I had a roll n lock on my last truck for 12 years and it worked flawlessly. I really like the smaller canister that allows me to use large totes as storage underneath it. I did have to realign it once. I think yours just needed realigned and it would slide well again. I’ve just ordered a new one for my new truck and was told that they no longer lock into the tailgate since automatic tailgates are more common these days they’ve done away with that feature.I like the feature so I’m not sure if it’ll still come with the lock bar as an option though, I’ll find out when it gets here.
To me the Retrax Pro MX and Retrax Pro XR are the best low profile tonneau covers money can buy. Over 500lbs spread out across them easily, one handed operation, locks in any position, doesn’t interfere or impede with the tailgate whatsoever, it doesn’t bulge or protrude above the bed rails and looks like it’s made for the trucks, they are the most water resistant covers I’ve ever used and they don’t block the rear window. They basically make it so you have a convertible trunk/bed at all times and your gear is safe and secure. I have one on a 5th gen 2020 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7 Cummins and a 2023 Ford F350 Platinum 6.7 power stoke long bed. Flawless operation and ease of use on both. I don’t use the racks like I thought I would, but it’s nice to know I could on my Retrax Pro XR
I’ve had two 8 footers no problems. Tailgate seal is very important. The wind will create a vacuum and pull water rain. From underneath the tailgate. I’ve had just about all of the types at one time or another. From the toppers to the vinyl roll ups. That fit on top of the bed. One question on the side handle. If you didn’t like pushing on the sides of the roll n lock. Thinking you might knock it out of alignment. What’s the difference of pulling on the handle 8 times a week?
The rollnlock isn't designed to be pushed. At least the way I understand it, it is designed to retrack back automatically in a spring-loaded fashion. Using the strap, you pull it back. The strap scratches the bedside, especially if you do not secure it going down the road. Now, the retrax isn't spring-loaded. You are not pulling against that spring to close it. This was an issue for me, specifically due to a surgery and recovery I am going through. The retrax allows you to unlock and walk it down the bed. Either direction doesn't require force of any kind.
Here's a couple of tips......Use paraffin wax to lube the channels on a Retrax system, never any petroleum based lube. I have a dually with an 8' bed and it's difficult to open or close my Retrax due to the fenders, my solution was to take a 8' wood dowel rod and screw a hook into one end. I can use the stick to grab the cover to close and use it to push the cover open. It's much easier to use because you're pushing or pulling from the middle or center of the cover
Installed a Retrax Pro MX on my 21 F150 SCrew Platinum 6.5' bed. Not my first Retrax Pro MX. Was great first year and a half or so. Now it leaks like a seive. Not just along the edges but all over.
@@WhitetailGarage Will likely replace it with a topper. After many, many years of trucks and covers, I've come to the realization that the only time I had zero leaks was with my ARE Z-Series topper on my F350 Super Duty.
The retrax can is flimsier for sure. If can construction is top priority, go with the rollnlock. But once the can is installed, that really ins't something to worry about. The retrax is virtually maintenance free. I was constantly having to clean, lube, and "align" the rollnlock.
I’ve had 7 Roll n Loks with no issues. This last go around I went with Retrax because I wanted to add a cargo carrier and didn’t realize Roll n Lok was making one with the t-grooves for cargo racks. The Retrax is a total POS! On the second day my cooler shifted and crushed the canopy making the top almost inoperable. I had to crawl in the bed and bend it back into shape as best I could. I now have a worn strip all the way down the top where the dent makes contact. I contacted Retrax on the second day and they offered to knock $200 off the parts since it was “fairly” new. 2 days old is “fairly” new? The Roll n Lok has a bumper plate that goes in front of the canopy. The Retrax also leaks like crazy in a car wash. You might as well drop the tailgate and spray a water hose inside. I would never recommend the Retrax!
That is a terrible experience. I did notice the "can" on the retrax is much more flimsy then the rollnlock. I found the rollnlock to be harder to use both retracting and closing. With more maintenance and lubing it would have been fine. But with the ball bearing in the retrax it is far less of issue with limited to no maintenance. I can see what you're talking about though.
