Newly Ford installed tri-fold rail Tonneau bed cover with weather seal sitting way proud of the surface below, at two cover folds

[bob7770]

Has anyone experience a new Maverick hard tri-fold rail Tonneau bed cover whose weather seal sits way pround of the surface below, and if so, do you have any idea if it was due to manufacturing, or how it was installed?

I bought a 2024 Maverick Lariat Tremor that comes with the hard tri-fold rail Tonneau bed cover as part of the package. When I was investigating the truck I ended up buying, I was told the bed cover would have to be shipped by Ford to the dealer, which ended up taking about three weeks. I later learned the dealership had taken the bed cover from my truck (it may or may not have been installed) to provide for another Maverick. I knew upfront the cover would have to be shipped, and I agreed to that..

The bed arrived about three weeks later (after a camping trip I was hoping to use it on), and I went to the dealership. The box and cover were in the bed before it was installed, and I got the part info: VNZ6Z-99501A42-F 4' bed DATE: 07/22/24. The shop later unboxed the cover and installed it. When I looked at it after installation, the weather seal (meant to keep rain out) is basically flush to the surface below on most of the cover, but in two locations, one on either side, I noticed the weather seal at the second fold from the cab (a little over a foot back from the cab) was noticeably raised up from the surface below. It is raised for about six inches on both sides, rising up to where the gap was ~3/16", and nearly 1/4", maximum, on either side, respectively. There is also a short rise of less height at the first fold, right side.

As I wrote, the rest of the weather seal was basically flush to the surface below, to keep rain out, as expected. However in the areas with the big gaps, besides it allowing rain in with any kind of wind, it looks terrible. When I pressed down forcibly behind the second seam with my fist, I was able to lower the cover to where the gaps lowered to somewhat close to flush, like the majority rest of the cover.

I unfolded and refolded the cover all the way about three times, but nothing changed.

I looked online at a photo of this exact cover, as well as many other hard tri-fold rail Tonneau bed covers with similar model numbers, and none of them show any kind of gaps like mine has.

I asked the service advisor why it was like that. He said it came that way. I'm not assuming it was necessarily installed improperly, but the problem seems either due to that, or it was a defect in manufacturing.

The advisor did point out that there is a rain channel that carries water that may have leaked in, back to the rear of the truck, where it drains to the ground. That fact helps mitigate the situation a bit, but the entire seal should be flush, as it is on the remainder of the cover on both sides. Also, if I'm parked facing downhill at all or even flat, it appears the water would remain in the rain drain until the truck's front end ends up being lower than flat. (I can't see if there is a drain opening by the cab, and even if there were one, it seems the water would drain into the bed, which a cover is meant to keep out). And again, it looks crappy.

The advisor said he didn't have experience with this cover, and I can understand that, but he wasn't interested in helping me to arrive at a solution. I waited half the day for it to be installed, and when I got it, the shop wasn't going to be open for real long, so I left. I now have to go up the chain for a fix. I spent a lot of dough on this truck, and expect much more from Ford, and look forward to them coming through.

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[fossil]

first thing I'd check is the tie down clamps. If over tightened they can cause what I'm seeing.
it could get better with a few heat cycles. my soft fold covers look improved with time

 

[ladyhawkgt]

it definitely should not look like that. they need to replace it or give your money back for it and buy one from realtruck.com

i believe these are made by Bak which you can buy from the site above with a forum discount.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Check this piece of rubber, I've had to add a piece of tape to keep the rubber tucked-in so it falls within the rails.

HRG

 

[bob7770]

first thing I'd check is the tie down clamps. If over tightened they can cause what I'm seeing.
it could get better with a few heat cycles. my soft fold covers look improved with time

Where are the tie down clamps located? There are two vinyl buckles (the type that hold straps together, including chest straps on backpacks) that apparently are used to hold the bed in place when fully folded up, and parallel to just behind the cab; perhaps as safeties for the rods that hold it in place as well), but they are simply snapped to holding receptacles when the bed is down, and in this position, don't put any tension on the cover. See attached photo.

