Retrax Retractable Tonneau Cover

[Tulecreeper]

I have The Retrax PRO MX Manual Retractable Tonneau Cover - aluminum. About a year ago it started getting really hard to pull/push open. I could get it the first couple of feet pulling the handle, then it took a lot of effort pulling for the next couple feet after which it got easier again. Now, that difficult part takes almost all my strength to pull past that couple feet and I'm afraid I'm going to break the handle off so I have to physically get up into the bed and push on it. I've cleaned out the tracks and applied paraffin and that didn't work. So I cleaned them again and applied spray silicone and that also didn't work.

Anybody have that kind of issue with a tonneau cover, or what might be causing the issue?

 

[oe542bob]

That’s odd. I would call ReTrax and tell them what’s happening.

 

[Dredger]

It sounds like one of your tracks has come out of alignment. Measure your tracks to be certain they're the same distance apart.

 

[Tulecreeper]

That’s odd. I would call ReTrax and tell them what’s happening.

Yeah, They're out of warranty at this point, but there is a Retrax dealer about 40 minutes from me and I'm going to drop by there soon and get their call on it.

It sounds like one of your tracks has come out of alignment. Measure your tracks to be certain they're the same distance apart.

I hadn't though about that. I'll check that out later, but if they're out of alignment I don't know how to fix that as I had it installed and the book doesn't have a 'Fix It' section.

 

[Dredger]

I hadn't though about that. I'll check that out later, but if they're out of alignment I don't know how to fix that as I had it installed and the book doesn't have a 'Fix It' section.

It's really quite simple to adjust. Watch the video below starting at the 12:30 mark and he explains how to do it.

How to Install RetraxPRO MX Tonneau Cover on a 2023 Ford F-250 HD

https://realtruck.com/p/retraxpro-mx-tonneau-cover/The RetraxPRO MX Tonneau Cover is a top-of-the-line, retractable tonneau cover from , offering a durable a...

www.youtube.com

 

[Tulecreeper]

It's really quite simple to adjust. Watch the video below starting at the 12:30 mark and he explains how to do it.

How to Install RetraxPRO MX Tonneau Cover on a 2023 Ford F-250 HD

https://realtruck.com/p/retraxpro-mx-tonneau-cover/The RetraxPRO MX Tonneau Cover is a top-of-the-line, retractable tonneau cover from , offering a durable a...

www.youtube.com

Thank you, friend. I'll do that first day our temps drop back below 110° - which by the look of the Wx report will be sometime in 2037.

 

[Tulecreeper]

It's really quite simple to adjust. Watch the video below starting at the 12:30 mark and he explains how to do it.

How to Install RetraxPRO MX Tonneau Cover on a 2023 Ford F-250 HD

https://realtruck.com/p/retraxpro-mx-tonneau-cover/The RetraxPRO MX Tonneau Cover is a top-of-the-line, retractable tonneau cover from , offering a durable a...

www.youtube.com

OK, I braved the 100° heat and measured. The distance between the center and front clamp was 59", and the distance between the clamps at the rear was 58 3/4". So I removed the center and rear clamps and tapped with rubber mallet until the tracks are 59" apart front to back, which is as far apart as the rear of the tracks will go as the track flange is flat against the underside of the bed rail now. Still didn't fix the problem.

Funny thing, the track flange is up against the underside of the bed rail in the rear but there is a ~1/2" gap between the track flange and the underside of the rail at the center and the front clamps. As if the bed rail is narrower at the rear than it is at the center and the front.

I'll have to go by the Retrax dealer about 40 minutes from here and have them look at it.

All the advice was appreciated.

 

[oe542bob]

Tulecreeper, I would still give ReTrax a call. Warranty or not, I’ve found that they are very helpful. They even sent me a new power box for my power operated cover. I had called them to say that my controller had to be real close to my truck to be able to open it.
I was told that they had a new unit and would send it to me.When I asked the price, I was told no charge.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Tulecreeper, I would still give ReTrax a call. Warranty or not, I’ve found that they are very helpful. They even sent me a new power box for my power operated cover. I had called them to say that my controller had to be real close to my truck to be able to open it.
I was told that they had a new unit and would send it to me.When I asked the price, I was told no charge.

