Reducing Water Intrusion in Bed...From the Exterior?

[Pic-N-Stick]

I've got the ARE shell on but haven't done anything to cut down on all the water that gets in. I do have the Digital Twin tailgate seal on order. Seems to me the front, top outside corners are the primary hole letting water in. Considering covering it with T-Rex waterproof tape in clear and silicone plugs in the smaller, round holes. I don't need it completely sealed, just trying to keep most of the water out. Thoughts??

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[embedded rock]

With the former Tacoma, I used Flex Seal tape. One month in CO/UT and it became a mess. Removed what I could and traded the Tacoma.

 

[OxygenMask]

There are nearly 100 holes total, nearly all of which can let water in.
(My F350 has 4! All unlikely to allow water in.)
I've read a ton and looked at dozens of pictures. Here's some good pictures - https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/water-leaks-from-bed-rail-caps.12872/

My plan is simple but pretty involved. Short version: I just ordered a bunch of various weatherstrips, some auto graphics tape, a 1 inch hole punch, some expanding foam strip seal, some 3/8" butyl rope, and some black eternabond tape. I intend to remove my bed rail caps, punch 100 1" dots of graphics film to put on all the holes in the whole bed. The holes on top of the rail that the rail caps clip into will get a ring of sticky butyl around them because punching the clips thru the tape will allow leaks, same for the front end of the rail cap to seal it from water blasting in while driving. I'll run a strip of foam tape along the inside top of the bed rail body front to back to stop water from going into the bed, leaving one spot in the rear for drainage overboard if needed. Use eternabond to seal the big holes in the upper front corners, inside and outside. Use eternabond under the "stake pocket" covers. A little clear silicone for a couple odd gaps inside the front corners where metal parts overlap badly. Some bits of 1/8" neoprene foam to seal a couple spots where I can see daylight where my tonneau front corners don't quite seal.

The tailgate is a marvel of disimprovement... I think I can put something together similar to the kits you can buy that will work better and definitely look better, for a lot less money.

 

[bigb]

With the ARE topper that the OP has I don't think the bed rails are going to leak. I also have an ARE, the sides of the ARE completely cover the bed rails plus they hang down quite a ways on the outside edge, below the bottom of the bed rails (the bed rails are not even visible).

The biggest improvement will be the tailgate kit and the two big holes in the front corners. The small holes can be plugged with a kit from Amazon, and the two big ones with silicone putty. See links below.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q2R7GML?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6K5K7JD?th=1

 

[Pic-N-Stick]

With the ARE topper that the OP has I don't think the bed rails are going to leak. I also have an ARE, the sides of the ARE completely cover the bed rails plus they hang down quite a ways on the outside edge, below the bottom of the bed rails (the bed rails are not even visible).

The biggest improvement will be the tailgate kit and the two big holes in the front corners. The small holes can be plugged with a kit from Amazon, and the two big ones with silicone putty. See links below.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q2R7GML?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6K5K7JD?th=1

Yes, I'm not concerned with the bed rails, and I have the grommet kit. Seems that most of the water getting in is from those top front corners. While cruising down the road water off the cab seems to be forced into those holes.

 

[bigb]

Yes, I'm not concerned with the bed rails, and I have the grommet kit. Seems that most of the water getting in is from those top front corners. While cruising down the road water off the cab seems to be forced into those holes.

The putty works but takes patience as it is hard to shape and doesn't really get very soft when you knead it, but if you have patience and strong fingers you can completely cover those 2 holes and it sticks good.

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