Does your Bakflip bed cover leak like mine????
03-17-2012, 10:00 PM
#1
Does your Bakflip bed cover leak like mine????
*Edit: See page 2 for some pics showing the issues and more info.....
I did a fair amount if research before buying a folding bed cover, for my new '11 SCab 6.5' XLT. I decided to order the new Bakflip Fibermax cover, due to all the available info, and videos on the Bakflip line, that I had seen on the net. Fibermax is basically a G2 cover with the FRP top layer (like the F1) instead of aluminum (like the G2 has).
I ordered it about 3-4 weeks ago, and it came promptly, and although the instructions were a bit too vague (they cover non specific models), the install went fairly well, and the function of the cover was nice. I was mostly happy with it, and was excited to have this new found versatility, over my old truck, that had no cover.
Well, that was until today, the first time the truck has been rained on. We took the truck to my son's birthday party, and before it was over, it rained on the parked truck, fairly steady, but for only about 10-15 minutes.
When I got home, I was unloading his gifts and left over food, and noticed how wet the items got. There was water on my rubber bed mat at both front corners, both rear corners, along both sides of the bed, and even in the middle of the bed in a couple spots, where the rubber hinges run side to side, across the bed.
I understand that Bak Industries claims the covers are water resistant (they describe in the FAQ's that its "designed to keep in excess of 98% of water out of your truck bed", and "BakFlip covers are very watertight, but not guaranteed against very minor drips here or there"), but mine seems excessive. I can understand (and could live with) a few drips at the corners, especially at the rear, as the tailgate is going to let a little water in at the sides. But, for it to be very wet in many areas to include the center of the bed, after a 15 minute rain, how wet would the bed be after an hour or two, or more, in the rain???? This not what I would call water resistant, and not how the product was described by the company, in my opinion.
As far as it being properly installed, yes it is...I don't think there is a person on earth that would have done it any more meticulously or precisely, than I did. I am very mechanically inclined, and sort of OCD about my trucks and working on them, and I was very careful, in fitting and measuring placement, at every step of the process. The only part that didn't look quite right to me, were the factory installed side rail shims (which the instructions said that I needed to install, but were already attached), as they seemed to tilt the side rails downward a little too much. But, if anything this condition may actually help hold the side seal flap down a bit tighter, thus aiding in keeping water out.
I know, I need to contact the vendor, then the company. Yes, I am going to do that. But, my question for you folks: Do your Bakflip covers leak like this, or is mine defective somehow? Please provide your input if you own a Bakflip cover. I ask here, because I don't know if I want to waste my time shipping this one back for a replacement, if the replacement is just going to do the same thing, on our model of trucks. And if it is learned that this level of leakage is normal for this cover, I will definitley ask for my money back, because this one is not what I, or any other reasonable person, would consider "a few drips". Your input will help me decide what direction to take with this. Its unfortunate that is leaks so much...I was thrilled with the looks, function, and versatility of this cover.
It does look nice:
I did a fair amount if research before buying a folding bed cover, for my new '11 SCab 6.5' XLT. I decided to order the new Bakflip Fibermax cover, due to all the available info, and videos on the Bakflip line, that I had seen on the net. Fibermax is basically a G2 cover with the FRP top layer (like the F1) instead of aluminum (like the G2 has).
I ordered it about 3-4 weeks ago, and it came promptly, and although the instructions were a bit too vague (they cover non specific models), the install went fairly well, and the function of the cover was nice. I was mostly happy with it, and was excited to have this new found versatility, over my old truck, that had no cover.
Well, that was until today, the first time the truck has been rained on. We took the truck to my son's birthday party, and before it was over, it rained on the parked truck, fairly steady, but for only about 10-15 minutes.
When I got home, I was unloading his gifts and left over food, and noticed how wet the items got. There was water on my rubber bed mat at both front corners, both rear corners, along both sides of the bed, and even in the middle of the bed in a couple spots, where the rubber hinges run side to side, across the bed.
