Unable to open tailgate with camper shell on.

Hi there,

I recently bought a used SnugTop for my 2001 extended cab. It's the right model top for my truck, and everything fits perfectly except for the fact that it blocks my tailgate from opening. The shell overlaps the tailgate by about half an inch. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have a recommendation as to how to address the problem?

Thank you!

 

Have any pics?

 

I am pretty sure you are supposed to open the window first then open the tailgate

 

You gotta love his username.

 

Some shells are designed that way for security. Lock the rear window and it also locks the tailgate. Unless you mean to say that the actual fiberglass shell in the rear lower corners wraps around the side of your tailgate, then that would be a huge problem and you do not have the correct model top for your truck or someone messed up bigtime.

 

Was there a strip of rubber bulb type weatherstripping (like on the bottom of a garage door) along the bottom edge of each side and front?

If not, that may be the issue.

 

Here are some pictures

 

What even is that piece? My shell doesn't have a piece that runs on top of the tailgate like that...

 

I'm going to go ahead and tell you that you do not have the correct model cap for your truck. If that's the only issue and you're set on keeping it, I might suggest trying to cut just a bit of the cap at the bottom where it contacts the tailgate until you can open it without interference. You won't have as tight a seal, but it will be functional.

The problem is that when the first gens came out, a lot of manufacturers were making truck beds with similar dimensions, but only slight styling differences. So just because the cap fit around the perimeter of the bed, does not mean it was made for it. Looks like that cap was made for a truck bed with a wider taillight/ narrower tailgate.

I say cut it and keep the cap.

 

Stronghammer - It's just the bed liner.

Sig 45 - No, it's just a hard fiberglass edge around the entire thing. The only rubber strip is on the bottom of the rear window.

I know you have to open the window first. The part that is blocking my tailgate is the actual shell. The tailgate angles slightly up and hits the shell by about 1 or 2cm. The person I bought the shell from had the same year and model truck as me. The only difference is mine is 4wd and his was 2wd. Is that enough to make a difference? From all the research I did on the specs of it all, this shell should have worked.

 

Ghost - That's kind of what I was thinking. However, that destroys resale value. I heard there may be spacers or something you can apply? I also did a little research and found you can adjust the height and depth of your tailgate by adjusting a few internal screws. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

Oh I see that it's the cap now haha. I thought that was connected to the shell.

 

Maybe he had a drop in bedliner that went over the bedsides, or something else that would act as a spacer between the cap and the shell?

 

Yep....that cap was not model specific to your truck.

Cut it or sell it.

 

Another solution would be to put a thicker layer of EPDM rubber around the perimeter of the cap to lift the whole thing up just a tad. It may give you the bit of clearance you need in order to open the tailgate.

 

Not sure on first gens, but on second gens there would be a miniscule amount of adjustment at the latches, but that would only adjust the tailgate in and out, not up and down. The retaining "cups" that act as the pivot point for your tailgate wouldn't allow the tailgate to drop down anymore.

 

That is a great point. I'm an idiot. The original bed liner has been torn out except for on the tailgate. So it makes sense that it is sitting too low now, maybe? I considered pulling off the bed liner that's on the tailgate, but even still, I think the shell will clip the metal tailgate.

 

can0 - That's a great suggestion. I was hoping something like that might be an option. I am young and this is my first truck. Certainly learning as I go.

 

Something like this.

$41 ESI Ultra Cap Seal 1 1/2" Width x 5/8" Height x 23' Length, EPDM Rubber for Caps Over 200 lbs

https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Width-...7852697&sr=8-7&keywords=epdm+rubber+truck+cap