An "Eventful" Snugtop Installation

I've posted elsewhere about my shell shopping experience and what I ordered and why: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/camper-shells-available-for-3rd-gens.395885/page-3#post-11358068

I just wasn't expecting the installation to be so... interesting.

I did a basic look-over on the shell and it seemed to be what I wanted and had the obvious features I asked for. So I left the truck with the Truck Accessory dealer for the installation. They said it would be 1.5 to 1.75 hours, so after 2 hrs. with no call, I came back to see how things were going.

"We're pretty much done, but your truck won't start." Seriously? I hoped in and "confirmed the complaint" and sure as Shinola it wouldn't start. The symptoms were the same as if you were not stepping on the brake pedal. Adding that observation to the fact that part of the installation is wiring up the brake light, I told him that it was probably a blown fuse for the brake lights. Sure enough, it was a 10A fuse under the hood.

After replacement the truck started fine so we went about going over the features of the shell. After checking out the windoors and power rear lock, I asked how I could tell if it had the reinforced roof (500lb max load = RTT vs. something like 200 lbs. for the standard roof). I got a vague answer so I pressed for confirmation. I pointed out that it is part of the "sportsman's package" which included fishing rod holders and I didn't see those. So the installer went looking for the rod holders. After a while, I pointed out that I didn't care about the rod holders, I just needed to confirm I had the reinforced roof.

He made a call to his boss and I dug the window sticker out of the trash. The sticker did not mention the sportsman's package (everything else was listed). His boss confirmed that the order included the sportsman's package. I suggested we compare the roof honeycomb thickness to one of the standard units in stock. They were the same. I feel sorry for the guy, because he's just doing the installation and trying to make me happy.

The installer calls Snugtop with the serial number. Guess what? It was NOT built with the sportsman's package.

Crap. At this point I'm farked. I need the shell in a few days for a family trip, but I don't want to spend all this money and not get what I ordered.

The installer offered to remove the shell and order a new one. I said I really need the shell over the next couple weeks. Could they let me use this one until the correct one comes in? Another call to the boss and he said OK, but be careful with the (essentially) loaner shell.

So, we get all that sorted out and the paperwork properly notated and I hop in the truck to leave while he calls in my replacement order. The truck starts right up.

It's running rough. I have a check engine light and a Trac Off light.

Seriously.

Mother. Pussbucket!

I pull forward into a parking space and give the poor guy the news. We spent a good while checking all the fuses and seeing if anything else might have happened. He's at a loss as to what could have caused it. I point out that the brakes are surely an input to the ECU, and that probably set a code when the fuse blew. I have 4 code readers but none of them were in the truck. He doesn't have his. He starts calling around to see if any buddies have one they can bring by, but no luck. It finally occurs to me that he doesn't know that I have a OBDII reader, so I mention that I can clear the code myself once I get home.

We went back out to see if cycling the engine would clear the MIL, but not luck. However, it does seem to be running smooth now. He suggests driving it around the block to make sure it's running OK, and it seems fine. At this point, it's after closing time and there's nothing more he can do so I agree to drive it home and reset the code when I get there.

The drive home is fine, I notice no issues with power or smoothness. At home, I pull a P0087 code and reset it. It clears and several short trips later it has not returned.

Fun.



***
I really like the shell BTW. It's not perfect, but it's reasonably well thought out and made. It looks great. The ventilated windoors look the business. I was concerned they would look tacky, but instead they give it a purposeful look (IMHO). My favorite feature is the power door lock that's tied into the truck locks so it unlocks with the truck doors. Sorry, no pictures yet, the whole installation fiasco took 2.5 hrs. longer than expected and there's much to be done this time of year.

***

I'm not looking for anything, I think I have the situation under control. I just wanted to share my experience. Especially the MIL after blowing the brake fuse since that could easily happen to someone else.

