A covering system for extending and retracting a tarp over a vehicle bed of a vehicle , the covering system comprising: a movable reel operatively supported on the vehicle bed by an arm assembly movable to displace said reel from a first side of said vehicle bed to a second side of said vehicle bed ; a tarp connected to said vehicle bed and said reel , wherein said tarp is rollable onto said reel and unrollable from said reel during displacement of said reel from said first side to said second side to cover said vehicle bed ; a motor mounted on said arm assembly and drivingly engaged with said reel to selectively roll and unroll said tarp over said vehicle bed ; at least one tarp support bracket mounted on said second side of said vehicle bed having a pocket for receiving said reel therein while permitting rotation of said reel by said motor , said bracket including a roller configuration which rollingly contacts said reel to facilitate tensioning of said tarp during rotation of said reel in said pocket by said motor , characterized in that said roller configuration comprises first and second rollers disposed in spaced relation to rollingly support said reel in said pocket , wherein said reel is displaced into said pocket to a lockout position by rotation of said reel and rolling of a portion of said tarp onto said reel , wherein said roller configuration provides rolling contact between said reel and said bracket to reduce mechanical binding of said reel , and wherein said bracket provides braking of said reel when said reel is displaced to said lockout position to resist reverse rotation of said reel and resist rolling displacement of said reel away from said lockout position. a movable reel operatively supported on the vehicle bed by an arm assembly movable to displace said reel from a first side of said vehicle bed to a second side of said vehicle bed ; a tarp connected to said vehicle bed and said reel , wherein said tarp is rollable onto said reel and unrollable from said reel during displacement of said reel from said first side to said second side to cover said vehicle bed ; a motor mounted on said arm assembly and drivingly engaged with said reel to selectively roll and unroll said tarp over said vehicle bed ; at least one tarp support bracket mounted on said second side of said vehicle bed having a pocket for receiving said reel therein while permitting rotation of said reel by said motor , said bracket including a roller configuration which rollingly contacts said reel to facilitate tensioning of said tarp during rotation of said reel in said pocket by said motor , characterized in that said roller configuration comprises first and second rollers disposed in spaced relation to rollingly support said reel in said pocket , wherein said reel is displaced into said pocket to a lockout position by rotation of said reel and rolling of a portion of said tarp onto said reel , wherein said roller configuration provides rolling contact between said reel and said bracket to reduce mechanical binding of said reel , and wherein said bracket provides braking of said reel when said reel is displaced to said lockout position to resist reverse rotation of said reel and resist rolling displacement of said reel away from said lockout position. <EOS>