Looking for advice from folks that have installed a BakFlip MX4--lots of YouTube videos, and some really good threads here, but wondering if folks could weigh in on the one or two things they learned during the install that they'd want to pass along a a tip...or something that didn't work the way they wanted, and if they had it to do over, they'd use a different technique.

What did you learn by doing that the videos/threads didn't teach you?

ALSO--I'm doing a BedRug along with the BakFlip and wondering:
a) Should I install the BedRug first, or the BakFlip first?
b) What's the best way to deal with the drain tubes? Slide behind the bed rug? Leave a space and not attach some velcro, or??

Any thoughts?

 

I put the same bakflip and bedrug in mine. I did the bedrug first, only because it came in the mail first. As of now, I have the bedrug pulled back where the drain tubes enter the bed stake pockets. I may cut a hole for the tube eventually to make it look better.

The bakflip was fairly simple to install. Only tip I'm aware of is make sure you don't over tighten the two bolts against the front of the bed that stick through the bottom of the bakflip. They can pinch and crease the cover permanently. Also, I cut the adhesive bumpers into a few small sections where it folds against the cab. More evenly distributed I guess.

Edit: Just realized you have another thread for the bedrug, I'll put the rest of my comment in there.

 

Bak Industries seems to use a hard spacer strip along the inside of the rail to compensate for the angle of the bed rails. When I tried to install them with the spacer the whole rail sate at a 45degree angle downward. My bedrails are almost exactly vertical so I don't see the point of the spacers.

install info

recent install

 

There are some little hand tighten nuts you use to lock in the arms that hold the cover up when you're driving with the cover leaned against the back window. When you're driving with cover down you don't really need those to be tightened as they're not doing anything...

Tighten them anyways! One of mine vibrated off and I lost it, it took almost 2 months, maybe 30 phone calls, and 1 complaint to the better business bureau before I received a replacement for that little ****.

For the record I wasn't even trying to get it for free, the first phone call I paid for it, the order just got ignored over and over again.

Also in response to the guy above me, those hard strip spacers need to come off before install, doesn't say that in the instructions but if you call them they'll tell you, very easy to remove.

 

Hmmm...hard strip is installed at the factory, specifically for F150...so if they were put on at the factory, I'm surprised they want them removed? Can anyone clarify?

 

The spacer is pre-installed and stays on. You'll know it's right if the rails sit flat. Don't overtighten the hardware for the rails and make sure the clamps are evenly spaced to distribute weight. Finally, when installing the cover, slide it toward the tailgate so that it almost meets first raised slot. I get no leaks with it in this position!

 

The factory wants them installed, but it made the cover completely disfunctional on my 2016. I had to remove it to make it work.

 

my side rails plastic Ford covers are almost completely vertical. The spacers made the Bak rails sit wrong up against them. I had to remove or the cover did not fit, whatever the factory is doing. this picture is the MX4 rails installed WITHOUT the spacer:



It was angled down 45+ degrees with the spacer in place and the ***** couldn't be installed.

the MX4 rail is flush and vertical without the spacer:

 

I did the MX4 and Bed Rug install at the same time. I did the bed rug first and the one thing I would suggest is making the cut outs for the MX4 drain tubes before putting the bed rug panels in. I had to go back and pull the bed rug out to access the plugs.

I also recall the spacers were needed if you had a drop in bed liner or not.

 

I've had my MX-4 for just over a year now.

After purchasing and installing the cover, I called the 'support' line to inform them that the pre-installed spacers make the rail angle completely wrong. Almost a 45 degree angle downwards. They told me, and I quote: "You should have had the cover installed by an authorized dealer by a trained technician". It was unbelievable how ARROGANT they were on the phone. Didn't matter how many different ways I tried to explain what was wrong, including sending them pictures of the rails, they just kept insisting that a 'qualified tech' should have installed it.

Long story short, if you have any issues with the cover, you'll be pretty much on your own. Their customer service is a big fat 0 and the guys in 'service' don't have a clue about the products they sell.