Sealing up the front corners of my topper

While the topper is off being repainted I wanted to take the time seal of the front corners which have always leaked from day 1.

The place that installed it claims it is due to the gap in between the front bed rail and the two side rails which also sit at different heights. They even tried doubling up on the weather stripping yet it still always leaked in those front corners.

So with it off, I see the gap (pic below) and was thinking of running a bead of silicone on top of the rail, to fill the gap, as well as along the front side (between the bed and cab) to fill the gap there.

Would that stop water from leaking in front there?

Is this a brilliant idea or one of the dumbest things you've ever read?

 

I did that to mine and it stopped the corner leaks. So i say it is a terrific idea!

 

Did you lay a bead of silicone on the inside of the bed or just the top and outside like I mentioned?

 

I laid a bead from the inside of the bed around to the outside then smoothed it out with my finger working it inside the gap

 

thanks man.

can't wait to see if this helps

 

Im sure it will. I also run a 1/2 thick seal on the front of my shell to make up for the slight height difference.

 

Yeah they just doubled up the weather stripping on that front rail. Didn't work apparently.

But maybe with the silicone in the gap it will this time

Just sucks... always had to keep gear in dry bags.

 

Will do. I'll update this thread once the topper is back on.

 

Mine is a 2nd gen, but a similar height difference exists.

When they installed my topper, they used some kind of black putty looking stuff in those corners. I haven't noticed any leaking, and I've been through car washes, thunderstorms and plenty of snow.

I'll have to see what it looks like when my topper comes off. On my old truck I would remove and replace the topper at least once or twice a year it seems, but I haven't had the need to remove this one yet.

I'll get out of the 1st gen section now.....

 

My cap dealer put a couple of pieces of thin foam in the corners and they've never leaked. The only issue I have with them is they migrate over time (as in the pic) and I have to re-seat them. The silicone sounds like a good idea.