Retrax Powered Tonneau Cover Not Opening Fully with Remote

Updated 09/14/2026 | Published 09/08/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Replacement Remote Receiver for Retrax Powered Retractable Tonneau Covers Manufactured After 2017

(25)

$332.33

Replacement Motor for Retrax Powered Retractable Tonneau Covers

(2)

$804.61

Question:

My Retrax tonneau cover just started to only move a couple inches each time I hit the remote buttons. My Remote button does blink red when I hit the button. But it only moves a couple of inches back and forth. My light comes on at full power when I use the remote.

asked by: John W

Expert Reply:

Thanks for letting us help John. I'm not sure which specific model of Retrax powered tonneau cover you have, but I can offer some general troubleshooting based on what you're experiencing.

Since the cover starts to move in both directions when you press the remote, I wouldn't immediately suspect the remote or receiver. I'd start by checking for a mechanical restriction.

Inspect both rails for debris, damaged seals, or anything else that could cause the cover to bind. I'd also measure the inside distance between the rails at both the cab and tailgate ends. Those measurements should be within approximately 1/16" of each other. If there's a larger difference, one of the rails may have loosened and shifted inward, causing the cover to bind. If so, the rails will need to be realigned.

If everything looks good mechanically, I'd move on to the electrical system. Even though the cover's light is illuminating normally, I wouldn't rely on that alone to confirm the motor is receiving adequate power. A light requires far less current than the motor, so a weak connection could still allow the light to work while preventing the motor from operating properly. I'd inspect the battery connections, inline fuse and fuse holder, wiring connections at the canister, and the ground connection for anything loose, damaged, or corroded.

We do carry replacement components such as the Replacement Remote Receiver # RTX89TR and Replacement Motor # RTX79TR, but I wouldn't replace either one until you've ruled out binding and power-supply issues.

Your Retrax cover may also still be covered by the manufacturer's warranty, so Retrax can assist with model-specific troubleshooting and potentially provide any replacement components that are needed.

Are you able to manually open and close the cover, and if so, does it feel noticeably harder to move than it used to? If you can also provide the part number or serial number from your cover, I'd be happy to dig deeper into your specific model.