Water Inside Tailgate, By Design?

[630amichael]

I’ve replaced all the seals on the back tailgate (inner, outer and upper window seal, foam end caps, and tailgate seal) except for the removable top seals.

I had the tailgate interior cover off while it was raining and realized a fair amount of water actually enters the tailgate and exits out the drain holes. Is water supposed to pass thru the tailgate by design? I’d imagine limiting the amount that can get inside is best.

Thanks

 

[nvrenuf]

It’s not really supposed to go in if all of the weatherstripping, seals and gaskets are good but it happens, this is why the drain holes are there. The doors have drain holes too (even new cars).

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

Just keep that interior panel on the gate if you live in a wet area. Someone removed the panel on my suburban and it led to a crusty floor.

 

[ZooMad75]

The belt molding seal should hold most of the water back at the top of the gate but where the glass passes through at both ends of the gate with those fiberglass caps don’t seal well at all. They are supposed to seal to the bottom of the fiberglass top with the weatherstripping on the top but my experience is they don’t do a good job.

Water will get in. Make sure it can get out. Also important to keep the window regulator tracks greased well to shed water and keep the tracks from rusting. Rusty tracks wear out the rollers and cause issues when trying to open or close the glass.