RealTruck RETRACTOR HD Truck Bed Covers

The Real Truck Retractor HD tonneau covers. The RealTruck Hard Metal Retracting Truck Bed Covers are made from premium aluminum with a textured black powder coated finish. The Real Truck solid metal tonneau covers has a spring loaded retractable design. The hard metal cover easily retracts into the front canister with the real ez glide technology. Plus the Realtruck retractor HD cover can be locked every 12 inches if needed. So you can open or close the realtruck Retractor HD hard tonneau cover in seconds. The space saving canister is impact resistant and the cover works with most other truck bed accessories such as bed rails, tie downs and under the rail bedliners. Plus the full metal design makes your gear secure. Plus the RealTruck Retractor HD tonneau covers easily retract when you need to haul larger items or need fast truck bed access.

Does the RealTruck Hard Cover Lock?
Absolutely! Our cover comes with a Tamper Proof Locking System as there are NO visible locks or keyholes or latches! This makes the RealTruck Hard  Tonneau Cover the most secure tonneau cover on the market. Our spring loaded lock handle is located at the rear and it is located UNDERNEATH THE COVER. The spring loaded lock handle automatically locks the cover when completely closed. When the cover is closed, and the tailgate is locked, you now have the equivalent of an "Armored Trunk."  If your truck does not have a locking tailgate, you will need to purchase an aftermarket tailgate lock (i.e, Pop N Lock) to be able to lock the tailgate shut. These lock sets basically replace your existing tailgate handle and convert it into the equivalent of a factory installed locking tailgate. They install really easily without any drilling and you can buy these here at Realtruck.

Does the tailgate need to be open to completely close and lock the cover?
No. Just use the pull strap to pull it about 1 foot from the tailgate (the intermittent lock system will hold it in place). Just drop the strap down into the bed and then use the aerodynamic handle that is on the top back edge of the cover and pull the cover all the way to the tailgate. When you pull it all the way shut, the the spring loaded lock handle will automatically engage on the driver's side, and the rear safety catch will automatically engage on the rear passenger side, latching the cover evenly and securely at the rear.

When the cover is closed and locked, do I need to open the tailgate to unlock the cover?
You will need to open your tailgate to be able to disengage the spring-loaded lock handle.

The spring loaded lock handle is on the driver's side of the truck bed. Is there anything securing the cover closed on the passenger side?
Absolutely. On the rear passenger side, there is a rear safety catch that automatically engages on the rear passenger side, latching and securing the cover evenly at the rear.

Do I need to open the tailgate to unlock the cover?
Yes, but only if the cover is closed all the way against the tailgate. Most people wanting to access their truck do not mind opening their tailgate. Contrary to what you might think, we rarely meet a person that finds opening their tailgate to be an inconvenience. The locking tailgate is the key to the security of the truck bed as this is the singular means by which to gain access to the spring loaded lock handle to unlock the cover.

What material is the cover made of? How are they constructed?
The RealTruck Hard  Tonneau Cover is made of 100% heavy duty industrial (solid) aluminum and then powder coated in a beautiful satin black textured finish. This is not your old vinyl covered retractable! It can be waxed and can be treated just like the body of your truck.

How far does each side rail protrude inside from the rail into the bed of the truck?
Only 1½ inches on each side. As a truck owner, you have come to realize that the most usable bed space is between the wheel wells (to slide sheets of plywood, sheetrock, luggage, etc.). As these rails only protrude 1 ½ inches on each side, and most wheel wells on the most popular "FleetSide" trucks protrude inside the truck bed anywhere on the average of 6-8 inches on each side. This means that there is very little, if any practical and usable truck space that is lost by the installation of these rails!

What is "Powder Coating" and why do you use it on your cover?
Powder coating is an advanced method of applying a decorative and protective finish to a wide range of materials and products that are used by both industries and consumers. The powder used for the process is a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment and resin, which is sprayed onto a surface to be coated. The charged powder particles adhere to the electrically grounded surfaces until heated and fused into a smooth coating in a curing oven. The result is a uniform, durable, high-quality, and attractive finish. Powder coating is the fastest-growing finishing technology in North America, representing over 10% of all industrial finishing applications.  Powder coating is tough and will not fade. This is why many of the best truck accessories like high end brush guards, grille guards and side tube steps are all powder coated. The powder coated finish is extremely durable, very difficult to scratch, and with our satin black cover finish, the cover nicely compliments all of the other black trim surfaces on your truck.

