[CraigE]

I'm thinking about getting the retrax pro or maybe even the retrax power pro but I'm concerned that in the winter (I live in Northern NJ) when we have ice and snow if the ice will become a problem when I need to roll open the cover.

Anyone have any experience with these covers that can comment?

I am also looking at the bakflip g2 ir bakflip vip. I really like both designs but am having trouble deciding which to get.

I'm leaning towards retrax because It seems like it might be more secure than the bak flip and I need that since I will be carrying expensive tools and equipment in the bed.

 

[joepascoe19]

I have a retrax and the only issue i had woth it in the winter was getting water in the latch and it freezing closed but i just tapped on it with a screwdriver handle or somthing and it would come open.

 

[Rambunkshuss]

Only thing i dont care much for with the powered units, they eat up bed space. Ther seems to be complaints about them failing as well. But you never hear of anyone complaining until it dont work...lol. Most the complaints i hear of around here is in the winter when they freeze up and cant open them. Old Skool = MANUAL OPEN works for me just fine. And if you wanna keep people from stealing anything out of the back of your truck, go get you a furnace transformer and clamp a wire to it to your box, ground the other end... they`ll only touch it just once. (hehehehe) It stopped the neighbor brats here really quickly... they walk on the other side of the road now.

 

[CraigE]

The power unit taking up more space is a concern for me. If the non-powered model takes up signitficantly less space I'd go with that instead. I just dont know if having a rolling cover will be an issue if it has a layer of ice on it. I don't want to be in a position where I cant open it. I'm leaning more towards the bakflip vp because of that concern. The issue I have with the bakflip vp is that it seems that any time I open my tail gate, I'd have to open the rear panel of the cover to close the gate. that extra step could be come a pain after doing it so many times a day. I like your transformer idea. Kind of like putting an electric fence around the truck. lol That would definitely do the trick.

 

[Dr Honda]

All bed covers have issues with ice and snow. On the style you are looking at... if you get a freezing rain... its not going to open. If you get a heavy snow... and you dont' clean it off well.... and the remainder melts from the afternoon sun, and then that re-freezes when the sun goes down.... it will be stuck.

And so on....


The regular folding vinyl types don't like to be removed when it's too cold either. And the rear seal can freeze to the tail gate.

Basically... just pic the one you want, and then deal with the issues in the winter.

OR.... buy a van to work out of.

 

[CdnoilRAM]

Had a roll-n-lock for a long time and it would occasionally freeze shut in the winter, the locking mechanism would also get water in it and freeze up, but it only happened a few times each winter so I learned to live with it.

 

[Rambunkshuss]

Some good points about both, powered vs manual and dealin with winter.
I would still prefer the bakflips types myself too like others suggested.
Powered ones are kool, BUT, not so much in the winter months.

 

[GR8WING]

Love my manual Retrax Pro. Install was easy enough with wife helping set it in. Didn't want the extra aggravation of potential motor issues and it moves soooo smooth manually. Glad I saved the money! Ice/snow is not an issue for me. You won't be disappointed.

 

[kingoffleece]

I had a Back-Flip on my last truck and I plow in Buffalo, NY. never an issue with it not opening for any reason. After a while when the rubber seal wore into the tailgate i could open and close without opening the tailgate.