WeatherTech Alloy trifold hard tonneau cover: 5-Star down to ZERO

[mdsalemi]

When I got my WeatherTech Alloy trifold hard tonneau cover last October, I was pleased with its build quality and installation. ***** Then came the first rains, and it leaked pretty badly and it was apparent that the gaskets along the edges were insufficient to keep out the rain. There goes a star. ****. Working with their support team, who failed to understand the issue, they sent some piece without any instructions that was so small, nearly irrelevant, that it couldn't possible solve a full gasket issue. Sending out something to solve a problem without instructions on how to use it, there goes another star. ***. Finally I got an idea and got some self stick foam tape, and lined the edges of the Maverick bed and door with this, to add a bit of a "dam" as it were to help prevent water infiltration. Well, this only goes so far but it did prevent a good deal of the water infiltration--but not all. Over time the water infiltration got worse, probably due to the foam compressing. I lived with it.

Then yesterday, I was about to wash the Maverick and noticed that the support bar(s) (each of the three aluminum panels that comprise the Alloy cover have two of them running the width of the panel) were beginning to separate from the panel. Upon closer observation it was apparent that these support bars were only attached to the panels with thin double side self stick foam tape. No fasteners.

So, since the latching mechanism and thus the security of the Alloy Cover in protecting the contents of the truck bed relies on these support bars, this security is only from self stick foam tape. Forget the use of tools, anyone with strong hands could easily rip a panel up, leaving the rearmost latching support bar fully in place. Down to two stars. **

So I contact WeatherTech yesterday. I sent them photos with the complaint about this design flaw. They then asked for more photos, and then concluded that the rails are not straight. However the rails are merely clamped to the sides of the Maverick, there's little to know adjustment. The clamps are just that: clamps. They then said the foam tape I applied to keep the water out (something there design failed miserably at) was exacerbating the situation.

They won't do a thing. Down to ZERO stars. #weathertech

I would not recommend this tonneau to anyone, considering it is pretty costly. For a $1,000+ item made in the USA, and from a company otherwise respected for their rubber mats, their customer service is useless.

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[colinl]

Wow. I wanted one of those when I wore out my Ford soft tri-fold, or just got tired of removing it to put MTBs on my tailgate pad. I want to remove the top easily like that, and not have it folded against the rear glass, because I value seeing out of the back.

 

[mdsalemi]

Wow. I wanted one of those when I wore out my Ford soft tri-fold, or just got tired of removing it to put MTBs on my tailgate pad. I want to remove the top easily like that, and not have it folded against the rear glass, because I value seeing out of the back.

I suggest looking elsewhere for something different. Having "security" held together (or not in my case!) by self stick foam tape isn't reassuring. I keep thousands of dollars of tools in my truck bed, and to know it's only foam tape as the security guard...not very reassuring!

 

[colinl]

I suggest looking elsewhere for something different. Having "security" held together (or not in my case!) by self stick foam tape isn't reassuring. I keep thousands of dollars of tools in my truck bed, and to know it's only foam tape as the security guard...not very reassuring!

So, is completely removing the cover and seeing out the back a priority for you? If not, there are many hard covers that fold against the rear glass, or a locking hard rollup, or you could get a fiberglass cover that hinges-- but I honestly hate those.

I currently have a soft cover as I mentioned - anyone with a box knife can get into it, but no one ever has. Not that I keep valuable stuff under it often, but I understand your concern and that shouldn't be an issue with a hard tonneau.

Water intrusion is extremely common amongst any kind of tonneau. Almost no one has a product that specifically says it's completely water tight. My current one only leaks if I go through extremely heavy wind and rain, or a touchless wash, and only a trickle. I'm lucky, I guess.

 

[mdsalemi]

So, is completely removing the cover and seeing out the back a priority for you? If not, there are many hard covers that fold against the rear glass, or a locking hard rollup, or you could get a fiberglass cover that hinges-- but I honestly hate those.

I currently have a soft cover as I mentioned - anyone with a box knife can get into it, but no one ever has. Not that I keep valuable stuff under it often, but I understand your concern and that shouldn't be an issue with a hard tonneau.