Is the surface of the cover smooth or textured?
The powder coated surface of the cover is a textured powder coated satin black finish. The top to the canister is slightly textured ABS plastic that is similar in texture to that is embossed into the vinyl top of a car (or virtually identical to a soft vinyl cover).

What color are the covers made in?
Satin Black Only. This cover comes in a high quality satin black finish that is Powder Coated so it is designed look better and longer than the life of your truck.

Is the cover paintable?
NO. The cover is Powder Coated at the factory and cannot be painted. However, as the cover itself is mounted to be flush with the top level of your rails, there is very little demand from customers to have different colors of cover as the cover does not prominently go higher than the side rails of your truck.

How strong are the panels?
EXTREMELY STRONG! These covers have a 400+ lb Weight Capacity! This cover is far stronger than your truck body! Even when the cover has been subjected to destructive hail storms that have severely damaged trucks causing thousands of dollars worth of damage, we have never had a cover damaged by hail!

How low profile is the cover?
The cover itself does not add any height to the truck bed.

What is that ridge/flap along the entire back edge part of the cover ....near the tailgate when the cover is completely closed?
The single ridge is a low profile aerodynamic handle that is at a 45 degree angle. This ridge allows you to easily close the cover by hand. This design was chosen carefully as it also channels and improves air flow. This aerodynamic handle is only ½" high!

What is the thickness of the cover?
The cover itself is only 1/2 inch thick and as a result, protrudes downward approximately 1/4" below the top edge of the side rails (except for the spring loaded lock handle which comes down approximately 3 inches on the Driver's Side).

How big is the canister that sits inside the truck bed?
The great news is that the canister is elevated and mounted off the floor of the truck bed! In addition, this canister is the smallest canister in the industry. Not only is our canister the smallest of any retractable cover, the canister is raised up off the floor of the truck bed, leaving approximately 1 foot of cargo space under the canister! Our average canister size is 8.5 inches diameter, with some as small as 6.5 inches!

Describe the side profile/low profile of the cover?
When the cover is completely closed, the cover sits level with the side rails so the cover is completely flat. The canister cover that sits right at the front edge of the truck bed is very low profile and sticks up approx. 1/2" and is approximately 8 inches wide along the side rail.

How much does the cover weigh?
For a full size truck with a short bed, the cover and side rails and hardware weigh approximately 115 lbs total.

Can i completed remove the cover?
Yes.  To remove the cover and the mounting side rails, you simply reverse the installation process. It will take much less time to remove the cover as you won't be making any adjustments to remove the cover. All you have to do is roll the cover all the way into the canister, unclamp and remove the side rails, and lift the canister up and off of the truck. Total time to do this might take 10-15 minutes.

Is it hard to close the cover? 
No.  Simply pull on the pull strap.,  The "Constant Force" spring can be adjusted during installation to make the operation easier or harder, depending on the user's preference.

If I the cover is damaged, can I get the cover repaired?
Yes. We can walk you through the process of replacing the damaged aluminum slat. However as you should know, the cover is so tough, this is a VERY RARE occurrence when someone damages the cover requiring this type of repair.

What does Water Resistant mean? If I get in a miserably hard driving rain, how much water will get into my truck bed? What about if I go through a car-wash?  It is likely for the truck bed to be COMPLETELY dry after going through such a rain and car wash as it was designed to be very water resistant. Realistically, you might get a drop of water here or there, but should feel absolutely safe carrying tools, luggage, golf clubs, etc., in the cargo box. Sensitive and unprotected paperwork is another story.

The cover looks very much and acts in like that of a "Roll Top" desk. What is between these "aluminum slats" (that make up the cover) that keeps water out?
The slats are designed to seal under each other. This "Opposing Slat" design in the cover quickly channels water to side rails. This design collects any and all water that might penetrate the top surface (which is normally very very little) and quickly funnels any water to the side tracks. The water then quickly travels down channels located on each side track straight into the to the ABS Canister housing. From there, the water is quickly expelled out of the bottom of the truck through the drain hose.

How many drain hoses are there with this cover?
There are 2 drain hoses (one on each side of the canister at the lowest point to ensure the expedient and efficient expulsion of any water collected in the canister.

