5.5' bed leaking badly after tri-fold install, missing piece??

[Fourthewin]

Hello Folks,

Was wondering if you all could help me. I bought an almost new Ford branded tri-fold from a gentleman the other day for my '21 F-150 Platinum. However, I noticed when I was installing it that there was a large gap in between the very front portion of the bed and in between the cab (see photos). I'm wondering if when the dealer sprayed in my bedliner, they failed to reinstall one of the pieces of the bed here. The side rails of the bed have a plastic cover but the one up front does not and it looks to be about 3/8" gap causing the bed to have a huge gap and leak badly when it rains.

Right now, I have a piece of foam backer rod in there to prevent it from leaking but was wondering if there's something I can get/purchase/DIY to prevent this from happening.

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[Blue22]

My tri-fold cover came with a foam strip to seal that gap. It had adhesive on one side to attach to the bed. If the backer rod isn't working, I'm sure you could go to Lowes or Home Depot and pick up some foam weatherstripping similar to what came with the tri-fold.

 

[JordanVan]

Are you sure your rails are where they need to be and that the front carriage bolts are tight? This is what it should look like.

 

[dolsen]

My tri-fold cover came with a foam strip to seal that gap. It had adhesive on one side to attach to the bed. If the backer rod isn't working, I'm sure you could go to Lowes or Home Depot and pick up some foam weatherstripping similar to what came with the tri-fold.

I think @Blue22 nailed it, I had a cut-to-length strip of foam to install in that area

 

[EcoB259]

I put the stick on foam piece as well and have no leaks. Mine did not curve down like Jordan’s picture.

 

[NotMyName]

Yup, missing foam at front. Do you have the drain hoses installed at each front corner?

 

[2Lazy2P]

Are you sure your rails are where they need to be and that the front carriage bolts are tight? This is what it should look like.

When I had the Bakflip the rubber gasket along the front bed rail did not tilt down as JordanVan’s photo shows. I wish it had because this section was where I experienced frequent water leaks into the bed despite the foam spacer strip. In addition, the junction between the side rail rubber gasket and the bed rail gasket had a gap and water got into the bed. The other point of entry was at the top corners of the tailgate. I had to use additional material to close the gaps. Keeping water out led me to the Undercover one-piece cover. Different functionality but keeping water out was a priority.

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