My 91 F-150 is parked under a tree most of the time and driven weekly. To protect the paint and reduce the number of times washing and waxing it I bought a cover. The cover is breathable but water proof and collects rain in the bed which stresses the cover and will eventually ruin it.

I dont want a tonneau cover.

Covering the bed with plywood or some-such is too bulky.

Putting something tall in the bed to tent-out the cover seemed like it would work but so far in practice it appears it will not.

Has anyone in this situation poked a hole or two in the cover to let it drain into the bed?

 

Try using some kind of plastic pipe long enough that when bent to fit the ends into the stake pockets it forms an arch.

 

Thanks, for the reply.

I considered PVC but I didn't consider an arch. The problem is the cover is tight and there isn't a lot of extra material to make a high arch. Maybe a low arch diagonally from corner to corner. I'd have to do it from the bed corners rather than the stake pockets to keep it low and I'll have to use a side piece to keep it from falling over. I wouldn't cost much to try it.

 

Another twist on the "tent" idea... try making something that stands up in the middle of the bed and will act like a tent pole. A couple of 2x4's should do it nicely.