Up Your Overlanding Game With Retrax Covers
If you follow trends in the automotive aftermarket with any degree of regularity, it would be impossible not to notice overlanding. What began as a scattershot handful of devotees sleeping in old vans and criss-crossing the countryside has become a full-fledged phenomenon at the heart of our industry. Major companies devote serious time, money, and even SEMA floor space to the world of overlanding, as the lifestyle grows and the money deepens.
Okay, but uhh, what exactly is overlanding, again? Well, for those of you who have been living under a tonneau, it is the hottest automotive lifestlye du jour, and an aftermarket frenzy that is sweeping the nation. We’ve gone to great lengths to define it, and it turns out that there is even some disagreement in overlanding’s inner sanctum about its parameters.
All you need to know, really, is that it involves vehicle-dependent travel, it grows more popular by the day, and it doesn’t seem to matter what kind of vehicle is used. Vans, SUVs, pickups, whatever. If it’s properly equipped and it suits you, it’s officially (unofficially) an overlanding rig.
But let’s narrow our gaze and focus on the pickup trucks for right now.
The assembly of a capable rig is a collaborative effort, with scores of new companies and new products popping up in the space seemingly every day. From suspension to cargo management, recovery to rooftop sleeping solutions, there’s no shortage of relative modifications.
Retrax is not a new company. They’ve been in the business of top-quality truck covers for over 20 years and still continue to grow. Truck bed covers and bed space utilization are the only task they spend their time and effort on—and it shows. The company’s innovative line of power/electric and manual hard retractable truck bed covers are suitable for virtually any task and, because of this, are widely considered the best in the biz.
Retrax tonneau covers allow for maximum truck bed utilization are perfectly suited to an overlanding lifestyle, where useful space and multi-functionality are prized above all else. Here are just a few of their offerings that are sure to keep your gear safe and secure for as long as the overlanding gods beckon for you to join them.
ONE XR Covers – Polycarbonate Protection
The RetraxONE XR and PowertraxONE XR are some of Retrax’s most popular truck bed covers.
Sporting a sleek, low-profile design, the RetraxONE XR consists of a one-piece sheet of scratch-resistant, durable polycarbonate material that retracts (get it?) for full or partial bed access. Engineered to function without joints, hinges, or moving mechanisms (like those found on lesser bed covers), you don’t have to worry about these small components breaking, wearing out, trapping dust, or freezing while you’re out exploring.
The RetraxONE XR was designed by combining Retrax’s super-popular RetraxONE MX cover with its integrated Trax Rail System, which allows for useful customization of the valuable space above the bed cover. And because overlanding readiness now requires plenty of add-ons and modifications, the RetraxONE XR makes it a point to play well with others, meaning it is compatible with useful offerings from Yakima, Thule, Rhino Rack, and plenty of others.
The PowertraxONE XR is practically the RetraxONE XR’s twin, save for one big difference. You guessed it: Power.
Using a remote keyfob, the cover can open and close at the touch of a button. It’s made of the same durable polycarbonate material, with the same smooth-moving ball bearing rollers gliding the cover back and forth without jamming. The same Trax Rail System keeps the hitch free by storing bikes, coolers, and all manner of overlanding gear atop the bed. And—like its RetraxONE XR sibling—it boasts a 200-pound load limit, single rail lock point, and a one year, full warranty. Plus, power. Can’t go wrong with that.
PRO XR Covers – Aluminum Grit
But what if you’re looking for even more performance from your choice of tonneau? Then you might want to take a good look at what Retrax has to offer in its aluminum series, the RetraxPRO XR and the PowertraxPRO XR.
As an XR model cover, again we see Retrax combining the classic MX features with the space-saving Trax Rail System. But the RetraxPRO XR is built from industrial-strength aluminum slats for unsurpassed strength and ruggedness, packaged in that patented low-profile design and scratch-resistant matte finish we’ve come to love. Additionally, this model ups the ante (and the capability) with a dual rail lock point, a 500-pound load limit, and Retrax’s legendary lifetime warranty.
Check out the video below for a detailed and honest review of the RetraxPRO XR by travel bloggers Sean and Kristy Michael.
Similarly, you can add some power to the mix with the PowertraxPRO XR. With all of the same impressive specs as its aluminum RetraxPRO counterpart, it adds an easy-to-use keyfob for opening and closing at the push of a button and a three year full warranty, allowing it to take some of the work and clutter out of your day-to-day overlanding lifestyle.
Overlanding, no matter how we define it, is meant to be challenging. But that doesn’t mean every aspect of it needs to be an endurance test. Retrax is one of those companies that wants to make things a little bit simpler, letting us focus instead on the simple joys that this lifestyle can bring along with it.
Put That Overlanding Tonneau to the Test
In ever more places across the country, it is becoming a more frequent sight to see overlanders gathering at official expos and rallies to share tips, fawn over gear, and tackle the varying terrain set out before them. Below are a list of such events you may want to add to your upcoming adventure calendar.
However, please keep in mind, that given the current state of affairs regarding the coronavirus pandemic, any and all of these dates are subject to change. To help you stay on top of things, we’ve included links to the official sites. Happy Overlanding!
BC Overland Rally … June 25 – 28, 2020 … Whistler, British Columbia
NW Overland Rally … June 18 – 21, 2020 … Leavenworth, Washington
100s in the Hills … July 22 – 27, 2020 … Silverton, Colorado
Overland Expo West … July 24 – 26, 2020 … Flagstaff, Arizona
Rocky Mountain Overland Rally … July 30 – August 2, 2020 … Gunnison, Colorado
Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival … August 13 – 16, 2020 … Huntingdon County, PA
Overland Expo Mountain West … August 28 – 30, 2020 … Loveland, Colorado
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat (KOAR) … September 17 – 20 … Copper Harbor, Michigan
Overland Expo East … October 9 – 11, 2020 … Arrington, Virginia
