Retrax Pro XR Tonneau with Bike Tailgate Pad

Thinking about buying a retractable tonneau cover. If I go with the Retrax Pro XR, I have a couple of options I can think of to continue using my Yakima tailgate pad. Looking for advice as to whether either or both of these options are a bad/good idea.

1. Cut the straps off my tailgate pad, so the tailgate pad will never be strapped securely to my tailgate. Store the tailgate pad in the bed of my truck locked away under the cover when not transporting bike. When transporting bike, lock the retrax pro in the open position, set tailgate pad on tailgate, and put bike on tailgate pad. When I get to the trail, if I don't want to be worried about my tailgate pad walking off, throw the tailgate pad back into the bed of my truck and close and lock the Tonneau cover. I'm thinking the straps to secure the tailgate pad are only necessary when there isn't a bike on it. If it's only in place when there's a bike on it, the bike should secure it in place. Am I missing something here? Will the side of the pad that doesn't have the bike on it flap too violently when driving 70mph and scratch my tailgate?

2. Leave the tailgate pad strapped in place securely. When closed, the Retrax Pro will close as much as the tailgate pad will allow (Retrax Pro is lockable in any position). The bed of my truck will obviously not stay dry in this situation. If I ever have stuff in the bed that needs to stay dry, which isn't very often, I can remove the tailgate pad and completely close the tonneau cover. My concern with this option is that maybe constantly getting water infiltration into the bed at the tailgate pad could somehow reduce the service life of the expensive Retrax Pro. They have a lifetime warranty, but one of the warranty limitations is "Water intrusion at any location or any damage caused as a result".

I'm really hoping one of these options will work. Hitch mounted bike mount isn't a good option for me because I have a short garage and my truck barely fits as is. Bike mount above Retrax Tonneau concerns me because I might forget I have the bike on there and I won't have the vertical clearance to get through my garage door.

 

Anyone? I'm ready to pull the trigger but would like a 2nd opinion on this before I drop $2k.

 

I have a retrax Mx with the rails. I’m going to say this, your plan of the tonneau being able to lock in any position is wrong. The fully closed position has a knob that sticks out that the locking arm must be past. Given its position and the thickness of the Yakima bike pad I’m not sure this will allow the tonneau to be close enough to effectively seal.

Most tonneau dealers have a “baby tonneau” as a sample you can interact with. These have the exact latch and spacing of the knob I’m talking about. It’s 5am at this time and dark other wise I’d send you a pic from my truck.

 

Thanks for the reply. If what you're saying is true, that would rule out option #2, and would be some serious false advertising on their part: https://youtu.be/zqyryhuttyE

Regardless, I'm really leaning towards option #1. Anybody have an opinion or experience using a tailgate pad to transport a bike without using the straps to fix it to the tailgate? I've seen people use moving blankets that don't have any straps, so I'm thinking it would probably be fine.

 

Hope these photos make sense to you about what I was talking about. Because of the knob this is the smallest you can make it lock closed, when not fully closed.

 

I do see what you are talking about, thanks. That's about as much as I would probably be able to close it with the tailgate pad on there anyway so that might actually work if I decide it isn't a good idea to use the tailgate pad without straps and throw it in the bed when not in use.

 

Most important question though. Are you happy with the Retrax?

 

The only issue I have is actually wheeling the truck the rails sort of flex causing the gasket to work it’s way inward when tent is on top of Yakima bars.

Other than that good to go. Very very minimal water ingress. (In rainy Vancouver, BC)

 

I have the retrax pro xr on my 2018 off road tacoma and I can confirm it will lock in any position.
Maybe the MX is different but XR pro will for sure lock in any position.

 

Send me a picture like the one I posted. I would imagine the pro does have this white knob to prevent the cover from being pulled out too far. Curious now because I could have swore I saw it on a retrax picture as well.

 

I have the retraxOne XR and it locks in any position as well.

 

It does have the white knob but will lock in place anywhere along the track. Security wise, (I tested this tonight) if it's locked in place somewhere other than at the end (with the knob) it could be forced open if someone really wanted in.

 

I installed mine. It won't lock at the exact location where the knob is, but it will lock everywhere else.

 

How is this setup working for you? I am thinking about the retraxone XR and will use it the same way you are. Thanks

 

I ended up changing from my original plan. I cut the straps off completely from my tailgate pad so I can quickly throw it on the tailgate when in use. When not in use I throw it in the bed or in the garage. This setup is working very well for me. Very convenient. Tailgate pad is heavy enough so that it doesn't move, especially with a bike on it. I think the straps are just to make people feel warm and fuzzy. No regrets about cutting them.

Edit: I do love the Retrax, but you could utilize this solution with any tonneau cover.

 

Looking to purchase this cover and bars to mount an ikamper mini... how is the setup holding up and are you still liking it?

 

AA has Retrax sale, wanting to buy here but kinda haad letting go money at this point and time

 

I’m still liking my setup. Main reason tent on top and a locked bed by the tonneau cover. Further to that as I posted above, I have a ceiling lift to pull / put it on in minutes using the Yakima rack.

Are there better setups out there, sure. But I don’t need my truck looking like a bug out vehicle 365 days a year.

i started with an open bed rack system, but leaving the truck to go on hikes even in middle of nowhere British Columbia, I’m no longer surprised when other ransoms drive by.

 

Great to hear you are still liking the setup... how much does your tent weight if you don't mind and did you install bed stiffeners?

 

I’ll answer this the way I was told; while friend who works at 4wp called on speaker phone to Retrax.

Yakima bars on Retrax is rated at ~165lbs dynamic. Meaning to say more than safe for tents on top while driving down a dirt road. Static parked and camping limited by bars and Toyota to 800lbs. Wife, myself, gear, maybe sitting at 500lbs total? Buying at 4wp I also bought their Xtreme warranty deal, and drive stress free as can be.

Yes I have bed stiffeners. Do I need them, I dunno. Did I spend ~$100 to cover my ass on what was a brand new truck -yes.

*edited as I found the dynamic load is 165 from Yakima website, I posted 180 before.