We will be taking delivery of our new ‘24 F-450 Lariat Ultimate very soon and am wanting to get a top quality retractable bed cover for it. The truck will be a fifth wheel tow rig with lots of stuff in the bed, so reasonable security and weather tightness are the goals. So far I am liking the RetraxPRO XR and would love to hear any and all user feedback on these covers and how they are holding up over time. I’m also open to any feedback on similar retractable covers too, so please share those also.
I do want the T-slots in the side rails as we travel with kayaks and a paddle board (currently they travel on a rack I built for the rear of the TT) but would like to have the ability to use racks to move them around our travel destinations as the bed will be pretty full with gear.
Extra points for anyone with feedback on an auxiliary fuel tank/toolbox combo under their retractable cover!

 

I've had the Retrax now for 4 years. Originally on my 2020 f350 and moved it to my 2022 f450. It's great on tow days as I can lock it right behind the hitch allowing for the king pin to turn. When not towing its closed. Minus a little tiny bit of water near the tailgate it's pretty water tight. They make a gasket to help with that and alignment of the install is crucial. My dealer installed mine on the 450 and had a good amount of water in the bed. Had a local shop realign it and now next to none even without a gasket. Overall it's a great cover. No issues in 4 years.

 

Had one on my 2011 (polycarbonate) didn’t last long in Texas heat, 5 years till it started cracking. 2017 and another now on my 2023, both powertrax pros (aluminum slats matte finish), best there is IMO.

 

I've had one on a 350 dually for 3 years. I tow a toyhauler and the only issue I've had is keeping the pinbox off the rails.
They sit in about an inch or 2. I've hit mine once in 3 years of travel, but the pinbox will win everytime. I have a B&W, it fits under and I have a Atta tank 50 gal fuel tank with toolbox under it as well. They are built rock solid, have had no issues with it at all. Like you its a must as I carry a ton of stuff in my bed when traveling and need to secure it when the rig is off the truck

 

The one on my 2017 is holding up great.

 

I have a TCUSA since 2017. It's held up well, there is some damage to the weather stripping near the front canister.

It's a pretty damn tough setup. The canister withstood a full 25 gallon propane tank slamming into it when I was cutoff and the rails are still in one piece despite being hit by careless forklift drivers. It's a full steel canister, I'm confident the plastic sides of the Retrax would have exploded from the propane tank incident.

 

Do you have a picture of the tank/toolbox that you could share? Pinbox contact is my biggest concern, been looking at the Hensley BD5-F air ride hitch and thinking I might add a solenoid to the onboard air system to allow quick air addition to raise the hitch head a couple of inches prior to site entry gymnastics.

 

Bought a Retrax Pro for my 2018 F250. Transferred it to my 2021 F350. Still looks and works like new. HIGHLY recommended.

 

 

The Ford Embark LS is the same as the retrax xr. It’s the same thing, just with a ford logo. I called retrax and verified. I only mention this in case you have ford reward points and wanted to use them towards this.

I’ve only had mine a couple weeks, but moving from a topper, it’s been very nice. It’s not quite as water resistant as a topper, but that’s just inherent in the design. Only a very little bit gets in. The only other small drawback is it’s not a super easy process to remove and reinstall if needed. It needs to be aligned as it’s installed, so it’s not something you just take off and throw back on for a project. The canister in the front hasn’t been a problem for me, but I could see how it might get in the way every once in a while.

 

Thanks Dune, I think 50 gallons is a pretty good aux tank size and even at that size tank the toolbox still looks to be fairly roomy, looks like it might have the room to be another 3” or so taller.

 

I have the Retrax Powertrax PRO XR. Had it on mine for nearly two years. Still looks brand new. I had planned to use the T slot at some point but have not yet. Very solid cover and I love the power option on it. No locks to mess with. I even paired it with the homelink buttons so I can open and close it with two of the buttons.
It does leak just a hair on the sides and back at the tailgate. But not bad, I don't keep anything in the bed that can't get wet anyhow.

 

It surprisingly holds quite a bit. It could be taller, had I known I would have had them build the toolbox taller. This was their standard model, but this company would custom build for no charge. The tank keeps me from having to fuel with the rig on the truck. Those truck stops can get pricey. This tank has a set and forget. At a half tank it transfers fuel till 3/4, then repeats till aux tank is empty. Most I travel is about 5 hours between parks. On the longer drives the truck's tank won't quite get me there.

 

I have one on my 2021 F350 and it's great! Highly recommend it.

Covers my 5th wheel hitch. I don't use an auxiliary in bed tank as I had the S&B 60-gallon tank installed in place of the factory tank.

https://shop.tonneaucovered.com/prod...ake-pocket-mx/

 

Do you have the TSD open roads app fuel discount card? It can save a decent amount off the truck stop fuel prices, pretty popular around here.