By Truck
Tonneau Covers for the Ram 1500 5'7" Bed
The crew-cab default. Check for RamBox first, then read the short-bed arithmetic.
By Michael W. · Published October 5, 2026
Cover & Cargo earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend or the order we rank things in — here is how we choose and here is the full disclosure.
What this is based on: published manufacturer specifications and warranty terms, cited on each cover; independent published tests where they exist, named and linked; and verifiable owner reports of specific failure modes. We have not fitted these covers to a truck, we do not run a test lab, and we do not claim a test we did not run. Where the evidence for a cover is thin, the page says it is thin.
Quick picks
| # | Cover | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  BAKFlip MX4The default hard folding cover, and the one most buyers should start from: 400 lb rating, a 5-year warranty, 100 percent bed access, and a seal design the maker revised specifically to stop bulkhead seepage. | Best overall | 8.4out of 10 | |
| 2 |  TruXedo TruXportThe roll-up most people mean when they say roll-up: vinyl over a clamp-on frame, 30 minutes to fit, 5-year warranty, rolls forward for 100 percent bed access with nothing left in the bed. | Best for bed space | 7.6out of 10 | |
| 3 |  UnderCover ArmorFlexAluminum panels with UnderCover's Multi-Shield coating and a dual-action tailgate seal that lets the tailgate drop without unlatching the cover — a small thing you use every single day. | Best tailgate seal | 8.3out of 10 | |
| 4 |  Extang Trifecta 2.0The soft tri-fold with the longest warranty: limited lifetime on rails, aluminum, clamps, bows, hardware and the vinyl itself, with adhesive-free snap-on seals instead of the stick-on strips cheap covers use. | Best soft tri-fold | 7.4out of 10 | |
| 5 |  Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-FoldThe cheapest cover in this registry that still names its materials. Pre-assembled crossbars fold with the cover, which is the one design detail that separates a good budget tri-fold from a bad one. | Best budget | 7.0out of 10 |
Scores are our own editorial judgment on the rubric published at our editorial policy page, weighing security, weather sealing, bed access, install effort, durability, value. They are read off published specifications, warranty terms and sourced owner reports. They are not measurements we took, and they are not user ratings.
RamBox first, everything else second
If your bed walls have lidded, lockable compartments, you have RamBox and this page does not apply — the cover takes a different part number entirely. Go here instead. The bed length is the same 5'7"; the usable width between the rails is not.
The short answer
Measure to confirm: around 67 inches inside, bulkhead to closed tailgate. The 6'4" bed is around 76.
On a short bed, the open-cover cost decides more than the spec sheet. A folded stack is roughly a third of this bed.
Confirming the 5'7" bed
Tape along the bed floor from the bulkhead to the inside face of the closed tailgate. The 5'7" Ram bed measures around 67 inches inside and the 6'4" around 76 — a nine-inch gap, comfortably distinguishable with one measurement.
If your truck is a 2019 to 2024 Ram 1500, also confirm whether it is the current DT truck or the Ram 1500 Classic, which was sold alongside it under the same model name with different cover part numbers. The main Ram page covers that.
The short-bed arithmetic
| Cover type when open | On a 5.5 ft bed | On a 6.5 ft bed | On an 8 ft bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft roll-up, rolled forward | Smallest loss | Smallest loss | Smallest loss |
| Hard folding, stacked at the cab | Roughly a third of the bed | Roughly a quarter | Roughly a fifth |
| Retractable, canister at the bulkhead | Permanent, and proportionally largest | Permanent | Permanent, and easiest to absorb |
Figures are the proportion of bed length a folded or rolled cover typically occupies, not a manufacturer specification. They are here to make the trade-off visible, and no manufacturer in this registry publishes the dimension - including RETRAX, which does not publish canister dimensions for any retractable.
On 5'7", a hard folding cover's stack at the bulkhead is roughly a third of your bed. That is the number to weigh against the 400 lb rating and the five-year warranty, because for a lot of crew-cab Ram owners the bed is already the compromise they made for the back seat.
Which cover
BAKFlip MX4
400 lb, 5-year warranty, published 30-minute no-drill clamp-on install, revised EPDM perimeter seals with integrated drainage. The default.
TruXedo TruXport
Published 100 percent bed access rolled fully forward, 30 minutes, 5-year warranty. On a short bed used for actual loads, the type that gives back the most.