After a rain shower, and water drops are still on the top of the cover. If I open the cover, will any of the water fall on my cargo?
No. All water is designed to go into the canister. At worse, you may get a few drops of water here or there, but that amount is negligible.

I understand that water is channeled to the front of the truck, where water is captured inside the canister and then expelled. What happens when the truck is parked "up hill"? Does water run towards the back of the truck and get into the bed?
No! Water runs along the inner track which acts as a "rain gutter" as well. This track is open ended at the back. This means that if the truck is parked up hill, water is collected in the inner track and drains right at inside edge of the tailgate, and runs out of the back of the truck, leaving your cargo area dry.

How far does the cover drop down into the bed of the truck?
The cover drops down into the bed approximately ¼ of an inch.

How does the cover operate in snow, ice, extreme sun and other seasonal extremes?
The RealTruck Hard Tonneau Cover has superior weather resistance in all types of weather. This cover is designed to outlast your truck and it can handle all the Sun, Rain, Snow, Ice, (and even hail!), or whatever Mother Nature throws at it.

How do you seal the cover at the tailgate?
The cover "butts up" to the inside flat edge of the tailgate when the cover is closed. The side mounting rails go slightly over the tailgate in the rear corners by approximately ½ inch. When the cover is pushed up snugly against the tailgate, there is a high quality compression seal that seals the cover at the tailgate. The compression of the seal can be adjusted to ensure the fantastic seal there.

How does the cover lock?
Our spring loaded lock handle is located at the rear driver's side corner and it is located UNDERNEATH THE COVER. To lock the cover, you simply close the cover all the way to the tailgate and the spring loaded lock handle will automatically lock. From there just make sure the tailgate is closed and locked and you now have an "Armored Trunk".

How does the cover unlock?
Simply pull and turn the spring loaded lock handle one-quarter of a turn and the handle is now in the "fully disengaged" position. Using the pull strap, you gradually let the cover roll all the way into the canister.

Intermittent Locking? How does that work?
When closing your cover from the fully open position, the cover has an automatic, intermittent locking system that securely locks the cover at every 12 inch interval of the bed as you pull the cover towards the tailgate. This means that if you are carrying an item or package that is higher than the rails, you can push that cargo closer to the tailgate and then partially close the cover up to that item. This allows you to protect all other cargo under the partially closed cover when traveling.

Once the cover is unlocked, how does the handle go from the "fully disengaged" mode (when I open the cover up all the way) to the "intermittent locking" mode?
When you unlock the cover to open it, the cover glides all the way from the tailgate to the front of the bed (fully retracted). When the cover gets all the way up to the canister, the spring loaded lock handle hits a small "striker plate" (which is located on the "bracing bar") in the front. As the lock handle is spring loaded, when it strikes the "striker plate", it causes the lock handle to automatically re-engage to the "intermittent locking" mode by itself. Now that the handle is now in the "intermittent locking" mode again, it means that when you pull the cover forward, the spring loaded lock handle is now positioned to automatically latch at 12 inch increments all the way from the canister to the tailgate. This is how you can partially close your cover at 12 inch increments while in this "intermittent locking" mode.

When you fully close the cover up against the tailgate, is it required that you lock the cover securely, or will it be held securely on the "rear safety catch" (on the passenger side) without having to reach up and lock the cover from underneath?
When you pull the cover all the way closed with the tailgate up, it automatically locks and and is snugly secure against the tailgate so you don't have to do anything more. However, as your truck bed is now securely locked, you will need to open the tailgate and pull the spring loaded lock handle into the "unlock" position to be able to open the cover.

Does the "Pull strap" just lay into the bed when the cover is fully closed?
It can, however most people just secure the pull strap to the tie down hooks located in the bed of the truck. You will need to do this when you travel with the cover open so the strap does not hang out of the truck when you are driving with the cover open.

How does the pull back strap work?
The pull strap is attached at the back edge of the cover (underneath in the center). You use this strap to control the speed at which the cover is retracted into the canister and for pulling the cover towards the tailgate to close the cover. In the case of closing the cover, you simply pull the strap from any position (and it will close). The cover cannot "bind up" or run off its tracks, regardless of what angle you pull the strap or what side of the truck you're on.

