Roll n Lock A vs. M Series vs. Bakflip/Linex Lxp (maybe Retrax, too)

MrLeadFoot · March 27

2 hours ago, Capt Bob said:

First, the water sheets off the cover due to the truck’s rake and ends up in the canister. That occurs if there is a rake of some degree. Doesn’t take much rake. Rains a lot where I reside but I never have standing water of any degree on the top after a rain event so yes, I agree that you will not get any measurable amount of water in the center of the bed if you open and then close the top following a rainstorm. Opening while it’s raining is another story. Again, this precludes the drains/hoses being clear allowing the canister to properly drain.

No noise while driving.

I have an A model ( my 3rd.) on my 2500HD and yes, I condition the entire top with 303. I used it also on the 3 M models I had.

Thanks so much for the additional info. Given that you went Roll N Lock, I'm assuming you compared it to Retrax and possibly eeven the American Roll Cover, but I would sincerely like to hear why you chose Roll N Lock over the others. Also, how did you run your tubes... like @Mossyoakglock, or...?

Capt Bob · March 27

6 hours ago, MrLeadFoot said:

Thanks so much for the additional info. Given that you went Roll N Lock, I'm assuming you compared it to Retrax and possibly eeven the American Roll Cover, but I would sincerely like to hear why you chose Roll N Lock over the others. Also, how did you run your tubes... like @Mossyoakglock, or...?

I bought my first RNL for my 97 1500. I lived in So. Florida and had it installed at their Pompano Beach factory. That’s where the installer stood on the cover. The top always worked well and you could install a rail on the tailgate that would allow you to lock the tailgate when you locked the top. A factory locking tailgate was not a thing back then. Moving forward, I have installed all the additional covers myself and with proper maintenance they perform as advertised. Some people don’t like the strap you pull to close the top. Some don’t like the canister occupying bed space. Most are turned off by the cost. As for me, it does just what I need it to do. Cover the bed and lock.

I have looked at other tops but I want a top that retracts easily, stores “in the bed” and is durable. Having had a number of them, I know what to expect. As for the drain tubes, I always run them through the drain holes in the bed floor. I’m just conscious of them when loading. I admit I like what another member has done plumbing them through the forward wall between bed and cab. Might consider that a project some time in the future.

Mossyoakglock · March 27

No flapping/rattling or noise here when driving either.

As for the water on the cover. In addition to the rake of the truck (or probably even leveled), with how the cover is under tension and uses a spring to retract, most of the water will probably be thrown off the cover as it retracts into the canister.

If there is any residual water on the underside, it's very minimal and might not be enough to even drip down into the bed.

Edited March 27 by Mossyoakglock

Capt Bob · March 27

Just a quick addition.

Here in Florida, the vinyl tubing will develop algae and result in a blockage so again, regular maintenance is required.

Good luck with your choice.

MrLeadFoot · March 28

10 hours ago, Mossyoakglock said:

No flapping/rattling or noise here when driving either.

As for the water on the cover. In addition to the rake of the truck (or probably even leveled), with how the cover is under tension and uses a spring to retract, most of the water will probably be thrown off the cover as it retracts into the canister.

If there is any residual water on the underside, it's very minimal and might not be enough to even drip down into the bed.

Thanks for the input on flapping, or lack thereof. Good point, too, on the droplets being thrown off. You guys have sealed the deal for me. Looks like it's just a matter of M vs. A.

MrLeadFoot · March 28

6 hours ago, Capt Bob said:

Just a quick addition.

Here in Florida, the vinyl tubing will develop algae and result in a blockage so again, regular maintenance is required.

Good luck with your choice.

In the aquarium industry, some companies use green, and even black, tubing to try to minimize algae from growing inside tubing. Perhaps you can try black?

Also, the fact that the Roll n Lock cover comes off so easy for maintenance might be reason enough to go Roll n Lock over something like Retrax with the huge canister.

Mossyoakglock · March 28

Another thing on Retrax. You cannot easily take the canister cover off of the Retrax if you need to clean anything. The cover sits inside grooves of the rails so you actually have to remove the clamps, lift the rail assembly and then slide the canister cover towards the window. Might be hard to explain but you could probably see what I mean when watching an install video.

There's a seal/brush on the front edge of the RNL cover which will keep most debris out, but you will get some stuff in the canister. I get those helicopter seeds and other small leaves but nothing major. I'll get sand when we go down to Florida to see family but I'll just take a hose a rinse it out.

MrLeadFoot · March 28

44 minutes ago, Mossyoakglock said:

Another thing on Retrax. You cannot easily take the canister cover off of the Retrax if you need to clean anything. The cover sits inside grooves of the rails so you actually have to remove the clamps, lift the rail assembly and then slide the canister cover towards the window. Might be hard to explain but you could probably see what I mean when watching an install video.

There's a seal/brush on the front edge of the RNL cover which will keep most debris out, but you will get some stuff in the canister. I get those helicopter seeds and other small leaves but nothing major. I'll get sand when we go down to Florida to see family but I'll just take a hose a rinse it out.

Yes, I had heard Retrax was more of a chaore to clean out. Regarding blockage of the drains INSIDE the Roll n Lock, I saw something somehwere about someone putting some sort of mesh sink strainers over the ports inside the canister that seemed to help preven clogging of the drain tubes. I suspect that would work well for that, and then all you neeed to do is periodically clean out the larger debris like leaves, pods, sticks, etc. Of course, at this point it's just theory to me because I don't have the actual cover yet, but thought I would share that in case anyone finds that helpful, since everyone has been so helpful to me here.

Edited March 28 by MrLeadFoot

Mossyoakglock · April 15

Did you ever decide and pull the trigger on a cover?

MrLeadFoot · April 15

3 hours ago, Mossyoakglock said:

Did you ever decide and pull the trigger on a cover?

Yes, I have decided on a Roll n Lock, but something more serious came up, check your pm.

MrLeadFoot · May 5

I noticed that Roll n Lock has a version with a track for adding overhead stuff. Does that change the dimensions like height or width of rails, and does it add more ways for water to get in?