonneau cover recommendation, we’re going back to manufacturer Gator. This time, though, the tonneau cover is a much more affordable tri-fold option. This tonneau cover is similar to our last pick, but designed for Ram 1500 models with the smaller truck bed size. You should also be sure to note that it doesn’t work with the advanced multi-function tailgate, or the RamBox storage system. However, if you don’t have those things installed on your Dodge Ram truck, that won’t be of any concern. The tonneau cover gets the job done and then some, and you won’t have to break the bank in order to pay for it. For all of these reasons, it’s another contender for being the best tonneau cover available for the modern Ram 1500.

Gator EFX Hard Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover

6. Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover

Compatibility: 2002-2018 Ram 1500, 6’4″ Truck Bed

Though they are just now making their first appearance on our list, Tyger Auto is another one of the best providers of tonneau covers out there. This soft tonneau cover features a tri-fold design that offers easy access to your truck bed when you need to grab or store something. In addition to that, the installation process should be a walk through the park. There is no drilling required, and all the hardware you need should come included with the tonneau cover. The material used for the cover is marine-grade vinyl, with a stainless-steel frame that helps keep the tonneau cover in position without worry. If you’re looking to save some money and don’t mind settling for a soft tonneau cover, this is the first option we’d recommend for your Ram 1500. Just make sure that it’s the right fit for your model before you make a purchase!

Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover

Find the Best Ram 1500 Bed Cover

The key to choosing the best tonneau cover for Ram 1500 models is to first examine your own needs. What do you use your truck for on a regular basis? If it’s a work truck and you typically transport expensive tools and equipment, a durable hard cover with greater security should be a priority. Do you live somewhere that sees excessive levels of snow accumulation? If so, hard tonneau covers may be more beneficial, as they can support a great deal of weight.

However, if security isn’t near the top of your priority list, and you’re just looking to protect your truck bed from wear and tear, a soft cover can likely do the trick. They’re often not as durable, but they can usually be found at a much lower price. Soft tonneau cover products are common, and there is quite a variety available. However, just make sure you can trust the product before you buy and install it on your Ram 1500 pickup.

Whatever style you choose, make sure to pick your tonneau cover carefully. Pay attention to the materials used to construct the tonneau cover, as well as what previous buyers have to say about using the product. Check websites such as Amazon to find possible benefits like free shipping, or you could even contact a team of professionals such as Ultimate Rides to order and install the tonneau cover for you.

Ram 1500 Bed Cover Installation

Speaking of installation, depending on the tonneau cover you choose, the process could be a piece of cake or quite intensive. Soft covers are typically pretty easy to install, but that’s not always the case. A hard cover is more likely to give you a difficult time, but it still may be possible to install at home if you’re feeling up to it. Do some research on your specific cover and figure out if it’s something you can handle. There should be video tutorials out there to show you how to go about installation. If you determine it’s not within your skillset, which may be possible for more advanced hard covers, don’t be afraid to contact a team of professionals for assistance with your tonneau cover installation.