My 2014 came with a stick on round weather strip running down sides and across the opening of the bed to seal the tailgate. Not sure when it was put on, perhaps when it was new and the tonneau cover was installed. Whoever installed it removed the rubber bumpers that the tailgate closes tight against in order to run the weatherstripping all the way up to the plastic bed rail covers.

The sides are still attached well however the whole bottom of the weatherstrip has fallen off and is floating loose. It appears when it was attached they positioned it so that it stuck slightly above the floor of the bed, which in my opinion is too high. Are tailgate seals even worth having? My recollection is they constantly need reattaching as this is what they do. I do have a tonneau cover and also a rubber bed mat so the openings in the floor are kind of covered at the seams and front corners. Water dripping in down the front and rear corners of the tonneau cover is pretty much inevitable, but some dust prevention would be nice. It seems having the tonneau cover and an unsealed tailgate collects more dust than an uncovered bed.

Basically I see four options:
1: Remove the seal entirely and reinstall the correct rubber bumpers for the tailgate and go without a seal like factory.
2: Try to reattach the existing seal, but slightly lower across the bottom so it’s not sticking up but still contacts the smooth lower edge of the tailgate.
3: Leave the sides and cut them about an inch or so in on the bottom corners, remove the bottom that’s loose and then use one of the big V shaped flat rubber seals across the bottom that sticks to the bed floor and the base of the tailgate.
4: Buy a new length of round weatherstrip and replace the whole existing seal to be the same as what’s on it now but new.

Thoughts?

 

Neither my 13 or 16 came with these seals, so I assume they were added on after the fact.

I would probably find something similar and replace it. Its 11 years old now, likely.

 

I defintley think they are worth it if you live on a dirt road or drive down them or dont want water getting into your bed. I got one for mine coming in soon!

 

It's an accessory kit Ford sells, 2016-2025 Ford Bed Tailgate Dust Seal VFL3Z-99404A06-A | Parts Apple Ford White Bear Lake

 

That price is comparable to aftermarket ones on Amazon. This fits 09-14 as well even though it says 16-25?

 

It's a funny listing. The parts catalog for 2016 says it fits from 10/20/14 through 10/22/20 and if I look it up for a 2023 it says it fits 10/12/20 and up. Appears to be a fairly generic kit and also points to Ford not changing box dimensions much in that time.

-Steve