Water intrusion is extremely common amongst any kind of tonneau. Almost no one has a product that specifically says it's completely water tight. My current one only leaks if I go through extremely heavy wind and rain, or a touchless wash, and only a trickle. I'm lucky, I guess.

I have never fully removed the cover for my day to day life as a handyman, so removing it completely isn't much of a priority.

Seeing out the back window is, of course, a priority.

Water intrusion is a concern. I can deal with a small amount, but a failure to prevent most of it is a product design flaw.

Security is a big issue. While I don't expect "bank vault" level security, a soft top accessible with a box cutter is simply too inviting for trouble. [Sidebar: Back in the days when radio thefts out of cars were common, I had my VW rabbit broken into repeatedly for some el cheapo am/fm radio. The radio was less of a concern than the broken glass cost and mess. When I finally just gave up and removed the radio entirely my mistake was putting a blank filler plate in place. Car was STILL broken into because the bums thought a radio was hidden behind it. Finally left the hole in the dash...]

...but onto the security of a hard tonneau. Who on earth would think any kind of security is provided by self stick foam tape? I mean, come on engineers, use your head! I don't care what kind of engineering school you went to, that's just thrifting.

Right this moment, it's 72 degrees and sunny out. The top of the black tonneau is 150 degrees plus. I suspect that the "glue" on the self stick tape or the tape itself isn't robust enough to deal with such heat. It's not my design, but boy that's a design fault too. Maybe epoxy would have been better, or even spot welds or fasteners. But self stick foam tape? Seriously?

This weekend I'll get some epoxy and try to fix what WeatherTech cannot.

Meantime, let my experience speak; see the photos. Don't buy it.

 

[colinl]

Meantime, let my experience speak; see the photos. Don't buy it.

I was there after your first post, for sure.

Mainly was curious to find other covers that have the lift-out tool less removal. I believe I read that Weathertech doesn't actually make this, that someone else does and sells it as well, identical except the name on it. I'll be sure to avoid that one also...

 

[mdsalemi]

Yes, apparently on another forum or resale site, it's apparent that the WeatherTech Alloy is the same as the Lomax cover.

Curiously the advertising states "the panels can support up to 400 pounds of evenly distributed weight" (yet they cannot deal with a little bit of foam tape on the side trying to assist in keeping water out?)

The other thing they say is,

WEATHERTIGHT SEAL
The water-shedding design and waterproof hinges route water away from the bed without gutters or drains. The hard folding tonneau overlaps the bed rails with a continuous seal along the entire length of the side rails, preventing elements from entering the truck bed.

Nope, doesn't work.

 

[FamousAmos]

When I got my WeatherTech Alloy trifold hard tonneau cover last October, I was pleased with its build quality and installation. ***** Then came the first rains, and it leaked pretty badly and it was apparent that the gaskets along the edges were insufficient to keep out the rain. There goes a star. ****. Working with their support team, who failed to understand the issue, they sent some piece without any instructions that was so small, nearly irrelevant, that it couldn't possible solve a full gasket issue. Sending out something to solve a problem without instructions on how to use it, there goes another star. ***. Finally I got an idea and got some self stick foam tape, and lined the edges of the Maverick bed and door with this, to add a bit of a "dam" as it were to help prevent water infiltration. Well, this only goes so far but it did prevent a good deal of the water infiltration--but not all. Over time the water infiltration got worse, probably due to the foam compressing. I lived with it.

Then yesterday, I was about to wash the Maverick and noticed that the support bar(s) (each of the three aluminum panels that comprise the Alloy cover have two of them running the width of the panel) were beginning to separate from the panel. Upon closer observation it was apparent that these support bars were only attached to the panels with thin double side self stick foam tape. No fasteners.

So, since the latching mechanism and thus the security of the Alloy Cover in protecting the contents of the truck bed relies on these support bars, this security is only from self stick foam tape. Forget the use of tools, anyone with strong hands could easily rip a panel up, leaving the rearmost latching support bar fully in place. Down to two stars. **

So I contact WeatherTech yesterday. I sent them photos with the complaint about this design flaw. They then asked for more photos, and then concluded that the rails are not straight. However the rails are merely clamped to the sides of the Maverick, there's little to know adjustment. The clamps are just that: clamps. They then said the foam tape I applied to keep the water out (something there design failed miserably at) was exacerbating the situation.