I understand that Bak Industries claims the covers are water resistant (they describe in the FAQ's that its "designed to keep in excess of 98% of water out of your truck bed", and "BakFlip covers are very watertight, but not guaranteed against very minor drips here or there"), but mine seems excessive. I can understand (and could live with) a few drips at the corners, especially at the rear, as the tailgate is going to let a little water in at the sides. But, for it to be very wet in many areas to include the center of the bed, after a 15 minute rain, how wet would the bed be after an hour or two, or more, in the rain???? This not what I would call water resistant, and not how the product was described by the company, in my opinion.
As far as it being properly installed, yes it is...I don't think there is a person on earth that would have done it any more meticulously or precisely, than I did. I am very mechanically inclined, and sort of OCD about my trucks and working on them, and I was very careful, in fitting and measuring placement, at every step of the process. The only part that didn't look quite right to me, were the factory installed side rail shims (which the instructions said that I needed to install, but were already attached), as they seemed to tilt the side rails downward a little too much. But, if anything this condition may actually help hold the side seal flap down a bit tighter, thus aiding in keeping water out.
I know, I need to contact the vendor, then the company. Yes, I am going to do that. But, my question for you folks: Do your Bakflip covers leak like this, or is mine defective somehow? Please provide your input if you own a Bakflip cover. I ask here, because I don't know if I want to waste my time shipping this one back for a replacement, if the replacement is just going to do the same thing, on our model of trucks. And if it is learned that this level of leakage is normal for this cover, I will definitley ask for my money back, because this one is not what I, or any other reasonable person, would consider "a few drips". Your input will help me decide what direction to take with this. Its unfortunate that is leaks so much...I was thrilled with the looks, function, and versatility of this cover.
It does look nice:
Last edited by Jimbo45; 03-21-2012 at 12:00 AM.
03-17-2012, 10:39 PM
#4
Senior Member
my Bak HD is 3 years old and doesn't leak a drop. Did you install weatherstripping along the front bed rail? Because there is a gap there since the front bed rail (immediately behind the rear window) sits slightly lower than the factory side bed rails.
as far as along the sides, the rail shim may be the issue, and maybe you need a thicker one? Here's one tip I've seen before from Bakflip:
If the BakFlip is leaking where the cover meets the side rail, it is 99% of the time a result of the rail not being close enough to the side of the cover. The result is that instead of the water travelling along the hinge and dumping into the drain gutters in your side rails, the rain is dumping out of the hinge short of the drain gutters. The solution is simply to position a larger shim along the side rails, thereby causing the rails to sit further inwards and closer to the side edge of the cover. This usually settles leakage issues as described.
Contact Bakflip and they should send you the larger shims at no charge.
as far as along the sides, the rail shim may be the issue, and maybe you need a thicker one? Here's one tip I've seen before from Bakflip:
If the BakFlip is leaking where the cover meets the side rail, it is 99% of the time a result of the rail not being close enough to the side of the cover. The result is that instead of the water travelling along the hinge and dumping into the drain gutters in your side rails, the rain is dumping out of the hinge short of the drain gutters. The solution is simply to position a larger shim along the side rails, thereby causing the rails to sit further inwards and closer to the side edge of the cover. This usually settles leakage issues as described.
Contact Bakflip and they should send you the larger shims at no charge.
Last edited by SteveVFX4; 03-17-2012 at 10:44 PM.
03-17-2012, 10:49 PM
#7
my Bak HD is 3 years old and doesn't leak a drop. Did you install weatherstripping along the front bed rail? Because there is a gap there since the front bed rail (immediately behind the rear window) sits slightly lower than the factory side bed rails.
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Contact Bakflip and they should send you the larger shims at no charge.
-------
Contact Bakflip and they should send you the larger shims at no charge.
I will keep the extra shims in mind, and look tomorrow to see how far the sides of the panels are from the rails. IIRC, they are pretty close as it sits now.
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03-17-2012, 10:56 PM
#8
Master Gunner
Never heard of the Fibermax so I'm not sure if that's a newer Bakflip design, but my F1 barely leaks at all (just a few drops now and then), and I didn't even install the front rubber seal (I've been meaning to do it, but just keep forgetting about it...)
03-18-2012, 01:03 AM
#10
Beer Gut Extraordinaire
Only through the tailgate step creases. Otherwise I'm very happy with it seeing as it doesn't look like it's designed to keep out water being flat and not extending over the bedrails. Awesome cover, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.