Tailgate experts - water leak question

[badmix]

Was trying to figure out where the puddle of water was coming from. Ran down after a bad storm and found the culprit but it seems odd place for water to leak from. Its leaking from the side latch that holds the tailgate closed. This latch is a good 2-3" inward of the tailgate. Obviously water is getting in, but I dont get how it can be dripping out of the tailgate latch inside.

Anyone have any ideas how water is getting in?

Which seal or gasket may be compromised to let water in?

 

[tRustyK5]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's your topper seal at the back.

 

[K5-Kelly]

Quarter Glass.....it did it on mine.

 

[badmix]

its not the glass, the leak is coming out of tailgate itself at the sidelatch

 

[Fordum]

I've found every leak I ever tackled..........Eventually....
There are two ways to tackle it.
First, from where you see the water, and if you hit a dead end there, you go to where it comes from.
Dry everything off, put someone where they can see, and apply water sparingly.
Give the top a spritz, and then wait. Don't put water everywhere.
Toilet paper is your friend.
Put some in a place, apply water, then check to see if its wet. You can track water flow that way.

 

[badmix]

Yea. Ill have to take the access cover off the tailgate. Its odd. Its streaming from the sidelatch. That outside corner is hard to figure out as its where the top, tailgate and side all comes together. Its not getting in the tailgate seal itself and its not getting under the "topper to bedrail" seal. I think its the seal that goes around the inside of the topper that the glass sits in when its up. I dunno.

 

[ryoken]

thats where it'll be leaking, at the end of the window felt by the corner... ignore the fact it's coming in the latch, it's just chasing it's way down thru there...

have someone outside, you inside, have em take a garden hose on low to it, starting low and working there way up to above the tailgate...