The best tonneau cover for Ram 1500 owners in Manitoba depends on what the box carries and what winter does to it: a hard folding cover for rigid panels that hold snow and work with a locked tailgate, a soft roll up or tri fold for a light cover that opens fast for a tall load, a retractable for a cover that tucks into a canister, or a one piece lid for a box that stays closed. Fit comes before type, so ask our parts department in Portage la Prairie which covers they can order for your Ram 1500 box, then use this guide to pick the kind.
This guide is sorted by the decision, not by brand: what each cover does with a snow load, on a minus 30 morning, and with a box full of grain bags or hockey gear. If you are not sure which box your truck has, our Ram 1500 bed size guide explains the 5 foot 7 and 6 foot 4 boxes.
Key Takeaways
- Fit is set by box length and RamBox. Mopar Canada lists separate versions of its covers for a RamBox box and a conventional box.
- Hard folding covers carry snow on rigid panels, and Mopar describes its own as securing the bed when the tailgate is locked.
- Soft roll up and tri fold covers are light and quick to open, but fabric can sag under wet snow and stiffens in deep cold.
- Retractable covers slide into a canister at the front of the box; ice and grit in the side tracks are the winter risk.
- A one piece lid closes the whole box but has to come off for a load taller than the box sides.
- Fuel savings from a cover are small at best and not measured for the Ram 1500 by any Canadian source we can name.
- Installation of a tonneau cover is work our service department does.
The Five Cover Types at a Glance
| Type | Snow load | Cold weather weak point | Bed access | Security | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft roll up | Fabric can sag and pool meltwater | Stiff fabric, hard to latch | Rolls to the cab | Fabric can be cut | Frequent tall loads |
| Soft tri fold | Fabric panels can sag | Stiff fabric, frozen clamps | Folds toward the cab | Fabric can be cut | Light gear, quick access |
| Hard folding | Rigid panels; brush it off | Frozen latches, iced hinges | Folds toward the cab | Panels plus a locked tailgate | Tools and gear kept locked |
| Retractable | Flat, but ice fills the tracks | Ice in the side tracks | Slides into a front canister | Depends on the cover's lock | Daily use, open often |
| One piece lid | Heavy; clear before lifting | Lift struts can feel weak | Lifts, or comes off | One locked lid | A box kept closed |
Fit First: Box Length and RamBox
Mopar builds its covers for the 2019 to 2026 Ram 1500 in two box lengths, 5 foot 7 and 6 foot 4, and your window sticker shows which box your truck has. A cover is built for one length, so a 6 foot 4 cover will not seal a 5 foot 7 box.
The second question is RamBox, the storage bins built into the box sides. Mopar lists separate RamBox versions of its soft tri fold and hard folding covers for the 2019 to 2026 Ram 1500, so a cover made for a conventional box is the wrong part for a RamBox truck. Your window sticker shows whether your truck has it, and our post on the Ram 1500 RamBox explains the system itself. If you are still choosing the truck, check the box line on each window sticker as you browse our new Ram 1500 inventory.
Snow Load: What Sits on Top After a Storm
A Manitoba storm can leave a drift on the box overnight, and wet spring snow is heavier than January powder.
- Soft roll up and tri fold: the fabric spans the box on a frame, so a heavy load can sag it. When that snow melts, the water can pool in the dip and find its way past the seals.
- Hard folding: rigid panels hold their shape under snow, but the weight is still there. Brush it off before you fold the panels, or the snow lands in the box.
- Retractable: the flat top sheds snow when you brush it, but anything left on it gets dragged toward the canister when you open it.
- One piece lid: the lid carries the full load, and snow adds weight every time you lift it.
Check any load rating the cover's maker publishes, and brush the cover when you brush the cab roof.
A Minus 30 Morning
- Soft covers stiffen. Fabric and vinyl lose their give in the cold, so a roll up can be hard to roll and to latch tight again. Mopar describes its soft roll up for the 6 foot 4 conventional box as having preset tension controls; set the tension in the fall, not at minus 30.
- Latches and locks freeze. Freezing drizzle or slush off the tires can glaze a latch or a lock cylinder overnight. Do not pry it with a scraper. Let the truck sit in a heated shop or wait for the afternoon sun.
- Tracks ice up. A retractable runs in side tracks. Clear out leaves and grit in October so ice has less to grab.
- Struts can feel weak. If your one piece lid rides on gas lift struts, they can feel weak in deep cold, so hold the lid rather than trust it to stay up.
A Box Full of Grain Bags or Hockey Gear
A box full of bagged grain or seed is a test of access and dust. A cover that opens the whole box lets you stack bags to the tailgate and load from the side. A soft roll up rolls up to the cab, and Mopar says its hard folding cover can be driven fully closed, partially closed or fully open. A one piece lid has to come off before a load stands taller than the box sides.