Neither are a water tight seal. For me, they are the same and keep 95-98% of water out. I believe the Retrax is a much better made product specifically because of the ball bearing slides. I have a new video dropping soon on the flagship electric Roll-n-lock. It will be a must-see before you spend any money with Roll-n-lock.
They are DIY. I used a grounding plunger switch in the tailgate and ran power from the cab that was a 12v constant. Then hid the LEDs under the bed rail and under the bed cover can. It turned out to be a very factory look.
Someone did not install your Roll-n-lock correctly! I had one on a truck for 17 years and never had a single issue with it not opening or getting out of line! Took care of it and it looked brand new when I sold the truck. Had one on my last truck for 7 years and same thing, not a single issue, never had it not retract, never had it get out of line! I will get one put on my 2024 in a couple of weeks when I have a chance! My brother has had one for over 20 years, he did not take care of his and the paint came off part of the canister, but like me, never had an issue! Also, I could also pull my roll-n-lock from one side with no problem just as you can the Retrax. Just keep the rails lubed and it slide smooth!
That's great. My experience didn't match yours. The Roll N Lock was on the truck when I purchased it, maybe an install issue. The Retrax I installed worked without issue.
Yes, very much. My only complaint is the drain tubes. They use cheap plastic push in adapters that keep falling out and the "drain hose" is just wire conduit. Neither are ideal for the purpose. However, that isn't enough for me to change my mind. The overall build and usability are top-notch. Plus the aluminum cover is just about maintenance-free.
@@WhitetailGarage what is the size difference comparison of the canister housing for the roll n lock vs the retrax? I've seen where the Retrax is a little large. Would you say that's true or not?
The rollnlock didnt have any actual seal but sat on top of the bed. Being right next to the cab I believe was enough to prevent water intrusion. The retrax has a "seal", really just a rubber flap, because it sits inside the bed. So far I am not seeing any water in the bed but have yet to drive in any wet weather. Sitting in the rain I havent seen an issue.
@@WhitetailGarage If the seal attached to the canister is flipped downward into the bed, it has not been installed correctly. When you install a Retrax, the rubber seal should lay flat against the bulkhead and either ends should be trimmed where the seal ends where the bed side caps come in contact with the seals. This will help with water coming down the bulkhead if the seal is laying inside the bed. Hope this helps!
so is there any water intrusion witht the retrax? seen some video with them leaking. leakage was coming thru the actual aluminum slats and all the way up the side. wondering if it was an instalation problem or the retrax itself. i live in oregon so having something water tight is important and can deal with a little bit near the tailgate.
@@WhitetailGarage from experience.....all the retractable bed covers suffers from extreme weather ...ie snow...they tend to freeze and lock up....unless you park in a garage......and concerning 100% water tight ....no cover is waterproof except maybe a hard (solid piece) tonneau cover.
on the pull retractable can you still open it without the bed being down? im actually in the market for both of these and i think the retractable retrax with key is the best deal
The rollnlock locks the tailgate by design. You could modify it not to do so. The retrax doesn't lock the bed. The ball bearing roll of the retrax is enough of a reason to go retrax. But that is just my opinion.
@@WhitetailGarage Agree... the Retrax Pro MX is my choice also.... its full aluminum cover....with lifetime warranty and one arm operation sold me.....comparing to similar models...the rope pull would drive me crazy!
I'm not sure. It was on the truck when I got it. However, for comparison purposes, the Retrax was used coming off of a 2013 F150. I suspect the ages were similar.
I had a roll n lock on my last truck for 12 years and it worked flawlessly. I really like the smaller canister that allows me to use large totes as storage underneath it. I did have to realign it once. I think yours just needed realigned and it would slide well again. I’ve just ordered a new one for my new truck and was told that they no longer lock into the tailgate since automatic tailgates are more common these days they’ve done away with that feature.I like the feature so I’m not sure if it’ll still come with the lock bar as an option though, I’ll find out when it gets here.