I'm not totally convinced the order got screwed up by Snugtop and not the dealer, but the outcome is the same for me. I felt the installer did the best he could given that he's not exactly trained to deal with MIL's and such. The rest of the installation (that I've seen) seems fine. I also appreciate them letting me use this shell until "mine" comes in.

 

Wow that was a read and a half.


You handled yourself well. Sorry to hear your order got goofed up. Hopefully they will get the new cap in ASAP. It's nice they let you keep this one till the new one comes in.

 

Wow.

Well, I bet the installer checks the replacement out really well before he calls you that it's in!

Thinking that during the install disconnection of the battery ground might be a good idea.........

 

I 100% understand being busy and having someone else do the installation. There should have been no issues with something so simple.

That being said, sometimes it's best to do the simple stuff yourself to make sure it is done right. People like to cut corners.

And post a pic!

 

Hopefully in a good way? Sorry for the length, but it could have been longer. I left out several of the troubleshooting iterations.

 

Installation is typically included with the shell. I could have had them leave the electrical to me but it was included in the price. Also, they may not be allowed to let it leave without the 3rd brake light working.

Sorry, still no pictures. It's jammed in-between cars in our driveway and it's raining. Being SoCal, I'm not really sure what happens, but I think humans melt if exposed to rain. At least we act that way (and heaven help us out on the roads).

 

Icing: It's leaking like crazy in a moderate rain. It looks like it's coming through the brake light but I haven't had a chance to investigate yet.

 

Sounds like a mess. Just FYI, my Snugtop of the same model has not leaked in rain/snow.

 

Ahh shit man, this happened to you?!

 

Yep! All my own original adventure.

Seriously: who goes to get a shell installed and leaves with a check engine light on? Oh yeah. Me.

 

The good news is it's a borrowed unit.

The correct one won't have that problem.

 

Update: Using a syringe, a beaker, and a pitcher of water (my neighbors are used to me by now) I was able to confirm the leak is through the brake light. I struggled trying to figure out how I could do a fix that wasn't permanent and wouldn't cause any damage to the fresh paint (remember, this is technically a loaner that needs to be in like new condition when I return it). After looking at the brake light assembly for a while, I tried tightening some nuts on the inside that looked like they just held on a wire cover. They took quite a few turns without ever getting snug, so I stopped and tried the water again: No leaks! Apparently, what I thought was just holding the interior cover was actually the studs going to the light assembly and it must have tightened it down against the gasket. Yay for simple solutions. Hopefully it holds.

Merry Christmas!

Before someone asks: I don't have time to take it back to the dealer before my trip, so I had to resolve the issue one way or another by myself.

Since I spent about an hour looking at the back window area, I will say that the construction isn't perfect (obviously!), but the design shows some definite thought went into keeping water out near the hatch. There's little rubber flaps and fiberglass curves that work to keep the water from going into the bed even as I put several gallons right down the gap between the frameless rear window and the shell. The shell I had on my 1st gen was basically the same model and it pretty much was dry enough to have dust bunnies for the first 8 or 10 years until the gaskets and window seals started to age and become less effective.

 

pics of the truck with snugtop ? thx

 

I want to see the topper used in the elements!

 

Sorry Skymaster, no elements today, but I did snap some quick pictures while I was out.

Yes, the TRD sticker needs to go if you have a shell with a lip that hangs down (which is a good feature to have).

 

Nice pics, any chance you can put up a close up of the rear window closed showing how it fits the lip of the tailgate?

 

Nice looking cap - the window layout matches the vehicle nicely. The color does seem slightly off from the truck, but that might be the picture.

 

Most topper dealers are going to install using crappy t-taps, and not do the wiring/electrical properly.

 

nice cap/truck combo, loving the windoors.

 

I agree on the color difference. It is not something I notice in real life unless I really look. It's far more noticeable in the pictures. But if I look carefully, there is a slight difference. It doesn't bother me on a white truck, but it seems like they could have done better.