Roll-n-lock , Retrax or Pace Edwards?


Which one has best warranty? This will be in severe sun conditions, 115 F every day.

Not sure which one has the best warranty but I had a pace edwards on my last truck and after a couple of years the cover started to seperate..I tried to glue it back down but had no luck..Also it faded fairly quick..But that being said I bought the same thing for my new truck. The first one I put on myself but this one I had installed by the guy who sold it to me and he said that he would replace the top if it comes apart..Also he only uses 303 protectent on his covers..I used armorall on the last one and wasnt impressed...

Roll and Lock for me...Had it for about 2 years and it is still mint. I only use 303 on it myself and have had no problems. Adjusting the unit is easy and customer service is great. I needed an endcap and they sent it to me no charge. All in all, a very happy customer.

I have a roll n lock as well. I can agree with all said above but I hate the leaks. I have tried all kinds of things to get it to stop leaking and it just won't do it. I have it to a managable level now, but I wish I had gone with the retrax which handles the water better.

I am happy with my Retrax for the past year. It stays dry till I open it in the rain to get at something. It still looks new but I am careful not to slide anything around on top when it is closed as I know Lexan scratches easy.

I removed a P/E bedlocker power unit from a customers truck that quite working. He wanted a Retrax unit which we got from Kennedydiesel.com and installed it. He loves it, but does miss the power feature. I think they may have a tendancy to scratch easy, but treat the cover like the rest of your truck body and shouldnt have any problems. His is nearly waterproof with the 'gate gasket' installed.

I've had em all and I sell them all. Hands down retrax is far supperior. I sell 50 retrax to 1 of any other. When you see all 3 side by side it's an easy decision. Talk to any retrax owner, you'll see.

What would be the best rail treatment to create a seamless look with these retractables? I will probably not get a spray-in bed liner.





Michael

I think the BAK Pro Caps without stake holes looks the best. Compare these two pictures
With ProCaps (http://rolltopcover.com/images/gmc/gmc2500hd-3600.jpg)

Without ProCaps (http://rolltopcover.com/images/gmc/gmcsierra-3571.jpg)


I'm very happy with my Retrax even though there is an issue with it that has not been resolved. Hopefully, it will be taken care of shortly. Regardless, I still think I made the right choice.

Polycarbonate is notoriously vulnerable to UV attack. I am just weary of using it here. I know it is treated, but still, that is usually partially effective. Also laying out a grand for a manually operated cover with a one year warranty seems ridiculous.

Polycarbonate is notoriously vulnerable to UV attack. I am just weary of using it here. I know it is treated, but still, that is usually partially effective. Also laying out a grand for a manually operated cover with a one year warranty seems ridiculous.


Michael you may be correct, time will tell. Lexan/Polycarb has been in the world for many years. Improvements have been made. I hear you on the one-year warrantee. I don't know of a cover of this type that has more than a one year. I know the PE has a one year. I wonder if they covered the PE electric dmaxallitech had to pull off? I do know of a couple of issues with the PE and getting them repaired/replaced.


If you don’t think a Retrax is right for you, you had better stay away from the others!


Might I suggest a Snug-Lid fiberglass cover. My future in-laws don't have a problem removing or re-installing theirs in 10 minutes. Lifetime warrantee and the best fit and finish in the industry. Cheaper than a Retrax and actually better looking. They use a system where the mounting kit stays on the truck so no re-alignment is necessary. The new SL series Snug Lid is sweet with the remote release.

I ran the P/E on my last truck. It lasted about 8 years before it finally gave out. Never had a problem with the cover. The rails just wore out. Kept everything dry.

Anyone seen one of these units from Peragon (http://www.peragon.com/)???

I looked at one for my old truck. It folds like an accordian down at the front of the bed. There is a cross bar there that will stick out and isnt supported well. It provides structural support to the cover. I didnt want that bar being clobbered by my ATV. I also found a guy over at thedieselstop.com that said it wasnt all that waterproof. If you were to open it during rain, the accordian style opening would dump water into the bed.

