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sptddog's avatar
sptddog
Explorer
Sep 18, 2014

BAK Roll-X Tonneau Cover

Anyone have one of these on their trucks? I'm interested in the rolled up tonneau makes hooking up harder? I have a B&W companion, and it will fit under the cover no problem, and I like the 'no mechanics' of this type of cover versus the Pace Edwards Jack Rabbit type (the dealer sells both recommended the bak roll-x). I'm just worried I won't be able to see over it to hook up.

20 Replies

  • I have a roll x on my truck a 2014 Ram CC and I had it on my 2012 Ram CC. I have a B & W hitch and an 60 gal aux fuel tank. The top fits nicely over both and no issues with hitting the rails if I have to back up tight. The bad news is you cannot see the hitch or pin. If you have a camera mounted on the top of your cab it will not be a problem. As a full timer I don't hitch up very often. I have my wife watch me back up and guides me on. (she does not stand between the truck and fiver) I am going to purchase those magnetic sticks with the balls on top that bumper pull people use. It should work on my set up. The top works ok it does leak some in heavy rains like the kind we get in SW Fla. almost everyday in the summer. The amount of water is minor and runs between the valleys in the bed floor. I like it because I can fit my tank and hitch under it. It has aluminum under the skin making it more difficult to get into and it is locked when the tail gate is closed. My tail gate locks and unlocks with the electric locks so it is like a big trunk. Easy to install.
  • Getting out and looking has never seemed to be that big a thing. It gives me a chance to glance at all of the little things that can go wrong (Tailgate open, Breakaway cable hung up, running over the umbilical cord, right height pin, etc). One last look around never has hurt me!
  • Not to try to sell you on anything, but what I like most about the Retrax is that it will close to any point along the bed that I wish. So when I am hitched up to the fiver, I just roll the cover back to almost touching the pinbox, and latch it down at that point. It doesn't move until I unlatch it. Anything I want to stay dry goes up toward the front under the cover. There are downsides though. Most importantly is that big canister takes up a lot of bed space. I'm not sure I would want it on a short bed truck.
  • I've experimented with putting tape here and there to try to line up the pin to the hitch, but it goes against my grain to jam a kingpin into a hitch blindly, and getting in and out of the truck to check is like having a travel trailer again.


    This is exactly what I'm avoiding. I refuse to go from crazy easy back to travel trailer. Sadly the extra money of the retractable will win if I can't see over the roll-x. :)

    Hoping to find someone actually using one. I might have to visit the truck forums and see....
  • If you decide to get the Roll-x, let us know how it works out for you, and how you deal with hooking up.

    I have a very worn truxedo truxport soft cover which will need to be replaced before too long, and I like the Roll-x concept. I can easily see over the truxedo, but I don't think I would be able to see over the Roll-X.

    Could always buy a camera to see how to hook up, but there's already a lot of steps to go through when preparing to go camping, and adding steps just don't seem like the thing to do(especially when it involves spending more money).

    I've experimented with putting tape here and there to try to line up the pin to the hitch, but it goes against my grain to jam a kingpin into a hitch blindly, and getting in and out of the truck to check is like having a travel trailer again.

    I've never experienced the mirror on the camper setup, so it would be nice to know how well that works, and how much trouble it is to set up.
  • I have a pace Edwards. If I were to do it again I would go with the retrax. Having said that I put a piece of yellow electrical tap on the front of the hitch and one on the front of the pin box. Line them up and your dead on. Good luck.
  • i use an Access soft cover and i have no issues with seeing the bed while hitching up. i don't like the folding kind as they block the bed when open and the hard-type rollup seemed a bit excessive on the cost. i would like to be able to walk on my truck cover instead of needing a ladder, but not happening now. maybe if i come into some money i'll switch out to a hard-type rollup. i didn't think that there would be any issues with rusting but it's good that you bring that up; just another reason that the Access cover was the right decision for the time being...the one i had on my '05 lasted 8 years and was still going strong.
  • I believe Truxedo is all soft covers correct? I need a hard cover that locks.....

    I like the retrax - but the dealer said that the bak x was cheaper than both retrax and the pace Edwards retractable and that it had no mechanical parts to rust (apparently the canister gets water in it, and the inner parts ultimately rust and bind).
  • It's going to depend on your truck, crew cabs are tougher to see over. I have the Retrax, and I can easily see over it. It doesn't roll as close to the cab as the one you're looking at, but then yours has that roll that extends upward. And my truck is a supercab, not a crew.

    Bottom line is, I suggest you don't worry about it. You can learn to hitch up without seeing the pin, and you also have the option of adding a mirror to your pinbox so you will be able to see.