I have all but decided that I will be buying either a RetraxPro MX or private label equivalent (GatorTrax, Protrack, Line X). What’s the best deal you guys have seen on the all aluminum style for the short bed? I won’t name the source unless PM’d, but the best deal I am seeing is roughly $1550. Sounds like a good deal, but I’d love to know if anybody knows where I could potentially buy for cheaper.

 

I can't help on the price but I would really shop around and ask about leaks. I had a RetraxPro XR for a month. It leaked like there is no tomorrow. So much to the point when we went on vacation we drove in an a solid rain for about 5 hours and had to put the luggage in garbage backs. Thankfully a little pressure to the dealer we bought it from and they took it back. The XR we paid around $1900 for.

The issue is Retrax uses the channel the rollers are on to funnel the water to the front and then to the drain tubes. The rails need to be tipped up and angled to try to keep the water towards the inner edge of the rail. Too much water, not enough angle, bouncing truck etc and the water won't stay in the channel and goes into the bed of your truck. The solution to this is had they built up the inner channel so there would be a big lip the water couldn't then get into the bed. I was later informed that the LineX brand has the lip and they learned from Retrax complaints. Not sure if I was handed a line of BS or if the truth.

I loved the Retrax and I hate to see it go but I needed something more water tight and for the price point I'm not spending $1900 on something I then need to haul luggage in a garbage bag.

This isn't a flame against Retrax just trying to help out and let you know they leak so depending on what you want to put in there I would keep that in mind.

 

Interesting! Wondering if that is really bs or if the Line X variant has the improvement. How long ago did you get the XR?

 

I’ve had two Roll n Locks and really like them. I had one installed on my ‘17 for $1350.

 

A month ago. It was installed prior to leaving for a 10 day vacation by a retrax dealer. I even went back a second time for "adjustments" to be made. I spent about 2 hours on the phone with Retrax and sending them pictures. The cover function was fine. I loved the security and the ability to add the kayak racks to the top if we went that route but I needed something I could put luggage or soft sided items in and not worry about it getting wet.

As for the Linex version all you would need to do is look at it. Picture a letter L for the track. If this track was on the left side of the bed and angled to the left the water would run towards the vertical piece of the L and be channeled to the front. If the water comes in too fast, to long or through vibration there is nothing on the right to hold the water in place and therefore it goes in the bed. What you more need is a U shaped channel that pushes all the water regardless of which way or how much it comes in.

In the end I went back to old reliable Extang Trifecta. I had one on the old truck for 10 years and no leaks. The moment I put it one on this truck I have been dry in the rain. Granted you still get a little water by the gaps in the tailgate etc but not bad overall. Plus if it leaks it's a $400 cover vs a $1900 cover.

We were sold the sky with the Retrax and how well it was and didn't leak etc etc. Again it's a great well built cover it's just not water tight.

 

Autoanything has been having a fairly steady stream of sales on various brands of tonneau's over the last couple of weeks. Sign up for their emails. Can get them to deal by calling or by using the chat window as well. I went through them for my American Work Cover (Truck Cover USA) that is coming for the F450.

 

Exactly where I got my best quote from so far. Love that site

 

I went back and forth on the Retrax before buying a Roll n Lock. I read all the reviews for both and some complained of leakage on both models. I installed mine myself and have had zero leaks. I believe it's all in the installation.

 

Word of warning on roll n lock cover couple months ago my dad was staying in hotel while working out of town. While asleep someone broke into his cover by putting a pair of channel locks on latch **** of roll and lock and simply twisted until lock cylinder failed probably took 2 secs. Opened cover and took 5k worth of tools. I know roll n lock had that fancy video of the guy trying to defeat thier cover with everything from a hammer to a crow bar which looks great on paper but thier cover is not at as full proof as they say. I have an American roll cover, im sure it's not full proof either but ay least the lock cylinder is integrated into the cover so there is nothing to grab and twist. Over all build quality seems better as well. Locking mechanism, pull strap, rails and rollers are all higher quality.

 

I have an American Work Cover lined up for my '20 as well. I've had two Retrax Pro MX's. The one on the '15 was better than this current one on the '17...but they both leak(ed). The build quality of the current one is less than the previous. Retrax was purchased by Truck Hero or whoever owns that umbrella and IMHO workmanship has changed for the worse. Truck Covers USA is independently owned, and the covers and boxes are overbuilt...very excited to get going with this one. They're not cheap, but you get what you pay for in this case.

 

The TCUSA covers are tanks. Very overbuilt. I still love mine after two years.

 

VERY glad to hear that! Thank you! Looking forward to the lid! Going to get the X-Box version, should look good with the Tremor backed out elements.