The guy who owns my old 98 truck still has it and the original Retrax cover still work and looks great. No issues whatsoever.


PE had a lot of problems in there earlier days hopefully they have been resolved. They had problems with the canister springs, vinal splitting, aluminum slats wearing into the rails, aluminum slats seperating, and thats just off the top of my head. If you own one long enough your will experience all of those problems. Not to mention that you need to tie them to a tree to close them once they start to wear.


The retrax rolls on bearings and even the 6 year old one sill rolls with one finger.


I am sure PE has solved a lot of these problems but they sure had a poor concept.

Had a Peragon on my 2000 GMC 2500, it was difficult to install properly and it needed frequent adjustments to work without binding. I would not recommend one.


I put a Fold-A-Cover on the 2003 2500HD and it has been great so far. Like having an 8 foot tool box. This is the cover GM offers as a dealer option.

Max Power,
You hit the nail right on the head with your insight of the PE cover.
I've had the electric bed locker for a couple of years now and I'm starting to experience all the problems you mentioned.
The remote control power feature was great when new, very convenient. But now that is a couple of years old I'm afraid to open it because I never know if it'll want to close again. When it gets stuck open, I have to wait and drive through some rough terrain to "rattle" it close.
I'll probably be looking to get a Retrax soon.

Any of you guys tried any other all aluminum covers like Roll Bak or others. I like the idea of powder coated aluminum for its stength and durability.


I did see the post regarding Peragon. Seems like all aluminum models may bind more or not function as smoothly.

Any of you guys tried any other all aluminum covers like Roll Bak or others. I like the idea of powder coated aluminum for its stength and durability.





All I have seen roll on top of itself when retracted. Drive a few hundred miles in the "open" position and it scuffs the powder coat on the cover. It will eventually do it anyhow, but driving with it open will accelerate it. Most will develop a consistent track where it touches.


The Retrax is the only unit I have seen that does not roll on top of itself. It has a track in a spiral in the “can” that guides the roller bearings to allow it roll up. There is no spool for it to roll onto. No springs to assist in the retraction etc (none needed)


This picture shows one in the retracted mode from the end.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/5ZB_spiraltrack.jpg


As they say, treat it like you would the hood on your truck.

DEMAXALLIS,

Were the panels on the Peragon simular to the Fold-a-Cover? They are both aluminum I believe.

What are the seals like on the two of them? I understand one folds up and the other lays on top of itself. I would guess the Peragon rides under a seal on the side and seals between the panels while the Fold-a-Cover lays on top of the bed rails. Can you still use the stake pockets?

Thanks!

Being a guest since last Septmeber I finally decided to register. I am the customer of dmaxalliTech [Eric] that used to have the electric retractable Pace Edwards bed cover. dmax installed the Retrax unit last fall on my 2001 Duramax and it is MUCH SUPERIOR to the Pace Edwards that it replaced. Listen to Max Power as I have followed his postings and he knows exactly what he is talking about on these bed locker/covers. Max Power actually gives Pace more credit than they deserve as P/E management has engineered/designed retractable bed covers to barely get through factory warranty. My company sells industrial bearings and the sealed bearing design of Retrax is far beyond anything Pace offers.

I agree with Max Power and Professor. Here is a picture of what happens to a Roll-n-lock when you drive with it locked open:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/FA5_DSC00024.JPG

I had it replaced once and it did the same thing all over again. IMHO, I'd only buy an RNL if I planned to keep it closed almost all the time.

02dmax,


The Fold-A- Cover is constructed with four composite panels edge wrapped with painted aluminum the panels are connected with rubber covered stainless steel piano hinges. View this linkfor more info: http://www.fold-a-cover.com/. I purchased from this vendor:http://www.tntserve.com/


The Fold-A-Cover does cover the stake pockets, but this results in a nearly 100% water tight bed. The Peragon partially covered the stake pockets.


Jeff

I have a pace edwards jack rabbit. Absolute crap. Had some problems, and they replaced the cover itself, no questions, but then I had the exact same problem 1 month later. It looks good - only good thing to say.





