Leer HF650M tonneau cover???

I purchased mine from a 3rd party retailer, so not the same situation as far as shipping notifications. Calling customer service and not getting a response is what I have dealt with since July 2020 and seems typical for Leer.

In fact, I FINALLY got my missing parts last week that I have been asking for since i bought it in July! I ended up just choosing different options in the menu when I called until I got a live person who would escalate it for me. I ended up speaking with someone in the dealer support group. I will say that they sent me a nice 25 quart cooler as a token of appreciation for my patience.

For anyone wanting the Leer tonneau cover, which I do love, I strongly suggest buying it from a Leer dealer and hold them accountable for the post-purchase service and warranty claims with Leer.

 

100% this. On @PEIHank suggestion I had a local Leer dealer install it. It took 50 min. They did a great job with the install - using the foam spacers at the front where the side cab walls meet the front cab wall and then using silicone to fill the remaining gaps. Minimal leakage. I love the canopy. I have had it for about 2+ weeks now. I can go back to the installer if I have any issues. But haven't needed to yet.

 

I received mine about a week after ordering. I did get a tracking #, but I don't remember how long after ordering that they sent it to me. I had to email back to get the weather striping sent, as it wasn't included. Going to install the weather striping next weekend, no instructions, so I hope I do it right.

 

Here is the most current instalation instructions.

 

Anyone finding the non-latching second panel from tailgate an issue? Seems like a weird design choice. This checks a lot of boxes I seem to want, quad fold (short bed so think it would give a little more room when folded but not standing instead of tri-fold), simple install with existing bed rails and Toyota clamps, able to prop up and doesn’t touch the cab. This is my first truck and tonneau cover so not sure if that stuff makes a difference in the long run.

 

I haven't had any issues with the second panel not latching. Mind you, I haven't tested to see if it can be lifted independently from the other panels to allow access to what's inside. I agree with you on all of the checkboxes it ticks, overall I am very pleased with the product itself.

You may have already read my posts regarding broken/missing parts and the trouble with Leer customer service. At the risk of sounding like a broken record...get it installed at the dealer you purchase it from.

 

Yeah I read through all and this is a great resource! Appreciate yours and everyone's feedback and information. I just reached out to the local Leer dealer to see what they'd do for cover + installation. Depending on what they come back with quote-wise I'd definitely want to go that route based on all of the issues everyone had going direct. Leer does have a $75 (7.5%) off deal going now to bring it to $924.

 

Install here near Seattle was $99. It took just under 1 hour. As for the panels latching/not latching, I am fine with the 2nd panel not latching. I cannot lift it up when everything is closed down and the tailgate is locked. Maybe with a crow bar, but it's not going to lift very much.

I really like this cover a lot. I was almost ready to get the Undercover Armor/Ultra Flex which I liked over the BakFlip MX4. Until I saw the display at the install dealer of the HF650 and then the Flex and BakFlip displays and compared the rails.

I took some photos of the HF650 installed for your reference (for those installing themselves). Let me know if you want any other angles.

Edit - the 2nd & 3rd photos show the foam spacer and silicone caulking to help seal up the gaps between the sidewalls and the front wall of the bed.

 

I also have to say that I really like the pinch-trigger mechanism for unlocking/releasing the panels on the Leer 650. I'll post a photo of that later. The other brands of covers are almost as expensive as the Leer, so I don't understand why they only use a cable aside that it is cheaper from them. My friend told me a coat hanger could be used to pull the cable open on some bed covers when the tailgate is closed/locked. I don't know if that's true or not, but the Leer trigger is just nicer because it's more comfortable to use even with ski gloves on (and it's 1 handed operation).

2 things worth noting - I suggest getting some bed lighting. With the cover on, it's dark in the bed now. The OEM bed lighting is inexpensive (I think I paid $53) and super easy to install (literally 15 minutes). Great youtube videos for help. I also installed the OEM tailgate remote powerlock ($140). I can easily lock my tailgate (and double check) because I often forget or just not thinking about it because I'm managing 3 kids and all the family stuff/gear/tools. And more importantly, I can unlock it from a far and make my kids go and get their ski gear themselves and then I can be sure it's locked when their done because they'll definitely forget to lock it.

 

I got to ask...what does installing the power tailgate lock entail? Is it difficult? I assume it has to pair with you key remote somehow?

 

I did it this weekend. You have to remove the tailgate plastic cover, T30 torx bit. Remove two clips holding in the backup camera wiring, route the tail gate plug through the same opening as the camera wire and attach new clip. Go to front passenger side and remove the plastic sill piece and cover near the floorboard. Plug the new wiring harness in there and route down through an existing grommet under the passenger seat. Then it’s routing the wiring underneath with tons of zip ties back into the bed where the tailgate attaches and plugging in and reattaching the plastic. It took about an hour with minimal effort, wasn’t bad at all. The only thing I didn’t do was seal the clasp that attaches to the tailgate bed metal since I didn’t have sealer on hand but probably will pick some up to do so (3. J. From the manual). Works great, I followed the attached pdf here for my short bed. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2019-tailgate-lock-pn-pk3b6-35js0.637471/#post-21973091 and it works with existing key fob, just wires up a plug and play wire harness to an actuator on the tailgate lock.

 

I followed some YouTube videos. It probably took me 2 hours because I'm slow and I had to keep pausing or rewinding the videos. But I thought the videos were extremely helpful - especially with pulling the trim pieces because I always think I'm going to break something. Initially I was hesitant about this, but the videos looked relatively straightforward.

Here are the 2 videos I used for reference.
https://youtu.be/Ejq_Y6OjakE
https://youtu.be/gz-8j4S3Dkw
There are a several more. I think I searched "tacoma 3rd gen OEM tailgate lock install" or some variations of that.

Make sure to get the correct part for either the short bed or long bed so you know that the wiring harness is long enough.

 

I didn't see that thread. Thanks for sharing. Instructions for the long bed part was in message #660. Now I'm going to read through it to see what I missed. I didn't know about the sealant.

 

@Extrakrispy Looks good. Can I ask were you got the cover installed? I'm up near Bellingham but would make the trip.

 

Canopy World in Des Moines, a little south of Seattle. I found them because I was initially interested in an Undercover Flex and they're a preferred dealer for Undercover which I almost got, until I saw the display for the Leer HF650 and then compared it to the Flex and the BakFlip. CW was great - they didn't push any of the bed covers on me, just explained the differences between the 3. They gave me info and prices for each cover (Armor/Ultra Flex, BakFlip MX4, HF650) and I went home and did more reaserch on my own. Once I was certain I wanted the 650 (about 1 or 2 days later), I called CW and put a deposit down on the cover so they could order it. The cover arrived at their shop in around 3 days and we scheduled an appointment for install a few days later. Install was just under an hour and then I paid the remaining balance. So the whole process took just over a week I think.

 

Weather striping installed. Not sure if it's right. Attached it to the split rails. Was hoping it would make it more water proof and more secure (prevent the third panel from being lifted up while closed). It may be more waterproof, not sure. And I can still lift the central panels while closed.
Where does the other type weather striping go?
Any help would be appreciated.
May have to visit the local distributor.

 

I didn't receive that coiled roll of 3m 300lse stripping pictured above. Curious myself maybe at tailgate seal? Seems like awful lot for that though. Watching this.

 

I'll take a look at my truck tomorrow. And get some more photos for you all.

Perhaps that coiled roll of 3m stripping goes on the head rail of the bed?

 

I took the cover off and snapped some pics of the front front rail. I think the 3m seal goes at the front of the bed.

 

So Brain, how is the waterproofing with the professional install? Getting any water in there?