What's wrong with my tonneau cover?

I hate to be this particular, but I can't help but notice the front third of my Rugged Liner II tonneau cover is angled a bit. It seems to be point upward at the front end. My first instinct was that the dealer tightened it down too tight, but After messing with the adjustments, I could not get it to flatten out. It's driving me nuts because I always look at it. Additionally, it is creating a gap that is letting water seep in through the front. I hate to waste time and go to the dealer to tell them to fix it if it's something I can do in 15 minutes...

 

Someone else had this issue before.

Seems like the design was bad IIRC, like the bed rail against the cab was taller than the side rails or something like that.

 

It's almost as if there is too much of a weather strip on the front end of the cover, although, they may have installed it incorrectly..

 

Please disregard everyone, I looked on their website, it was installed incorrectly. Great job Toyota Fort Walton Beach!

 

What was the issue specifically? I have a 2016 TRD OR DCSB, and I'm experiencing the same issue, except it's both the front and back panels on mine. I've already taken my cleats off, still the same issue. I've already pushed it down snug and got the second "click". And ideas?

 

If it makes you feel any better it could have been installed at the port and not at the dealer.

 

Haven't messed with mine yet, but the instructions on rugged liner's website suggest that the front weather strip has to be "un-curled" and lay "flat" along the seam between the truck bed and tonneau. Mine is curled under itself which would create too much height when tightened down. I believe if this is happening in front and back, yours will need to be moved forward to be more flush with the front of the truck bed so there is no pressure pushing upward on the backend weather strip from the tailgate when it is closed.

 

Yep, what he said ^^
The cab side is a touch higher than the sides, but you do have to unfurl the dust cover (I think they call it), then it sits snug.

You have to remove the 2 locking nuts on the back bolts by the cab side, in order to get it to lock down correctly (you can add them back after you lock it down).

The side rails have a raised pattern to them, so at the two back corners (cab side) there is a slight gap. In the box there are four sticky pads, used for different truck mounts. I used those to stick in those corners which basically sealed those up.

As for the tailgate dust cover, I don't how to uncurl that one as every time you open the tailgate it will revert back. It's not an issue for me. I could take pics of things if someone needs them.

 

Have you guys had your Rugged cover shift to one side on you? Noticed mine was shifted like a whole inch to the right over the weekend. I was doing some offroad driving, so not sure if the bumping & shaking caused it?

I'll also look at that dust cover thing....mine sits a wee higher in the front.

 

Here's where I made my discovery. More to come...

 

Yep, that's it

 

No shifting, but there was a thread a few weeks back where a pro had knocked out his back windows because he went off roading and his hard cover shifted and hit a window

Any crazy off roading I would remove my cover every time just in case. I think the back windows were wait listed and out of stock too

 

Pics in case they help someone down the line..

 

Mine sits a bit better, but there's still a little dip on the trailing edge of the forward third. It's hard to know how much is too much when tightening the main bolts up front, but I'm being too picky and paranoid....

 

I couldn't tighten my front (tailgate) bolts. They were super tight and I thought I'd break the rails if I closed them. I didn't see how I could even close them to be honest. (You also have to remove the cab side locking nuts from the bolts to get it clamp down).

I contacted Rugged Linerz and they sent me 2 cab side bolts that easily swapped in for the tailgate bolts. The cab side bolts are 0.25" longer. That made ALL the difference. It fixed my issue and got my tailgate locks to close with room to spare.

Dealers install these covers by the thousands, and I believe they don't use the cab locking nuts. Rugged told me the foam should also compress a little over time.

Maybe it was just me, but Rugged were great at addressing my concern. I'd happily buy it again on my next truck.. but I love my Pro and that's not going to happen

Edit.. I meant remove the cab side locking nuts..

 

I meant to say, mine is flush all around.
It seals great, but those cab corners had that tiny gap due to the plastic rail topper having grooves that don't don't let it sit completely flush only in those corners.

You can see I used two of the in box sticky pads per corner, and cut off the excess. I'm sure water might get in somewhere, but for me it's 'Problem' fixed.

 

Aaaah, a fellow Pro'er who liked the look of the Rugged on a Pro.

I'd be much interested in those bolts. Feels like mine are like 1 turn away from totally unscrewing.

 

Yep. I didn't get mine fitted at the factory / dealer but special ordered it a week after I had my truck delivered, so I couldn't return it. I didn't want to break something by me installing it incorrectly

I unscrewed my tailgate bolts completely off the handles on the very first go just trying to make them long enough to lock (new truck... didn't want to damage the precious). I didn't think of them being short / close fitting.

A support call and a some pics in an email confirmed I was installing it correctly.

I bet you'll be much happier with the longer cab bolts on the tailgate side

 

Definitely think this will help. I will call them tomorrow! Thanks!

 

Just called rugged and they told me since I got the cover through a dealership, that they cannot help me because they are under contract....