They won't do a thing. Down to ZERO stars. #weathertech

I would not recommend this tonneau to anyone, considering it is pretty costly. For a $1,000+ item made in the USA, and from a company otherwise respected for their rubber mats, their customer service is useless.

Observation on Weathertech products: I have bought Weathertech floor mats for my last 10-or-so vehicles, over a 20-or-so-year period. One OBVIOUS observation: the mats have gotten thinner and cheaper and MORE EXPENSIVE over the years.. A set used to be so heavy that I could not carry the full set at one time. My recent set is so thin and light that our toy poodle could carry them. I suspect that this will be my last Weathetech set, unless their prices drastically decrease enough to compare with other sets.

 

[mdsalemi]

Interesting observation. Last time I went to consider a WeatherTech mat was for the rear cargo area of my prior car, a Ford Flex. The Ford branded one was something like $79 to $99. The WeatherTech was more than twice that. At that time, being a lease car, I decided I just didn't need to spend that kind of money. My Maverick came with all weather floor mats, no need for aftermarket. I did buy a $50 bed liner from Amazon just to provide a layer or cushion. Works fine.

 

[ryanjo]

I will second the observations above about Weather Tech quality declining. Floor mats several years ago for our van were snug and thick, but I returned the mats I bought from Weather Tech for my Maverick, too thin and floppy. My wife also got a bumper guard for her van from Weather Tech, which over several months has begun to lift on the edges despite being secured with several layers of tape.

 

[AzureBlueBill]

Yet, here I am with the same Weathertech cover, and I'd still rate it at about 4 ⅔ points, only because it does allow a little water to get in, but find me a similar cover that does not.

 

[tom_tucker]

Good luck with the tonneaus, MTC. I do like tonneau's, don't get me wrong. The problem is that it's a moving part with 100% failure rate. Meanwhile, I don't foresee a single issue with my fiberglass bed cap for the lifetime of the truck. It certainly limits the bed in height but It's still a big open space with the tailgate open.

 

[Stimpy433]

I’ve had Lomax covers on the last two trucks I’ve owned and they’ve been great. I had one on my ram 1500 for seven years and I have one on my Maverick for almost 3 years now.

 

[727223]

When I got my WeatherTech Alloy trifold hard tonneau cover last October, I was pleased with its build quality and installation. ***** Then came the first rains, and it leaked pretty badly and it was apparent that the gaskets along the edges were insufficient to keep out the rain. There goes a star. ****. Working with their support team, who failed to understand the issue, they sent some piece without any instructions that was so small, nearly irrelevant, that it couldn't possible solve a full gasket issue. Sending out something to solve a problem without instructions on how to use it, there goes another star. ***. Finally I got an idea and got some self stick foam tape, and lined the edges of the Maverick bed and door with this, to add a bit of a "dam" as it were to help prevent water infiltration. Well, this only goes so far but it did prevent a good deal of the water infiltration--but not all. Over time the water infiltration got worse, probably due to the foam compressing. I lived with it.

Then yesterday, I was about to wash the Maverick and noticed that the support bar(s) (each of the three aluminum panels that comprise the Alloy cover have two of them running the width of the panel) were beginning to separate from the panel. Upon closer observation it was apparent that these support bars were only attached to the panels with thin double side self stick foam tape. No fasteners.

So, since the latching mechanism and thus the security of the Alloy Cover in protecting the contents of the truck bed relies on these support bars, this security is only from self stick foam tape. Forget the use of tools, anyone with strong hands could easily rip a panel up, leaving the rearmost latching support bar fully in place. Down to two stars. **

So I contact WeatherTech yesterday. I sent them photos with the complaint about this design flaw. They then asked for more photos, and then concluded that the rails are not straight. However the rails are merely clamped to the sides of the Maverick, there's little to know adjustment. The clamps are just that: clamps. They then said the foam tape I applied to keep the water out (something there design failed miserably at) was exacerbating the situation.

They won't do a thing. Down to ZERO stars. #weathertech

I would not recommend this tonneau to anyone, considering it is pretty costly. For a $1,000+ item made in the USA, and from a company otherwise respected for their rubber mats, their customer service is useless.

looks like they use 3M VHB tape.

 

[mdsalemi]

Some “security” huh?

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