I posted this in the bedliner forum, but I don't think anyone's been there in 2 months, lol.

I will give it a try here:

I bought an ARE Z series cap just over a month ago, and have been very happy with it thus far. Everything is A-1, the fit, the finish, the overall look, I have no complaints.

Yesterday, I decided to remove it for the summer (more practical for me)

A couple friends came over to give me a hand, and we took it off and placed it on a cradle I built in the back shed.

Soon as it was removed from the truck, I noticed a horrifying discovery:

The 3rd brake-light on my truck is all scratched to hell, as well as the black trim on either side of the brake-light.
The front of the cap has 3 big ugly gouges out of it, right down to the fibreglass.

Obviously, the cap was installed too close to the cab of the truck, and the cap was "rubbing" against the cab, and caused this damage. I have never had the cap off my truck since it was installed about a month ago.

So yes, I am really PO'd at the damage this has caused to my new 2002 F-150 (2,400 miles on the odometer right now, 1,000 when the cap was installed)

I went to the dealer today where I bought it, and they told me to return on Monday when the owner is in. They were trying to weazal out of any responsibility by saying this has never happened before, and I should have heard some noises and reported it immediatly. They were "shocked" that I never heard anything.

Anyway, I'm really stressed out right now, because this dealer has a reputation for being a supreme A-hole. (I learned this news after I purchased the cap)

Tomorrow when I get my camera back, I will post picsa of the damage.
My gut feeling tells me he will try to weazal out of the damage and try to pull a fast one.

I guess the only thing I can do is take him to small claims court and let a judge decide.

Anyone have any ideas on the cost of replacing the 3rd brake light cover, and all the black trim around the rear window?
Also, any suggestions on how to handle this will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Alex

 

If they installed that then they are most certainly responsible for that damage. Its obvious it was their error.

 

I guess the little wife was wrong after all, huh???

Maybe it's better to be a bit of a redneck with a soft cover???

That doesn't look like the kind of damage that would occur from removing the cap so it was obviously caused when they installed it.

They should pay for it. If they don't then you can have a tailgate party at the dealer's entrance every weekend, telling everyone how they f*cked up your beautiful new truck.

The pictures tell a lot. I wanted to see them before I responded before.

 

Not to dispute your pictures but I have the same cap. Mine is no where near rubbing the back of the cab and it can only slide so far up the bed due to the overlap of the cap.
You may want to look at how close the factory placed your bed to the cab on the truck frame. If your bed was placed on truck in error(to close) and that caused the cap to rub the cab, then the installer is not at fault. Only reason I bring this up is that I now for a fact that the cap can not be placed on the bed any farther forward than what the cap overlap will allow.

 

Alex, based on harleyrider's post maybe you should find another F-150 to 'set' the cap on and check the clearance.

Maybe more than one if you can swing it.

I had a cap once that wasn't 'square' so, these things can happen.

 

Thanks for the replies.
HarlyRider, good point you bring up, I never even considered it.
If that were the case, wouln't the installer know it was too close when they put it on? This is all new to me.

I did a search of some "cap on" photos, and here are 3 that are the best. I suppose it's impossible to tell anything from the photos though.

Alex

 

The contour of the cap doesn't seem to following the contour of the cab.

I took a measurement for you.
The gap between the bed and the cab.
Drivers side - 1 inch 1/4.
Passengerside 1 inch 5/16.

this was about 6 inchs in, on each side, top of the bed wall.

You may have a defective shaped cap.

 

Yeah that cab looks wierd. Mine follows the cab contour perfectly.

Not the best picture. I can take one and post 2mar0 if you like. Your cap widens toward the top and mine stays same thickness between front of cap and window.

BTW, I can run my hand (opened like a slap with fingers together) all around the cap sides and top. The distance stays the same all sides. I can hang a rag from my fingers and let it rub truck glass and cap glass for a cleaning when washing truck.

Your cap definetely looks narrower at the top. Mine is 2 years old this July and unless they changed the design since then, yours appears to be mis-formed.

