HELP!!! Leaking bedrail is ruining my adventure scheme.

Hi all,

I haven't been able to find the right thread to sort this out so maybe you all can point me in the right direction.

So, unbeknownst to be, the latest Tacomas are known to be big bed leakers. This sucks because I bought my 2020 TRD Offroad DCLB for extended adventures, and despite numerous applications of silicone under the bedrails and tailgate seal, it's still leaking. I want to do a buildout but I don't want everything to get moldy, and it's leaky enough that there's no way to avoid that.

It's mostly leaking toward the back closest to the tailgates. Some people thought it was maybe coming up through the tailgate and I should put some kind of baffle in there. And like I said, the bed rails have a layer of silicone under them. Any other ideas? I'm so bummed because I've done a seat delete and an auxiliary battery and solar panel and it's so close to being a sweet ride. If I can't get the bed sealed though I don't know what I'm going to do...

Thank you so much for all your thoughts.

 

Have you looked at up from the bed to the underside of the bed rails? There’s an opening into the wheel well that could be where water/dust may be making it’s way into the bed. I used one of these openings to run the wires for my 3rd brake light.

 

For starters, what is mounted on the bed? Cap? Tonneau, Camper? Softtopper?

 

Probably coming from the bed cubbies.

 

A dark garage or nighttime and a bright flashlight might help you sort it. Get in the bed and have someone shine the light all around the outside - seal any bright spots you see.

 

The caps themselves have grooves that terminate into the bed in a few places. Those can be the source of water intrusion, or at least were for me when I had a hard cover. Now I have a topper / cap and it’s dry but the installers spent a lot of time installing….I know I saw the bed rail caps off for silicone and I don’t think water can get into the grooves of the rail caps as the rails are completely covered.

 

Rent a fog making machine. Stick it the box, turn it on and close it up. The smoke will tell you where you need to seal.

 

Eventually, when they get old enough, they stop bed leaking.

 

Get a thick spray in bed liner done. Good shops will work with you, if you tell them what your looking/trying to do.

 

If Tacomas were known to be bed leakers, you would have found a solution easily. Check the install(er).

 

This is how I was able to find all my suspect areas, mainly around the front. But getting the tailgate sealed up tight might not happen. Depends a lot on your tonneau cover.

 

200 IQ

 

Clean the bed and then drive it in the dirt for awhile. Inspect the back closely and you will find where its entering and then seal. May have to do again as they are leaky fuckers.