I just installed a Retrax last Friday. I've always been a cap/shell guy, so choosing one was a new experience for me too. But we plan a 5'r in the future, so needed something easily retractable or removable.

Now that I have it, it will take some time and a few trips to know if I really like it. It's well built and, although a lot of money, it's easy to see why it costs so much.

But the loss of the bed area in the front is a big downside. You lose about 1-1/2' at top of the bed level, and about 1' square down lower. If I had a short bed I don't know if I could live with that.

I did not choose the tri-fold hard covers because they take up so much space at the front, but in retrospect they would leave more space below bed top level. I would look at those again if there is a next time.

Soft covers were not for me. I would stick with a tarp and cargo net instead.

Bill