Preventing dust storm in my truck bed. My DIY solution. What's Yours?

[Jim Waller]

Off-roading resulted in a huge amount of dust on everything in my truck bed. My wife's wheelchair looked like I had pushed it down a dirt hill on every surface except for the wheels. Although there are seals on the sides of the tailgate, if you look at the bottom there's a significant gap. Maybe there's a better way to prevent so much dust but this is what I came up with:

Tintvent D Shape EPDM Foam Rubber... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX283683?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Ready High Performance Adhesion... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP9Q6RK4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I cleaned the bonding surface, I suggest denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or acetone. BTW hand sanitizer has glycerin making it a horrible choice for cleaning. I also used adhesive promoter, this stuff has toluene and cyclohexane so please use chemical gloves or a tool. I bonded near the top of the plastic tray as shown. The area around the handle doesn't easily bond, you could skip or just span it like I did. I used a screwdriver to push down as I went along. Using the thickness I bought results in some friction and compression of the seal so I lubed the surface with silicone. If it doesn't stay I'll try 1/4 inch. There's a remaining gap in the handle area which I'll probably stuff with a rag when I'm out in the dirt.

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[CyberTex]

How’s it working so far? This is a huge complaint of mine when off-road.

 

[Gigahorse]

Off-roading resulted in a huge amount of dust on everything in my truck bed. My wife's wheelchair looked like I had pushed it down a dirt hill on every surface except for the wheels. Although there are seals on the sides of the tailgate, if you look at the bottom there's a significant gap. Maybe there's a better way to prevent so much dust but this is what I came up with:

Tintvent D Shape EPDM Foam Rubber... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX283683?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Ready High Performance Adhesion... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP9Q6RK4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I cleaned the bonding surface, I suggest denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or acetone. BTW hand sanitizer has glycerin making it a horrible choice for cleaning. I also used adhesive promoter, this stuff has toluene and cyclohexane so please use chemical gloves or a tool. I bonded near the top of the plastic tray as shown. The area around the handle doesn't easily bond, you could skip or just span it like I did. I used a screwdriver to push down as I went along. Using the thickness I bought results in some friction and compression of the seal so I lubed the surface with silicone. If it doesn't stay I'll try 1/4 inch. There's a remaining gap in the handle area which I'll probably stuff with a rag when I'm out in the dirt.

Nice,
The dust in the VAULT is pretty ridiculous design wise, leaky/dusty "VAULT" is pretty crazy.

That looks like a nice solution, do you think the adhesion promoter was necessary? Did you do a test spot with just the strips and cleaning it well?
Any plans for adding an additional strip by that latch or is that area just going to have to allow a bit of dust in?

 

[tmeyer3]

My solution was a rubberized mat that spans from the bed to the tailgate. No more dust!

 

[Jim Waller]

After posting I had a minor brainwave, I used 1"x2" foam in the handle area. That blocked up the rest of the gap. See pics.
My main concern is friction rolling the strip off, so I used adhesive promoter. The strip is cheap and comes with extra, so you can always try without the promoter and redo. If I have trouble I'll redo with 1/4" below or something like it.

https://a.co/d/47FSi4k
I've yet to haul ass through the dirt but the gap is gone,

so no reason for lots of dust. If someone tries the 1/4" instead, please let us know if it's enough.

 

[Alto]

Nice,
The dust in the VAULT is pretty ridiculous design wise, leaky/dusty "VAULT" is pretty crazy.

That looks like a nice solution, do you think the adhesion promoter was necessary? Did you do a test spot with just the strips and cleaning it well?
Any plans for adding an additional strip by that latch or is that area just going to have to allow a bit of dust in?

Considering what it doesn’t keep out, it’s ridiculous to call it a vault.

 

[Klis]

Off-roading resulted in a huge amount of dust on everything in my truck bed. My wife's wheelchair looked like I had pushed it down a dirt hill on every surface except for the wheels. Although there are seals on the sides of the tailgate, if you look at the bottom there's a significant gap. Maybe there's a better way to prevent so much dust but this is what I came up with:

Tintvent D Shape EPDM Foam Rubber... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX283683?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Ready High Performance Adhesion... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP9Q6RK4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I cleaned the bonding surface, I suggest denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or acetone. BTW hand sanitizer has glycerin making it a horrible choice for cleaning. I also used adhesive promoter, this stuff has toluene and cyclohexane so please use chemical gloves or a tool. I bonded near the top of the plastic tray as shown. The area around the handle doesn't easily bond, you could skip or just span it like I did. I used a screwdriver to push down as I went along. Using the thickness I bought results in some friction and compression of the seal so I lubed the surface with silicone. If it doesn't stay I'll try 1/4 inch. There's a remaining gap in the handle area which I'll probably stuff with a rag when I'm out in the dirt.

My understanding is that this gap is where water drains out of the bed. Should you have water find its way into the bed, would this rubber seal still allow the water to drain?

 

[Jim Waller]

There's a small gap at each end, so yes. Hard to think this gap was that large for water, but in fairness I never used my F-150 this way. These gaps might be common. I actually bought something called Gap Shield thinking I could mount to the tailgate in a way that allowed access to the smugglers bay but was unsatisfied with any options I came up with. That product is m

ainly used to keep rocks etc from falling in. I use a doubled over tarp like a bowl when I do that

 

[wjb]

Off-roading resulted in a huge amount of dust on everything in my truck bed. My wife's wheelchair looked like I had pushed it down a dirt hill on every surface except for the wheels. Although there are seals on the sides of the tailgate, if you look at the bottom there's a significant gap. Maybe there's a better way to prevent so much dust but this is what I came up with:

Tintvent D Shape EPDM Foam Rubber... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX283683?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Ready High Performance Adhesion... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP9Q6RK4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I cleaned the bonding surface, I suggest denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or acetone. BTW hand sanitizer has glycerin making it a horrible choice for cleaning. I also used adhesive promoter, this stuff has toluene and cyclohexane so please use chemical gloves or a tool. I bonded near the top of the plastic tray as shown. The area around the handle doesn't easily bond, you could skip or just span it like I did. I used a screwdriver to push down as I went along. Using the thickness I bought results in some friction and compression of the seal so I lubed the surface with silicone. If it doesn't stay I'll try 1/4 inch. There's a remaining gap in the handle area which I'll probably stuff with a rag when I'm out in the dirt.

I the tonneau cover several inches. Much less dust gets in than when is closed.

 

[wjb]

I the tonneau cover several inches. Much less dust gets in than when is closed.

Cracked the cover.

 

[jeniferkey]

I got this and it helps, but dust still gets in on our gravel road. https://a.co/d/d2TUoHD

 

[Pops]

Rubber mat covers the whole floor and all openings are sealed. The drawback is water will sit in for days in certain situations. Driving with the cover open will dry it pretty quick.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CZMMB4PK

 

[gillfoto]

My solution was a rubberized mat that spans from the bed to the tailgate. No more dust!

Like the one at HomeDepot for $50?

 

[Sturdybirdy]

I drive dusty roads every day so this is my over-elaborate solution. Works pretty well but cracking the tonneau a tad is the key.

 

[Jim Waller]

I finally feel like I've given this a proper test, my approach that is, more than 20 miles through Dusty desert near and in Anza Borrego and the truck bed is basically dust free, so success for once!

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