I left the plastic covers on. Just be sure that you do not clamp where the metal bed rails are open. If you feel underneath the rail you will notice what is solid and what is not.
I like mine too. Put it on the 2024 XLT. Make sure you lay out all of the parts and read the instructions before starting the install. Some of the nuts were not preloaded in the channels, but there were plenty of spare ones. Installation works best with two people. Took about 2 hours...
Mine has also. Was good after the last update, but acted up yesterday. I will say, the cab was hot after sitting in the sun for 4 hours. It's annoying because the backup camera is part of the system.