To me the Retrax Pro MX and Retrax Pro XR are the best low profile tonneau covers money can buy. Over 500lbs spread out across them easily, one handed operation, locks in any position, doesn’t interfere or impede with the tailgate whatsoever, it doesn’t bulge or protrude above the bed rails and looks like it’s made for the trucks, they are the most water resistant covers I’ve ever used and they don’t block the rear window. They basically make it so you have a convertible trunk/bed at all times and your gear is safe and secure. I have one on a 5th gen 2020 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7 Cummins and a 2023 Ford F350 Platinum 6.7 power stoke long bed. Flawless operation and ease of use on both. I don’t use the racks like I thought I would, but it’s nice to know I could on my Retrax Pro XR
I’ve looked into all the bedcovers. BakFlip , Mountain, numerous others. I’m going with the Retrax.
Nice video
Good comparison. I’m going to give retrac a try.
I’ve had two 8 footers no problems. Tailgate seal is very important. The wind will create a vacuum and pull water rain. From underneath the tailgate. I’ve had just about all of the types at one time or another. From the toppers to the vinyl roll ups. That fit on top of the bed. One question on the side handle. If you didn’t like pushing on the sides of the roll n lock. Thinking you might knock it out of alignment. What’s the difference of pulling on the handle 8 times a week?
The rollnlock isn't designed to be pushed. At least the way I understand it, it is designed to retrack back automatically in a spring-loaded fashion. Using the strap, you pull it back. The strap scratches the bedside, especially if you do not secure it going down the road. Now, the retrax isn't spring-loaded. You are not pulling against that spring to close it. This was an issue for me, specifically due to a surgery and recovery I am going through. The retrax allows you to unlock and walk it down the bed. Either direction doesn't require force of any kind.
Here's a couple of tips......Use paraffin wax to lube the channels on a Retrax system, never any petroleum based lube. I have a dually with an 8' bed and it's difficult to open or close my Retrax due to the fenders, my solution was to take a 8' wood dowel rod and screw a hook into one end. I can use the stick to grab the cover to close and use it to push the cover open. It's much easier to use because you're pushing or pulling from the middle or center of the cover
Installed a Retrax Pro MX on my 21 F150 SCrew Platinum 6.5' bed. Not my first Retrax Pro MX. Was great first year and a half or so. Now it leaks like a seive. Not just along the edges but all over.
That is terrible. I haven't had that issue yet
@@WhitetailGarage Will likely replace it with a topper. After many, many years of trucks and covers, I've come to the realization that the only time I had zero leaks was with my ARE Z-Series topper on my F350 Super Duty.
No problem with my roll and lock - maybe you should try to align
The retrax can is flimsier for sure. If can construction is top priority, go with the rollnlock. But once the can is installed, that really ins't something to worry about. The retrax is virtually maintenance free. I was constantly having to clean, lube, and "align" the rollnlock.
I’ve had 7 Roll n Loks with no issues. This last go around I went with Retrax because I wanted to add a cargo carrier and didn’t realize Roll n Lok was making one with the t-grooves for cargo racks. The Retrax is a total POS! On the second day my cooler shifted and crushed the canopy making the top almost inoperable. I had to crawl in the bed and bend it back into shape as best I could. I now have a worn strip all the way down the top where the dent makes contact. I contacted Retrax on the second day and they offered to knock $200 off the parts since it was “fairly” new. 2 days old is “fairly” new? The Roll n Lok has a bumper plate that goes in front of the canopy. The Retrax also leaks like crazy in a car wash. You might as well drop the tailgate and spray a water hose inside. I would never recommend the Retrax!
That is a terrible experience. I did notice the "can" on the retrax is much more flimsy then the rollnlock. I found the rollnlock to be harder to use both retracting and closing. With more maintenance and lubing it would have been fine. But with the ball bearing in the retrax it is far less of issue with limited to no maintenance. I can see what you're talking about though.
Now that you have been using the retrax, do u still like it better than the roll-n-lock. I read it is not great at keeping water out.
Neither are a water tight seal. For me, they are the same and keep 95-98% of water out. I believe the Retrax is a much better made product specifically because of the ball bearing slides. I have a new video dropping soon on the flagship electric Roll-n-lock. It will be a must-see before you spend any money with Roll-n-lock.
Just ran across your video. Are the LED lights at the front of the truck bed factory or did you DIY them? Great idea!
