The self adhesive seal sticks good when surface is cleaned with water and car wash soap (without wax) and then again with rubbing alcohol but in my Chevy 2500hd the seal does not contact the tailgate in any area along the strip. It narrows the gap but does not "seal" it. It may on other trucks that why I recommend it. It's a good product. I lightly coated the seal with silicone spray right after installing to keep seal from sticking to tailgate.