I dont know much about the competitors, but I hope they are better than this.

RETRAX is quality equipment! Handles the cold and ice with a very good seal. I cannot speak to the other tops but am totally satisfied with the RETRAX.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

how is the Retrax for keeping clean?

No different then the rest of your truck.

One thing that concerned me about the Retrax is the security of what is inside. Looking at the cover, it just does not seem very substantial. My reference point is a Roll-n-lock from 5-6 years ago, when they made the anodized aluminum cover. (would buy another one if they still made this design).


The retrax looks like you could open it up with a utiliity knife, or a good pocket knife. Anyone have any feedback on this?

Your right you could get into a retrax with a utility knife. Most crooks aren't going to have a utility knife in their back pocket. Do you know how easy it is to get into any box cover? There aren't many roll up covers that will stand up to someone jumping on the cover. For that matter, do you know how easy it is to get into your truck? Locks only keep the honest people honest. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif

It's funny. I bought a Roll-N-Lock to be able to lock items in the bed related to my work and I think I only locked the thing twice in the past 2.5 years..Go Figure..

I own a Retrax cover on my short bed 04 CC D/A. It works very well but freezes shut in cold weather. I also notice that on sunny days, my cover tends to look a bit wavy as opposed to flat. i don't know if anyone else has had these experiences.


I also had a major powder coating defect on my rails which were promptly replaced by Retrax. Paint was falling off big time in flakes the size of nickels and dimes. Apparnetly they had a bad batch of powder coating.


Their customer service is top notch and very responsive. I haven't had it long enough to know about long term durability. Perhaps others can chime in here.





Overall, I'm a happy customer.

Jeff,

Thanks for the links on the Fold-a-Cover. One thing I didn't find was how difficult the install was. How much work is there to install and remove the Fold-a-Cover if you need to use the whole bed?

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,


The cover took less than an hour to install. The cover can easily be removed after loosening the set screws at the side rails.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/57E_Fold-A-Cover_Front_Panel_up.jpg


Pic showing front and rear panel raised. The cover attaches to the rails at the ends of the front hinge. The 2x's create a front tool box.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/Fold-A-Cover2003_GMC.JPG


truck bed with all panels lowered.

OK- I have seen lots of great products here on this thred, however...


Does anyone make a retractable cover in anything but black! Sacramento in the summertime is not one of natures cool spots- niether is Phoenix, or Ft. Lauderdale. I am worried that the contents under the cover would vaporize, baked in the relentless sun; possibly taking the rest of the bed with it.


There must be a calling for a white, silver, chrome, stainless, or natural Aluminum out there for others besides just me.

Demaxallis,


How does the cover react on the highway? I assume that the panels flex some correct?

03BlueHD,


The panels are rigid, with no flexing due to the wind at freeway speeds. The panels are constructed with an outer skin of powder coated aluminum with an injected foam inner core, though I am not enirely sure of all its inner contruction features.


The cover is not strong enough to stand on, but you can place items on it. I just treat it like the hood of the truck. The panels can dent and be scratched. Edited by: DEMAXALLIS

Thanks for the feedback

I have my first and last Pace Edwards. My son had one on his last truck and went to the Retrax on his new one and like it a lot better. Later! Frank

Well, I've gone around the block looking at bed covers. Started out wanting a Roll-n-Lock after a recommendation by a friend. I tow a 5th wheel RV and need to go long distances with the cover in the retracted/open position. Saw Diesel Dad's post here and on RV.Net about the scratching/marring that occurs while riding with the cover open and changed my mind about RnL! Thought hard about the Peragon, but the overall design left me with some unanswered questions. Next, my RV dealer had me convinced to buy a Pace Edwards Jack Rabbit which he has, sells and recommends. Not hearing all good things about them either. So, after doing more research and reading all the info here, especially posts by Max Power, I ordered my Retrax today! Thanks to Max, Diesel Dad and all of you for the excellent information!

