Car wash question (water gets into the bed - is that normal?)

[Bad Samaritan]

I've got a trifold factory-installed bed cover. After a touch-free car was I noticed that a significant amount of water had gotten into the bed.
There is an about half inch gap between the tailgate and the cover, so I suppose that's expected.

Questions:

• Is that normal?
• Are there any tips and tricks to protect the bed during car wash?

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[mavhopefull]

Yes, I have the trifold also. Several friends and acquaintances have it too. They all let water in. Not a sealed cover.

 

[Bad Samaritan]

Yes, I have the trifold also. Several friends and acquaintances have it too. They all let water in. Not a sealed cover.

Thanks. So what do you do after car wash - just let it drain/dry?

 

[Meintc]

I've got a trifold factory-installed bed cover. After a touch-free car was I noticed that a significant amount of water had gotten into the bed.
There is an about half inch gap between the tailgate and the cover, so I suppose that's expected.

Questions:

• Is that normal?
• Are there any tips and tricks to protect the bed during car wash?

I find it normal. I've heard some people putting a strip down to keep the water out, but I don't know what that is. I let the water in, not a big deal for me cuz I don't store any thing in my bed, but if you do, it could be a problem. All this being said, someone else may have a better answer for you.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

I added a length of weatherstripping on the tailgate, to fill the gap there, but I think the high pressure wash/rinse just blows water past the seal along the cab. Someday, I'm going to ask my wife to ride in there to see exactly where it's coming in, and when.

HRG

 

[Master Blaster]

Yes, I have the trifold also. Several friends and acquaintances have it too. They all let water in. Not a sealed cover.

My Bison frifold does not have a gap, and the bed is dry after going through the carwash.

 

[Bad Samaritan]

My Bison frifold does not have a gap, and the bed is dry after going through the carwash.

High-pressure wash, too?

 

[Mr Pibb]

I added a length of weatherstripping on the tailgate, to fill the gap there, but I think the high pressure wash/rinse just blows water past the seal along the cab. Someday, I'm going to ask my wife to ride in there to see exactly where it's coming in, and when.

HRG

It was getting on the sides of the tailgate, some people have added weather seals there too.

 

[Bad Samaritan]

It was getting on the sides of the tailgate, some people have added weather seals there too.

Any particular seals that you could recommend? Thanks!

 

[Mr Pibb]

Any particular seals that you could recommend? Thanks!

Haven't done this myself yet, still can't decide on a cover, but https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWV7HJMZ? https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-about-95-protection-from-the-elements.29911/

 

[Headbanger]

The seal in the picture posted about of the tailgate should work on the sides too. Most of the aftermarked covers are not waterproof, rather water resistant. My rollup cover actually leaks at the front but only during a car wash.

 

[Master Blaster]

High-pressure wash, too?

Yup. Its an old-style lots-of-touch carwash with about 6 stages of brushes and pressure washers, along with hand-cleaning the interior mats and windshield. And they hand-prewash with a pressure washer full of detergent it as it goes into the maelstrom and then hand-dry it outside after it leaves the airblast section. The first time I did it, I was worried about ripping off my AVS bugflector, but the way the jets and the brushes hit, it pushes down and does not break. I don;t know it its truly necessary, but I always remove my antenna on every vehicle that I've ever had to avoid breaking it, and then reattach it afterwards.

 

[Maverick2023]

They have holes in the bed and the purpose is to drain water .

 

[JHand]

Looks like I'm the odd one out. I have the factory trifold on my '25 and after a car wash I only have a few small wet spots. They seem to be along the side, at the joints of the cover

 

[mavhopefull]

Thanks. So what do you do after car wash - just let it drain/dry?

I also have the bed carpet, so after a heavy rain or car wash, I make sure to leave it open in the sun to dry. This has been effective in preventing mold and any unpleasant odors. Your cover also has a couple of drain hoses on each side. They should stay inserted on the side holes of the bed to drain water out. It's easy to knock them out and then they will drain into the bed.

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