Leaky Leer 100xr and those pesky bedside corners

I've been chasing leaks under a newish Leer 100xr. Quite frustrating since I spent a reasonable amount of time and care sealing under bedside caps and the cab side gaps.

Here's where the water is showing up: UNDER the edges (not the top).



It's been a fairly dry summer, but after observing the truck parked in on-off rain all weekend, finally have it narrowed down to this spot in the outer cab side corners.



First thought is just caulk the heck out of the gap from the outside, but no idea how to menuver a caulk gun onto such an awkward spot.

Anybody have a suggestion?

@BertTRD, tagging you in since you were dealing with the same issue recently.

 

I just got fixing the same issue. I have an ARE canopy.

You can and do have to caulk the corners and you can reach in there with the tip of a caulk tube/gun and your finger however, that alone won't fix the leak entirely.

The canopy needs to come all the way off first. Afterward, remove the bed rail caps and the rail at the front of the bed. The side rail caps gently pull off, and the rail at the front of the bed is held on with 5 screws.

The ends of the rail at the front of the bed have square plastic/foam caps, and water seeps around and through them. You will need to remove these plastic/foam caps (they just pull out) and caulk around them before inserting them back in the ends of the head rail. When you re-install the head rail, you will need to put a generous bead of caulk on the front edge (that faces the cab).

After removing the side bed rail caps, you will also need to caulk underneath and around every hole that you will see in the bed after you remove the caps.

Before resetting the canopy, apply a generous amount of caulk at the corners shown in your photo. You can neatly spread the caulk after resetting the canopy.

If it sounds daunting, it is not. If you have one or two people to help you lift off and reset the canopy, it will take about an hour.

You will have to inspect and may have to replace the weather strip around the edge of your canopy. I replaced mine and purchased the replacement on Amazon. I used 1/4" thick by 2" wide although if I had to do it again, I'd use 1/8" thick. If you buy new weather strip, make sure it is waterproof. Not all weather strip is waterproof.

Get two tubes of high-quality caulk. I like and use a product called Big Stretch. I used the clear which goes on white but dries clear.

One last thing, I suggest you use three clamps per side.

Somewhere in the archives of TW or on YouTube is a video that shows most if not all of what I described. Holler if you have questions.

 

I was able to pack rope caulk in corners by hand when i had a shell. There are a LOT of places for water to get in though.

 

Thanks so much! Rope caulk or a foam backer skimmed w silicone should work well and I’ve got just barely enough room to get a finger in there to do the job. Much appreciated!

Fortunately I had picked up tips on water sealing around TW and completed the front and side rail sealing prior to having the cap installed. Appears to be holding well. Only major leak appears to be from the TOP of the black plastic side rail caps and then somehow over or under the bulb seal.

Attached a pic with what I think the water path is (blue), the area it’s infiltrating thru (red), and areas that appear to be sealed just fine (green). Definitely worth the hour or two to pull the caps and seal everything up prior to adding a cap.



Thanks again for the tips gang! I’ll let you know how it works out.

B