Clean area thoroughly with soap and water solution and wipe completely dry. Use alcohol pad to prep the tape application area and let dry. Wait until after Tailgate Seal is installed, before applying very firm pressure, to secure adhesive bond. If necessary, Tailgate Seal can be removed and repositioned prior to applying very firm pressure.

Pictures shown are for the left sidewall and tailgate gap.

Start 1/2” (1.3cm) below truck bed floor and attach standard size Tailgate Seal to the rear corner edge of the left sidewall extension (FIG 1A). Start from bottom and stop when flush with rubber stop. Cut to fit. Apply light pressure to adhesive. Duplicate for right sidewall.

STEP 2:

Cut a 5.25" (13.3cm) piece from standard size Tailgate Seal. Remove liner and flush edge of seal to sidewall extension applying light pressure to adhesive (FIG 2A). Draw a V, approximately 1” (2.5cm) wide, as shown in FIG 2A. Remove seal and cut out V. Do not cut into the bulb part of seal. Reposition seal (FIG 2B). Follow curve of truck and apply light pressure to adhesive (FIG 2C). Duplicate for right side. Check that the top of tailgate does not interfere with the top of seal by lifting up tailgate (but not closing) and inspecting from the outside rear. Adjust seal as necessary. Duplicate for right side

STEP 3

Cut a 2.25” (5.7cm) piece from the Large Tailgate Seal and attach as shown in FIG 3A and alternate view FIG 3B. Apply light pressure to adhesive. Duplicate for right side.

STEP 4
Close tailgate. If you see light through the sidewalls make adjustments by removing the seal and repositioning. If there is still light then cut pieces of seal as needed and attach to sidewalls and/or tailgate. Do not attach adhesive to seal. Open tailgate. Apply very firm pressure to secure the adhesive bond. 

To evaluate the best positioning for the tailgate gap, cut a 1” (2.5cm) test piece and align the top of bulb with the truck bed floor. Stand to the side of truck and raise tailgate until the bulb makes contact with tailgate. If the bulb rolls downwards just before closing tailgate, so that you can see the tape, then seal has rolled and compressed too much. This can cause added stress to the adhesive and possible separation.

If compressing too much, then invert 1” piece so that bulb side is down. Raise tailgate again and make sure no light is visible through the 1” piece. Adjust 1” piece higher or lower in the gap, as needed, to block the light.

After determining if bulb should be up or down and how high or low, remove 1” piece and pick up one end of the continuous seal. Start at either end, peel back liner and flush to tailgate seal on the sidewall. Attach in sections, apply light pressure to adhesive should you need to reposition. Flush to seal on the other sidewall and cut to fit. Apply very firm pressure to secure adhesive bond.

STEP 6 
After Tailgate Seal is in place, apply very firm pressure to secure the entire adhesive bond. Leave tailgate open for 30 minutes. If the air temperature will fall below 50°F (10°C) within the next 24 hours or, if applying to a surface other than paint, such as plastic or a spray on bed liner, then leave tailgate open for 24 hours.