A Bed Cover Opening Test for Tall Coolers and Toolboxes

Measure a tall cooler at the lid and handles, not just at its base. Set it near the rear of the bed and note the room you need above it to lift the lid. Then slide it toward its normal storage spot and mark how far a cover would need to open to reach it. Repeat the check with any toolbox lid or tray you use while the cargo is still in the truck.

A rolled cover and a rigid folded stack can leave different overhead space. Measure the remaining opening in the position you would actually use at a quick stop. If you want to drive with the cover partly open, check the maker's instructions for approved travel positions and restraints.

Take the measurements with you when you compare soft and hard truck bed covers. A nominal bed-length match tells you where the cover mounts, while this check tells you what you can still reach.

Prepared for Truck Gear Nation, a truck accessory retailer.