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I'm pretty sure the bed was never designed to keep things dry and dust free. Even with a cover I have never seen a manufacturer selling a cover to keep all dust and moisture out--even with the tail gate seal--it helps keep the dust out but is not guaranteed. Most of them say that they keep your gear out of the elements --but since the bed itself is not watertight nor designed to be you got to expect there will be some dust, dirt and moisture that gets in. Those of us expecting and air tight seal might be expecting a little too much.
My last Ford truck was an 09. Back then, the sides and wheel wells were formed in a single sheet and it rolled a bit off the sides to meet the flat sheet of the bed. And the seam was caulked too. The only gap was at the base of the head board meeting the bed. With a cover, the bed was very dry and very little dust.
I'm sure there's reasons Ford left the bed with gaps. Aluminum has a thermal expansion way greater than steel. So you'll see the gap widen in the cold months of the year and narrow in the hot months. Bridging that gap will need a flexible sealant (elastometric like properties) that is compatible with aluminum and won't pull/push on the aluminum edges being joined. I'm not sure if such a sealant exists. Not sure if the force is something of concern or not.
Originally Posted by Danager
I leave Sunday for long road trip. We are headed to the Grand Canyon. I will have the bed full of stuff. I want to keep it as dry as possible and reasonably free of dust.
I sealed the sides of the bed, including over and around the wheel wells. I did leave the front edge alone. This will allow for water drainage.
I used a eurothane sealer. It filled all the gaps, is relatively rugged and flexible.
Sealing the gaps was my first thought but with aluminum body, going with totes makes more sense to me at this time.
I called rhino liners today and they told me to stop in and they will seal up all the cracks and rain drains free of charge and he said that I won't even be able to tell they were there. I think I got a lifetime warranty on my liner as long as I own the truck.
Stopped into rhino liners yesterday and they used a special black polyurethane caulk to fill in 2 water drains and small gaps around my wheel wells. Can't even tell it was done. Color Match is spot on and it was free because I have a lifetime warranty from them.
Now my bed is 95% completely water tight with tailgate seal and truxedo titanium tonno . Water does drain out where the bed meets the front bed panel and the 2 tailgate corners don't seal completely tight.
Stopped into rhino liners yesterday and they used a special black polyurethane caulk to fill in 2 water drains and small gaps around my wheel wells. Can't even tell it was done. Color Match is spot on and it was free because I have a lifetime warranty from them.
Now my bed is 95% completely water tight with tailgate seal and truxedo titanium tonno . Water does drain out where the bed meets the front bed panel and the 2 tailgate corners don't seal completely tight.
Few pics of the holes and small fender cracks sealed up.
Thanks for your input. ToughFX4. My plan is to use a polyurethane sealer. About $8.00 online. Made by Sika and its engineered for this use. I might open up the seam in the front corners slightly and not seal those 2 locations. Should act as drains similar to my 97'.
Thanks for your input. ToughFX4. My plan is to use a polyurethane sealer. About $8.00 online. Made by Sika and its engineered for this use. I might open up the seam in the front corners slightly and not seal those 2 locations. Should act as drains similar to my 97'.
That looks like the stuff they used. Your welcome.
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