I just bought a 2018 and we noticed the bed has a small gap at the corners where you can see light through the gap. Since this is the bed it’s not a functional proble, just cosmetic. After talking with the dealer service referred me to the body shop who referred me back to service to get a code for a repair.

The body shop shop manager says it’s frequent in the new aluminum bodies. He wasn’t enthusiastic about working on it saying it was hard to fix because the aluminum has to be riveted versus the old spot welds.

At this point I guess I could be the tough customer and get a fix or just live with it, I was thinking of using something as simple as flex seal to fill the small gap bypassing the dealer hassle.

Anyone have ave experience with this fitment and any sage advice on handling it?

Thanks for your time, love the new 5.0 with the 10 speed transmission.

 

It's common. There are a few threads about bed panel fitment, sorry I don't know how to link, but a search should find them. It's supposedly to let water drain out of the bed. At the same time it also let's dust in. If you have a cap or cover, you don't need drains unless you rinse/wash out the bed. But, don't use silicone to fill gaps, something to do with the aluminum. If you don't have a spray in liner already and are planning on one, see if they can spray a little heavier in those places. I've had my truck 2 years and didn't know about the gaps until reading about them on the forum after having the spray in done, which I did 2 days after I got it. I have a bed cover and the dust comes in thru the gaps and I don't do dirt roads very often. Never had any water come in though. I do plan on sealing the gaps when I find the right stuff.

I just thought of something. I was thinking about trying to squeeze flanges together from the bottom but after crawling under and looking at it, I decided not to. But, I just had an idea. Maybe I can find a u-shaped seal to slide over the flanges. Then they could easily be removed for draining purposes. I'll post if that works out.

 

Have canopy on 2016, used a product called "Big Stretch" to seal up all of the gaps along the sides - black, easy to use and clean up.

 

I kind of like it.. I can spray water on it and it won't come back to me.

 

The bed on my '17 Lariat is far from weather tight. In addition to the gaps between the bed floor and sides as stated above, water and sand from the road runs down the inside of the bed from around the switch and bed light assemblies. Particularly the switch. I have the Ford supplied hard bed cover (actually a rebadged XTANG Solid Fold). It leaks at the hinge points and where it meets the tailgate step assembly. Anything that can't get wet goes into Rubbermaid containers before going in the bed.

 

I've had many F-Series trucks. They've all had some of this. Didn't bother me at all. It's a truck.

I had/have a cap and the Bedrug bed mat in the last few trucks. Don't even think about it/notice it.

 

 

No offense to OP, but is this where we are today, lol? "Since this is the bed it’s not a functional problem, just cosmetic."

 

Didn't even look in the bed of my new 2018 before the bed liner went in. I'm sort of curious now.

 

Well my 2015 had gaps in all 4 corners and so does the 2018. I crawled under the bed and taped the gaps with painters tape and then filled the gaps with E6800. Both beds had spray in bed liner. E6800 is much better than Silicone it never gets hard and will allow flex. Do not use E6000 as it doesn't have a UV inhibitor. This stuff is used in sealing boat hull seams and glueing roofing together. Sticks to almost anything glass, wood, metal, plastic, I even patched a washing machine tub with the stuff.

 

I noticed in a few of the company pickups some small gaps, and appreciate them being there to let water out since they usually get parked nose down in the lot.

 

OP ... So, you just going to live with it...or get body shop to work on your new f150??

My 2017 has the same gaps. I noticed them, but didn't cause alarm, because I figured FORD engineers designed it that way for a reason. IMHO, could NOT think this was a design or build flaw.


biz

 

 

 

The seams are easy enough to seal with some caulking but the thing that really annoys me is the fact that I have water and dirt streaks running down the bed walls from the bed lights and the switch to control them. If you pop out the switch, which is easy to do, its open to the road and rear tire behind it. Last time I pulled it out there must have been a half inch of sand encrusted on the back of the switch. Its really a treat in the snow.