Poor Bed design

[Tallrunrdude]

I wonder if you have bad panel gaps on yours. Can you take pics of the offending areas? Just how much water is finding it's way in?

I have a simple WeatherTech soft cover on mine and aside from intensely heavy rain, I really don't get any water intrusion into the bed. There is a seal at the front where the bed meets the cab that had to go on in the right orientation or it would leak. They provide weatherstripping you have to cut to size for the tailgate seal. Not perfect but it definitely works. I wind up getting such a good seal the auto-release tailgate won't drop on it's own...and I'm okay with that!

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[FaaWrenchBndr]

See post #3 ...

Mom used to drive a '74 Ford Country Squire. It was always a fight to see who got to ride in the "way back" ...

Yep….parents had a 67 and then a 77
Loved the rear jump seat

 

[scott011422]

I have a spray-in bed liner. I also have a diamondback cover, which kept my 2018 F-150 very dry. The problem I have now is I can not figure out how to seal up the 2 huge gaps that exist where the bed meets the tailgate.

I had a 2018 F 150 it was bone dry at all times. Diamondback cover spray in lining. What I have now is a swimming pool.

They make gap fillers that go in there to help with water and dust. The big problem I see with the tailgate is if you have the tailgate step. The step sits in a recess that drains into the bed. If you plug these drain channels then it fills the tailgate. I will admit this is much less on an issue with the DiamondBack VS the ReTrax Pro I had on before.

That ReTrax Pro was super leaky. It was by far the worse cover I've ever had as far as keeping the bed clean and dry.

 

[Risky Bizness]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I seem to remember that there was a chemical reaction between silicon that people used between the aluminum and the silicon. If you're inclined to go that way.

 

[JumboJVT]

My bed leaks out not in, just as designed. Of course, I run an open bed, always have...just as designed. If I needed or wanted dry sealed space, I'd have bought a Suburban

 

[joemichaels]

No factory bed is intended to be waterproof. They can absolutely be made waterproof, Just going to take a little work as your doing.

Another water tip for you, The bed lights, Bed light switch, and propower panel will weep water.

To be honest, All I've done to my bed is put a diamondback cover on it and a spray in liner and that has been pretty amazing. Water wise i get a little seepage around the propanel, lights and switch. Other than that its pretty damn dry. Even after a touchless car wash.

Is this the "new reality" of owning newer models? I hope not. Recently bought a '23 F150 XLT Crew and ordered a Leer Sport cap to keep tools/freight dry and secure. My 29yo Silverado K1500 4x4 has had a Century cap since new and never had water issues. Understandable with tonneaus, which is why a cap can't be beat imho.
Or, is it the bed itself leaking at speed?

 

[scott011422]

Personally, I think its the toys. I had a Leer fiberglass cover on my 2005 f150. Now, it did go over the rails, but never leaked. Bed was dry too. But also had no holes in it. New bed has holes for lights and outlets, switches. These are all leak points.

But other than these spots, my bed has been super dry with the DiamondBack. I do get dust buildup overtime from the tailgate, But got that on the 05' too.

 

[DEEPDOWN]

I have tried and failed to seal up my 2024 Platinum edition F-150. First, it was the 4 weep holes, which the dealership told me to use caulking to seal up. Then it was the gap here the bed meets the tailgate, which I used weatherstripping. Now I look down, again, where the bed meets the tailgate on both corners, there is a 1 and a quarter square gap on both sides of the truck. Why would Ford even sell a tonneau cover for their pickups when their design lets water into the bed no matter what? I can not keep the bed dry. Does anyone else have this problem or was mine shipped minus a few parts?

maybe I’m not quite understanding, but as far as I’m aware, pick up truck beds are not designed to be waterproof. I’m personally glad they’re not because I carry around a lot of wet scuba gear and the easier the water can drain out the batter. However, if you want a mobile hot tub, then I would start with a spray-in liner, and then seal as many of the gaps with a black caulking, as you can find.
It’s gonna be mighty hard to get a perfect seal between the bed and the tailgate, and it seems you have tried weatherstripping, Others have mentioned bulb seal, and that’s as good as I can suggest as well.

 

[Tallrunrdude]

Diamonback cover, sealed up all the weep holes, still had water in the bed. Taking it back to the dealership to have the "water guy" find out where the leaks are coming from

 

[miniceptor86]

See post #3 ...

Mom used to drive a '74 Ford Country Squire. It was always a fight to see who got to ride in the "way back" ...

Had the country sedan version, two kids rattling around in the back . Got stopped in town ‘cause they were hanging out the back with the gate window down.

 

[Charles123]

Diamonback cover, sealed up all the weep holes, still had water in the bed. Taking it back to the dealership to have the "water guy" find out where the leaks are coming from

Let us know what you find out

 

[HDT05]

Diamonback cover, sealed up all the weep holes, still had water in the bed. Taking it back to the dealership to have the "water guy" find out where the leaks are coming from

I am running a Truxedo Lowpro tonneau cover (from my 2021 truck) and haven't had to do anything to keep it dry in the bed... no seals or anything...

I chose that model as although the rails sit higher, it meant the weather seal was better in my view... Only time I get any water in there is when I get a bit keen with the high pressure sprayer...

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