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I've had the Bak X4, but some of the online reviews I've seen are correct. In cold climates, it can ice up and be a bear to get open. I had it happen to mine. I'm assuming the same type of thing could happen to the Bak MX4, since it seats into a rail that can ice up. I'm thinking a cover that sits ON the bed would be less apt to give a problem in the cold. I'm still undecided which way to go. The truck will spend all of its days outside, so in addition to the cold winters it'll get cooked in the sun all summer. So I'm also considering sun fade; I suppose applying some Aerospace 404 will help w/ that. Assuming the cover is not a fabric.
You said “reasonably priced”, but I’ll toss out the Retrax Pro XR.
Easy install, hard aluminum, secure, can actually support a (little) weight on top of it, and supports cross-bars for roof racks and similar.
You will lose a few inches of bed about six inches above the floor due to the canister, but lumber etc. still fits under it.
+1. I really like my Retrax Pro XR. The canister doesn't really bother me. I prefer it to the blocked window and the inches lost above the bed lost with my previous bak-flip.
Cheap and simple works for me. $299 for a long bed. I have had several Bak-Flips on previous trucks, and they are nice, but way too expensive for me, now.
I've had the Bak X4, but some of the online reviews I've seen are correct. In cold climates, it can ice up and be a bear to get open. I had it happen to mine. I'm assuming the same type of thing could happen to the Bak MX4, since it seats into a rail that can ice up. I'm thinking a cover that sits ON the bed would be less apt to give a problem in the cold. I'm still undecided which way to go. The truck will spend all of its days outside, so in addition to the cold winters it'll get cooked in the sun all summer. So I'm also considering sun fade; I suppose applying some Aerospace 404 will help w/ that. Assuming the cover is not a fabric.
I've had the MX4 for about 5 years now and it's never "froze up" on me. Plenty of icy, cold winters here in Western Maine.
