Sand, water, and truck bed

[joeym7]

Hello Folks,

Starting my 4th month of Mojave ownership so I am still coming up with some Newbie questions, so please bear with me...BTW, I absolutely love this Truck and its 4WD capability (a first on both accounts for me) and try to get out in the dirt every chance I get. Haven't had this much fun in years.

In NJ there are tons of trails in the pines, usually with a lot of puddles/mud. But it has been dry around here of late and I was "blessed" to find 2 dirt roads which were very dry and very sandy - loved it...So the MO put up a big sand-storm around the back and behind the vehicle. All fun! Latter on when I checked the bed (which is covered by a 3 section hard from factory Tonneau bed cover I found a thin coating of sand all over the rubber bed mat which I lay over the spray in bed liner (as well as on some of the recovery gear I have secured in the bed). Obviously no big deal, just wondering though if this is typical and anything I might do to mitigate it (short of not driving fast in sand - lol! It is too much fun to give up).

The second and related part of this question was over the weekend I took the MO out in a significant rain storm just around town to test for leaks in the hard-top and splash through some fairly deep puddles at decent speed to test the 4WD-AUTO capability (and it is amazing how fast it grabs traction). Later when I looked in the bed there were some (small) trails of water laying on the rubber bed matt. Again, no big deal, but is this typical under these situations and is there anything I can do to mitigate it.

Thanks in advance,
-Joe

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[sharpsicle]

There are always air gaps in places around the cover and tailgate. Extreme dust or water will always find its way in. The tonneau cover will keep out 90%-95%, I wouldn't expect it to keep out every bit of dust or water in the situations you described.

 

[Lunentucker]

Leaf blower after the trails. That or a rinse. I don't think you'll be able to stop it from getting in there.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

I knew your question was going to be about dirt and dust getting in under the tonneau, or up under the tailgate. Yes it is normal, you can add weather stripping if you need to keep stuff cleaner.

Yes water can get in, if you need to keep dry again with the weather stripping, or get an over the bed style

 

[hjdca]

I have a similar problem with dust here in the west. About 1.5 years ago I installed the "Gapshield", tailgate gap cover. It reduced the dust in my bed by 95%. It works good, just make sure you do not fold it into the tailgate when you close it and crease the rubber. I really like it.

https://www.ecoological.com/gapshield.html

 

[joeym7]

Thanks Everyone for the feedback. Nice to know it should be expected and nothing is wrong otherwise ...

I'll look at some of the other suggestions, but for now it is (see below)...

 

[joeym7]

Leaf blower after the trails. That or a rinse. I don't think you'll be able to stop it from getting in there.

This one - thanks.

I was just looking at it again, there is a bit more near the tailgate end for obvious reasons.

When I first got it I wouldn't think about leaving the Mojave dirty in any way. But now I am starting to warm-up to the idea and batch the cleaning of 2 on the dirt rides over 2-3 weeks or so.

Mud or sand, have to "pay" to play - but it is worth it.

 

[SpeedNeed]

Some of the mats, like BedRug XL, will cross that tailgate gap as well. I like that BedGap, thanks hjdca.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have never had water get in unless I am not careful washing it and aim the pressure lower than the edge of the tonneau cover so it goes up and under. Otherwise, even during our worst wind and rain storms, the back stays dry.
It stays pretty clean as well except what gets in through that big tailgate gap. A seal can resolve that.
When I was talking trade last week the dealer asked how I liked the cover and if I was opting for that again. I said I love it and yes. Then he asked if it had leaked. No, no leaks. I drove through our 2020 derecho with 70 mph wind driving crazy rain - no problems.
Do get snow and dust and such kicked up in the back by the tailgate gap, but that's been it. I'm not afraid to put much of anything back there.
The dealer said I should put weatherstrip by the tailgate - told him I already planned to as others here have done.

There are holes in the bed inside metal that leads to the outside. I was considering plugs for those holes just to be OCD about it.

 

[joeym7]

I have a similar problem with dust here in the west. About 1.5 years ago I installed the "Gapshield", tailgate gap cover. It reduced the dust in my bed by 95%. It works good, just make sure you do not fold it into the tailgate when you close it and crease the rubber. I really like it.

https://www.ecoological.com/gapshield.html

Well, this looks really easy, even I could do it ...It is just cut and paste - correct?

