Got the F1 in the other day, can't say I'm very impressed with customer service. No instructions of any kind, not even a note 'go to our website.'

Chart on bakflip website says shims are needed, as did someone who answered bakflip's phone. However, when I emailed for shims to be sent to me I got a response back, "Shims are pre-installed on the rails if your vehicle required them." I do love the run-around.

So, did your F1 come with shims or not?

Jim

 

They are usually pretty efficient at communication. Anyway, you may need to use the shims. It depends on whether or not you have water leaks. Position the cover, and look at the gap between the rails and the cover. If the gap is more than say 1/4 inch you need shims. I prefer to use very thin outdoor rubber weatherstripping. Why?? because the shims are plastic, plastic does NOT form a barrier against rain and puddles, so water CAN get in between the shims and the bed,,,and it is possible because the shims also put a tad bit of off camber flex into the rails.. The image below would be an example of the need TO get shims..notice the gap here. Optimally you want to stay under 1/4 inch between the cover and the rails, not too tight that you cant close the cover, but tight enough.

Hope this helps..

 

Thanks. That's a good idea with the weatherstripping, I think I'll quit asking bakflip about it and pick some up.

 

i installed my F1 today as well. Did not come with the shims but after reading many others i figured they were required. I used 1/8 inch foam tape which compressed ended up being the same depth as the shims and really helped hold the rails in place with the extra adhesive. It made a big difference as my gap is close enough to where you could tell any closer and the cover would not close.

 

I had an authorized dealer install mine since there was a thread a while back discussing Bak issues, having a installer do mine should avoid any finger pointing. For what its worth, he said the instructions he was given were not good at all. I have the Rambox, the instructions did not cover that. It is super tight when you close it, which is good.

 

Mine did not come with shims either. I have a little more gap than it should. I will take it off and try the weather strip trick instead of the shims. Thanks for information.

 

I don't care what they say, use shims. First install w/o shims = water leak. Second install w/ shims = no leaks.

 

If your Dodge has bed rail caps (as some do and some don't), then you probably don't need shims as the truck's inner width is narrower (by the thickness of the bedcaps).

If your truck does not have bed rail caps, then it's a good idea to use the shims.

If you don't have shims, just give the factory a call at (818) 365-9000 and speak with jesse, Oscar or Andrew. Any of them would be happy to ship you shims right away at no charge.

Hope that clears things up for you all.

 

And please join us on facebook where we have a community discussing tonneau covers and pickups.
You can also read what Bakflip owners are saying (go to Wall, click Filter, Click Just Others)
And can enter our facebook contests (on contest tab) to win a free Bakbox toolbox and $1000!
http://www.facebook.com/Bakflip

 

Mine had no shims and did not need them. It stays dry in the bed under normal circumstances. I do have a crewcab with the super short bed and the rail caps are still on the truck.

One word of advice, if you remove your BakFlip and store it at all when the weather is cold, leave it folded out against a wall. The seals don't like being folded up in sub zero temps for more than a few minutes. No permanent issues but the top won't seal until the seals can warm up and go back in shape. I wind up taking mine off every couple weeks so that I can load a snowmobile and found out about the seals the first time.



As for the Facebook thing, I wish that vendors would stop doing their givaways there. Grownups and IT folks generally do not and will not use Facebook.