Bakkie Covers: Choosing the Right Cover for Your Load

Key takeaways

• Match the cover to how you use your bakkie: tonneau covers keep a low profile, load-bin covers protect general cargo, and full canopies turn the bin into a lockable dry box.

• Waterproof PVC handles South African sun, rain and dust better than canvas, which breathes well but soaks through and mildews over time.

• A custom cover cut for your exact single, double or extended cab seals cleanly, while a generic one leaves gaps where water and dust get in.

• A fitted cover keeps cargo dry and out of sight, and smoothing airflow over the bin can trim wind resistance at highway speed.

• Order a custom bakkie cover made to your measurements, then have it delivered and installed so the fit is checked on the vehicle.

The right bakkie cover depends on what you haul and how you use the bin. If you carry tools and general cargo and want them dry and hidden, a waterproof PVC tonneau or load-bin cover does the job. If you need a lockable, weatherproof space, a full canopy is the better call.

This guide walks through the main types of bakkie covers, the difference between PVC and canvas, how custom fitting works for single, double and extended cabs, and what a cover actually does for your cargo and your fuel bill. By the end you will know which option suits your load and how to order one that fits.

What Are the Main Types of Bakkie Covers?

Bakkie covers fall into three groups: tonneau covers, load-bin covers and full canopies. Each closes off the load area in a different way, and the one you pick depends on the shape and height of what you carry.

A tonneau cover is the lowest-profile option. It stretches flat across the top of the bin, roughly level with the sides, and keeps rain, sun and prying eyes off your cargo. Soft tonneaus roll or fold back on a frame, which is handy when you need quick access to the bin.

A load-bin cover is a close cousin, usually a tough fabric sheet tensioned over the bin rails to protect general cargo. It suits mixed loads that sit below the height of the sides, and it drops the profile of the bakkie for parking and security.

A full canopy is the tallest choice. It sits above the cab line and turns the open bin into an enclosed, lockable box you can stand items up in. Tradespeople, campers and anyone carrying gear that must stay dry and secure tend to favour a canopy.

Modern Tarps manufactures PVC bakkie covers and load-bin covers cut to your vehicle, so the choice comes down to how much height and access you need rather than what is available off the shelf.

PVC or Canvas: Which Waterproof Bakkie Cover Wins?

For most South African owners, waterproof PVC is the more practical material. PVC is fully waterproof and holds up to strong UV and dust, which matters when the bakkie lives outside through Highveld summers and coastal humidity alike. Canvas has its place, but the trade-offs are real.

Canvas is a woven fabric, so it breathes. That airflow helps stop condensation under the cover, and canvas is lighter and often cheaper to buy. The catch is water. Untreated canvas soaks through in heavy rain, and even treated canvas loses its resistance as the coating wears. Left damp, it can grow mildew and start to smell.

PVC is a coated fabric with a solid waterproof layer, so rain beads and runs off rather than soaking in. It wipes clean, resists mud and grime, and does not rot the way natural fibres can. PVC is heavier and can feel stiffer in cold weather, and a cheap grade will crack under constant sun, which is why fabric quality matters more than the label on the roll.

If you want a single cover that handles sun, rain and dust year-round with little fuss, PVC is the safer buy. If weight and breathability matter more than full waterproofing, canvas is worth a look. For a broader view of how coated fabrics are graded for outdoor use, the Industrial Fabrics Association International is a useful independent starting point.

How Does Custom Fitting Work for Single, Double and Extended Cabs?

A custom bakkie cover is cut to the exact bin dimensions of your cab type, so it follows the rails and tailgate line without loose flaps or gaps. That fit is the whole point. A generic cover that is close but not exact leaves openings where water, dust and wind get in, and it flogs about at speed until the fixings wear loose.

Cab type changes the bin, which is why one measurement does not fit all. A single cab has the longest load area, a double cab trades bin length for back-seat space, and an extended cab sits somewhere between the two. The cover has to match the length, width and the height of the sides, plus the position of the tailgate and any tie-down rails.

