Reviews/Recommendations for retractable tonneau

[belchfire]

Have any of you installed and/or used an aluminum retractable tonneau cover?  I saw one up close on a Mercedes pickup in Germany and I really, REALLY liked it.  They seem to run from $700 to $1400+, but are they worth it?  Are they waterproof, or only wind/theft proof?  Who has them?  What words of wisdom can you offer?

[lonestardiver]

Have any of you installed and/or used an aluminum retractable tonneau cover?  I saw one up close on a Mercedes pickup in Germany and I really, REALLY liked it.  They seem to run from $700 to $1400+, but are they worth it?  Are they waterproof, or only wind/theft proof?  Who has them?  What words of wisdom can you offer?

Nothing it truly waterproof...but most will prevent most water from getting into the bed area. As far as windproof, they should all prevent most wind issues but there again, any small openings can allow for air to move into and out of the bed (pressure and Venturi related flows).
Security related, depending on how they lock up will determine how secure they are.Does your tailgate lock? If not then the question could be moot if the cover does not close over the top of the tailgate. Most covers can be defeated causing damage to the cover and/or the truck bed.
I am personally looking at the revolver x2/x4 series. Have a coworker who had one on his Colorado and liked it.. The locking for this seems robust enough to deter most casual criminals. I just have to justify a new toolbox and amateur radio antenna mounting solutions if I go this route. But the ability to secure items I’d a bonus as well as the ability to use most of the bed if needed. Some of the retractable covers have a large box the cover retracts into...that takes up space that may be needed.

HTH

[Salsa De Piña]

A few of our work trucks have them.  Great in the summer.  Aside from taking up a bit of bed space, I like them more than my tri-fold.  In the winter, however, they are horrible.  Maybe it's the brand (I can't recall which one) but they freeze up to the point that many of our guys remove them in the fall and reinstall in spring.

[belchfire]

Lonestardriver, thanks for that insight.  I'm actually interested in the x2 and x4 now; I had not seen those yet.  Pretty cool actually.

 

Salsa, that's interesting about the temperature.  I'm in south Georgia, so our winters aren't harsh.  That being said, I do park near an oak tree at home and I can imagine the leaves being a problem if they get inside the mechanism.  I'm wondering if the weight offsets what little fuel economy we know to expect from a tonneau in general.