Paint damage due to tonneau cover

[OleKennyRoy]

I’ve had a hard rolling tonneau on my ‘23 Maverick since the first week or so that I’ve had it (since new). I just got a warranty replacement because the vinyl was starting to peel up on the end. Since there was some corrosion in the clamps, they went ahead and sent a whole new kit.

when I removed the old cover, I expected to see some marks on the plastic, but what I didn’t expect to see was damage to the paint.

Evidently the tonneau cover rails push the bed trim into the paint. After two years and about 25,000 miles, there is damage down both sides that runs the length of the bed.

The damage is done on this truck, but I’m not sure I’ll buy another tonneau cover going forward.

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[RR - All the way]

I do not have this problem, but I have a soft roll up. Must be associated with the hard roll up somehow. Hate to see it happened though!!!!

 

[Waterick]

Ford has been using these plastic rail caps quite a few years on the full size trucks, are we just now experiencing problems only on the Maverick? I don't know as I've never had plastic rail caps on my trucks before.

 

[710-oil-614]

That sucks, and definitely an area for rust concern going down the line. I would remove the cover, go to a soft roll, and have a local detailer correct the paint chipping.

 

[Deleted member 5352]

I have a similar issue but more minor by comparison and only on the passenger side. However, on the driver's side, the curved railing that meets the tailgate is under so much pressure from the tonneau that it's buckled. You can even see the sheet metal outline that the rail is supposed to cover. I haven't addressed it since it doesn't bother me that much and it'll be more trouble than it's worth to fix.

 

[Mabcim]

Had a hard roll up on my ‘22 and transferred it to my ‘25. I don’t have this problem. However, I installed the cover myself and spend a lot time getting it to fit correctly. What I had to do on my ‘25 was different from my ‘22. When reading cover threads, those of use with the same cover had different fitment issues in ‘22. Just the nature of the beast. So each truck is unique, even though robots are welding them.

It seems the rails on yours were too low, especially at the rear. Causing too much pressure on the bed cap. I can tell you, the rear of the rail was the hardest part when aligning mine; on both trucks. The bed metal kind of tappers off there, and the rails can flex a good amount.

 

[MaverickMark]

I’ve had a hard rolling tonneau on my ‘23 Maverick since the first week or so that I’ve had it (since new). I just got a warranty replacement because the vinyl was starting to peel up on the end. Since there was some corrosion in the clamps, they went ahead and sent a whole new kit.

when I removed the old cover, I expected to see some marks on the plastic, but what I didn’t expect to see was damage to the paint.

Evidently the tonneau cover rails push the bed trim into the paint. After two years and about 25,000 miles, there is damage down both sides that runs the length of the bed.

The damage is done on this truck, but I’m not sure I’ll buy another tonneau cover going forward.

Sorry that that happened to you. I've had the hard roll up for 2 yrs and I don't have that issue. I installed it myself.

 

[asylus]

Thats no good, hope its isolated and you can enjoy covers in the future. Im hoping I dont have that issue with my soft roll up Ill be putting up soon. How bad is rust for something like this compared to the underbody that has no paint or protection?

 

[OleKennyRoy]

I wanted to clarify, You can't see this damage with the cover installed.

I only saw it when the rails were removed. I haven't installed the new one yet, but I'm sure it will compress the trim and hide the damage again.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

I wanted to clarify, You can't see this damage with the cover installed.

I only saw it when the rails were removed. I haven't installed the new one yet, but I'm sure it will compress the trim and hide the damage again.

Is it inside the bed rails? Or you can see it from outside

 

[notfast]

I had similar damage when I removed the camper shell and plastic bed rail caps on my 2001 F-250 in preparation for getting a spray-in bedliner done. Ten years of compression and vibration caused the rails to be rubbed bare in spots and minor surface rust in others.

Since you literally cannot see the damage with the caps installed, I just wiped the areas clean, rolled on some POR-15 (Paint Over Rust), and went to get the bedliner done.

 

[OleKennyRoy]

Is it inside the bed rails? Or you can see it from outside

 

[SubtlySeismic]

Very unfortunate, but thank you for sharing. I was considering a hard roll-up but may think twice on that now. Was there any clues while you had it on your truck that fitment was off? i.e. sounds, resistance while rolling up, or anything else that seemed odd? The fitment looks fine from looking at your pic.

 

[OleKennyRoy]

Very unfortunate, but thank you for sharing. I was considering a hard roll-up but may think twice on that now. Was there any clues while you had it on your truck that fitment was off? i.e. sounds, resistance while rolling up, or anything else that seemed odd? The fitment looks fine from looking at your pic.

Nope, it fit perfect, no issues at all. Go out to back of you truck and push down on the bed side cap. You'll see it come in contact with the sheet-metal.

There was no fitment issue and this was installed following the instructions to a T, like I said, two years and 25,000 miles later this is the wear. Invisible with the tonneau cover rails installed.

 

[MetalThunder]

I could see this happening with temperature variations - and now paranoid till I look at mine. The cap definitely floats on the rear quarter but clamping it rigidly certainly sets it up for unforeseen thermal craziness. Read another post where the clamps on the rails inside the bed actually were deflecting/warping the caps by restricting its motion during heating and cooling, I'm wondering why this isn't a bigger issue but who else has looked - usually putting a tonneau cover on is a one and done for the average bear

ETA ... I'll be - removing the cover - removing the rails and adding paint protection film as soon as possible because after staring at mine i am not sure how it isn't damaging paint - especially with that raw edge mating on the body panel ...

Cheers

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