I'm looking into buying a new Pick-Up. I want a bed cover that locks. Is this an option best left to the dealer or get one installed after market? What is recommended: scroll-up or fold-up? I don't think a tilt-up is worth considering. Your thoughts....

I have a power trax pro mx made by retrax. Have had one on every truck since 2011. They will actually lock in place if you need to secure something above the height of the bed. I only get a couple of drips of water inside bed when going through car wash or a heavy rain. The very first one I ordered had a poly carbonate cover from Retrax and it got brittle in the Texas sun after 4-5 years. The Pro is aluminum slats and will last forever.


https://retrax.com/images/InstallGuides/RX_Catalog_2019_E-Book.pdf

My last two trucks have had canopies simply for the extra room. Instant grandpa mode and I love it. Locks and unlocks with the key fob. I'll never go back to a tonneau.

Let me know if you decide to venture that direction, sir.

I had a Retrax and now a Backflip. Like the Backflip best due to the absence of a box for it to roll up in allowing more room. I also feel like it more rigid. Like if my kids climb up there I don’t fell like it’s gonna dent. Both work great though.

Thanks for the good info. I'm assuming an after market install is the cheapest route. Are these installed by body shops?

I have the power trax pro mx as well. I have been very happy with it. I was able to make mine with the rambox bed 100% waterproof. A manual cover would have been difficult for my short wife to open on my tall truck so that was the main deciding factor. The power retrax is probably the most expensive one out there, but now that I have it, I will never not have one on a truck unless I am installing a camper or something. It is just so darn convenient to push a button on my visor or just inside my tailgate to open and close it to any position.

put one of these on the f350 I got in dec.

like it better than the bakflip I had or the previous roll up (both on a f150)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9RPMFO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Prefer the roll-up. Gives you more room and doesn’t block your vision.

Pert -- None of the folks up above are incorrect. To answer your specific question, do NOT get one from the dealer. More times than not, they are either selling you an inferior product or they have a good markup on it. I would highly recommend watching some YouTube videos on different ones so that you can figure out what you like as they all have their pros/cons.

Since everyone wanted to post their favorite, I'll put mine out there -- I have a Revolver which is a rigid roll up, and I've had it on two trucks now. I love that it doesn't get hail damage, it leaves a pretty good view out the back window when it's rolled up, and it is 99% weather tight. The downside of it is that you either have to be fully open or fully closed. Good luck in your hunt and let us know if you have questions on specific models.

I installed mine my self. Just run the wire through back of bed and straight to battery. Pretty easy process.

WOW! I never realized that there were so many types & choices. Thanks for all the info.

If I could I would have the grandpa shell on mine with a ram box. Pretty awesome on a hunting rig

https://dirtboxoverland.com/pages/truck-bed-topper-info

with molle panels on inside to easy access to important stuff like fire extinguisher

Bak Flip has been on mine for 5 years. aluminum, I'll never get anything else. .

My experience...they all leak if they aren't the one piece over the rail fiberglass type. Some leak buckets some leak teaspoons but they all leak. I liked the flip better than the roll types...I've had both and while both work, I didn't like giving up the bed space on an already short bed truck to the canister. Good luck...look at and talk to as many folks as you can.

I had a Bak Flip for a long time and liked it. It got beat up pretty bad in a big hail storm and I decided to go full gpa mode and get an ARE camper shell. I don't haul anything with much height and I have a little trailer for when I do. I really like the shell. I can keep lots of gear back there out of the elements and my yak on top. Slept in it a few times, too.

I've had a Bak Flip on mine for several years. Leaks a little at the tailgate now but when I replace the truck I'm getting another one. Sturdy.

I have a Non Power Retrax and it works well.
As for the installation, it took me about 30 minutes to install it. I put it together on the garage floor and had a friend help lift it and put it in place. It does have the box where it rolls up into that uses up some space. I figured if what I am carrying requires that much more space, I will take my 14' trailer. That or remove the 4 bolts from the clamps and lift it off with the overhead lift in my shop.
One note, if you get one that has drain hoses, be sure and check the size of the existing drain holes in the bed. I didn't and had to drill them out with the cover in place. Just took longer and was a little bit harder to reach with the cover in place.

mine self destructed at 9.5 yrs. good cover but I didn't like the fold against the back window part.

this is what I went to and it is a whole lot easier to deal with, locks open in different positions. good heavy vinyl padded cover, this one is waterproof.

The roll away cover on my Retrax takes up little room

I would have one of these except they don't work with a Aux fuel tank/tool box and 5th wheel hitch. I have a back flip but it's a pain with a long bed and dually fenders. I have to get in the bed to open it...well I don't have to, it's just easier.

I just put a Diamondback SE cover on my F 150 and had it down in Texas for the eclipse, did not leak in the heavy rain. We are impressed so far.
Had the bed loaded down with firewood up to the top of the bedrails and the cover closed tight.

https://diamondbackcovers.com/products/diamondbackse?variant=28905652553

If I was going tonneau, and assuming I didn't go back with an ARE or Leer, this is probably the one I'd go with.

I have your typical tri-fold and it's sturdy and would require a lot of work to break into it with tailgate locked. Think I paid less than $400 for it. Fits well and looks good on my F250

My first cover was a Retrax that I quickly replaced with a Bakflip MX4 and have had the MX4 in every truck since. I lost too much bed space in the short bed with the Retrax canister. Haven't installed it yet, I just bought my son one of these since it had integrated rails and would support them walking/sitting on it.

https://mountaintopusa.com