UnderCover ArmorFlex
400 lb, 5-year limited (original owner, registration required), EPDM seals and drain tubes, and the dual-action tailgate seal that lets the tailgate drop without unlatching the cover. Prop rods give full access; straps give the quick two-thirds.
Extang Trifecta 2.0
Limited lifetime warranty covering the vinyl as well as the frame, adhesive-free triple-fin snap-on seals, tool-free Level 1 install, two-thirds bed access.
The picks in detail
#1 · Most truck owners
BAKFlip MX4
BAK Industries · Hard folding
The default hard folding cover, and the one most buyers should start from: 400 lb rating, a 5-year warranty, 100 percent bed access, and a seal design the maker revised specifically to stop bulkhead seepage.
What it does well
- 400 lb evenly distributed rating is at the top of the folding class, and it is published rather than implied
- The revised EPDM perimeter seal plus drain system targets the bulkhead, which is where folding covers actually leak
- Folds flat against the cab for full bed access without taking the cover off the truck
- 5-year warranty is longer than most hard folding covers in the same bracket
Where it gives way
- Folded open it occupies roughly the front third of the bed — the published 100 percent access means the bed is reachable, not that the space is free
- Textured black finish shows water spotting on dark trucks more than a gloss panel does
- No published figure for cover weight, so the one-person-install question is unanswered by the maker
Skip it if: Anyone who needs the bed open and covered at the same time all day. Folded against the cab it eats the front third of the bed, and nothing folding escapes that.
| Construction | Multi-layer aluminum, polymer-reinforced top panels |
|---|---|
| Finish | Textured matte black |
| Load rating | 400 lb, evenly distributed |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Stated install time | 30 minutes or less |
| Drilling | None required on most trucks |
| Bed access | 100 percent — folds flush against the cab |
| Sealing | EPDM perimeter seals, integrated drainage |
Specifications read from RealTruck — BAKFlip MX4 (Gen 3) published specifications.
#ad We show no price until we can verify one. How this is funded
#2 · Full bed access on a budget
TruXedo TruXport
TruXedo · Roll-up (soft)
The roll-up most people mean when they say roll-up: vinyl over a clamp-on frame, 30 minutes to fit, 5-year warranty, rolls forward for 100 percent bed access with nothing left in the bed.
What it does well
- Rolls completely forward, so full bed access costs you nothing but the roll itself
- 5-year warranty on a soft cover at this price is genuinely good
- Lightest install in the registry — 30 minutes, no tools beyond what is in the box
Where it gives way
- Vinyl offers no meaningful theft resistance; treat it as a weather and privacy cover
- Rolled to the bulkhead it sits proud of the rails, so it is visible and in the way of a full-height load
- Vinyl needs a UV protectant on a schedule or it chalks
Skip it if: Security. A soft vinyl cover keeps weather and eyes off your cargo; it does not stop a knife.
| Construction | Vinyl over a clamp-on aluminum frame |
|---|---|
| Finish | Vinyl grain |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Stated install time | 30 minutes or less |
| Drilling | None — no cutting, drilling or modifications |
| Bed access | 100 percent — rolls forward to the cab |
| Mounting | Clamp-on, vehicle-specific hardware included |
Specifications read from RealTruck — TruXedo TruXport (Gen 2) published specifications.
#ad We show no price until we can verify one. How this is funded
#3 · Daily tailgate use
UnderCover ArmorFlex
UnderCover · Hard folding
Aluminum panels with UnderCover's Multi-Shield coating and a dual-action tailgate seal that lets the tailgate drop without unlatching the cover — a small thing you use every single day.
What it does well
- Dual-action tailgate seal means the tailgate drops without unlatching the cover first
- Prop rods give a genuine full-access position rather than only the two-thirds strap position
- Multi-Shield coating is specifically an abrasion and impact claim, not just a color
Where it gives way
- Warranty is original-owner only and needs registering — it does not follow the truck
- Two-thirds access is the quick position; full access needs the prop rods set up
- Assembled in Missouri but published spec sheets omit cover weight
Skip it if: Buyers who want a transferable warranty. Published coverage is original-owner only and requires registration.
| Construction | Aluminum panels with Multi-Shield coating |
|---|---|
| Finish | Matte black textured |
| Load rating | 400 lb, evenly distributed |
| Warranty | 5-year limited, original owner only, registration required |
| Stated install time | Under 1 hour, Level 1 difficulty |
| Drilling | None on most vehicles |
| Bed access | Two-thirds via straps, or full with integrated prop rods |
| Sealing | EPDM seals, integrated drain tubes, dual-action tailgate seal |
Specifications read from RealTruck — UnderCover ArmorFlex published specifications.
