Waterproof your bed vault - how-to DIY

[MikeFromHolland]

So it moves with the tonneau when you open it or stays with the tailgate?

It’s on the cross member at the roof (adjacent to the glass) that faces the rear. It stay with the cross member.

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[DEAKBS]

Is that the back by the tailgate? Hard to tell but looks like it. Mine is perfectly sealed there but leaks at the roof slat. Told them about it in the many 30+ days at SC-it was within spec but is missing the slat. So she’s moist when it rains and flat out wet after a car wash.

Same. My CT is currently at the SC getting seals and strips replaced & reinforced according to them. But the service member did read the manual to me and it states that the truck bed is not meant to be waterproof. That condensation and some water may "ingress" into truck bed. It recommends to keep non water proof items in the truck bed compartment and frunk. I honestly had no idea and didn't read that part of the manual and just assumed it was waterproof. Even bought an aftermarket cargo net to store items in which all the stuff I had in there was getting pretty wet after a car wash including my charging cable and pool stick (inside carrying case) and other items that weren't really meant to be wet. Also tons of water would run down the back window and wall of the truck bed when opening the tonneau after every car wash. Super annoying as I'd have to wipe it all down as well as dry up the water pooling underneath my cargo net in the truck bed grooves.

I find it disingenuous of Tesla to use words like "ingress" of water which is like a term that can have a broad interpretation. I told the service member that it definitely was more than just condensation, and then he just said we'll it says water ingress. I'm continuing to have bad customer service just like with my 2018 Model 3. Idk if its just this service center or what. I do live in CA, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the employees are liberal or at least moderate and it makes me wonder.

So far the issues I've had are the liftgate lip on the right corner not latched on properly. They kept telling me it was normal, I started getting frustrated because I felt like they were gaslighting me, and they eventually just agreed to replace the lip but said it would be the same and they weren't going to do anything about it. Sure enough they replaced it and it was still exactly the same. Also noticed that after the first car wash of with the new lip, some sort of white fluid seeped out of that area and it kind of stained my truck. I tried washing it and cleaning it with glass cleaner as well as stainless steel cleaner but you can still see the trails of this white fluid that randomly leaked out of the liftgate lip shortly after a car wash after I dropped the liftgate for the first time.

Other issues are the front axels being pretty noisy when turning the wheel, I would say 3 out of 5 times in which they once again said it was normal and within spec. Is anyone elses doing this by the way? Sounds noisy inside and outside the car. It wouldn't be as bad if it was only me hearing it but I find it embarrassing and also inconsiderate towards neighbors trying to sleep when I am trying to parallel park at night time near the other apartment units in my complex and my trucks just making these loud screeching noises as I turn the wheel.

And last but not least is the vibrating side mirror when reaching speeds of 70 mph or higher, with the driver side mirror being worse. I can't even really see off of it when its vibrating like that.

 

[jz724]

I have been wanting to trying this since I first saw the electrical tape post but I have a cybertent so that aero cover needs to come off each time I open it.
Does the part of that strip that overlaps the aero cover actually adhere to it or is that just overhang?

Why are you not supposed to cover that gap? What’s big deal? That looks like it’s easy to do

 

[hemiarch]

The gap is easy to cover and not a big deal. Definitely would help with waterproofing I think, but if it’s stuck on there (one side on the glass and the other on the aero flap) it means you can’t remove the aero flap without peeling it off. And that means you can’t open your cybertent without peeling it off. Not a great design in that particular spot but you can’t open the tent without removing that whole cover/aeroflap.

one more point about this to hopefully save someone some frustration, if you have a cybertent and purchase a rearview camera and mount it on the top of the car, you should NOT hide the wire between the glass and the Aeroflap. Just stick it to the top of the glass. Even if you cut a notch in the aeroflap it will eventually transect the wire.
In my case it was our friends at the Tesla SC that did it .…the first two times.
The third one was on me.

 

[jz724]

The gap is easy to cover and not a big deal. Definitely would help with waterproofing I think, but if it’s stuck on there (one side on the glass and the other on the aero flap) it means you can’t remove the aero flap without peeling it off. And that means you can’t open your cybertent without peeling it off. Not a great design in that particular spot but you can’t open the tent without removing that whole cover/aeroflap.

one more point about this to hopefully save someone some frustration, if you have a cybertent and purchase a rearview camera and mount it on the top of the car, you should NOT hide the wire between the glass and the Aeroflap. Just stick it to the top of the glass. Even if you cut a notch in the aeroflap it will eventually transect the wire.
In my case it was our friends at the Tesla SC that did it .…the first two times.
The third one was on me.

But if you don’t have a cyber tent and don’t intend on getting one, what’s the big deal then? Just asking cuz it seems like a simple fix

 

[hemiarch]

There isn’t. If you don’t have a cybertent it’s a perfect fix. Much better than anything Tesla is doing.

 

[jz724]

How’s this holding up for everyone? I put the stripping down and I still get some drips. I think it’s improved though. I wonder if maybe I didn’t push the adhesive down enough maybe? Also, how do I get this off safely to try and reapply.

 

[EWELON]

just submitted my service request citing Tesla Service Bulletin SB-25-11-001.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2025/MC-11014770-0001.pdf

 

[jz724]

Just read your invoice- that won’t fix it. Mines gone in twice for that. The real issue is the applique (where the glass meets the trim) that gap you see is where most the leaks come from. The water management will help, but if that applique sealed foam is failing at all it’ll have water. I covered it with the weatherstripping but it’s still getting a little bit.

 

[cybersky]

It’s on the cross member at the roof (adjacent to the glass) that faces the rear. It stay with the cross member.

Can you take a couple of pictures with tonneau open? Dud you put the seal from the bottom of the cross member? A video opening/closing would be great too.

Thank you !

 

[nicnguye]

I just had my 'missing' slat installed by Tesla. There was no/little push back, especially when I posted via the Tesla service app the picture of my missing slat. Leaving me with a nice rail gutter with even spaced holes to pour water right behind the back seat/bed.

Is this picture taken BEFORE or AFTER the "missing slat" repair? BTW, my truck came from the factory like this. Thanks.

 

[JackCypher]

Is this picture taken BEFORE or AFTER the "missing slat" repair? BTW, my truck came from the factory like this. Thanks.

This picture is BEFORE - showing the MISSING slate and 'rain gutter' drain into your bed!

 

[nicnguye]

This picture is BEFORE - showing the MISSING slate and 'rain gutter' drain into your bed!

Thank you so much for responding. Can you post a picture of the same area AFTER the repair? Thanks again.

 

[cybersky]

just submitted my service request citing Tesla Service Bulletin SB-25-11-001.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2025/MC-11014770-0001.pdf

I placed a request as well but didn't cite this tsb. They setup a mobile service appointment in a couple of weeks. Not sure what they are going to be fixing with that.

 

[EWELON]

not sure if rhey can do it mobile. you can add the link to the chat in your service request. if you take a pic of the tonneau closed and show that the water management channel is exposed that might also help

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