Leaking New Leer Cap

My week-old Leer 100 XR cap is leaking where it meets the tailgate. The passenger side is worse than driver side, but leaking on both sides. Having a hard time figuring out exactly where it’s coming in and would appreciate any suggestions. Photos attached.

 

One more picture. Just now seeing the daylight coming through. Wondering if that’s the issue. How do I correct this?

 

Anyone out there have any ideas?

 

Weatherstrip

 

It looks like it’s running right down the gasket and channeling down the side of your tailgate.
It’s pretty common.

 

It's under warranty, go back to the selling dealer and have them fix or replace it.

 

Thanks all. I think that taking it back to the dealer is the best call. Was hoping to be able to avoid the hassle, but they should take care of it for how much I paid!

 

Sometimes it is easier to just fix it yourself than deal with that hassle.

 

Amen!

 

Is the window closing all the way? The one photo appears the window is slightly open. You might have to adjust the latch on the inside to get a tight seal. Also run some foam with 3M tape around the edge. I did this on my other cap and it worked keeping dust and water out.

You might also have a gap in the tailgate where water can get in. Best of luck. Let us know what you find out

 

As a long-term canopy guy, I have tried a bunch of different things. First, get inside your canopy and have someone spray down your truck like rain. Look and see where the leaks are dripping in. Those are your first spots that the canopy dealer needs to correct.

For any other leaks or spots that suck in dust/water while driving, it may require experimenting. I change my seals every few years and went to these with the Tundra. Got them off Amazon and have been very happy so far.

https://extrudedsolutions.com/products1.html



Rok block seal along the bottom of the tailgate to close the gap (which a lot gets in from the bottom up). If you have a bed liner you have to be really sure to follow the instructions and use the adhesion promoter that comes with it. I personally found this to make a big difference with dust in the hack.



Ultimate tailgate seal - this one seems to work the best for me along the side. You can use cheaper stuff but had the best results with it.

Once you use product like those, you may need to play with a bit of stick on foam to block the rest. Experiment with a few in areas around the canopy/tailgate intersection before applying anything permanent.

 

Window seems to close pretty well. Think it may be just the angle, but I will double check. Thanks!

 

Thanks. This is super helpful. To be clear, you're suggesting taking off the cap and putting on the ESI seal that goes all the way around the bedliner?

 

Lots of good advice if this was an older, or used cap, but this one is brand new.

It could have been installed wrong (pushed too far forward), the mold may be worn out (this happened with my 1st LEER cap)... why risk voiding your warranty by trying to fix LEER's problem?

 

No. There is already a seal under the canopy (at least there should be). If you have to take off the cap, the dealer should do it. If it's coming where the cap was put on, give it to them. Like @Rex Kramer said - make them fix their problem.

This is for the tailgate along the sides and the bottom of the tailgate (which is where you are getting leaks - by the tailgate). Many people think that putting on a cap = no water or dust. Even with a perfectly installed cap, Tundra tailgates let all kinds of stuff in so you need to seal them. It's a seperate but needed step of cap installation/ownership.

 

@Twowheelssoar - these might help you visualize it





No affiliation with the company, just satisfied with how it works.

 

Great points! I drive a lot of dirt roads and dust is a major issue. Sealing up the tailgate and rear window is a must

 

Thanks everyone for all of the tips.

 

Good luck. I have yet to have mine seal properly for dirt and rain. My undercover solid tonneau on my '07 DC was the only cover that never had any leaking issues while driving in the rain.

 

Update:

Spoke with the salesperson at Leonard (who I think is also the manger) and told him about the leaking. He said “that’s what caps do.” I asked him why I spent $2500 on a cap to protect things in my bed if it’s going to leak water in. He reluctantly agreed to look at it and see what they can do, so I have an appointment on Monday.

 

For reference, before the seal on the door of my canopy started to come unglued on one side, it would only get water inside if I power washed it and just a little around the sliding windows. In rain, it was perfectly dry inside.

 

I said the same thing in my previous post and didn’t explain anything. So mine leaks at the rubber seal at the tailgate corner where it meets the carpet of the shell. As I close the tailgate it bends the rubber inwards. I can minimize water intrusion but shutting the tailgate with the rubber pushed out , not bent in.

 

Finally got a chance to get the hose out this weekend. As soon as I got in the back and closed the door, it was clear that the rear window is not even contacting the side seals when closed all the way. Now I at least know to tell them what is the issue when I go in tomorrow.

 

This is helpful. I had no idea if it the rubber strip was supposed to be folded under like it wants to be after you close the tailgate.

 

Bad design if it should be folded out

 

I think all tailgates are designed that way. I'm just saying when mine is folded in it channels water awards the corner. Mine is older and worn as well. I can minimize the water leak and direction by pushing it out. My last shell , LEER vs my current ARE , was the same way.

 

I've got a couple suggestions for you.

The first is ESI ultimate tailgate seal. I bought Lund brand on Amazon because it was a few bucks cheaper but when it came it was actually ESI, and came with great instructions on how to cut and rotate and install around the tailgate opening. THEN the next key is adding another piece along the top, 3-4" and I trimmed a little off the bulb to make the tailgate close easier. This blocks all the daylight you see coming through, I also coated the carpet around that area with clear silicone at the suggestion of someone else on here. Seems to work great.



Now if you really want to seal the bed you also need to consider that there's a few holes in the box inside that are open to between the box and body/bedsides. Water can dribbled down the stake pockets in the bedrails and drip in the sides from those holes. I capped them with grommets, as well as siliconed the mounting bolts for the bed rail track system.

Lastly, the plastic plugs at the front bulkhead of the bed do not seal to the bed especially on a spray in liner, so I pulled those and ran a bead of silicone around them, as well as the two corners where the bulkhead meets the box sides where you see light.

 

Looks great! I already have an ESI seal in my Amazon cart. will go that route. I did look at your build thread to see where you put the silicone. Want to get the dealer to get the window straight, then will work on the tailgate and bed itself.

 

My Leer does not leak and I am in the PNW. However, I try to never park with the truck pointed downhill if it is raining.

 

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