2022/2023 Tonneau cover recall

Checked mine this weekend and found them a bit loose and tightened them as well. It looked pretty solid otherwise. I have a 5K service next weekend I'll see what they say. Also had my instrument screen go black once last week, there is a recall for a software update for that as well (simple fix).

 

I checked the two large thumb nuts on my BackFlip MX4 (bought from BF) and installed myself, they were looser than I recall I had set them to during install 2 months ago. I also noticed that the stainless lock washer is a "split" washer style, which I'm not impressed with except for large ones that have a large amount of torque on the nut. (ie: hitch ball etc type stuff). So I replaced with what I call an internal star washer style, and torqued it down to some deflection of the metal plate.

Is anyone contacting BackFlip (Back Industries I think) about our after market versions?

 

Don’t torque them down too tight, it will compress the back aluminum plate and dimple it. I bet this recall has to do with it up right.

 

Good point. I'll check it out better in daylight tomorrow. Thanks

 

Why not put some type of glue on the threads to keep them from backing out, I don’t think thread locker is an option due to it eating plastic. But I imaging so type of good glue on the threads will suffice.

 

That's a good idea too.

It seems to me that even with the thumb nut secured well, that the more serious problem is that whimpy metal bracket could fail if a big wind hits the upright tonneau cover.

If nobody has contacted Back Flip about our after market MK4's, I volunteer to do so.

 

Are you sure the bottom is pushed all the back? See the pics below. It should rest against the cab when fully open like this. It looks like yours needs to be pushed back more so it allows it open fully & secure as it should. It shouldn't act as a fulcrum that pulls the top deck away from the rail.

Note differences between the two pics. It should be like the bottom pic.

 

my bak F1 I have now must be different, as it sticks straight up when its all the way open and does not go against the cab.

I may just get another F1 since my OEM one got removed from the build

 

I don't think it's supposed to do that.

Seems like it would act as a wind sail. Bak's website shows this for the F1. It should be the same the OEM design with it resting against the cab when fully open & secured with the arms.

 

edit**.

Im a dumbass, I had a F1 on another truck, this one is a undercover flex, I just went out and looked.

it does stay straight up though, as I did not want one that rested on the cab

lol, my fault

 

I just now talked to Back Flip: They were at first unaware of this situation, but then the guy talked to yet another person in BF and yes, they confirm that "Toyota has requested a mechanical change" to the covers supplied by BF to Toyota. He does claim, seemingly authentically, that the MX4 and Toyota branded covers are different in a number of respects. He never said it this way, but I conclude that the Toyota branded covers were cost reduced from the MX4. He claims that an engineering change request came in recently and will take BF a month or so to implement. I agreed to call back in a month to see what the change is and if this applies to our MX4's.

He further said that MX4 direct from BF did undergo a change with the latch mechanism about 2 months ago. This was were the latch bracket was moved from sitting just on (underside) of the sheet metal (main section) of each panel, to now having one side of the latch bracket sit on the approx 1 inch wide frame member of the respective panel. You can tell the difference by looking at the latch bracket, if it's wholly on the sheet metal panel it's old style, if it strattles on to the panel frame member, it's new style. Not clear what they would do about upgrade/replace older style MX4's. Mine purchased mid Dec 2022 is new style.

Lastly, he was super curious about the Toyota recall especially the part about owners are requested to remove and/or destroy Toyota covers. I gave him the info to get to this thread. Oh, I should add that he also was not aware that there is an official Toyota recall, so it's good too that he'll probably read even this post at some point

The BF representative was very nice and helpful and it seems that their phone customer service people were not aware of this situation probably because it's so new.

 

It’s got big rubber pads so it can brace against the cab window and the arms lock it. That flat plate only holds the cover from coming up like a washer, when it’s all the way up there’s nothing holding it from being pushing back horizontally then flying away. Really just needs some hooks

 

Just to clarify...I don't think Toyota is asking anyone to "destroy" the covers. Unless you've seen something that I haven't in the TSS bulletin that @ryanwgregg posted?

 

It's buried in the Dealer Inventory Procedures in one of the attachments in post #40. But yes, owners are NOT directed to destroy the covers.

 

Ahh. That makes sense for vehicles still in pre-delivery or unsold. It's easier to d/d those than retrofit a repair.

 

Well I stand corrected then. Looks like a serious design issue.