I don't see any downside at $30 or so - I'm in. Should be fewer bed cleanings.

PS I just watch their vid, the dude installing it actually says when not hauling stones etc, to stick the loose end into the "gap". Is this what you are saying NOT to do for our purposes of use (which is to keep crap out)?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have a similar problem with dust here in the west. About 1.5 years ago I installed the "Gapshield", tailgate gap cover. It reduced the dust in my bed by 95%. It works good, just make sure you do not fold it into the tailgate when you close it and crease the rubber. I really like it.

https://www.ecoological.com/gapshield.html

That addresses another issue I've had - stuff - wood chips, bark, rocks, get down in there and do some damage, are hard to get out, you know the drill.
So when you say do not fold it into the tailgate - if it's stuck in place, won't it determine by itself how it folds? Do you mean it should fold in the direction that is outward or upward and not down into the gap?
I was thinking of a seal or weatherstrip along the sides and bottom - but I like your idea better for the bottom, then a seal along the sides.

 

[hjdca]

That addresses another issue I've had - stuff - wood chips, bark, rocks, get down in there and do some damage, are hard to get out, you know the drill.
So when you say do not fold it into the tailgate - if it's stuck in place, won't it determine by itself how it folds? Do you mean it should fold in the direction that is outward or upward and not down into the gap?
I was thinking of a seal or weatherstrip along the sides and bottom - but I like your idea better for the bottom, then a seal along the sides.

Yes, kind of.... There is front lip that is stuck in place on the bed with good 3M stuff... Then, it folds over and covers the gap. it is kind of a "semi-circle shape.. When you open the tailgate, the rubber slides down the tailgate..., when you close the tailgate, it slides up, so, it rests against the tailgate and is stuck against the bottom of the bed. If the Rubber piece gets stuck in the tailgate gap when you close the tailgate, it will crease the rubber, and you will lose that "semi-circle" shape.... Then, you will start having the problem that the rubber is getting stuck in the gap. Before you set the location of the 3M tape, check the movement of the rubber and make sure it does not get snagged on a bolt on the tailgate when closing.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, kind of.... There is front lip that is stuck in place on the bed with good 3M stuff... Then, it folds over and covers the gap. it is kind of a "semi-circle shape.. When you open the tailgate, the rubber slides down the tailgate..., when you close the tailgate, it slides up, so, it rests against the tailgate and is stuck against the bottom of the bed. If the Rubber piece gets stuck in the tailgate gap when you close the tailgate, it will crease the rubber, and you will lose that "semi-circle" shape.... Then, you will start having the problem that the rubber is getting stuck in the gap. Before you set the location of the 3M tape, check the movement of the rubber and make sure it does not get snagged on a bolt on the tailgate when closing.

Ok, I'm now telling myself DUH.
Got it - it's a sliding seal, slides on the tail gate.
Yes, I definitely need to look into that.
I read that it adheres to spray-in bedliner.
I have the factory bedliner - or will have in the new one as well.
That's a perfect, excellent explanation. Thanks.

 

[hjdca]

Ok, I'm now telling myself DUH.
Got it - it's a sliding seal, slides on the tail gate.
Yes, I definitely need to look into that.
I read that it adheres to spray-in bedliner.
I have the factory bedliner - or will have in the new one as well.
That's a perfect, excellent explanation. Thanks.

Yes, I have the spray in bed liner from the factory and it sticks great. However, note: My bed is setup with tools and molle panels. So, I do not spray it with water. I only clean it with compressed air.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, I have the spray in bed liner from the factory and it sticks great. However, note: My bed is setup with tools and molle panels. So, I do not spray it with water. I only clean it with compressed air.

I've only washed mine out at home, with the hose and nozzle, 2 or 3 times in the 29 months I've had it. And except for one time, it was because of hauling stuff like bags of sand and gravel. The other time somehow gas spilled on it from something I can't even recall now it happened so long ago. I'd bet once I used something like this, and seals along the side, I'd mostly sweep or blow it out with my leaf blower.
Thanks again. Good info.

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