Bakflip/Linex LXP Slides Forward

[MrLeadFoot]

I've noticed that my cover tends to slide forward. It's not like it's so loose that it's flopping around, but over time it moves forward enough that given enough time, it eventually doesn't overlap the tailgate. Whenever this happens I open the tailgate, grab the rearmost panel, pull backwards, and I can move the cover back to the correct position. That said, I can also push the cover forward out of position again, too.

 

Yes, I've tightened the clamps, and they are as tight as they can possibly be when tightened by hand. Yesterday I resolved myself to getting to the bottom of this, and took a real good look at the knob mechanisms. Apparently, this must be a known issue because when laying on my back in the bed I noticed that in all 4 corners of the smal panel up by the cab, where the panel contacts the rubber on the rails, the manufacturer affixed a little square of texturized tape, presumably to provide the panel with a little more grip on the rubber when the panel is tightened down so the cover won't slide. Nice try, but newsflash, those little pieces of textured tape are not sufficient to prevent something as heavy as the combined weight of all the panels from sliding. Additionally, the adhesive on the back of the texturized tape gives, especially when it's warm, resulting in the cover potentially shifting on the pieces of tape. In fact, one of the 4 pieces of tape had moved out of position, so I loosened the cover, lifted it slightly, put the piece of tape back into the proper position, and re-tightened the knobs. But, I can see that these little pieces of tape aren't the proper remedy. 

 

I also noticed small rub marks on the rail rubber at the points of contact on the small panel caused by the cover shifting, and can see how the combination of the road vibrations and the forward centrifugal force of the weight of the cover upon stopping causes the cover to shift foward over time. While the manufacturer obviously did the best they could with the knob mechanisms they use, so they can claim flexibilty with the ease of removal of the cover, I can see that if I don't do something about the cover shifting it will eventually tear that rubber. I think I have a solution, but need this forum's help.

 

I noticed that the spots in the truck rail underside lip that protrude outward to be flush with the cover's rails, where the cover's clamps are supposed to be positioned, are long enough that I was able position the clamps so that they butt right up against the rear of the cover's knob mechansim, which now prevents the cover from sliding backwards, while the clamps are still within the confines of the protrusions in the truck rail lip. While this is helpful when I periodically have to pull the cover back when it eventually slides too far forward (I just pull back until it stops), it would be better if I could put the rail clamps in FRONT of the knob mechanisms because the cover never slides backwards, it only slides forward (due the reason previousy mentioned). The problem is that there is not enough room in front of the knob mechanisms for the clamps.

 

Sooooo, does anyone know of any small clamps or something I might be able to use as a stop in FRONT of the cover knob mechansims that would prevent the cover from sliding forward?

 

Thanks for your patience and willingness to read this long-winded post. 

 

Edited June 24, 2025 by MrLeadFoot

[Silverado4x4]

Don't know how big your gap is but something like a conduit pipe beam clamp should work, just search it and you will see what I mean.

[MrLeadFoot]

1 hour ago, Silverado4x4 said:

Don't know how big your gap is but something like a conduit pipe beam clamp should work, just search it and you will see what I mean.

Thanks for the reply, but not sure how this would fit in the application:

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/CADDY-Side-Mount-Conduit-Pipe-to-Flange-Clip-Clamp-1-2-to-3-4-in-5-Pack-812M24SMR5/204315676?MERCH=REC-_-pipsem-_-204315675-_-0-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a

[MrLeadFoot]

So, no one else's BakFlip, or tonneau of similar design slides forward? I find that hard to believe. I put this small clamp in front of the tightening knob bracket for now. 

I doubt it will hold over time, so I just ordered these mini c-clamps from Amazon. Maybe with a little effort, I can make them work:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0D5CJTS3Z?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

 

[Silverado4x4]

15 hours ago, MrLeadFoot said:

So, no one else's BakFlip, or tonneau of similar design slides forward? I find that hard to believe. I put this small clamp in front of the tightening knob bracket for now. 

I doubt it will hold over time, so I just ordered these mini c-clamps from Amazon. Maybe with a little effort, I can make them work:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0D5CJTS3Z?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

 

Those mini camps should work.  

[MrLeadFoot]

1 hour ago, Silverado4x4 said:

Those mini camps should work.  

Do you have the same problem? 

 

I'm actually starting to wonder if I should take off those little squares of textured tape (that you can see a part of sticking out to the left of the knob bracket, in the pic above) which might provide the rubber a better grip being in direct contact with the panel, instead of being able to shift around on those little pieces of tape. What do you think? 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2025 by MrLeadFoot

[Silverado4x4]

1 hour ago, MrLeadFoot said:

Do you have the same problem? 

 

I'm actually starting to wonder if I should take off those little squares of textured tape (that you can see a part of sticking out to the left of the knob bracket, in the pic above) which might provide the rubber a better grip being in direct contact with the panel, instead of being able to shift around on those little pieces of tape. What do you think? 

 

 

No I don't have that type of cover but your saying is worth a try can't hurt anything. 

[MrLeadFoot]

Thanks for letting me "talk this out" with you. So, the plan is to try those clamps tomorrow. At the same time, I will remove those textured pieces of tape for the reason mentioned above, as well as the fact that the side rubber is starting to show signs of chafing presumably from the tape acting like sandpaper on the rubber from the cover shifting around.

Edited July 5, 2025 by MrLeadFoot

[MrLeadFoot]

The little Amazon clamps work great as stops in front of the knob brackets. Perfect solution to the problem. No way the cover shifts forward or backwards, now. 

[parthery]

That’s weird. I currently have an Undercover Armor Flex on the truck that has the same clamp design. I just went out and looked and tried to move mine and it’s tight. 
 

Assuming you have the clamps installed properly?  Is the notch in the clamp locked on to the rail?

 

 

[MrLeadFoot]

1 hour ago, parthery said:

That’s weird. I currently have an Undercover Armor Flex on the truck that has the same clamp design. I just went out and looked and tried to move mine and it’s tight. 
 

Assuming you have the clamps installed properly?  Is the notch in the clamp locked on to the rail?

 

 

Yes, and the star knobs are as tight as I can turn them. There is a difference between my Linex LP and the BakFlip, although I don't know if it matters, but my bolts don't go all the way through the cover. In other words, the bolts don't insert through the top, and you can't see them from outside. I assume they are installed between the inner and outer panels. Perhaps that doesn't allow them to pull the entire weight of the cover down onto the rails, I don't know. What are yours like? 

 

Also, do you have pieces of textured tape in the four corners of the piece that bolts down onto the rails? 

Edited July 21, 2025 by MrLeadFoot

[MrLeadFoot]

Oops, my bad. In my haste, I didn't word things quite correctly. That'll teach me not to rush.

 

Mine is the type that has a slotted bracket attached to the interior panel of the cover. A short carriage bolt slides into the slot and a notched piece goes over the bolt. And, as you described, the notch nestles right onto the track. A star knob acts as a nut on the bolt, and cinches everything down, which in turn pulls the top down onto the rubber on top of the rails. But, that rubber is firm and slippery. I don't see how anybody's top would not shift forward because there is nothing in front to stop the cover from sliding or vibrating forward over time. If I grab my cover from the back and pull, or push, it moves. But, now that I put the stock rail clamps behind, and butted up to, the notched pieces, and those two little Chinese clamps in front of the hold-down clamps, the cover simply can't move. 

 

Still can't belive mine is the only ones that moves. 

Edited July 25, 2025 by MrLeadFoot