Common Truck Accessory Installation Mistakes to Avoid

Most “defective product” calls we get are actually installation issues — and every one is avoidable. Here are the seven mistakes we see most, across tonneau covers, running boards, and bed mats.

1. Ordering without measuring

Bed lengths differ within the same model — an F150 comes in 5'5″ and 6'5″. Two minutes with a tape measure prevents the most common return. Here's how to measure your truck bed.

2. Skipping the rail cleaning

Grit under a tonneau cover's rail seal creates the tiny leak you'll spend weeks hunting. Wipe the bed rails before the rails go on.

3. Tightening before squaring

On covers and boards alike: start every bolt loosely, square the part to the truck, then torque evenly. Fully tightening one corner first twists the frame.

4. Overtightening clamps

Clamp-on tonneau rails need firm, even torque — cranking them deforms the rail and breaks the seal line. Snug plus a quarter turn is usually right.

5. Not checking latch engagement

Close the cover, then check from inside the bed (tailgate open) that both latches fully grab the rail. A half-engaged latch is how covers get wind damage on the highway.

6. Installing on a dirty bed floor

For bed mats: sweep the bed first. Stones trapped under the mat press into the paint — the exact thing the mat is there to prevent.

7. Ignoring the re-torque

After the first week or ~100 km, re-check clamp and bracket torque on covers and running boards. Everything settles slightly after real-world vibration.

Or skip the wrench entirely

Buy any tonneau cover or truck cap online and pick up in-store — installation is free. Questions mid-install? Call 1-888-651-3091, 7 days a week.