Retrax Tonneau Cover AVAILABLE NOW + Di$count for ROC Members!

[bongus]

Awesome job! It's good to know the install went smoothly.

[zero]

Nice pics of the install, Ultra-Hog. Thanks for posting them.

[06RTLNAVBlue]

Thanks for the pictures and good info. Nice job!

[dumbutt]

Mine will be here tues or wed. Glad to hear it is easy to install. Now to co-ordinate with my neighbor to lift it, or help me lift it.

[coolcat]

Please keep us posted on that electric tailgate lock. I'm very interested in it, though I opted for the Access Cover instead of the Retrax.

Also, I noticed that you've put reflectors on your tailgate's edges. I'm just curious, what purpose do they serve for you? Do you drive with the tailgate down a lot? Just curious! Thanks!

[anvilt]

I'd like to know what the available height is under the tonneau cover with it closed. It looks like the cover rails follow the slope of the bed rails, so there should be more height available toward the front of the bed. Anybody know?

[HenryHonda]

UH

Let's talk about those weather strips and seals. Have you had any water penetration problems to report?

You mentionned using thicker weather strip along the rails. Is that as an alternate to the supplied ones?

Am I assuming correctly that the tailgate seal is located along the top of the tailgate and what is it made of, foam rubber? Hard rubber?

I remember reading somewhere on this site that the drain tubes pass near the back bed bolts. Would the water run out onto these bolts? I'm concerned about any future rust problems. Bad place to have rust!

I'm curious about one thing. On the RETRAX site there's a model posed lying down across the top of the cover. Does the Ridgeline version seem to have the same support to hold that kind of weight as advertised?

Phew That's a lot of question!

Can you tell I'm on the verge of ordering my own?

[Ultra-HOG]

Randy from Retrax replied and sent some good info:

[Ultra-HOG]

HenryHonda:

I don't think there will be a significant amount of water getting past any of the weather strips after they are adjusted. The adjustment should make the changing or adding of additional weather strips to the rails unnecessary. The bed should be highly weather resistant but I would not put anything in there that would be damaged if a little water got to it. If you cant put the item in the truck or in the trunk, put it in a plastic tub or plastic bag.

The tailgate seal is made of automotive type rubber weather strips. It is similar to the larger weather strip found on a door. I still have not idecided to install mine yet.

The canister drain tubes do run onto the bed bolts and the water will run out through two existing holes in the pocket for the bolts. When I took my rubber covers off to drill the 1/2" holes in them for the tubes, I saw a little water in the pocket. It probably got there from washing the truck. I doubt that the bolts would rust. It is a good point though. Maybe I will put a coat of Rustoleum or something similar on the heads just to be sure. It looks like there is some kind of paint on them now.

I don't think that a petite model laying flat out on the Retrax would break it but it sure would scratch the heck out of it. It is a shiny surface and if you drag anything over it, just like the hood, it will scratch - especially if it is dusty or dirty. I will never put anything on top of mine. I suspect that the Honda cover could support a few pounds. You might want to post a question to a member that has one, I am only guessing.

At highway speeds it does flutter a bit. If you open the back window you can hear it. That is probably true of all covers except solid ones like the Honda cover. If you close the back window it is silent.

The reduction in the amount that the in bed trunk lid opens is not a problem. We are using it exactly as we did before. I have a lot of stuff that I carry permanently, tool bag, crash / emergency kit, spot light, jumper cables, tarp, bungee cords, rope, tie down straps, cold beer (I wish!), etc. We still put groceries in the trunk as we did before. The retrax did not change anything. I may look to replace the piece of commercial rubber flooring that I use as a bed mat because it is heavy and I have to roll it foward to allow the trunk lid to stay up by itself.

I have been moving a lot of stuff this week in the truck. Mostly computers, boxes, small items and the truck with the Retrax has been great. If you move something like a refrigerator, it would have to be secured so that it did not rest on or push the retracted Retrax cover.

After installing it myself and having it for a week, I am very happy with it. I will like it even more when the electric locks are installed and the bed locks when the doors lock. I definetely would order it again. I still like it a lot better than anything else that I have seen, including the Honda cover.

[zero]

I am seriously considering getting one of these covers. What would seal the deal is if the model comes with the cover!