Thread: RRS Upper Tailgate full of dust

Did you have your a/c on fresh air? Having it on fresh will create some positive pressure inside the car, which helps keep dust out. I have never had any dust problems with my D3 (unlike my D2), but the RRS might be different.

Do you mean you got dust inside the car through the top tailgate ? Mine's always massively dusty around the outside of the tailgate when I open it but never lets dust into the car, despite being a pretty loose fit it has to be said. Certainly the top tailgate has a 'bounce' to it when it's closed and I believe it can be tightened up, but I've never bothered. Might be worth looking into having it adjusted to pull in tighter.

As Mike has said I get dust on the outside of the seal but not inside the car - easy to hose off with a low pressure hose.

Garry

The A/c was on, there was a bit of dust creeping in around the seals, the stops are already fully in so cannot tighten any more. More of issue though was that the actual top tailgate was full, and I mean full, of dust. Took ages to wash it out, and was not completely successful. Given that this was only one day out, this would not be good on longer outback trip. It seems to have gone in from the bottom edge of the glass to tailgate area, this is not sealed, and allows any dust to fall straight down into the area that has the switch/number plate lights.

I have heard of some talking about masses of dust collecting in the cavity around the tailgate after travelling long distances on dusty roads. The dust did not enter the cabin - the problem was, it all fell in when the tailgate was opened. I believe one of the solutions was to use an air compressor to blow it out 1st.

I can absolutely believe that, looking at what collected there in very short time. Frankly having to clean/blow the area before opening doesn't seem very appealing or practical over longer term. It seems to come in from top, then work down. Might have to come up with my own sealing system across the top of the tailgate as having dust fall into the fridge doesn't float my boat. Maybe some Nascar type wind deflector, say 12mm high, on the leading edge of the top of the tailgate opening, to deflect the wind/dust up/away from the join?

Sounds like you need a new seal then if it's already fully adjusted, along with a tailgate adjustment once the new seal is on. I understand what you're saying about it all gathering at the base of the top tailgate after falling down from the top, but I've never had it falling into the car.

I'd have expected it on mine as it spent the first 4 years with the top tailgate shut (because of the rear ladder) and it's compressed the seal, but perhaps having it operational for a couple of years has helped.

Thanks will get this looked at. Car has only 37K on it and seals all look good, however there was dust definitely coming in past rear seals. I have some ideas though to keep the area better sealed up there is an amazing range of seals/rubber trim available. I found that the dust had also gotten past all the primary door seals on the front/rear doors, but was stopped by the inner door seals. Whereas the tailgate has only one sealing rubber.