Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Latching Issue?

[dphel27]

I just purchased a 2019 Silverado and installed the Chevy Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover over the weekend. I followed everything as per the installation instructions and am having a problem with one of the latches. Each of the slam latches are fully engaged when I close the cab end, and tail end of the tonneau cover. I also have the slam latches up against the driver and passenger side rails as per the diagram. 

 

The problem that I’m having is as I’m driving the driver side / cab end slam latch keeps coming unlatched. Anybody have any experience with this or know what may be causing this to happen? 

 

Also is it normal to only have  two stationary clamps, and the 4 slam latches to secure the tonneau cover to the bed? 

 

My fear is having two slam latches come unlatched while driving which may lead to the tonneau cover flying off the bed. 

 

Thanks

 

Dan 

[2019_Silverado_HC]

Also had the same problem.  The solution that seems to be working for me is to loosen the hold down latches.  Per the instructions it was very clear to not over tighten the latches.  They even referenced a torque spec.  Over torquing puts too much tension on the latch and it pops when the bed flexes making turns or transversing a bump or incline.

[dphel27]

2 hours ago, 2019_Silverado_HC said:

Also had the same problem.  The solution that seems to be working for me is to loosen the hold down latches.  Per the instructions it was very clear to not over tighten the latches.  They even referenced a torque spec.  Over torquing puts too much tension on the latch and it pops when the bed flexes making turns or transversing a bump or incline.

Thanks for your help. You bring up a good point regarding over tightening the stationary clamps. I took my truck to the dealer this morning to have them look at it. They made some adjustments on the slam latches to make them more tight when you close the tonneau cover. I also had them look at my stationary clamps and they said they looked fine. 

 

I just took an hour road trip and the problem seems to be fixed. When I got home I thought I would take a look underneath the tonneau cover. Only thing that I noticed is when the slam latches are fully engaged there is about an 1/8 gap between the edge of the slam latch and the rails. Previously when I had it installed I had the slam latches touching the driver, and passenger rails as per the diagram. As long as it don’t come unlatched and go flying down the road I’m good. Fingers crossed.

[dphel27]

Well the driver side / cab end slam latch came unlatched again. It’s seems that the adjustments are really tedious. I’m going to send it back to the dealer and have them torque everything back to spec and make sure nothing is over tight. 

 

[DougFL]

I installed the LOMAX Tri-Fold hard cover and it looks and works great.  In addition, it is easily removable if you need access to the full bed.

[dphel27]

Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing. Glad it’s working well for you. ?

[dphel27]

Here’s an update. I continued to have issues with the driver side / cab end slam latch coming unlatched while driving so I returned it to the dealer with no problem. My dealer said that Chevy is aware of the issue. 

 

[2019_Silverado_HC]

Once I loosened the clamps on both sides, and adjusted the latches out as far as they go, I haven’t had any more issues...yet. 

[dphel27]

54 minutes ago, 2019_Silverado_HC said:

Once I loosened the clamps on both sides, and adjusted the latches out as far as they go, I haven’t had any more issues...yet. 

I took your advice and loosened the clamps on both sides, and it did seem to help it. Only 1 slam latch kept coming unlatched. More than likely it was probably just defective from the get go. I've had 3 tonneau covers in my day and have never had any come unlatched while driving. I had the slam latches adjusted as far as they could go, and it almost appeared to me the cables between the slam latches were not long enough because there was still about 1/8 gap between the driver, and passenger rail to the edge of the slam latch. 

 

The biggest problem I had was loosening the hold down latches to the recommended torque rating. In my opinion they should be designed to be torqued down more because they're the two main clamps that secure the tonneau cover to the bed. I would be concerned of them loosening up overtime due to vibration. If that would happen your then relying on 4 slam latches to secure the tonneau cover to the bed. Maybe I'm just being over cautious and paranoid but I looked at this tonneau cover as a liability that could give me problems overtime. 

 

I really liked the look of this cover and really wish I could have made it work. Wish you all the best with it and your new truck  

 

Thanks for your help. 

 

Dan

[DBRE]

My 2019 Silverado experienced the same issues with the tri fold, BUT WORSE it leaks very bad. Anyone have a leak issue with these covers?    I am told GM is aware but no fix to date.

 

[AMPRG]

16 hours ago, DBRE said:

My 2019 Silverado experienced the same issues with the tri fold, BUT WORSE it leaks very bad. Anyone have a leak issue with these covers?    I am told GM is aware but no fix to date.

 

I've had hard covers on almost all of my trucks in, including my new 2019 Silverado. None of them are water sealed. There is no way you can seal them 100%. You should get along with it ?

Even if you seal them now, they'll leak later. Because the cargo has a lot of movements and is not rigid as the cabin is. Don't forget, cargo has no column and roof ?

By the way, I installed Undercover Armor Flex, and I'm so happy with it. For years I was using Backflip products. With my new Undercover, I don't have to close it after closing the tailgate. It can be left closed even before closing the tailgate. It works perfectly with my LTZ which has both up and down motorized tailgate. 

[DBRE]

thank you for the reply

On my last 3 new Silverados I hadt a GM  folding cover and it never leaked, This 2019 soaks everything in the bed .  .I  took it to the dealer because the front latches kept popping up as others have mentioned. The dealer said the open front section was the source of my water leak. The opening was due to the cold weather in NY in December, so they readjusted it. 

When you say live with it, I have to tell you how bad it is. Items in the cargo net are soaked, a cardboard box of car wash towels was soaked and the box was destroyed. A cardboard box full of towels that was in my 2016 for over a year. So I think my issue  is not normal/ 

[AMPRG]

4 hours ago, DBRE said:

thank you for the reply

On my last 3 new Silverados I hadt a GM  folding cover and it never leaked, This 2019 soaks everything in the bed .  .I  took it to the dealer because the front latches kept popping up as others have mentioned. The dealer said the open front section was the source of my water leak. The opening was due to the cold weather in NY in December, so they readjusted it. 

When you say live with it, I have to tell you how bad it is. Items in the cargo net are soaked, a cardboard box of car wash towels was soaked and the box was destroyed. A cardboard box full of towels that was in my 2016 for over a year. So I think my issue  is not normal/ 

Here we don't have that much rain, and major leak is because of washing the car. As you mentioned, these covers play with temperature. I hope you can get permanent fix and will never have any leak again.

[eppieguy]

8 hours ago, AMPRG said:

Here we don't have that much rain, and major leak is because of washing the car. As you mentioned, these covers play with temperature. I hope you can get permanent fix and will never have any leak again.

A major leak because of washing the car? I have the BakFlip and I take my Truck through the high pressure car was a couple of times a week and I only get a couple of drops in the bed and it's from the under-body sprayers spraying up through the drain holes in the bed and under the tailgate. A cover should not leak because it rains or you was your truck. 

 

Just my .02