On a gravel grid road, a closed cover keeps dust off the bags. Mopar says the fabric on its soft tri fold is made to resist water, mould, mildew, UV, dirt and dust. That is weather resistant, not waterproof, so anything that cannot get damp belongs in a sealed tote.
Hockey gear is the other Manitoba load. A closed cover keeps bags out of sight in a busy rink lot and out of the slush on the drive home. A locked hard cover adds a layer between the gear and anyone walking past. One honest catch: wet gear left under a closed cover overnight will not dry. Bring it inside.
Security: What a Cover Really Locks
A soft cover hides what is in the box, and that is often enough. Fabric can still be cut. A hard folding cover is only as secure as the tailgate behind it: Mopar describes its hard folding cover as having a latch that locks the panels when shut, with the bed secured by locking the tailgate. A one piece lid closes the box with one lock. For a retractable, the lock depends on the cover, so ask before you buy.
Fuel Economy: The Honest Answer
Cover makers often say a tonneau cover improves fuel economy. Natural Resources Canada is the source we use for fuel consumption figures, and we cannot point to a measured Canadian figure for a cover on a Ram 1500. Treat any saving as small and unmeasured, and buy a cover for what it does to the box: dry gear, hidden tools and less snow in the bed.
Driveway Install or Service Bay
Some covers are a driveway job. Mopar describes its soft roll up for the 6 foot 4 conventional box as a top mount install that needs no special tools or drilling. Others have more pieces to set: Mopar describes its soft tri fold with a sub frame, a clamping system and a tailgate seal.
Our service department does accessory installation, tonneau covers included, so you can book a tonneau cover installation once the cover is in. Before that, ask our parts team which covers they can order for your box, with your model year, cab, box length and RamBox status in hand. Ask about current pricing and timing at the counter.
Aftermarket Covers and Your Warranty
Ram Canada's warranty page puts it plainly: "The Ram Brand limited vehicle warranty does not cover routine maintenance, aftermarket parts, interior damage, accidents, or damage caused by the environment. Any part not installed at the factory or certified for use on the vehicle will not be covered."
So an aftermarket cover, one that was neither installed at the factory nor certified for use on the truck, is not covered by the vehicle warranty. A Mopar cover is a separate question, so ask our parts team for the current warranty terms on the exact cover you choose, and read our post on whether a lift kit or aftermarket part affects your Ram warranty for the wider question.
Choosing the Best Tonneau Cover for Ram 1500 Use in Manitoba
Start with the load you haul, then the winter you park in, then the box you have.
Shopping for a Ram 1500 with the box you want? Find out what your current truck is worth with our trade in tool and, if you plan to finance, apply for financing online before you visit. Any approval, rate or term is on approved credit.
FAQs
What is the best tonneau cover for a Ram 1500 in a Manitoba winter?
It depends on how you use the box. A hard folding cover holds snow on rigid panels and is secured by a locked tailgate, as Mopar describes its own; a soft roll up is lighter and rolls to the cab for tall loads but stiffens in deep cold. Pick for your load first, then fit it to your box length and RamBox.
Does a tonneau cover save fuel on a Ram 1500?
Not by any measured amount we can cite for a Ram 1500, so treat any saving as small and choose a cover for what it does to the box.
Will a tonneau cover fit a Ram 1500 with RamBox?
Only a cover made for RamBox. Mopar lists separate RamBox versions of its soft tri fold and hard folding covers for the 2019 to 2026 Ram 1500. Ask our parts team which ones they can order for your box.
Is an aftermarket tonneau cover covered by the Ram warranty?
No. Ram Canada says its limited vehicle warranty does not cover aftermarket parts, and that any part not installed at the factory or certified for use on the vehicle will not be covered.
Can a soft tonneau cover handle a minus 30 morning?
Yes, it still covers the box, but the fabric stiffens. It can be hard to roll and to latch tight in deep cold, so set the tension in the fall and open it gently.
Can Dunn Ram Trucks install a tonneau cover?
Yes. Accessory installation, tonneau covers included, is work our service department does. Which covers can be ordered for your truck is a question for our parts team.
The Bottom Line
The best tonneau cover for Ram 1500 owners is the one that fits the box and the way you use it. A hard folding cover suits tools and a locked box, a soft roll up suits tall loads, a retractable suits a box you open all day, and a one piece lid suits a box that stays shut. Each of the five has a cold weather weak point, so plan for it before the first frost. When you know which way you lean, ask our Portage parts team which tonneau covers fit your Ram 1500.
Tyler Dunn, Dunn Ram Trucks, Portage la Prairie
