Retractable Tonneau Cover

[MrLeadFoot]

Some of you are aware that I am a looking for a cover for my first truck and while I initially thought it would defeat the whole purpose of a truck by eating into bed space, I am wondering if a retractable is the way to go. 

 

I live near Sacramento where it can get brutally hot in the summer, and I wonder if having the ability to keep a tonneau cover open a bit would help prevent the cooking of everything under the cover. I would think that anything under the cover that relies on adhesive, such as a bedrug would guarantee to fail as the adhesive would simply give out from such heat, or am I wrong? Not to mention items being carried being subjected to 130+ degrees under a closed cover. 

 

On the other hand would the aluminum type, such as Retrax Pro, get so darned hot that even driving with it partially open would not be enough to relieve the heat in the bed? For that matter, would the cover get so hot I can't even touch it to open it?

 

I understand that flip covers can be secured open, but they all seem to only be able to be driven when 2/3 open or more, so you wouldn't be able to safely leave anything in the bed, whereas a Retrax can be secured in a smaller partially open position, so items can still be out of sight when positioned more forward in the bed. 

 

Decent covers are so darned pricey, so I want to make the most informed decision I can. I did express on another thread my concern about electric retractables and spring loaded types failing so I'm thinking it would be smarter to say away from those, because I suspect once the electronics or spring fails, the cover won't work at all.

 

Any experience or thoughts about retractables would be appreciated

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by MrLeadFoot

[Nascarnate326]

Ive had everything from foldable cheap amazon, higher quality foldable, camper shell, ect and my current Retrax is absolutely my favorite. Not cheap but well worth it if you keep the truck for a few years. 

[PureZ71]

I went with Retrax (Link here). I originally had the gator hard tri fold but I needed the whole truck bed more and more and 2/3 wasn't cutting it. It did cost more but imo was worth it.

 

 

[Daniel Formichelli]

I have the rough country retractable here:

 

https://www.roughcountry.com/retractable-bed-cover-46120581.html?find=2022-chevy-silverado-1500-4wd-793316

 

No issues so far.

[Nascarnate326]

I have Retrax as well and it is by far the best cover I have ever owned.  Not too hot to open in the summer. It does let a small amount of water in when it rains or snows but overall its nearly perfect.