Tonneau covers? Do they all have drain tubes?

[joestantoine]

I have decided on a hard folding cover . Some of them have drain tubes and some don't. Any opinions on either? My truck is an XLT with the drop in liner and I'm not sure if there are any holes in it for drain tubes. Thx

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[hdave]

There are holes but the drop in liner sides don’t have them drilled.

there’s another thread about it recently. Search for “bison” and you’ll find it.

 

[Gschaef]

Drain tubes are nice to have but not essential. It just depends on your cover. If the cover does a good job of keeping water out then they aren’t necessary. If your cover leaks a lot then you will wish you bought one with drain tubes (or a different cover). I have a hard tri fold without drain tubes but it lets very little water in so I”m satisfied as is. And my area doesn’t get a lot of severe weather so that makes a difference.

It also makes a difference on what you carry. If you have a lot of expensive tools or other items it would make sense to spend more for a cover with drain tubes as insurance.

 

[ziotomasso]

My Bedrug leaks water through the zippers and to the drains in the original bed. The Truxedo cover does't leak much, but I roll it all up next to the cab to make sure the sun can finish the job after being in the car wash. And yes, I do run it through the wash with the big revolving "brushes". So far. so good with about five washes this year in North Florida.

 

[Paladin65]

I have a a Bakflip MX4 and it has drain tubes that go into existing holes on the side wall of the bed, however, I have a spray in. I think if there's a drop in they get covered and you have to drill holes. It's a great cover, but not 100% dry. During regular rain only traces of water get in. If you go through a high pressure car wash expect more.

 

[lawsonland]

I have the RC trifold with the drain tubes. Until i get the courage to find and cutout holes in the DIBL I put a bed mat in and the tubes are sitting in the tie-down cut outs. Any water travels under the bed mat and out the tailgate

 

[Shelbyv8]

Mine leaks more around the tailgate than the cover.

 

[PRH]

MIne has the drain tubes but i didn't want to cut the bed liner so i just channeled them into one of the corrugated ridges (valley part obviously) and use the two tie down hooks to keep them there. Luckily my cover hardly lets in any rain and what little that does successfully runs down the tube and down the two most outer valleys in the box liner and out the tailgate. If i ever have anything that absolutely MUST stay dry, i just make sure it's in the middle of the box. Otherwise at most it's a small trickle about ½ the width of a pencil that I ocassionally see at the tailgate (and that's after a really good rain)

 

[Numbers234]

I have a hard tri fold without drain tubes but it lets very little water in so I”m satisfied as is.

Which hard top cover do you have?

 

[Gschaef]

Which hard top cover do you have?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296050258813

Bought this from eBay. You can make an offer and get a lower price. Mine did leak some at the two front corners at the bulkhead mostly due to the Maverick not having any separation between the bed and cab. There is also a thin vertical indentation on each side of bed rail about a foot past the bulkhead where water can seep in sideways. I have no idea what purpose those serve. I added some extra insulation to the corners around the pads and cut two small pieces for the indentations and that took care of leaks. Took about 15 minutes. Drove 30 minutes in a rainstorm and the bed was 99% dry. It’s never been through a car wash.

 

[WJOHNM]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296050258813

Bought this from eBay. You can make an offer and get a lower price. Mine did leak some at the two front corners at the bulkhead mostly due to the Maverick not having any separation between the bed and cab. There is also a thin vertical indentation on each side of bed rail about a foot past the bulkhead where water can seep in sideways. I have no idea what purpose those serve. I added some extra insulation to the corners around the pads and cut two small pieces for the indentations and that took care of leaks. Took about 15 minutes. Drove 30 minutes in a rainstorm and the bed was 99% dry. It’s never been through a car wash.

I like this cover, it wasn't around when I got my truck or it would-be on it. I got the ford soft tri fold and it works fine very little leaking. I have had them all over the years of owning pick ups and they all leak some more than others. good luck with yours.

 

[Decayed]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296050258813

Bought this from eBay. You can make an offer and get a lower price. Mine did leak some at the two front corners at the bulkhead mostly due to the Maverick not having any separation between the bed and cab. There is also a thin vertical indentation on each side of bed rail about a foot past the bulkhead where water can seep in sideways. I have no idea what purpose those serve. I added some extra insulation to the corners around the pads and cut two small pieces for the indentations and that took care of leaks. Took about 15 minutes. Drove 30 minutes in a rainstorm and the bed was 99% dry. It’s never been through a car wash.

That's a nice cover. Those little channels on the side are a pain in the butt. The one I have leaks a little bit but instead of obsessing about it I just stick everything that matters into plastic totes. It doesn't leak much.

 

[Gschaef]

I like this cover, it wasn't around when I got my truck or it would-be on it. I got the ford soft tri fold and it works fine very little leaking. I have had them all over the years of owning pick ups and they all leak some more than others. good luck with yours.

I agree. Just about all covers leak to a degree. My experience has been soft roll ups leak the least overall and hard tri folds the most due to the construction of the frames so I always expect to have to do some adjustments and I never expect one to be perfect. Even ones with drain tubes. I was talking to the owner of an auto parts supply house. They also do installations and he said the Maverick is the toughest truck to get a good fit due to the unibody and bed construction. Glad you’re happy with yours.

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