DIY Guide: Water & Dust Proofing Bed Rails for Pace Edwards Ultragroove Tonneau

[bigb]

I'm wondering if I should even do the bed rails. I'm getting a topper, not a tonneau and the topper actually has edges that hang down and cover the plastic bed rail protectors. I doubt any water could get in but maybe dust could.

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[jacksdad]

Added digital twin tailgate seal kit. Worked great. The only water intrusion from rear of bed resulted from opening tonneau and tailgate after extensive pressure washing. The front voids near the tonneau canister still need to be addressed.

 

[bigb]

@jacksdad have you had any luck with those two holes in the front bulkhead? I was looking at mine today and thinking about my plan to use Eternabond. Eternabond is pretty permanent and if you stick it down wrong pretty hard to adjust, and there's practically no room to work in there and it's a really odd shaped and multi level opening.

I came up with some other ideas. One is a 2 part epoxy like JB Weld SteelStik or Oatey Epoxy Putty that you can knead and shape into the hole, then it hardens.

I am also thinking about Nano Tape. It's a clear, thick tape about 1/8" thick and sticks really well yet is removeable. It's sticky on both sides though so would definitely attract some dirt.

There are also some moldable silicone putties on Amazon but not sure if they would retain their shape in heat and vibration as they do not harden.

 

[Dean Nelson]

@jacksdad , where you said, "The toughest clips are at the cab side of the bed. A combo of pry tools and flatheads helped work those free.", were you working those clips from under the top cap?

@jacksdad have you had any luck with those two holes in the front bulkhead? I was looking at mine today and thinking about my plan to use Eternabond. ..

I am thinking about expanding spray foam. I would need to be careful, though, and mask off any exterior surfaces in case I squirt too much.

 

[bigb]

@jacksdad , where you said, "The toughest clips are at the cab side of the bed. A combo of pry tools and flatheads helped work those free.", were you working those clips from under the top cap?




I am thinking about expanding spray foam. I would need to be careful, though, and mask off any exterior surfaces in case I squirt too much.

I ended up using this and so far it's working https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6K5K7JD?th=1

 

[Dean Nelson]

I ended up using this and so far it's working https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6K5K7JD?th=1

Did you just pack it on from the front?

 

[Rangerjimm]

Now that there are new lower profile bed caps on the 26's has anyone taken those off to see how they look on the underside? I cant believe Ford designed this bed like this. Never had this issue with 3 Dodge Rams I had with covers.

 

[bigb]

Did you just pack it on from the front?

Yes, I kneaded it then gradually pressed it into the opening from the front. My truck is white so it's not noticeable, would be hard to see in there anyway. One roll was exactly enough to do both sides.

 

[Rangerjimm]

Yes, I kneaded it then gradually pressed it into the opening from the front. My truck is white so it's not noticeable, would be hard to see in there anyway. One roll was exactly enough to do both sides.

You did this without removing the plastic bed caps, from the outside? Mine fit pretty tight to the body.

 

[jacksdad]

@jacksdad , where you said, "The toughest clips are at the cab side of the bed. A combo of pry tools and flatheads helped work those free.", were you working those clips from under the top cap?




I am thinking about expanding spray foam. I would need to be careful, though, and mask off any exterior surfaces in case I squirt too much.

pry tool between bed rail and bed cap, long flathead underneath bed rail to manipulate “clip”

 

[bigb]

You did this without removing the plastic bed caps, from the outside? Mine fit pretty tight to the body.

Yes, I just pushed it up under the front edge of the cap till the hole was completely covered, These are just the holes in the front of the bed, not under the bed rails. My bed rails don't leak because they are completely covered by my topper which even hangs over the outer edge of the bed rails enough that you can't even see them.

 

[Dean Nelson]

My truck is white so it's not noticeable...

Yep, I ordered black for my Shelter Green.

 

[Dean Nelson]

pry tool between bed rail and bed cap, long flathead underneath bed rail to manipulate “clip”

Ah, of course. that makes sense (now that my brain is functioning on caffeine).

 

[Dean Nelson]

That last freakin’ clip…

 

[Dean Nelson]

HA!

I was able to push the backside of that clip through the hole up by the bulkhead, using a “tool“ that I made out of some scrap metal in my garage.

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