Posted: 9/22/2026 10:50:46 PM EDT
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I’ve owned trucks before, but never had a tonneau cover. I installed a rough country roll up hard cover the other day on my new truck and it seems to be fitting fine. I wanted to see how waterproof it was, so I put paper along the edge of the bed, closed the cover and sprayed the hell out of it with the hose. I waited for the outside to dry before opening it and as you can see all along the edges got wet. Is this normal for a tonneau cover? I will admit I really did spray a lot where the cover sits on the bed. Not sure if that made a difference, but this seems like a lot of water. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Depends on which way the water channels empty. Mine empties rail to the cab end out hoses through the bed sides. If truck is kinda leaning water goes in by tail gate and goes around the edges of the bed. I have indoor outdoor carpet cut in sections so i have pull outs & slid ins for my shooting boxes of equipment. Keeps my stuff out of any damp areas. |
| I've probably had 5 different Tonneau Covers over the years and, with the exception of the original fiberglass one that curved over the edges of the bed, they all have leaked to some degree. It seems to be par for the course for anything that's not a one piece cover. |
“Purse swinging conspiracy nuts ruin every good thread here.“
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Foldable, rollable, collapsible covers all leak to some degree. Also different truck bed designs leave gaps that covers don't cover at all (like between the vertical openings of the tailgate. The amount of water you show, especially against a hose is super normal. Unless you're transporting something that just can't get a drop of water on it, you'll be fine. A rubber bed mat also helps, as it elevates objects away from the bed bottom, allowing the water to go under it. |
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Originally Posted By PVTPablo: Foldable, rollable, collapsible covers all leak to some degree. Also different truck bed designs leave gaps that covers don't cover at all (like between the vertical openings of the tailgate. The amount of water you show, especially against a hose is super normal. Unless you're transporting something that just can't get a drop of water on it, you'll be fine. A rubber bed mat also helps, as it elevates objects away from the bed bottom, allowing the water to go under it. This here. I’ve got a tri-fold cover, and it keeps out probably >95% of water. The bed mat is key so your stuff doesn’t sit in the 5% of water that does get in. I’ve been on countless road trips in driving rain, and never had an issue with stuff like luggage getting wet beyond a few drops. Things that have to stay absolutely bone dry go in a big Rubbermaid I keep in the bed, in the cab, or in a garbage bag. |
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Originally Posted By Mobjack: Diamondback is buy once, cry once. The only water I get in mine is a little around the tailgate. I just need to install the tailgate seal, but it isn't much water. I have a Diamondback and like you surprisingly little water gets in. But I have no illusions about it being 100% waterproof. |
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I’ve got just a shitty Tyger tri-fold tonneau on my Tundra and it doesn’t leak at all. It’s been there, three years maybe? The one before was there almost 8 and didn’t leak either. |
You should move to the right lane, where the rule of vehicle and traffic law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and the left lane is the land of wolves now.
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Originally Posted By ShortyAK: I've probably had 5 different Tonneau Covers over the years and, with the exception of the original fiberglass one that curved over the edges of the bed, they all have leaked to some degree. It seems to be par for the course for anything that's not a one piece cover. This. They arent waterproof. |
-Women should always wear tight clothes and men should carry powerful handguns
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Originally Posted By nisa715: Thanks all for the feedback. I've never owned one, so just wasn't sure. I probably went a little overboard with my hose test. Maybe one day it will rain here in Vegas and I'll get to put it through a real life leak test. |
“Purse swinging conspiracy nuts ruin every good thread here.“
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Rough Country has turned into the Temu of aftermarket parts I have been using Bak products for years, and currently have the Revolvr (sp?). A little leakage if it sits in a bad storm, but only at the corners of the tailgate. If I cared, I could adjust and make that go away. Plenty of decent covers, RC isn't it. |
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Originally Posted By ShortyAK: I've probably had 5 different Tonneau Covers over the years and, with the exception of the original fiberglass one that curved over the edges of the bed, they all have leaked to some degree. It seems to be par for the course for anything that's not a one piece cover. This. If you blast it with a hose, any removable cover under $1000 is going to let some in. The more expensive covers let it in too, they just have drip rails to catch it and funnel it out. Not really an issue, since stuff isn't getting soaked and water will drain out before it pools above the ridges in the bed. |
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Originally Posted By AardvarkRatnik: Should have bought a Diamondback. Came here to say the same thing. Diamondback with a tailgate seal kit and a couple other strategically placed seals and my Taco is as dry as an 80 year nun's. |
| I mean...it's not like they are 100% water right. Water is going to seep in through any gaps or cracks. I look at my cover as something that's going to keep all of my camping gear and tools from getting soaked when driving in the rain. A little water running down the side and into the bed really doesn't concern me. |
| Butyl tape can be used to seal up the larger cracks around the edges and tailgate. I haven't tried it myself because my tonneau leakage is pretty minimal, but others seem to have decent success reducing (not eliminating) the leakage that way. |
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All my co workers that had them had rusty tools. None of them wanted a shell or a commercial shell because they don't look cool enough. The hard top one piece covers were too expensive. Compared to the pain in the ass of working with rusty tools, I thought they were cheap. |