I'll give it a shot, but I don't know what they can do for me other than tell me how to adjust them myself which didn't work. Their next advice would be to take it to a dealer and have them look at it. Thank you, I'll give an update when I figure it out.

 

[Beauregard]

Sure sounds like a track alignment issue to me. I know you measured for a consistent width, but could it be out of square? If it's in a parallelogram, the measurements can be good, but it will bind. Is the gap at the front of the cover where it meets the front of the bed consistent? If it's 1/2" away on one side and tight on the other, that would cause a bind. Run a diagonal measurement from corner to corner and confirm that it's running true.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Sure sounds like a track alignment issue to me. I know you measured for a consistent width, but could it be out of square? If it's in a parallelogram, the measurements can be good, but it will bind. Is the gap at the front of the cover where it meets the front of the bed consistent? If it's 1/2" away on one side and tight on the other, that would cause a bind. Run a diagonal measurement from corner to corner and confirm that it's running true.

I will give that a try also. Thank you.

 

[RamRigger]

I can tell you that I took mine back for a readjustment of the screws that adjust the rails which slide inside the tracks. 20 minutes later and a year later an no problems IF its still under warranty and you bought it from a good outfit which did the install, take it back. If its out of warranty, look it up on youtube

 

[turkeybird56]

OP never came back and reported.

 

[Tulecreeper]

I can tell you that I took mine back for a readjustment of the screws that adjust the rails which slide inside the tracks. 20 minutes later and a year later an no problems IF its still under warranty and you bought it from a good outfit which did the install, take it back. If its out of warranty, look it up on youtube

OP never came back and reported.

Sorry, been a busy winter. Mother had a stroke, son and wife getting divorced, etc. I bought it in Ft Smith, AR in 2023 and I now live in S Arizona so taking it to that dealer is out. I was in Ft Smith in December visiting my mom and I dropped in and talked with the original dealer about it. The guy said what has happened is the rail(s) have come partially detached from the box that the top rolls into and the box itself is out of alignment with the rails, but the bolts are accessible only by removing the entire unit, tightening them, and reinstalling it in one piece.

So I will have to make an appointment with the local dealer 40 minutes away and have them fix it as it's too big and bulky to manage on my own.

 

[turkeybird56]

Sorry on the family stuff. Great there is a resolution to yer issue hopefully not too much $$ outta yer back pocket.

 

[oe542bob]

OP, sorry to hear about the family issues. Hope yer mother gets past it and comes back to health. I have some family, past & present, that had strokes. Many different levels that they can take. Gool luck to you.

 

[Tulecreeper]

OP, sorry to hear about the family issues. Hope yer mother gets past it and comes back to health. I have some family, past & present, that had strokes. Many different levels that they can take. Gool luck to you.

Much appreciated.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Sorry on the family stuff. Great there is a resolution to yer issue hopefully not too much $$ outta yer back pocket.

Thank you.

 

[Tulecreeper]

OK, apparently I fixed it. After spending hours messing around trying to adjust the rails, removing and reinstalling the 6 clamps and remeasuring everything, it kept looking like both rails were bowed down in the middle so I removed the center clamps and they went back to normal. Now the cover slides easily again. So I made sure the front and back clamps on each side were tight and just left the center ones off.

There was no way to adjust the center clamps so they were tight enough to not fall off without bending the rails again. So, I got to thinking. Both of my last two trucks - a 2000 Silverado that I bought new and drove for 23+ years, and a 1987 Ford that I bought new and drove for 13 years - had camper shells on them, and both were only held by 4 clamps. If 4 clamps will hold a 300 pound camper shell on with a 70 MPH wind resistance, I'm pretty that is sufficient for a 150 pound flat tonneau cover with no wind resistance.

Many thanks to all who offered advice.

 

[RamRigger]

I have that very one on my Ram 2500 and when it was first installed I drove it for a couple of weeks and noticed it was getting tougher to push/slide open.

Took it back, they adjusted the mechanism in the right rear corner, took them about 30 minutes to get it right, I watched and that was over a year ago and it's still sliding well.

Like others are saying, take it back for adjustment. If they charge you it won't cost much if they are as good as my service guys