Installing a bed/tonneau cover. Are seals/strips recommended?

[Los150]

I'm getting ready to install a new Retrax bed cover this weekend or next, as time permits. I was curious if there's any recommendations when it comes to any sort of weatherstripping or seals that should be used when installing a bed cover, to help weatherproof it. I'd rather plan accordingly and install this as best as possible, rather than go back and try to add it at a later time.

Curious as to other people's experiences with bed cover installs. Any tips/suggestions on the "weatherproofing" side of things?

-Los

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[Eskram]

My BAK Revolver X4s came with two types of weatherstripping for the bed - one was a thinner rubber strip, the other a thicker foam-type (which I believe is used if you have a drop in bed liner).
I've only ever seen very minor water intrusion during rain storms and pressure washing the truck, and generally at the tailgate.

I'd assume yours will come with weather stripping, but if not you could find something similar at a HW store.

 

[tidefan1967]

I would definitely get a tailgate seal if I were you. I used the Truxedo universal tailgate seal on my truck.

 

[azdub1]

I bought a slightly used 2021 Platinum last October and it came with a Ford-branded lockable retractable cover...the expensive kind. I noticed the camping/hiking stuff I stored in my truck bed was soaking wet once after a major rain. I removed everything out of the truck bed and kept a watch, and sure enough after any rain, there was water inside the truck bed. It was in the same place every time -- the left and right corners by tailgate. But, mostly right corner. The retractable cover doesn't come back all the way to the end of the rail, leaving a gap. It's a defect. Even if you pull it back manually, it won't stay in place, it just rolls back an inch or so. A good two-3 finger gap from end of rail to where the cover actually reached!! First dealer said there is nothing wrong with the cover (typical lol). Next dealer got it replaced by Ford under the cover's warranty in March 2023, but I had to provide all the pics and videos I had kept. Lol. The new one (which was only the cover they replaced, not the entire setup) still has a tiny gap but not nearly as bad. Not sure how that gap will change over time, but it's definitely a defect in those covers. However, my American Tonneau Company vinyl tri-fold cover I bought in 2013 for my 2011 XLT cost 1/5 of this expensive cover and never not once had a single drop of rain get in. Craziness. So yeah I would suggest seals in the tailgate corners, as long as it doesn't hinder your automatic tailgate option if you have that.

 

[Los150]

So yeah I would suggest seals in the tailgate corners, as long as it doesn't hinder your automatic tailgate option if you have that.

Thanks for that. That seems to be the biggest area that people focus on, is the rear, at the tailgate itself. I'm order a couple of different strips to see which one helps seal it up best. In South FL, you get some crazy rain at times.

 

[azdub1]

Thanks for that. That seems to be the biggest area that people focus on, is the rear, at the tailgate itself. I'm order a couple of different strips to see which one helps seal it up best. In South FL, you get some crazy rain at times.

What part of south FL? I was born in Ft. Lauderdale, but grew up in Boca Raton. Left at 18 (1996) to go play soccer in college in SC and never looked back. Lol. I'm in Georgia now and my parents left Boca 15 years ago to come up here near me. Good luck on your new cover. Actually, let me see if I have a brand new seal I bought for my old truck that I ended up selling. I can send it to you if you think it will work for you. But, first I need to find it in this mess of a house! -Andrea

 

[Los150]

What part of south FL?

Parkland/CS area and work in Boca.
I feel ya. I'm already thinking of moving North. Not sure if I want to do North FL or somewhere in GA. I'll figure it out eventually but I'm definitely ready for a change of scenery.

 

[azdub1]

Parkland/CS area and work in Boca.
I feel ya. I'm already thinking of moving North. Not sure if I want to do North FL or somewhere in GA. I'll figure it out eventually but I'm definitely ready for a change of scenery.

Happy to have you in Georgia, but stay away from ATL...too much traffic and crime. I can't wait to move to north GA mountains or Georgia coast. Maybe even Nashville, TN.

 

[azdub1]

Parkland/CS area and work in Boca.
I feel ya. I'm already thinking of moving North. Not sure if I want to do North FL or somewhere in GA. I'll figure it out eventually but I'm definitely ready for a change of scenery.

Also, I finally found the Ford OEM tailgate seal I bought for my old truck, still in the packaging. Not sure if you've bought something already but if not, I'd be happy to send it to you. I will try to snap a pic when I take my dog outside in a bit.

 

[Los150]

Happy to have you in Georgia, but stay away from ATL...too much traffic and crime. I can't wait to move to north GA mountains or Georgia coast. Maybe even Nashville, TN.

Appreciate it. Yeah, I visited ATL once, years ago and the traffic was definitely not much better than down here, that's for sure.

Also, I finally found the Ford OEM tailgate seal I bought for my old truck, still in the packaging. Not sure if you've bought something already but if not, I'd be happy to send it to you. I will try to snap a pic when I take my dog outside in a bit.

I'd really appreciate that. I have not purchased the seal. I started buying some of the stuff I needed, so I could spend the Thanksgiving week working on the truck. Instead I ended up in the hospital with 3 kidney stones and it's been a slow recovery since. Had 1 procedure already and another tomorrow. SMH

 

[azdub1]

Appreciate it. Yeah, I visited ATL once, years ago and the traffic was definitely not much better than down here, that's for sure.




I'd really appreciate that. I have not purchased the seal. I started buying some of the stuff I needed, so I could spend the Thanksgiving week working on the truck. Instead I ended up in the hospital with 3 kidney stones and it's been a slow recovery since. Had 1 procedure already and another tomorrow. SMH

Oh no! Sorry to hear you got the stones and have been down-for-the-count for a bit. I found the tailgate seal but remember it's for my old 2011 XLT. I can't imagine it wouldn't work but not positive. Just want to make sure it will work for your truck before sending as I wouldn't want it to go to waste at your house too. Let me know! Hope you feel better! -Andrea

 

[Los150]

Oh no! Sorry to hear you got the stones and have been down-for-the-count for a bit. I found the tailgate seal but remember it's for my old 2011 XLT. I can't imagine it wouldn't work but not positive. Just want to make sure it will work for your truck before sending as I wouldn't want it to go to waste at your house too. Let me know! Hope you feel better! -Andrea

I'll PM you.

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