I'm guessing you mean something else.

Thanks for your help!

 

[bob7770]

Check this piece of rubber, I've had to add a piece of tape to keep the rubber tucked-in so it falls within the rails.

HRG

 

[bob7770]

Very interesting. Can you tell if mine looks OK (without tape, I mean)?

Far more interesting, is that you got me looking more carefully, and at the fold in question, there are three pieces of foam (rounded on the bottom side) spaced across the edge, immediately behind the fold, with gaps between. They're held to the underside of the cover with sticky tape. This is the only fold where they exist. When I press my fist down firmly, on the opposite (top) side of the cover (which I did before noticing the foam), directly above the foam, that causes the weather seals to basically go flush. The height of the foam pieces could easily be the culprit!, or maybe they're too close to the fold, and should have been placed further back, I'm not sure.

(At the dealership, it was my wife who noticed the gap problem. She is not mechanically inclined at all, but has some kind of visual awareness, and is able to spot things like this.)

Thanks!

 

[MavGoose]

I have the hard tri-fold cover on my 2022 Lariat which I ordered as a factory installed option. It fits perfectly with none of the raised weather stripping issues you are experiencing. It should be covered under your vehicle warranty and either adjusted to fit properly or replaced. Good luck!

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Very interesting. Can you tell if mine looks like it OK (without tape, I mean)?

Far more interesting, is that you got me looking more carefully, and at the fold in question, there are three pieces of foam (rounded on the bottom side) spaced across the edge, immediately behind the fold, with gaps between. They're held to the underside of the cover with sticky tape. This is the only fold where they exist. When I press my fist down firmly, on the opposite (top) side of the cover (which I did before noticing the foam), directly above the foam, that causes the weather seals to basically go flush. The height of the foam pieces could easily be the culprit!, or maybe they're too close to the fold, and should have been placed further back, I'm not sure.

(At the dealership, it was my wife who noticed the gap problem. She is not mechanically inclined at all, but has some kind of visual awareness, and is able to spot things like this.)

Thanks!

Those foam strips are there to cushion against the back window, they are placed far too out. Either shorten them, or remove and move inward enough to clear the rail.

HRG

 

[bob7770]

it definitely should not look like that. they need to replace it or give your money back for it and buy one from realtruck.com

i believe these are made by Bak which you can buy from the site above with a forum discount.

They do need to fix or replace it. I'd already bought the truck with the package that included the cover. Had the truck already had the cover installed when I was testing it, this kind of flaw would have been obvious and I could have gotten them to promise to fix it. Since they installed the cover after I bought it, they are still obliged of course fix or replace it, and if not, there's always the lemon law that *maybe* could apply, but I trust that my dealership overall would simply want to do the right thing. Note: later in this thread I may have discovered the cause (foam strips too high or placed in the wrong location).

 

[OrCoaster]

Those foam strips are there to cushion against the back window, they are placed far too out. Either shorten them, or remove and move inward enough to clear the rail.

HRG

Installer error! those were peel and stick on my BakFlip cover with specific placement instructions provided.

 

[bob7770]

Those foam strips are there to cushion against the back window, they are placed far too out. Either shorten them, or remove and move inward enough to clear the rail.

HRG

Excellent sleuthing! That may indeed be the solution. Thanks for explaining what they're for, and how they may be causing the problem, the way they were installed.

 

[bob7770]

Installer error! those were peel and stick on my BakFlip cover with specific placement instructions provided.

If you happen to have easy access to those placement instructions that you could post (or message me?), even a camera phone photo, that would be great. That might help me in my documentation. If not, no worries.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

If you happen to have easy access to those placement instructions that you could post (or message me?), even a camera phone photo, that would be great. That might help me in my documentation. If not, no worries.

Figure 11. 1" from edge (minimum).

https://static.thiecommerce.com/ass...d-isheet/8227e86ea753839a95480d393ca180ce.pdf

HRG

 

[OrCoaster]

Thanks HRG, you covered for me. Just reading this now.

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