You say that "RealTruck Hard Tonneau Cover" has massive "Constant Force" springs which are guaranteed for over 10,000 retractions." What are "Constant Force" springs?
Constant force springs are very similarly at work in standard locking metal tape measures. This concept is used in the cover as these springs are constantly trying to retract the cover fully back into the canister. The springs are located at the core of the canister and when you pull the cover out (toward the tailgate) the spring is under pressure to retract the cover back again. Thes springs are guaranteed for over 10,000 retractions! This means that if you open the cover every single day, the spring will be working perfectly for more than 27 Years!

If I unlock the cover, and then release the spring loaded lock handle and let go of the cover without holding on to the strap, will I damage the cover?
No. Located in the front is a "bracing bar" that goes across the entire front of the truck bed (behind the canister) where the handle will hit the striker plate as usual without any damage to the cover or the canister. The bracer bar protects and keeps pressure off of the canister at all times.

Does the cover rattle, shutter, or make any noise when going down the road?
NOT AT ALL! It is the most silent cover you'll ever install!

Should this unwinding of the cover by a revolution or two be done during the time of initial installation, or can it be done easily after the cover has been installed?
It makes no difference at all as the steps to adjust and optimize the constant force springs are exactly the same at any time. Typically it takes about 5 minutes to adjust these constant force springs irrespective of whether this is the first time you are installing the cover, or many days, months or years afterwards.

What if there are leaves or pine needles that have dropped onto the cover when I go to open it, will they get pulled into the canister? Do I need to sweep these off the cover before opening it?
There is a continuous "brush seal" along the entry edge of the canister lid which brushes all leaves and pine needles off the cover preventing these from being drawn into the canister. This prevents any problems from leaves, pine needles, twigs, debris, etc., when opening the cover.

How long does it take to install a cover?
For the "first timer" the cover takes approximately 30-60 minutes to install.

I have a sprayed-in a bedliner that goes over the side rails. Do I need to make any modifications to my bedliner or truck before installing the cover?
If you have sprayed on bedliner, this is absolutely no problem! Just simply install as you normaly would (directly on top of your sprayed on bedliner). NO modifications are necessary as the cover works with ALL spray on liners or bedcaps.

I have diamond plate side rail covers. Will the cover still work. 
YES, The rails of the cover are insulated with a weather stripping that will seal them against the diamond plate bed caps.  However, the installation needs to be finely tuned.

I have a plastic bedliner in my truck. Do I have to make any modifications to the bedliner to install the cover?
That depends on what type of plastic bedliner you have:  If your plastic bedliner goes under the side rails (but goes up and over the front rail and tailgate): NO PROBLEM! You will not need to make any adjustments to the plastic bedliner to install this cover.  If you have a tailgate protector: Tailgate protectors do not present any problem for this cover. Whether you have a factory installed or an aftermarket tailgate protector or if your tailgate liner comes over the top edge of your tailgate, none of these will present a problem when installing the cover.  If your plastic bedliner goes over the side rails: YOU MUST MODIFY YOUR BEDLINER to install this cover! You will need to trim the portion of the bedliner that comes over the side rails so that the side wall of the plastic bedliner goes up to and UNDER the rail, but not over the side rail. The reason for this is that over-the-rail bedliners prevent you from being able to clamp the hardware to the side rails as they cover them up. These side rails need to be trimmed off so that the RealTruck Tonneau's side mounting rails can be clamped to the inside lip of the side rail. If you are making this adjustment, this is a great opportunity for you to convert your over-the-rail plastic bedliner into an under-the-rail bedliner (where the liner only overlaps the front rail and the tailgate edge)!  These over-the-side rail bedliners must be cut back so not to interfere with the truck's original side rails. To cut the liner's rail covers off is a fairly simple and straightforward process that allows the secure installation of the mounting rails to your truck rails. To request that the customer trim these plastic side rail covers off of your one-piece liner is not a unique request. To ensure a weather resistant barrier with the installation of any tonneau cover, and to be able to clamp the mounting brackets onto the side rails, you must remove the part of the bedliner that covers the side rails. PLEASE DO NOT CUT OFF THE PORTION OF THE BEDLINER THAT COVERS THE FRONT RAIL OR TAILGATE.  PROCESS OF TRIMMING an Over the Rail Bedliner is as follows: To cut the liner, this is a fairly simple process that requires you to slide the one-piece liner out of the bed, then clamp a straight edge along the line where you wish to cut the cover (right at or just below the rail, not above it). From there, a jigsaw with a fine blade works great and you simply follow the straight edge with the saw. Any burs or rough edges can be smoothed out with a file or sandpaper. Others are successful using the same straight edge tactic from outside of the liner using a razor knife. They remove the liner from the truck, and from outside of the liner, they use a razor knife to cut the rail off. The most preferred method is to use a jigsaw.  ***NOTE: Some Aftermarket Plastic Bedliners have designs that may interfere with the installation of the canister. If this happens, some trimming of the front edge of the bedliner near the cab rail may need to be done for the canister to be installed properly. To have to do this is actually a pretty rare occurrence and in most situations, your typical plastic bedliner at the front rail will not require any modification.

