Ok, I think I have it narrowed down to these two. Originally wanted a RollBak, but they do not offer a Flairside model. Don't like the Retrax due to "shini-ness" and the manual rollback. So that leaves the PE and The RNL.

Two local stores, one sells RE, the other RNL. Of course each store says the other is junk. The look similar on paper, help me decide

Was leaning towards the PE because of the 3 year warranty vs 1 year on the RNL, but the tailgate lock strip of the RNL looks good also.

With the RNL can you open the tailgate without opening the cover?

 

I have the rollnlock and love it. You can't open the tailgate w/o opening the cover (that is what it latches to) but there are stops where you can open it partially so you don't have to retract it all the way.

 

I'll chime in with a positive review of the PE I put mine on last summer and it's been working great. The only thing I wish I had done different would be getting the PE FullMetal JackRabbit since you can stand on it (IIRC).

- NCSU

 

didn't know if you'd seen these comparisons:


http://www.rollnlock.com/Pages/RNL_Comparison_main.html

seems like the roll n lock is a better cover.

 

Yes but thats if you consider the roll n lok answer always the better one. Of course their own website says their cover is the best.

 

Yeah here's PE's verison of the comparison chart...

http://www.pace-edwards.com/pdf/Tonn...Comparison.pdf

- NCSU

 

take a look at both of the comparison charts...you decide for yourself. if you want to pay about $200 more for what PE says is better, you go for it.

 

Changed my mind, I'm going hardtop. Probably an Undercover with a Bedrug, but am going to look at the Leer 700 and similar early next week before I order. Would love to get a bedslide but the cost is high for what you get IMO.

I basically decided the bed is high enough that I wouldn't see any real world benefit from the retractable.

For other considering, here are a few points I found while researching locally. Limited to models available for the flareside...

Roll N Lock - most recommended, smaller canister, tailgate rail that the top locks to to prevent "fluttering" (however you do not have to use it, in our case with locking tailgates you could leave it off and have the top lock into the side rails instead of the tailgate rail. Has a sturdy panel at the tailgate so supposedly no fluttering even without the tailgate strip.

PE Jackrabbit - some complaints of fluttering, larger canister, lock offset instead of middle, but more low profile than the RNL. A bit costlier than the RNL, at least locally.

PE Full Metal - actually was advised against the painted metal, chips easier and looks bad when it happens. Was advise you cannot stand on it even though some say you can.

Found a third store that carried both, and they recommended the RNL over the PE series. Less install and warranty problems with RNL so they said...

Anyway, if it helps someone...

 

BINGO!!! thanks 78.

 

Yes the PE Jackrabbit covers flutter, and they leak a little where they meet the tailgate, but in a little over 3 yrs. these are the only complaint's I have with mine. To me one of the better looking re-tractables out there, but yeah sometimes look's ain't everything!