They are DIY. I used a grounding plunger switch in the tailgate and ran power from the cab that was a 12v constant. Then hid the LEDs under the bed rail and under the bed cover can. It turned out to be a very factory look.
Someone did not install your Roll-n-lock correctly! I had one on a truck for 17 years and never had a single issue with it not opening or getting out of line! Took care of it and it looked brand new when I sold the truck. Had one on my last truck for 7 years and same thing, not a single issue, never had it not retract, never had it get out of line! I will get one put on my 2024 in a couple of weeks when I have a chance! My brother has had one for over 20 years, he did not take care of his and the paint came off part of the canister, but like me, never had an issue! Also, I could also pull my roll-n-lock from one side with no problem just as you can the Retrax. Just keep the rails lubed and it slide smooth!
That's great. My experience didn't match yours. The Roll N Lock was on the truck when I purchased it, maybe an install issue. The Retrax I installed worked without issue.
@whitetailgarage are you still liking the retrax system?
Yes, very much. My only complaint is the drain tubes. They use cheap plastic push in adapters that keep falling out and the "drain hose" is just wire conduit. Neither are ideal for the purpose. However, that isn't enough for me to change my mind. The overall build and usability are top-notch. Plus the aluminum cover is just about maintenance-free.
@@WhitetailGarage what is the size difference comparison of the canister housing for the roll n lock vs the retrax? I've seen where the Retrax is a little large. Would you say that's true or not?
Did you have better water seal up by the window area?
The rollnlock didnt have any actual seal but sat on top of the bed. Being right next to the cab I believe was enough to prevent water intrusion. The retrax has a "seal", really just a rubber flap, because it sits inside the bed. So far I am not seeing any water in the bed but have yet to drive in any wet weather. Sitting in the rain I havent seen an issue.
@@WhitetailGarage If the seal attached to the canister is flipped downward into the bed, it has not been installed correctly. When you install a Retrax, the rubber seal should lay flat against the bulkhead and either ends should be trimmed where the seal ends where the bed side caps come in contact with the seals. This will help with water coming down the bulkhead if the seal is laying inside the bed. Hope this helps!
You are correct. I meant the body of the unit is in vs on top of the bed rail. The seal lays flat across the front of the bed, as you stated.
so is there any water intrusion witht the retrax? seen some video with them leaking. leakage was coming thru the actual aluminum slats and all the way up the side. wondering if it was an instalation problem or the retrax itself. i live in oregon so having something water tight is important and can deal with a little bit near the tailgate.
Mine is water tight, but I am not dealing with snow. That could make a difference.
@@WhitetailGarage from experience.....all the retractable bed covers suffers from extreme weather ...ie snow...they tend to freeze and lock up....unless you park in a garage......and concerning 100% water tight ....no cover is waterproof except maybe a hard (solid piece) tonneau cover.
How easy will the the new one be to clean out when it gets plugged up and wont drain?
The same as before. 2 bolts/screws to remove the top plate to access the inside. Drain port size are the same.
on the pull retractable can you still open it without the bed being down? im actually in the market for both of these and i think the retractable retrax with key is the best deal
The rollnlock locks the tailgate by design. You could modify it not to do so. The retrax doesn't lock the bed. The ball bearing roll of the retrax is enough of a reason to go retrax. But that is just my opinion.
@@WhitetailGarage Agree... the Retrax Pro MX is my choice also.... its full aluminum cover....with lifetime warranty and one arm operation sold me.....comparing to similar models...the rope pull would drive me crazy!
How did the retrax do with rain intrusion?
I haven't had any water issues with mine.
Leaks like a siv. Don't buy Retrax
now let us know about the waterproofing and leakage from retrax
I haven't had any leakage issues.
How old is the Roll-N-Lock®
I'm not sure. It was on the truck when I got it. However, for comparison purposes, the Retrax was used coming off of a 2013 F150. I suspect the ages were similar.
I don’t think either one would work on Canada
Canada? 🤔
I had a retrax in Calgary it worked fine. Frozen a couple of times when it was -40, but one hard push and it would roll just fine.
ive owned my fair share of covers and the roll n lock is by far the biggest piece of shit
Well, I didn't have a great experience myself.