My old G2 had that feature of folding up against the cab and it never developed this specific problem but after it not holding up well over the years I have gone to a cheaper rail-less one that only gives me 2/3rds of the bed unless removed. The struts that held my G2 folded up and their mounts on the bed were one of the first things to start to crap out on me. And towards the end I had to remove it if I needed the whole bed so I figured why pay for another cover held up by toothpicks when down the line they'll break and I'll just end up having to take it off if I need the whole bed anyway.

 

I have a pro being built soon and the PIO Tonneau cover that was on the build sheet disappeared after I checked it again today.
Looks like Toyota is just removing the option from builds for the time being.

 

It looks like the toyota website hasn't been updated yet

 

Where are you? I'll sell you mine! And I will get a retract.

 

no thanks

 

glad i have a simpleton bed cover, this is how mine looks rolled up.

but i keep nothing in my bed unless i am hauling grass to the dump or hauling stuff for a friend. otherwise it stays empty.

 

Well mine got yanked from my order prior to my purchase...

The search now is going to be for a replacement.
I've had pretty good luck with trifold units. (soft ones)
For a few bucks more I can get a hard trifold unit.
(I rarely need the full bed, I dont mind taking it off if need be)

Anyone use this one?
TONNOPRO HARD FOLD TRUCK BED COVER

At under 600.00 and uses aluminum panels.
Sure its not as slick at the m4 etc but for the price if it lasts 8-10 years I am sort of happy.
The BakFlip units are nice but I really dont like how that tucks up again or close to the cab.
I get it, gives you the full bed if needed but drilling drain holes for it? Geeez.
The cheaper non slick looking bed covers have done ok over the years. Only thing I dont like is the noise it makes when at highway speed. Hopefully a hard cover correct that part.

Thoughts?

 

In all honestly the most reliable covers I have owned were the least elaborate and least convenient to use. My simple peal and hook or button down tarps gave me zero problems and never let a drop of water in. But they took forever to install and remove. It has gotten harder to find ones that don't leak badly and last 10-plus years as I've gravitated to fancier ones. My 900 dollar Bakflip G2 was close to being unusable when I traded my 09 Crewmax. If I'd kept the truck much longer I'd have thrown it out. Latching mechanism falling apart, seals shifting and falling apart, broken prop rod.

It was my last flushmount, as I feel the dependence on seals and a drainage system over the natural water shedding of a top mount just creates more headaches.

 

Research the Ruggedliner cover. I put one on my Ford last year and love it. Great exposed hinge design. Made me nervous at first but Seems to channel Water that hits the hinges out the sides at the fold points rather than depending on rubber seals. Dry inside after every rain. No unnecessary frills, not much to go wrong. I picked it over the tonnopro after reading a lot of those have fitment issued. It was maybe 20-30$ more.

Seems like the perfect choice for a simple reliable no frills hard folder i wanted this time. No trick features needed these days. Get me full use of 2/3rd of the bed without removal, keep The water out and let me park and go enjoy a coffee at a rest stop without worrying a simple pocket knife or just willingness to peel velcro will get someone into my bed. That's all I need.

 

yeah my cover leaks but then again i dont keep anything in there that i dont mind getting wet. if i need to keep it dry i will put it in the backseat if it fits.

on my 2016 tacoma and our 2018 tundra, my simpleton cover had no issues with our -20F temps and heavy snow fall at times. i never treated it with the bottle that came with it yearly or did anything to it at all in the 5yrs we had it on our 2018 tundra. simple hook/loop velcro worked fine even after 5 yrs of it sitting outside all year long. i think in 5yrs i only tightened the mounts once and they attach to the slide rails for the bed cleats.

i know the other hard covers are great for those that require them, but for my use, the soft simple cover was good enough for us. it had only 1 mechanical part to the whole cover an that was the release to unlock the leading edge at the tailgate to roll it up manually.

 

LOL so true.

My A pillar rattle has gotten so bad.

 

This makes perfect sense.

 

The drain holes are already there, 3 of them IIRC...

 

So maybe I missed this in another thread; but IF we take our 2023 Platinum Tundra (shipped and purchased with a Toyota Tonneau Cover) to the dealership to address the issue with the LCD BLACKOUT software update it sounds like (1 of 2 recalls) will they correct that issue and NOT remove the tonneau cover? Has anyone already asked this of their dealer? I do NOT want to remove my TC at this point (YET).

I will call my local dealer tomorrow and point blank ask this myself too (when they are open).

Regards

 

Dealers are already aware of this recall, at least mine was when I called.. you'll need to ask yours tomorrow.