 

So I went into my local Van & Truck world today to see if they would fix the problem, and the response I got was incredible.

I was calm and very polite, and showed the manager the photos of the damage, then he politlely said "So, what do you want from me?"

I got an estimate from my Ford dealership and tried to show him, but he wouldn't even look, he said "You should have come in here as soon as you heard noises from the cap rubbing against the truck"

I told him that during the month the cap was on, I never heard anything, and that I removed the cap Fri evening and went to to dealer on Sat to report the problem.

The store emplyee told me to come back on Monday (today).
When I got there, the manager told me the owner was tied up in a meeting and for me to return in half hour.
When I returned, the manager told me the owner will be busy for the remainder of the day and would not have time to see me.

He then told me that the owner said there was nothing they could do for me because I didn't report the problem when it happened, and that I was "out of luck"

If there was ever a time when I felt like driving my fist into someones face, that was the moment.
I was really upset and told him that I would see him in court. (along with a few other choice comments that I can;t repeat here)

I went down to the courthouse and picked up the application to sue them, which I will complete tonight and drop off tomorrow.

The estimate from my Ford dealership to repair the damage was $602. This included parts, labour, and taxes

This is unbelievable. The owner walks with a cane because of a gimp leg, I found out the reason for his bum leg is because a former emplyee gave it to him with a baseball bat.
I wish I was there to see that.

Alex

 

It doesn't matter how long you waited, it's still there fault. Besides the cost to repair the damage would have been relatively the same whether it had been rubbing for a few days or a month. Maybe you can tack on a few grand for the pain and suffering of your new truck

I'm sure you'll win the lawsuit. I've seen this before, the owners of these companies tell you your out of luck, hoping you will go away and not cause toruble, even though they know they're liable. Once you file the suit them they'll probably offer to take care of the damage.

-Jon

 

Habibi,

Make sure as part of the lawsuit you ask for your money back on the defective shell. You probably don't want to put it back on. GO for as much as you can get within reason. I'm pretty sure they don't give out pain and suffering for small claims but you can also write a letter to the manufacturer of the cab and let them know what a jack *** they have dealing their product line.

Hell, I would write letters to all of his suppliers letting them know what bad service this guy gives to his customers. The magic of the internet is that you can get addresses and contact information on just about any product in minutes.

good luck and keep us posted on how it goes.

If this doesn't work you can call the local chamber of commerce and the local better business bureau http://www.bbb.org/

It sucks that sometime you have to be a squekey wheel to get what you deserve but it sounds like this guy you are dealing with will only make things right if he is forced to.

 

Habibi,
Along with sueing them for repairs to your truck, don't forget to add that they replace your cap with the proper unit. Look in the cap for a serial number and contact www.4are.com to confirm the truck that cap is made for. It curves way to much at the top to fit a Ford. Leave me your email and I will send you some pictures of mine that are clearer.
Hope this works ouot for you!!!

 

Thanks fellas for the encouragement,

I wrote a lengthy letter to A.R.E. today, informing them of the problem and how poorly it was handled by their dealer.
I told them I wasn't angry with A,R.E., but that I wanted them to know what kind of people they have selling their product.

As far as anyone who lives in my area, do yourself a favor and stay away from Kingston Van & Truck World.
They are all friendly and smiles when they are taking your cash, but as soon as there is any problem, their true colours come out.

Sorry for the rant, I'm just steaming and still can't believe what aholes they were.

Thanks for reading, I will post as soon as new news is available.

Regards
Alex

 

harleyrider,

Can you email me some photos of your cap?
It may be helful when my day in court comes.
alex-j@cogeco.ca

So far I have:
Submitted a formal complaint to the BBB of my area,
Sent a complaint to the local Chamber of Commerce, and
Wrote the editor at the local newspaper.
Also, a detailed letter of complaint to A.R.E., and
a letter to the head office of Van & Truck World in Toronto.

Thank you
Habibi

 

I thnk they put the wrong damn cap on it. I agree with harleyrider, find out if it is even the right cap for a Ford. And the "you should have heard it and brought it in is BS....the cab is made to keep noise out.