LEER 180XL TRUCK CAP INSTALLATION PROBLEM

[David Gross]

I purchased a 2025 Ford Maverick XLT AWD Hybrid. I ordered a LEER/Maverick 180XL fiberglass truck cap and had it installed be a local LEER dealer. It looked excellent for 2 weeks. But now the OEM vinyl/pliable plastic? bed rail molding is poking out/pouching instead of lying flat on the driver side of the pickup. I am wondering if anyone has a fix for this problem. I think the molding is being squished down. I backed off the clamp pressure and the problem is reduced. Does anyone know if there is an aluminum or rigid plastic part that won't deform when the clamps that hold the camper are tightened? Or does someone have a different fix using the OEM molding?​

Sponsored

 

[mikepoole]

I have had one of these caps for about 1.5 years- I find the issue will vary according to the ambient temperature; often there is no visible warping, sometimes there is- it doesn't affect the cap-bedrail seal, only the outside portion of the bedrail.

The warping on mine doesn't happen at the clamping points, so I believe it's more a result of the flexibility of the plastic. Perhaps a piece of double-sided adhesive tape between the plastic and the underlying metal?

mike

 

[David Gross]

Thank you, Mike. I noted the same thing. When it is warm, the vinyl pokes out towards the middle by the right rear clamp. When it is cold, the problem is reduced. I backed off the torque on the right rear clamp and that helped for sure. I was thinking of trying double sided adhesive tape, too. I will give this a shot

 

[Cherokee]

Back in the day when we would dismount and remount fiberglass toppers we always used double sided tape. The thick stuff, sometimes stacked two or three high to get a level contact surface. It rarely moved to where you could see it.
Topper/bed cap surface, 3 inches wide.
Double sided tape 1 inch or 11/2 inch wide.
Mounted more to the inside.

I saw one guys topper, he found some pretty stout 1 inch wide rubber. It was like a bicycle tire inner tube. I think it was 1/4 inch thick.
It made a nice visible rubber seal.
It never moved. It was backed right up against the double sided tape. Looked sharp.

 

[David Gross]

Thank you, Cherokee. Good info.

Sponsored