#ad We show no price until we can verify one. How this is funded
#4 · A soft cover you keep
Extang Trifecta 2.0
Extang · Tri-fold (soft)
The soft tri-fold with the longest warranty: limited lifetime on rails, aluminum, clamps, bows, hardware and the vinyl itself, with adhesive-free snap-on seals instead of the stick-on strips cheap covers use.
What it does well
- Limited lifetime covering the vinyl as well as the frame — soft covers usually exclude the fabric
- Adhesive-free snap-on seals do not peel off in the sun the way stick-on strips do
- Tool-free install at Level 1 difficulty
Where it gives way
- Two-thirds bed access, where a roll-up gives you the whole bed
- Tri-fold geometry means the folded stack sits at the bulkhead taking height
- Still a soft cover — no load rating and no real security
Skip it if: Full bed access. Folded forward it gives two-thirds, and that is the published figure.
| Construction | Marine-grade tarp on an aluminum frame |
|---|---|
| Finish | Vinyl grain |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime on rails, aluminum, clamps, bows, hardware and vinyl covering |
| Install difficulty | Level 1 — tool-free, no drilling |
| Bed access | Two-thirds when open |
| Sealing | Adhesive-free triple-fin snap-on seals |
Specifications read from RealTruck — Extang Trifecta 2.0 published specifications.
#ad We show no price until we can verify one. How this is funded
#5 · The lowest cost per year of use
Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold
Tyger Auto · Tri-fold (soft)
The cheapest cover in this registry that still names its materials. Pre-assembled crossbars fold with the cover, which is the one design detail that separates a good budget tri-fold from a bad one.
What it does well
- Crossbars fold with the cover rather than needing to be lifted out — the detail that makes a budget tri-fold usable daily
- 24 oz dual-coated marine-grade vinyl is published, not vague
- Clamp-and-latch fit, no drilling, on a cover at the bottom of the market
Where it gives way
- Soft tri-fold access only — the folded stack lives at the bulkhead
- Vinyl at this price is the first thing to go; plan on a protectant routine
- Tailgate-dependent locking means an unlocked tailgate is an unlocked bed
Skip it if: A truck that lives outside in hard sun. Budget vinyl is the part that ages, and it ages fastest in UV.
| Construction | Dual-coated 24 oz marine-grade vinyl, aircraft-grade aluminum frame |
|---|---|
| Crossbars | Pre-assembled horizontal crossbars that fold with the cover |
| Install | Clamp-and-latch, no drilling |
| Locking | Lockable with the tailgate |
| Warranty | 5 years for US customers |
Specifications read from The Drive — in-depth review of the Tyger Auto T3.
#ad We show no price until we can verify one. How this is funded
Common questions
How long is the Ram 1500 5'7" bed inside?
Around 67 inches from the bulkhead to the inside face of the closed tailgate along the floor. The 6'4" bed measures around 76 — a nine-inch gap that one measurement settles.
Does a 5'7" Ram cover fit a 5'7" RamBox bed?
No. RamBox compartments narrow the usable width between the bed rails, so a standard cover of the same nominal length will not drop in. It needs a RamBox-specific part number, and not every manufacturer makes one.
What is the best tonneau cover for a Ram 1500 short bed?
The BAKFlip MX4 for most owners — 400 lb, a 5-year warranty and a 30-minute no-drill install. If the bed carries real loads, the TruXedo TruXport is worth the look because on a 5'7" bed the space a folded cover occupies is roughly a third of everything you have.
Is my 2021 Ram 1500 the DT or the Classic?
Check the tailgate badging and the body shape — Ram sold both under the same model name for several years. They take different cover part numbers, so confirm before ordering rather than relying on the model year alone.
Sources
- RealTruck — BAKFlip MX4 (Gen 3) published specifications, read 2026-10-05
- RealTruck — TruXedo TruXport (Gen 2) published specifications, read 2026-10-05
- RealTruck — UnderCover ArmorFlex published specifications, read 2026-10-05
- RealTruck — Extang Trifecta 2.0 published specifications, read 2026-10-05
- The Drive — in-depth review of the Tyger Auto T3, with T-series construction specs
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