Tonneau cover luffing

[Mike3506]

I have the OEM tonneau cover (soft, roll). It does not have velcro on the sides. Yesterday on the highway, it started lifting up in the middle sides, and then luffing in the middle center. It made enough noise to catch my attention. Anyone else have this problem (and solutions!)?

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[ryan-g186]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...g-at-sides-when-on-highway.21447/#post-347339

Me too sir. I’m taking mine is Saturday to see what the dealer says.

 

[Mike3506]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...g-at-sides-when-on-highway.21447/#post-347339

Me too sir. I’m taking mine is Saturday to see what the dealer says.

Please post what you learn

 

[Tonopah01]

I have not (yet) had that problem with mine. On mine, it takes a *lot* of force to roll in the rounded hook into its place but then the fasteners at the end of the cover click into place easily.

 

[ryan-g186]

That’s what I’m thinking the issue might be with mine. It looks and feels like it’s loose. It’s not too hard to lock in to place. Yes it does take some force but not in comparison to other covers I’ve shut before. Funny thing is that the driver side seems to be looser than the passenger side. Not sure if it stretched or was an mfg error. Will definitely post what they tell me Saturday afternoon.

 

[JeepCares]

That’s what I’m thinking the issue might be with mine. It looks and feels like it’s loose. It’s not too hard to lock in to place. Yes it does take some force but not in comparison to other covers I’ve shut before. Funny thing is that the driver side seems to be looser than the passenger side. Not sure if it stretched or was an mfg error. Will definitely post what they tell me Saturday afternoon.

Hi Ryan,

Please keep us updated on your dealer's findings. If our team can be of any assistance while your Gladiator is in service, we'd be happy to help. We are just a private message away.

Mark
JeepCares

 

[AggieJeep]

Agreed. It takes a good deal of force and holding my tongue just right to get the hooks rolled into the catches. It clicks easily once hooked. I had one side click in without the hook being properly seated once. I was trying to use one hand that day. I need a bit more practice.

if yours is properly seated in the hooks and still loose, I hope they get it adjusted or replace ASAP. Good luck.

 

[ryan-g186]

Went to Performance Jeep in Centerville Ohio Saturday morning and spoke with Matt for a while. He said they have had a few loose tonneau covers like mine come in to the shop. He said he troubleshot the first one that came in for a long time and couldn’t figure it out at first. He finally found that there was a gap between the bottom of the tailgate and the bed. He showed it to me and said that he stuffed some shop rags in the gap and drove it down the highway and there was no lifting. Goes to his point of the gap being the issue and makes sense to me.

Matt offered to order me a new one but said it might not fix the problem. He also agreed that it seemed loose and wasn’t as tight as it should be. He also showed me a bunch of other stuff to look for like the updated steering dampener (which was the newer one) and that the mopar lift kit needs retorqued after a 1000 miles.

Matt took down my information and will have the service manager call me Monday to talk about some options. Great dude to talk to and was very professional. Seems like it’s a mfg issue and I’ll update this thread after I talk to the manager.

 

[erichsglad]

Went to Performance Jeep in Centerville Ohio Saturday morning and spoke with Matt for a while. He said they have had a few loose tonneau covers like mine come in to the shop. He said he troubleshot the first one that came in for a long time and couldn’t figure it out at first. He finally found that there was a gap between the bottom of the tailgate and the bed. He showed it to me and said that he stuffed some shop rags in the gap and drove it down the highway and there was no lifting. Goes to his point of the gap being the issue and makes sense to me.

Matt offered to order me a new one but said it might not fix the problem. He also agreed that it seemed loose and wasn’t as tight as it should be. He also showed me a bunch of other stuff to look for like the updated steering dampener (which was the newer one) and that the mopar lift kit needs retorqued after a 1000 miles.

Matt took down my information and will have the service manager call me Monday to talk about some options. Great dude to talk to and was very professional. Seems like it’s a mfg issue and I’ll update this thread after I talk to the manager.

Mine did the same thing. When I picked it up I could put my whole arm through the gap on the passenger side. I took it home and found out it was installed crooked, so I corrected it. That got rid of the gap. Took it back again because it leaks. Dealer had the perfect solution..."well we could just take it off if it's giving you problems"?!?!

 

[ryan-g186]

Still waiting for the service manager to get back with me on a fix for this. Just wanted to update because it’s been a bit.

 

[ryan-g186]

Adam, the service manager called me back and said that this is a common issue and he said FCA has NOT released a fix or TSB yet. He said his regional manager told him it is considered normal operation for the tonneau cover to lift and they are only replacing them with the same type at this time. Knowing that it’s a crapshoot to replace it with the same thing, Adam told me he will speak with his GM to see if he can work something out to get a different type of cover due to the issues with the soft roll up version.

To be clear I did not buy the Gladiator from this dealership and will never take it back to the original purchasing dealership due to trust issues and terrible workmanship when it was in for repair on numerous occasions.

 

[Sorbs]

I have the OEM tonneau cover (soft, roll). It does not have velcro on the sides. Yesterday on the highway, it started lifting up in the middle sides, and then luffing in the middle center. It made enough noise to catch my attention. Anyone else have this problem (and solutions!)?

The solution is making sure you have heard the "click" when you close the cover. Make sure both tabs that secure the cover, both receptacles near the tailgate, are in their catch and push down to a solid click. This should eliminate your luffing.

 

[Hosstyle]

I have no issues with mine. Just curious why they made these that can be release with the tailgate shut and locked? Just flip up the end part and you can get access to the box. My ram you have to open the tailgate to be able to release the tonneau.

 

[ryan-g186]

The solution is making sure you have heard the "click" when you close the cover. Make sure both tabs that secure the cover, both receptacles near the tailgate, are in their catch and push down to a solid click. This should eliminate your luffing.

Yep. Done that. Doesn’t help. Techs at the dealership said the same stuff. I think there was a bad run by the mfg. Which would explain why some have problems and some don’t.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have no issues with mine. Just curious why they made these that can be release with the tailgate shut and locked? Just flip up the end part and you can get access to the box. My ram you have to open the tailgate to be able to release the tonneau.

Yeah, why have a locked tailgate if you can lift the cover? My Silverado tail gate locks and with the Access roll-up tonneau cover, you can't get into the box unless you really mess up the cover. It can't be released without the tailgate open.

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