Tonneau covers are made of diverse materials like aluminium, vinyl, fibreglass and they are offered in hard and soft variants. The soft ones however tend to shrink after prolonged usage.
Fitting a shrunken tonneau cover onto the truck can be rather difficult in some cases. Naturally, the soft ones shrink easily as they have soft fabrics. You will find such tonneau covers shrinking when they are removed from the truck bed and stored elsewhere for quite some time. When this does happen, there are ways to salvage the situation.
Which kind Of Tonneau Covers get stretched?
As it is, most tonneau covers may get stretched but the softer ones made with stuff like vinyl or clothes are more prone to stretching. The units made with Fibreglass and aluminium do not stretch easily.
How Long Does It take for any Tonneau Cover To get Stretched?
It depends on a number of factors. These include quality of materials, the temperature etc. However, it may take a few hours for such covers to be fully stretched.
What is the temperature for Tonneau Covers to get stretched?
Typically, tonneau covers get stretched at high temperatures. Ideally, you should keep them in the sun for some time to soften the fabric. Ensure the outside temperature is not above 30 to 40 degrees.
How Do You Stretch your truck’s Tonneau Cover?
To stretch the tonneau cover well, you should proceed with caution and follow the below listed steps:
- At first, swipe the cover using a clean cloth to eradicate traces of dirt and dust particles.
- Then, spray water on the cover gently. Rub using a vinyl shiner to soften the fabric. Spray the surface well with water or the cleaner.
- Now, place it under the sunlight and let the water seep in.
- At last, re-mount the tonneau cover back onto the truck. Now, the truck cover will stretch well to cover the truck bed.
Do Tonneau Covers Shrink?
The answer is yes. Truck bed covers shrink when you take them off the truck’s beds. If they are kept off the truck bed, they will shrink to an extent.
What makes A Tonneau Cover to Shrink?
Tonneau covers shrink when you put them away after taking off the truck. The desiccation is almost inevitable. The process involves loss of moisture in the fabric, making it stiff. If you do not use shiner on the surface, this will happen.
Will my truck Tonneau Cover stretch if I put It In The Sun?
Yes. If you keep the cover under sunlight it will surely expand to an extent. It is quite logical, too. The fabric will expand when it receives heat for some time. So, evade keeping the truck for a long time under the scorching sun.
How Do I prevent a Tonneau Cover from Stretching?
It is well known that increased temperature leads to stretching of truck Tonneau covers. So, evade exposing the covers to sunlight for long periods. Do not stand on the covers and evade keeping heavy objects on the top of such covers.
Last modified: June 4, 2025