Hi All, This site is great. Only been here a month or so and the amount of good info is unbelievable. I picked up my 1st diesel last week. I need to cover the bed. From all the other posts I have it narrowed down to either a Retrax or a Fold-A-Cover (or Advance). I haven't been able to see either in person.

My Retrax questions. Will the Retrax fit with a headache rack, like a Back Rack? We wil be taking the new truck to the lake on the weekends. There are a lot of pine needles. I know - new truck & pine sap. I'll either buy a cover for the truck or put up one of those $200 carport awning type things. I'm concerned about the pine needles, and leaves for that matter, getting into the canister when opening it. Is there a something to keep that from happening. What about snow/ice?

My Fold-A-Cover question. It appears to mount over the rail. Does it leave enough room on the bed rail to mount a headache rack? Obviously with this one anything on it just ends up on top of the next panel.

Like someone else said - all covers have a down side. Just trying to find a happy medium I can live with.

Thanks

Herb

05 GMC 2500HD 4X4 EC SLT D/A - all stock, but not for long

I bought a Retrax. I am in Texas. not much cold weather. Have had in snow & ice once & unit froze up. These things are designed in N Dakota, so I have to think this is not a major problem. I was able to open after some light tapping to break ice. I do not see the pine needeles as beng a problem. When it closes there is a felt gasket like on your windows to filter things out. The unit is very functional but does sag slighlty in warm weather. Not much but enough to see. That is the only real problem I see. You can e-mail them direct about the head ache rack. Good luck

Scott

I have a fold a cover on my 04 longbed, It does mount to the top of the rails and I don't see how you would mount anything else. The plus side and the reason I bought mine is it folds to the front 1/4 section and you can tow a fifth wheel, once unhitched it folds right down, instant cover, they also provide a strip with a catch on it that locks your tailgate and the front and rear covers have keylocks, Haven't had any trouble with snow like a retrax, other than you have to sweep it off.

Herb,

You can order the retrax with the stake pockets cut out to mount the headache rack. You didn't mention if you have the LB/SB. Keep in mind only the SB model is gen III (flush mount). The LB will stick up a couple inches on the canister, something ot keep in mind with your headache rack.

As for the snow/ice ours freezes up all the time up here. A couple of whacks on each side will break the ice off. Lately I've had more problems with the lock freezing up but I think I need a new lock cover that doesn't leak.

Good luck,
Michael

My partner has a fold a cover on his 97 Dodge long box. Works well however the hinge covers do not agree with -30°C weather. They cracked and splintered, but it does give you full access to the box and is handy if you have a 5ver or goose neck.

Does anyone know if the Retrax will work with a fifth wheel? It seems it should be fine.

CheVet, no problem at all. In fact I haven't found a hitch yet that won't fit under the cover. It's really nice because you can close the cover partially up to your hitch when towing to cover the stuff in the front of the bed.

Hello,
Did a lot of research when I purchase an 03 and went with a Retrax. I believe I must have sold 8 or 10 of them as I get a lot of inquiries as most people have not seen them. I do have freezing issues with the lock, but no other problems to date. Never experienced sagging, I would buy another one for the next truck.

Wax it like the rest of the truck and it looks great.

Lubehead, Retrax finally has a good working lock cover that will provent it from freezing in the winter. Call them up and ask for one. It is under $10.

I have the Retrax, also. Only problem I've had was when trying to spot my 5th wheel into a site that was lower than the road and making a turn at the same time. The 'wings' for the kingpin hit the rails. Hadn't realized up to that point that the rails actually narrow the space between the bed rails about 1-1/2" on each side. Fixed that by sawing the rails off and making splice plates out of 1/4X1" flat stock. Now when I tow, I roll the cover into it's canister, lock it in place, then remove the rear section of the rails. Works like a dream and after I'm set up at the campsite, I put the rails back on and have covered space for hauling stuff from Wally-World:)