For a custom order you supply the make, model, year and cab type, and the cover is cut and finished to those numbers. Good fitting includes the details: reinforced eyelets or a rail system spaced to the bin, hemmed and welded edges that do not fray, and tensioning that keeps the cover taut rather than sagging into a puddle. Modern Tarps makes covers to these measurements and checks the fit on the vehicle during installation, so a small discrepancy gets corrected before you drive off.

How Do Bakkie Covers Protect Cargo and Improve Fuel Economy?

A bakkie cover does two jobs at once: it shields your load, and it cleans up the airflow over the back of the vehicle. The protection is obvious the first time you drive through a storm with dry tools. The fuel side is more subtle but real at open-road speeds.

Start with the cargo. A covered bin keeps rain, sun and road grime off whatever you carry, which protects tools, timber, luggage and stock from weather damage. It also keeps the load out of sight, so a full bin does not advertise itself to opportunists in a parking lot. On the open road, a taut cover helps keep loose items from lifting or shifting, which is a safety point as much as a convenience: an unsecured load that comes loose becomes debris for the driver behind you. Road safety bodies such as the AA of South Africa treat securing loads as a basic responsibility for every driver.

Now the fuel. An open load bin acts like a bucket in the wind, catching air and creating turbulence that drags on the vehicle. A cover stretched across the top smooths that airflow, so the air flows over the back rather than tumbling into the bin. The saving is modest and depends on your bakkie, your load and how fast you drive, so treat it as a bonus on top of the weather protection rather than the main reason to buy. For the general principle of how a vehicle's shape affects wind resistance and running costs, the US Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov explains the aerodynamics in plain terms.

How Do You Order a Custom Bakkie Cover With Installation?

Ordering a custom bakkie cover comes down to five things: your vehicle details, the measurements, the material, the colour, and the delivery and fitting. Get those right and the cover arrives ready to go on rather than needing rework.

Begin with the vehicle. Note the make, model, year and cab type, since these set the bin size. Confirm the measurements next, either from the manufacturer's spec or by measuring the bin length, width and side height yourself, and flag any accessories like a roll bar or existing rails that the cover has to work around.

Then choose the build. Pick PVC for full waterproofing or canvas if breathability and weight matter more, and select a colour that suits the bakkie. Decide on the fixing system, whether that is eyelets and rope, clips, or a tensioned rail, based on how often you open the bin.

Finish with delivery and installation. Having the cover delivered and fitted means the tension and alignment are set on the vehicle, and any small adjustment happens on the spot instead of leaving you with a cover that almost fits. Modern Tarps offers door-to-door delivery and installation across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo, so the cover is checked on your bakkie before the job is signed off.

The next step is simple: measure your load bin, decide between PVC and canvas for how your bakkie lives and works, and request a custom cover for your exact cab type with fitting included so the seal is verified on the vehicle rather than assumed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a tonneau cover and a bakkie canopy?

A tonneau cover is a low, flat cover stretched over the load bin to keep cargo dry and hidden. A canopy is a taller, rigid enclosure that adds lockable, weatherproof space you can stand items up in.

Are PVC bakkie covers better than canvas?

For year-round protection, yes. PVC is fully waterproof and shrugs off UV and dust, while canvas breathes but eventually soaks through and can mildew. Canvas is lighter and cheaper up front.

Can I get a bakkie cover made for a double cab?

Yes. Custom covers are cut to the exact bin dimensions of single, double and extended cabs, so the cover follows your rails and tailgate line without loose flaps or gaps.

Does a bakkie cover really help with fuel use?

It can help at highway speed. An open bin creates turbulence, and a taut cover smooths airflow over the back of the bakkie. The saving depends on your vehicle, load and how fast you drive.

How do I order a custom bakkie cover with installation?

Send your bakkie make, model and cab type, confirm the measurements, choose your material and colour, then book delivery and fitting so the cover is checked on the vehicle.