FAQ — drain tubes

Do I Have to Drill Into the Bed of My 2018 Chevy Silverado to Install Drain Tubes for My BAKFlip MX4?

Chevy Silverado Owner: I spoke to you about two to three weeks ago about a BAKFlip MX4. I'm sure you don't remember that, but that's okay.

Chevy Silverado Owner: A 2018 Chevrolet Silverado.

Chevy Silverado Owner: Okay. Well, I should have ordered it last time then.

Chevy Silverado Owner: Okay. How about the swing out compartment box thing. That was free like a week ago.

Peter: Yeah, that rebate is ended.

Chevy Silverado Owner: Oh my goodness. All right, but here's the whole reason I didn't order earlier was because I was worried about the drains. When I watched the installation video, it shows drilling through this big plastic plug in the bed of the truck. They show it on, I think it's the F150.

Peter: Right.

Chevy Silverado Owner: My truck doesn't have that plastic plug. Where is that drain line supposed to go?

Peter: I don't know. Every truck's a little bit different. If there are no holes leading out of the bed, you would have to drill. Otherwise, more water would get in if the drain tubes weren't installed.

Chevy Silverado Owner: Okay. Yeah, because I was thinking that I keep it in the garage. So it would only be in the rain if I'm out and it's raining and then it would be sitting somewhere while I'm in a store, in a restaurant, something like that while it's raining.

Peter: Right. There are a couple of other covers out there, hard-covers, that don't require the draining tubes. Like, for example, the BAK makes a Revolver X4. It's a hard roll-up cover. That one does not need drain tubes. And then, the X10 Solid Fold 2.0 is a hard tri-fold cover. That one doesn't need drain tubes either.

Chevy Silverado Owner: Do both of those sit flush?

Peter: The Revolver X4 does, but the X10 does not. That sits up on top the bed rails.

Chevy Silverado Owner: Okay. So it's Revolver X4?

Peter: Yeah and it's made by BAK and it's a little cheaper than the MX4.

Chevy Silverado Owner: The MX4... I've really, really had my eye on that one ever since you turned me on to it. You know. Now is the MX4, there's no way to like to plug the drain holes and let it run out the back end?

Peter: Yeah, I mean you can attempt to do that. I mean I know guys that have done that before. But, like I said, it is still going to allow a little bit of water to get in here and there. But yeah, you can plug them. I mean that's always an option.

Chevy Silverado Owner: Then I might have to wait until one of these deals comes back around with that storage box because I have trailer hitches and stuff like that. That would be perfect to keep it all in.

Peter: Yeah. Okay. Well just check in with us and we do deals every month or two.

How Do I Get a Replacement Part for my Undercover UltraFlex?

Tonneau Covered Customer: I received the tonneau cover and I installed it and I did have two or three questions about the installation, but also on the driver's side rail, the little tube that comes down out that you're supposed to connect the flexible hose for the drain, that's broken off. And I looked for it in all the packaging, I thought maybe I could just glue it, but I couldn't even find it.

Tonneau Covered Customer: You know which part I'm talking about?

Tonneau Covered Customer: I bought the Undercover UltraFlex.

Tonneau Covered Customer: Yeah, sure. Okay, ready.

Tonneau Covered Customer: Okay. And maybe I should talk to them about the installation too because the fit seems a little bit odd on my Tacoma.

Tonneau Covered Customer: Alright, Peter. Okay. Hey, thanks for your help and your time.

Should I Purchase an Extang or a BAK Tonneau Cover for My GMC Sierra?

Peter: Looks like you were interested in the Extang Solid Fold. 2.0 for your new GMC Sierra?

Peter: The most popular ones are going to be the BAKFlip models. Those were designed with drain channels that lead to drain tubes that keep the water out of the bed. So it's just a different design and it's a little more water resistant for sure.

Peter: Right. So there are a couple of advantages. One, they sit flush inside the bed rail, so it's got a more low profile appearance than the Extang. It's also a trifold, but it can fold completely up out of the bed and secure behind the cab. So you have full bed access. So it's a much more versatile than the Extang.

Peter: Yeah. The most popular by far is going to be the BAKFlip MX4.

Peter: That one, it has a really nice matte black finish that people like as well. Anything you order will have free shipping and there's no sales tax.

Peter: Yes.

Peter: A bedrail?

Peter: Oh, got you. Yeah. You're going to have a few different options there. I know that Putco makes some. They kind of range in price, but I could get a couple of options ready for you.

Peter: Okay, no problem. I'll put that together and then we'll talk to you in a little bit.