I looked at a lot of covers, and had to make a decsion between two. The American Roll Cover (not made in US), or the RollBAK cover. I could not find much first hand information on either, but I opted for the RollBAK, and ordered it yesterday. It should arrive in a couple of weeks, and I will post first hand feedback at that time. This is the most similar I could find to my old roll-n-lock. Hope it works as well as the ads make it look.

OK, I'm convinced Retrax is the best way to go. Next question is where is the best place to get one?


Any help appreciated,


Dennis

I had thought about getting one right from the company. Was told by them that's it's about a 60/40 mix now. A few weeks ago when I called, the company did have a special going on with a discount and free shipping. I was told that was ending, but call to check. The rest are sold by dealers and, if you call the company, they will tell you your nearest dealer. I opted to go with the dealer because the dealer is the one who recently did my Line-X and I was very satisfied with him. Also, if I have any issues, I can go back to a place instead of just a voice on the phone!


One thing to keep in mind—I was told that it may take a month or more to get the cover in. Don't know if that's SOP and maybe someone else can speak to that issue!Edited by: EEEEZY

I bought my Retrax from JK ... had the best price at the time. I ordered on Monday and it was dropped shipped to me direct from Retrax on Friday. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif

EEEEZY,


Is your Line-X Over the rails? (I see your Retrax is on order, so I won't ask how the fit is) Did the dealer seem to think there would be a problem with weatherproofing or fit when you ordered?


Thanks,
Dennis

You won't have any problems with a spray in liner.

Dennis,


My Line-X is not over the rails but, as Max Power says (and he's the guy that should know!), there is not supposed to be any problem in either case. There's a lot of satisfied Retrax customers on these forums and there's been a lot of discussion about them. As far as fit, although I don't have mine yet, I've never read about any issues with the Retrax not fitting properly! Weather-proofing does not seem to be a serious issue either. Just in case, I ordered the tailgate seal to keep any water, dirt, dust, etc. from getting sucked in by the negative pressure that I've read about. Probably unnecessary, but I tend to be rather obsessive!

Just thought I would drop a note about the RollBAK cover. Finished installing on Friday night (with help from Chuntag95). Having gone through the install, and looking at all the components, I would likely not buy this again.


Everything works, and the cover looks fine. It will provide the security that I wanted. The downfall is that some of the components are cheap, and the mechanisms are not what they should be. It took about 4 hours to install, and much of that was fine tuning to get everything to work right.


Positive is that the cover is solid, and finish is good quality. I will have to see how it holds up. Biggest negative is that the lock mechanism is not a positive lock. I do not think that I could drive with the cover in a partially open position, so this is either open or closed. Decent concept, resonable quality, but falls short on the design aspect.

I just got my Retrax today (thanks Max Power). Took about an hour to install it. I must say the fit and finish is quite nice. I don't know anything about the other two, but the Retrax is very nice. I can't imagine an easier product to install either. The only tricky spot was lifting the unit into the bed. I had my wife help me out there, who is 5'1" tall, and she had a little trouble lifting it over her head. She was still able to manage fine. If you had someone who wasn't vertically challenged, it would be a piece of cake!


Dennis

I have personally had two Roll-N-Locks and I cannot say anything but good things. The first one is 3 years old and still looks and works like new.


I did buy a PE manual unit before my first Roll-N-Lock and that thing sucked! I did not even leave the shop with it on my truck. When I went to pick up my truck the thing failed to retract/extend 9 out of 10 times. They tried everything to get it to work before I made the shop take it off and replace it with a Roll-N-Lock. This was 3 years ago so maybe things have change as others have commented.


I also tow a gooseneck and have never had the markings on either of my retracted Roll N Locks. Probably 50/50 on miles retracted vs. miles extended and never a single mark like the previous picture. Sounds like something else might be going on like a manufacturing defect or improper install. Or I could just be lucky!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


The Roll-N-Lock is avaliable in a reflective silver diamond tread as well as a carbon fiber look. As far as the leaks both my units do leak but it is at the tail gate area only and I usually pack the bed accordingly.


