Bakflip MX4 Prelim Review

So, I've been stalking this thread for a while, was on and off the fence about buying the BakFlip MX4, reading about the leaking issues and various solutions, but pulled the trigger and bought it anyway. It leaks a little but I will address that when its warmer with some silicone. Anyway, I wanted to share my approach to the drain installation.

I went to Home Depot and purchased the following items:


Here is what the assembly looks like when it's together.



I got out my creeper and looked under the rear fender and checked out the bed. I did the reach test. Stretched out my arm to see where I could reach to tighten the plastic insulating bushing. Went back on the inside of the bed and using some blue painter's tape and marked the location to drill.


I drilled roughly below the drain in the MX4 so the tube connecting the cover drain to the installed drain would be more or less straight.


But BE CAREFUL! If you drill too close to the front of the bed, you will hit a bed mounting point! You can see how close this is with this under fender picture.


After I drilled, I stopped short of making the hole too big, I used a rat tail file to make the fit nice and tight.


Then, I took the 90 degree combination elbow with the half inch conduit lock nut, minus the plastic insulating bushing,


and put it in the drilled hole. Here is a pic of it poking out the other side.


I cut the tubing to fit tightly between the MX4 drain tube and my installed drain tube. Slid the tubing on both ends. I don't have a pic of that, but you will see the completed install pic at the end of the post. Now this is where you need a friend's help. Someone needs to sit in the bed and hold the drain assembly while you tighten the plastic insulating bushing on the outside of the bed.


Once the plastic insulating bushing it tight, you need to hold that while someone on the inside of the bed tightens the conduit lock nut. This will hold everything in place.


Once tightened this is the final product.


It fits snugly on the elbow and slightly loose on the MX4 drain but, there's no actual water pressure so it's not a problem and with the tubing cut to the proper length, it won't be moving.

Oh yea, and you have to do the same for the other side.

I hope you found this useful.

 

Couple of things, posted starting here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ur-tonneau-cover.451438/page-17#post-14504434

 

So here are some pictures of my Bakflip Mx4 install. The install was pretty normal and I used to build Lexus RX 350s at the plant here in Cambridge Ontario - so I'm not only well trained in tools, but also very familiar with the Toyota way. In other words, not a rookie when it comes to working with vehicles...

I purchased one of these covers because I truly think they are the best looking cover out there, but SERIOUSLY the water leaking is enough to drive someone crazy. I don't expect a cover to be 100% waterproof right out of the box, but honestly there should be an expectation to at least keep MOST of the weather off your gear.

Here is a picture (or few) of the leaking after 30 seconds of running a garden hose on top.

Has ANYONE had any luck doing anything other than silicone to get these things to stop leaking so profusely?

 

Weather seal the rails worked fairly well still some leakage during down pours. see @tekoma

 

What's wrong with some silicone? Works great.

 

Does silicone ever rub off the plastic if I ever want to take rails off.

 

It should come off, take a little work though. Use a plastic scraper should do it without scratching things. The tape on the foam seal would probably leave a bigger mess I'd guess.

 

Foam is on actual metal cap rail. Not truck.

I'm just assuming all these are not waterproof. I'm just trying to minimize the water coming in.

I'm not transporting anything that needs to be waterproof. Just annoyed all these caps are not doing anything to address the rail gaps which are causing the leaks.

 

A one piece lid like the Undercover Elite or SE would keep more water out I would think. Wished I would of spent $500 to $600 more and bought one. My TruXedo Lo Pro only gets water coming in at all 4 corners but not the sides.

 

Problem with the one piece is that you have to know what your transporting before you get there

 

@Somegreatwood where did you end up placing your drain tubes? Pics?

 

I don't haul anything unless I move so a lid would work great for me.

 

In the recommended spots into the factory drain holes. I purchased a brass hose barb from Home Depot and it basically fit right into both openings. It was a 1/4"ID x 3/8" MIP. The barb screwed right in to a tight fit, but I added a little silicone to the threads just because...

 

@Somegreatwood many have used this method. I simply wonder how much that pinhole will hold up... Mine gets enough eater through the hose... Try it out. Doesn't seem that big of a deal to make hole slightly larger...

check out @tekomas post it really helped. I think page 7 of this thread.

 

So MX4 installed and I have a quick question. After closing the tailgate when I push down the last bakflip section it requires a bit of pressure to lock into place. Would you say this is normal after install, or normal all the time or not normal?
Mine is pushed all the way forward, same pressure required after resetting the placement and re-tigthening the knobs. I'm assuming it is the fit of the seal agains the tailgate but wanted to see what others experienced.

 

Mine takes a little force to lock it into place so it lines up with the bed. I also installed the pop & lock and it's awesome! Works with the remote.

 

My cover locks in place pretty effortlessly. If i drop the last section from a vertical position it will latch, no need to push down on it.

 

I believe I miss understood you. I always drop the Backflip down first with the tailgate open. I can drop it from only 2" or 3" and it clicks shut effortlessly. Then I close the tailgate with some force to name sure it's securely closed.

 

Thanks for the reply, perhaps I misunderstood the directions. I thought you have tailgate closed and Then drop the bakflip cover into place.. (that is what I've been doing)....

 

NP, Rule of thumb, always close the tailgate last and walk away...then lock it with the pop n lock using your remote!