BuiltRight Episode Breakdown: Retrax PRO XR Bed Cover Install + MOLLE

BuiltRight Episode Breakdown: Retrax PRO XR Bed Cover Install + MOLLE R&D

One of the most common questions we hear at BuiltRight is simple, and also surprisingly complicated:

“Will your bedside racks work with my tonneau cover?”

This episode is a perfect look at why that question matters - and how our bedside rack system and MOLLE panels are developed in the real world, not just in CAD.

Real Trucks. Real Problems. Real Testing.

In this video, Matt jumps into the bed of our 2024 Raptor in the middle of a Northeast winter, pulls out a long-term test bed slider, and installs a Retrax Pro XR canister-style tonneau cover.

The goal wasn’t just to install a cover. It was to answer a real customer question:

Can a canister-style tonneau cover coexist with BuiltRight bedside racks, MOLLE panels, and bridge panels without compromise?

Where R&D Meets Reality

As the install progresses, you see exactly where things get interesting. Canister covers like the Pro XR bring rails, clamps, set screw locations, and T-slot load paths that don’t always play nicely with universal accessory panels.

This episode shows how BuiltRight approaches R&D:

Leaving panels installed during the cover install to understand true interference
Identifying clamp locations that physically block usable MOLLE space
Swapping in newer panel revisions to test accessory slot placement
Pulling panels entirely to take measurements and plan next steps
Talking openly about what’s acceptable for customers - and what isn’t

This is exactly how the F-150 Bedside Rack System was developed and continues to evolve. Every panel, slot, and bend exists because it was tested on a real truck, often with competing accessories installed at the same time.

👉 Explore the BuiltRight F-150 Bedside Rack System
https://builtrightind.com/collections/bedside-rack-systems

Prototyping a Better Interface

The heart of this episode is what happens after the interference is identified.

Rather than abandoning the setup, Matt designs a prototype front support bracket specifically to allow the BuiltRight Bridge Panel to function alongside the Pro XR’s clamp system. You see:

Flat pattern design
Multiple prototype cuts
Bend angle corrections
Test fitting with real clamps under load
Minor panel modifications to preserve strength and warranty

This is BuiltRight’s philosophy in action - solve the problem without compromising strength, usability, or the rest of the system.

The result is a clean MOLLE panel and bridge panel setup that works with the cover, keeps gear accessible, and still looks intentional.

👉 Learn more about BuiltRight Bridge Panels
https://builtrightind.com/products/bridge-panel-for-ford-molle-panels

Why This Matters

This episode isn’t just about a tonneau cover install. It’s about transparency.

It shows why we’re careful when we say a cover is compatible, why we ask customers what they’re running, and why some solutions take time to make it into production. Compatibility isn’t guessed - it’s tested, modified, debated internally, and validated on trucks just like yours.

If you’re running a Ford F-150, a canister-style tonneau cover, and want a MOLLE-based bedside storage solution that actually fits and functions, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how those answers are found.

Watch the Full Episode

Have feedback, questions, or a tonneau cover you want us to test next? Drop a comment on the video or reach out - this is exactly how future BuiltRight products take shape.