Anyone ever had a cracked camper shell?

i recently got a used camper shell and there was no cracks at all. I took it out in ocotillo yesterday and did not even offroad, but you do have to drive down some bumpy roads to get to camp. This is the end result WTF. The first two pics are the front of the bed

 

It has 4 clamps using the trac system. The shell doesn’t appear to move at all

 

What brand? I did some pretty decent rock crawling with my Leer & it didn't crack or break.

 

It’s a pro tops which is the same as the leer. How tight and how many clamps do you have? I wonder if it’s due to the clamps too tight or too loose

 

4 clamps (short bed). I tightened them until they felt tight but didn't bend the shell.

 

It looks like you didn't have it secured properly and it shifted. The installer who installed my ARE used six clamps saying the Tacoma's poor bed design made it difficult to get a good tight seal.

 

I have 4 in it now but I have extra clamps that I could use. It didn’t look like it shifted at all when I got home.i tightened the bolts more but was careful not to bend the fiberglass.

I probably did less than a mile in the dirt to be honest.

 

Look at the way it cracked and where it cracked- right where the cap wraps over the bed. I'm guessing it shifted side to side just enough to impact the plastic that wraps around the top of the bed.

 

Do you think I am going to have to repair this or if I attach more clamps it will be ok?

 

I had cracks in mine up above the rear window on my last truck from over loading the roof rack and driving in rugged places. It was an old topper on an old truck, so I didn't worry about it. I beat on my LEER on this truck and haven't had an issue yet. My bolts even come loose from all the wash board and potholes at faster than prudent speeds.

Those cracks wouldn't concern me so much, but resolving whatever problem is causing them IS important. What are you using to as a seal between the truck rails and the topper? Cheap foam, or a good rubber gasket?

 

I left whatever came on it. It is just foam. I just washed the truck and I have some major leaks even from the window....

 

Are you sure it's not just the paint cracking? You can chip it off just putting the canopy on your truck, happened to me

 

Yeah I’m positive that the two at the cab are cracks

 

Like in the 1st pic, somebody may have done that just sliding it on the bed.

 

I installed the shell and that wasn’t there before I hit the dirt. Would have seen it will I was washing it.

 

That sucks though.. mine has a bunch of paint chipping at the corners from me carelessly setting in on the lawn thinking it would be fine. The fiberglass caps are really not designed to be removed and installed a bunch lol! Sometimes I wish I had an aluminum one just because they're easier to handle

 

Fiberglass shells crack all the time.

 

Really? I’ve done a ton of searching and couldn’t find anyone who has cracked theirs. It’s pretty frustrating, especially the leaks.

 

Yeah I would love to remove it to re seal the bed but I can’t do it solo lol

 

Over the years both myself and my family have had 3 shells crack in the corners ,and in the corners of the windows,my best friend had one that cracked in the rear clamp down area.