Best watersealing topper windows?

I have a 2005 ARE topper with flip-up side windows that are leaking. Seems like the original sealant material (rubber? caulk?) are at the end of their usable life. Curious what materials or methods you guys have used to get window seals/gaskets back to original working order?

 

The latches may just need tightened. I had to tighten up the twisty latch on my windoors to get them to seal fully on a new ARE MX.

You can contact ARE for replacement gaskets, or order generic gasket material from Amazon. The keyword to that search would be "automotive weatherstrip"

 

Thanks, I'll check out that weatherstripping. The latches are already really tight. I suspect it might be the weatherstripping that is between the window frame and the fiberglass topper.

 

The windows themselves are easy to take off if you think that's the case -- just undo the hex bolts the whole way around, remove the inner ring, and the window will come out.

The seal there isn't weatherstripping, it's a gasket type of material. That seal holding the frame to the top usually lasts the life of the topper, it would be unusual for that to go bad. You may be able to use some rtv or silicone caulk around the edge if there is apparent damage, otherwise I'd remove it and redo the entire edge the whole way around with rtv. Put a bead of rtv on it the whole way around, reseal, wipe away excess. It'll be a bit messy, but give a better seal. I had to do that once for a window on my camper trailer that got hit hard by a falling branch.

 

Wow thanks for the detailed response. I'll have to inspect that gasket more closely tonight. If I remember correctly it looks like it's visibly degrading and I had considered throwing a bead of silicone over it just to test it out. Might pop into an ARE dealer and get their take on it. Though I'm pretty sure I will be shocked at home much they would want to charge me to fix it.