Water intrusion Freedom panel question

[Bananaman]

I usually keep my Gladiator in the garage, but last night it was outside, and we had torrential rain come through. This morning I get in and start to drive off and water starts pouring out from where the rearview mirror attaches. I have had my panels off maybe 2 times, and that was at least a year or so ago. Obviously I've driven in the rain since then, and it's never leaked. Anyone else have this happen? I've not seen any complainants on here about the tops leaking, so maybe a one off, parked at a funky angle, thing?

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[Labswine]

I have that issue on occasion. Mine is parked outside all the time.

Occasionally, I'll have a drip-a-drip over the passenger seat when the Freedom Panels are in (from mid October to mid April). Don't know how it's getting in. It seems to drip in over the roll bar over the passenger seat and ONLY drips in after starting out and hitting the brakes for the first time (basically the end of the driveway about 100' from where it's been parked). Also, it's nose down, the slight down grade from the house to the street.

I also get the same issue when I have my BestTop SunRider top installed (mid April to mid-late October) after a heavy rain storm...start out, go for the first stop at the end of the driveway and, drip-a-drip.

Interestingly though, I take it through a car wash (either tops in) and zero leaks.

When I swap out tops, I always clean the groove and seal before installing the next top so there's really nothing there to interfere with the rubber seal there.

So, yeah, what gives

 

[KJ Jeeper]

Yes, mines 5 years old garage parked. Driven in the rain - no issues. I have a steep driveway and parked outside facing uphill - huge leaks that soaked my entire floor front and back. It hasn’t happened again. Like you, the freedom panels have only been off maybe 4 times in five years (I had a bad bone break that prevented removing the top for 2 years during rehab).
I was thinking it leaked because of the angle I parked at. I have parked on flat parking lots with no leaks.
Did you park on slope?

 

[Bananaman]

Yes, mines 5 years old garage parked. Driven in the rain - no issues. I have a steep driveway and parked outside facing uphill - huge leaks that soaked my entire floor front and back. It hasn’t happened again. Like you, the freedom panels have only been off maybe 4 times in five years (I had a bad bone break that prevented removing the top for 2 years during rehab).
I was thinking it leaked because of the angle I parked at. I have parked on flat parking lots with no leaks.
Did you park on slope?

Interesting. Yes, it was parked with the back sloped down. Seems to track. Water must pool somewhere at that angle, then find it's way in when taking off.

 

[KJ Jeeper]

Oh interesting!!! We were both same sloped! Lesson learned and I won’t park that way again. It was a pain getting all the water out from under the carpet.

 

[joanny]

I've had that happen once after a really heavy rain. Turned out one of the freedom panels wasn't seated quite right even though it looked fine. I reseated both panels and checked the seals and haven't had an issue since. Could have just been the combination of rain intensity and how it was parked.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Good idea to remove the tops about yearly and give the seals a good coating of Vaseline. Keeps the seals supple. Not saying the amount of water mentioned above wouldn’t overwhelm the seals even after treated but it helps keep them fresh.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

I am closely watching. My driveway is on a slop and I always park nose-down. It makes it fun since the fuel tank always reads lower than it is and can disable my remote start when it’s too low. Other than that I haven't seen any issues. I have pulled my panels a couple of times this year and will probably do it some more as the summer goes on.

 

[Bananaman]

Good idea to remove the tops about yearly and give the seals a good coating of Vaseline. Keeps the seals supple. Not saying the amount of water mentioned above wouldn’t overwhelm the seals even after treated but it helps keep them fresh.

That is actually a good idea. Putting that on my to do list.

 

[KJ Jeeper]

The parking slope affecting the gas levels and start up is the most annoying thing ever!!! My whole town is built on a steep hillside and have to accommodate this when parking anywhere - of course there is never a flat parking space when I need it.
Good tip about the seals. Thank you.

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