Cedar Bakflip VP
10-16-2017, 10:43 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Cedar Bakflip VP
Last edited by depami; 10-16-2017 at 11:45 PM.
10-17-2017, 07:32 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
10-18-2017, 12:06 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I installed a BakFlip VP the day my new truck came home (4-22-2014). In June 2017 the panels started to delaminate and it was about to fall into the box. It lasted a little over three years so it's maybe designed for standard lease period. But I own my truck and intend to keep it seven more years. The VP has one year warranty, other BakFlips have three year.
Other than it falling apart, I loved everything about the VP but didn't relish nearly $800 to replace it after just three years so I attempted to repair it. First I was going to just replace the delaminated panel but realized that would have looked like crap so decided to completely rebuild it with cedar. I chose cedar because it's easy to work with and holds up quite well to weather and moisture. And besides, it looks really cool.
I must admit, the VP was really well built, except the POS foam core aluminum clad panels, and was a bear to disassemble. The worst part was removing adhesive from the parts that needed to be reused. Too bad the laminated panels weren't adhered as well as the rest of it.
I ordered new side and end seals but the hinges aren't available. I managed to get past the Customer Service gauntlet at BAK Industries and an engineer was willing to send hinge seals in exchange for pictures of my completed project. That is until they learned that I only wanted hinges and not hinge seals because I was going to cover the cedar with vinyl. Never heard from them again even after four attempts to contact them.
The original vinyl had some sort of padding backer and what I used doesn't so I hope it works OK. I'm concerned about how it will last after much folding at the seems over many open/close cycles. The reset of the parts, including hinges, should be just fine. It is all put back together with 3M body molding tape as was the original. I used adhesive promoter as per tape instructions and that stuff is really on there. I finished the cedar with wax free sanding sealer in hopes of a good surface that wouldn't peal for maximum adhesive grip. So far so good but only time will tell. The vinyl is adhered with contact cement.
I have less than $200 in materials but maybe $2000 in labor. Between thickness planing, joining, sanding the cedar and adhesive removal, I have a lot of time invested. If one could obtain all new parts it would be a breeze.
Would I do it again? Probably not. Do I regret doing it once? Definitely not.
Other than it falling apart, I loved everything about the VP but didn't relish nearly $800 to replace it after just three years so I attempted to repair it. First I was going to just replace the delaminated panel but realized that would have looked like crap so decided to completely rebuild it with cedar. I chose cedar because it's easy to work with and holds up quite well to weather and moisture. And besides, it looks really cool.
I must admit, the VP was really well built, except the POS foam core aluminum clad panels, and was a bear to disassemble. The worst part was removing adhesive from the parts that needed to be reused. Too bad the laminated panels weren't adhered as well as the rest of it.
I ordered new side and end seals but the hinges aren't available. I managed to get past the Customer Service gauntlet at BAK Industries and an engineer was willing to send hinge seals in exchange for pictures of my completed project. That is until they learned that I only wanted hinges and not hinge seals because I was going to cover the cedar with vinyl. Never heard from them again even after four attempts to contact them.
The original vinyl had some sort of padding backer and what I used doesn't so I hope it works OK. I'm concerned about how it will last after much folding at the seems over many open/close cycles. The reset of the parts, including hinges, should be just fine. It is all put back together with 3M body molding tape as was the original. I used adhesive promoter as per tape instructions and that stuff is really on there. I finished the cedar with wax free sanding sealer in hopes of a good surface that wouldn't peal for maximum adhesive grip. So far so good but only time will tell. The vinyl is adhered with contact cement.
I have less than $200 in materials but maybe $2000 in labor. Between thickness planing, joining, sanding the cedar and adhesive removal, I have a lot of time invested. If one could obtain all new parts it would be a breeze.
Would I do it again? Probably not. Do I regret doing it once? Definitely not.
10-18-2017, 12:21 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Last edited by depami; 10-18-2017 at 12:26 AM.
The following users liked this post:
Bubbabiker (10-19-2017)
10-18-2017, 06:10 AM
#7
Village Sociopath
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Nowhereville Barton City Michigan
Posts: 28,517
Received 10,052 Likes
on
6,499 Posts
Kudos on the ingenuity!
That looks good!! Is that aromatic cedar? Looks like it, but we know how photos can be.
That looks good!! Is that aromatic cedar? Looks like it, but we know how photos can be.
The following users liked this post:
depami (10-18-2017)
Trending Topics
10-18-2017, 08:03 AM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The following users liked this post:
johnday in BFE (10-18-2017)
10-18-2017, 08:24 AM
#9
Village Sociopath
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Nowhereville Barton City Michigan
Posts: 28,517
Received 10,052 Likes
on
6,499 Posts