Am I expecting too much from a tonneau cover?

For the 2011 Tacoma I installed an Access Original roll up tonneau cover. It took me a couple of hours but it worked fine. Hardly any water ever got in.

When I got the 2021 Tacoma I didn't feel like installing it my self so I took it to an Access dealer where I bought the Laredo Cover and had them install it.
First trip through the car wash and the entire bed was drenched.
My install 11 years ago never leaked like that.
Am I expecting too much from it?

 

Yes and no. Different brands, different installers, different decades. So if you're expecting the former to perform just like the latter. Yes, your expecting too much. However; no it shouldn't be hardcore leak fest in the bed, some drippage sure. Maybe a faulty install? Did they use the provided weather stripping or was any provided at all? Have you contacted the installer? Verified all components were properly used from the manufacturer?

 

Actually it was the same manufacture, Access, just a different model. To tell you the truth the two covers look identical.
It was their authorized dealer that did the install and it looked like they used all the required parts. I will probably take it back to have it looked at.

 

I'd inquire were you had it installed. A quick re-adjustment may do the trick.Of course you could also tackle it.

 

I have a Bakflip G2 that was installed by the shop that sold it to me. During one of our Florida downpours it will have some leakage by the tailgate, but that's pretty much it. I don't go through car washes but the guy I use to do my detailing uses a pressure washer on the lowest setting to soap and rinse. That would be pretty much equivalent to a car wash spray I would think, and there is no leakage like you're describing. Basically the same as when it rains hard. I agree with Tocamo, check with the folks who installed it and see if this is normal for the type of cover you purchased.

 

I have a bakflip g2 as well i fully expect to get some water in from carwashes and rain, i think the only kind of tonneau i would expect complete dryness from is fiberglass that overhangs the edges of the bed. I even hd small amounts of water in my bed when i had a canopy on my chevy.

 

The difference between the front rail on the 2nd Gen (non-existent) and the gapped, mismatched front rail on the 3rd Gen can certainly create issues. Note that car washing (home or automatic) is about the worst case scenario other than rallying through standing water.

It really depends where the water is actually coming in at, but it can be sealed up pretty easily.

The first place to work on with your Taco is the front corners. 5min with some silicone will straighten that out. If water is coming in the sides, between the metal fender and composite bed, then a bit of work can be done under the rail caps.

Of course, there are tailgate gap seals also.

Once I got my setup sealed, I installed 3/16in plug buttons in the front drain holes. Mainly for me, it is about dust when wheeling.

 

I installed a Truxedo that I expected it to be fairly dry. In rain, water gets in from all angles. Luckily the stuff in the center is dry because it runs down the bed and under the bed mat.

 

I think it has a lot to do with how the Gen 3 bed is designed. You might need to get weather strip and put it in the cracks that allow water in by the front of the bed.

I bought a bed mat and all the water that gets in on mine goes under the mat and keeps everything else dry.

 

My BakFlip4 installers put some sealant in gaps in the bed, near the corner and behind the cab. They said the cover will not be waterproof, more like water resistant.

 

My BakFlip G2 leaks a decent amount, but I wouldn't consider it extreme. After a hard rain, the first 12" near the tailgate get damp/wet. Otherwise pretty much dry. It's 95% water tight, and I'm 95% happy.

 

This or similar is a great solution for that:

$50 ESI ROK Block 4.25" Width Tailgate Gap Cover and Ultimate Tailgate Seal with Taper Seal 6ft for Sidewalls

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R8KBV9Y

 

I have a cheap soft tonneau cover from Amazon. The tyger brand. My bed is barely wet after a car wash. A few drops get in but otherwise my bed is perfectly dry.

 

Got a RuggedLiner II hard tonneau. Even in the hardest of FL storms, I only get a few drips and drops down the side/back of the bed, which go under the bed mat. On road trips, I've never had an issue with luggage or anything else in the back getting wet.

That said, I do keep a large plastic bin from Home Depot in the bed for things I want to stay bone-dry and free of dirt (and organized), like jackets and such.

 

My BakFlip4 does what it is supposed to do, keeps whatever is in the bed in the bed and away from
prying eyes, and does a pretty good job of keeping water out, but not 100%. Then again I'm not
storing anything in there that can't get wet. If I do, it'll go into a dry bag.

 

Idk, about any aftermarket tonneau covers leaking, but a can tell you after a 1 1/2 years owning the manufactures tonneau cover on my 2020, it seals extremely well. We had the tropical storm ida recently dump over 1/2 ft of rain on us. Checking the next day the bed inside was dry , not one drop.

 

Weird. I installed a Truxedo Lo Pro and, aside from the tailgate area, it stays bone dry in the rain. It stays dry through car washes too, again except for the tailgate area.

I had the same type of tonneau cover on my 2003 Ranger with the same results. Zero complaints.

 

A lot of leaks have more to to with the way your bed is put together by the factory. Like @tonered said above, the front rail can vary from being flush to almost sticking up 1/2".

Also when I was shopping for mine, (Truxedo Sentry CT) there were a lot of negative review here on TW about it not sitting flat. They went back and modified the design to account for the little jog in the bed rail cap by the tailgate.

They almost all have supplemental instructions for the Tacoma, maybe the shop just kind of winged the install.

 

Mine let's in a little water but not enough to stress about. I've had it loaded up with luggage driving to the beach in pouring rain and everything stayed dry, just get some dripping down the sides but it all goes under the bed cover anyways

 

Does anyone have a back rack with a role up tonneau on a 2nd gen thanks