📝 Editor's Note · 2026-07-22 (afternoon) · by Tom A. Briskman

RetraxPRO rail leaked after 3 years — a 10-minute silicone fix

My RetraxPRO hard retractable tonneau has been on the 2020 Silverado 1500 since March 2023. Last week, during a 2-hour downpour, I noticed water dripping onto the bed floor along the driver-side T-slot rail. Not a lot — maybe a cup worth — but enough to worry about rust.

Fix: cleaned the rail with isopropyl alcohol, then ran a bead of clear silicone sealant along the entire 5-foot rail. Let it cure 24 hours. Tested in yesterday thunderstorm — zero leaks. Cost: $8 for a tube of GE Silicone II. If your hard tonneau starts leaking at the rails after 2+ years, do not replace the seal — just silicone it.