I have never owned a Retrax so I cannot comment or compare.......

One thing I have noticed that I like is that the ride is now quieter with the Retrax on. My wife commented on it, too, so I know it isn't just my imagination. I guess it makes sense from a physics standpoint, just hadn't thought about it before.


My comment back to her was "That means I can put a louder exhaust on!"


Dennis

Brand new still in the box Pace Edwards Jack Rabbit bed cover. Fits Short box Chevy or GMC. I paid almost $ 800 for it. I am trying to sell for $575.00 I also have a Pace Edwards Power tailgate lock Part # LK-270 $ 60.00 and Bed rail caps NIB. Part # 21-2701 $50.00 also made by Pace Edwards.


Mark Edited by: BLACKDMAX

The guy who owns my old 98 truck still has it and the original Retrax cover still work and looks great. No issues whatsoever.


PE had a lot of problems in there earlier days hopefully they have been resolved. They had problems with the canister springs, vinal splitting, aluminum slats wearing into the rails, aluminum slats seperating, and thats just off the top of my head. If you own one long enough your will experience all of those problems. Not to mention that you need to tie them to a tree to close them once they start to wear.


The retrax rolls on bearings and even the 6 year old one sill rolls with one finger.


I am sure PE has solved a lot of these problems but they sure had a poor concept.








My same observations, PLUS the PE darins into a canister. The gap at the cover to lid is large enoyugh for leaves and pine nedles/debris to enter the canister and then the drains get pulugged...





Retrax seals (albeit less than absolute) the cover to the lid , and the rails to keep the water from running in. What little water enters can be evactated via drain hoses if desired.





You just don't want to get near a barn fire with the Retrax. Embers can embed themselveshttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif...

[QUOTE=Max Power]


You just don't want to get near a barn fire with the Retrax. Embers can embed themselveshttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif...





True, but the same would happen to the PE's vinal cover.

I purchased the Retrax to prevent marking the cover when riding with it open to pull the fifth wheel. But I don't know what's worst the marks with the others or the unsightly bumps from front to back on the Retrax. They now say this is normal and that I'm lucky because I only have 4-5 bumps but their advertisement before the sale shows a nice smooth cover. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley7.gif

A bear who did you purchase from? I have succesfully had them replace some of the bad ones. It is hit or miss but lately all of them have been flat.

MP,


I purchased it about 50 miles from the house in Slidel, La. Retrax said the bumps would go away after Summer but I see very little difference. The bumps are large. If I put a straight edge on the cover they are near 3/4" high and deep in places. I'll give them a call to see what they can do. I can also send pics. Thanks for the heads up. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

Talk to Randy. Good luck.

a bear,



Try opening and closing it a bunch of times and see if the bumps go
away. Maybe it is just 'frozen' up in a few places and working it
might make it sit down. Just a thought. . . .



Dennis

I've had a Roll-N-Lock, and a pace edwards both leaked. I bought a tORZA tOP a few months back. it is great. does not leak, folds back to allow access to bed, and took only five minutes to install. looks good too. probably not as secure as the others, but if they want to get in they will.

Any feedback on the "undercover"? I need a light, liftoff cover. Roll-up soft covers I do not want--all ready have one. The roll-back or fold-back style will also not work (I use the entire bed quite often to transport the grizzly) and the roll-back style roll up against the front of the bed where the grizzly tires must go in order to close the tailgate. The "undercover" is light, strong, does not get painted, and lifts off buy removing two pins. It does hinge up and lock down for normal operation.

Hey guys, I know very little about these roll up covers. But am thinking about getting one. I have a soft tonno right now, and it flaps in the wind like a flag. Was wondering, and I know it is a fairly hard cover, but does it kinda wave around a little bit. And maybe make a little noise with the roller bearings moving around with the wind currents.

The wind will make them all flutter a bit. Nothing serious and nothing to worry about. I can't speak for the rest of them but you will hear no noise from the retrax.