Do the factory installed plastic side rail covers that came with my truck (i.e, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet/GMC, etc.) need to be removed?
Absolutely Not! You can install the cover directly on top of ALL OEM factory rails with NO modification whatsoever.

Are any holes drilled in the truck?
NO. However, many installations, like the Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra cover requires 2 small self tapping be installed on the inside of the each side rail at the front corners.  These canister brackets can be clamped to the rails...avoiding holes all together, however, the installation is much more solid when these small tapping screws are used. At any rate...this is such tough cover, this cover should be considered to be a permanent installation. We strongly recommend using the tapping screws provided when required.

I plan to occasionally remove the cover and put a "slide-in camper" into the truck bed. Will I need to remove the mounting rails?
Yes. You will need to remove the mounting rails so they are not damaged by the slide-in camper. This will ensure that the mounting rails do not get damaged in any way.

For the Nissan TITAN with the Utili-Track System, what adjustments must be made to install this cover?
You simply unbolt the Utili-Track, and flip the track over (with the functional side of the Utili-Track rail still facing into the bed). Flipping and re-installing the Utili-Track lowers the track by 1 inch from under the side rails which is just enough to clamp down the RollBak rails properly.

NOTE: This is a wonderful feature! Many customers ask if our hardware can bolt directly into the Utili-Track system. The answer is "NO" but it gets better. If our hardware were to bolt directly into the Utili-Trac System, you would have very little (if any) usable Utili-Track area to mount other accessories. This simple "work around" allows you to simply flip the "Utili-Track" over, which lowers it by only one inch. This means that you WILL NOT LOSE any of your ability to use the Utili-Track for tie downs as the mounting rails will be clamped directly above it.

Which model of this cover is the easiest to install?
All cover installations are virtually identical. In the case of the Nissan TITAN, as described above, you need to flip the track over to have access to the side rails to clamp the side mounting rails. Aside from that, virtually all installations are identical.

You say that the inner track of the side rails (where the cover slides in and out) is "self lubricating." How does this work?
The RealTruck Hard  Tonneau Cover's inside rails are lined with Ultra High Density Polyethylene. This material is even better than Teflon as Teflon freezes in cold temperatures and this does material does not freeze! This material allows the cover to glide in and out easily and is not affected by the weather so the cover will glide in and out extremely well and will never need additional grease once installed.

Completely maintenance free "inner track"? Over time dust, dirt and grime will get in the track, and I never have to wipe it clean? Or is cleaning and wiping it down on occasion recommended for good maintenance?
Whether you ever do anything to your track or not, the track is completely maintenance free. However, keeping any important area like this clean is a good idea if possible.

Does this cover work with "flip out" Bed Extenders that flip over onto the tailgate? I suspect it may not as it narrows the bed at the rails?
Most of the time the bed extender does not work well with the cover because the mounting rails protrude just enough to make it difficult to flip in and out. However, we do know that the the "Bed Extender" on the New Ford F150 models still works perfectly.

What is the Warranty on this cover?
The RealTruck Hard Tonneau Cover has a warranty of One Year against any defects in material or workmanship. This warranty is offered directly by the manufacturing facility. We take the quality of our product very seriously. That is why we utilize the highest quality of material available to go into these covers. Unlike most lifetime warranties that have loopholes big enough to drive a truck through, our comprehensive 1 year warranty covers virtually all components! And we don't hide behind any fine print!

NOTE: WARRANTY CARD MUST BE COMPLETED AND MAILED WITHIN 14 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF YOUR COVER TO ACTIVATE YOUR WARRANTY.

How is the cover cleaned?
The cover is washed and cleaned with the same stuff that you safely use on your vehicle to wash and wax your vehicle.

Do you recommend a certain type of wax or cleaner?
Any cleaner or wax that is safe for the painted and plastic surfaces of your vehicle will work just fine with this cover.