A.R.E overland topper owners

Can anyone confirm that the sides do not touch exterior paint? Meaning does it hang over the plastic bed rails or rub cab anywhere? Thanks in advance for answers.

 

they do not. that said, I highly recommend putting some kind of foam/rubber in between bed rail and topper.... available on Amazon.

 

Because of scratching bed caps or for sealant?

 

On my 2nd gen it rubbed on the front of the bed near the cab, and wore the paint away. I think this was more of an issue with the cap moving because of off-roading vs it just touch all the time.

 

both.

FYI, if you are looking for 100% waterproof you will need to plug certain holes and gaps in your truck bed.

 

I'm not sure about the overland specifically, but I would recommend some paint protection on the top few inches of the tailgate. The rubber flap on the rear door is likely to rub there.

 

I researched about sealing the Tacoma gaps at the front. I’m also wondering if people have removed caps and saw damage. This is my first topper. I don’t want to harm the truck if I end up going back topless.

 

$29 ESI Premium Cap Seal XL 20 FT (2" Width x .200" Height x 20' Length) EPDM Rubber for Caps 200 lbs or Less

https://www.amazon.com/ESI-Premium-...308557&sr=8-3&keywords=truck+topper+seal+tape

I was in your same position, my first truck and first topper. some advice:

use something like this rubber tape. if you are having it professionally installed, you must INSIST that they will put this tape on. my dealer didn't. I added it on after.

mounting the cap is easy, if you have 2-4 dudes help out. its not too heavy, just awkward.

the cap is secured by 4 C clamps. these clamps may shift over time, like when you go wheeling, so make a habit of check their tightness regularly. I don't foresee any damage to your truck body UNLESS these clamps have shifted over time or you don't use the rubber tape.

I ordered mine pre-installed with the tracks on the roof. this gave me the option to put a rack/rtt/whatever in the futre without me having to drill into the cap itself.

having the LED light is very useful. I have a dog that sheds like hell, so no carpet for me.

I love my cap, great quality. great looks, imo. the one draw back is that it does NOT have auto locking feature. keep that in mind. it's kind of a hassle to carry 2 keys to open every time. I know there is a Pop N lock for the tailgate, and I believe there is a Pop N Lock for the cap now too... all for about $200.

good luck.

 

Great information that is one reason why I love this forum.