Any Topper Leak Problem??

I just bought a 2010 Crew SR5 4x4 and am shopping for a topper. I have spoken with 4 different topper dealers and 2 of them said they have had issues with rain leaking in under the top edge rail of the composite box and then running down and getting inside the box. They both blame the design of the composite box. Have any of you experienced any leaking after a topper was installed? If so what was the brand of topper and the results? Thanks!!

 

what exactly do you mean by "topper"? Soft top, camper shell, etc?

 

My bad I should have stated a shell.

 

Leer 100XR on mine. Sits outside in rain and snow, and never had a leak. Most of the time if they do leak, it's when you have roof rack tracks mounted on top (which mine does). But if it were to ever leak, Leer provides a lifetime warranty on that. So do most of the others.

 

No leak since install. Love it! ARE "Z" series. For what I paid it better not leak. No leaks to date and I have been through a touchless car wash to check. So far so good, no leaks. My dealer took extra care when weather sealing the topper to my bed rails. If your dealer did not you will probably have a leak. I am just sayin....

Cheers!

Taco4x4

 

Make sure your topper has "skirted sides". These go all the way over and overhang the bed sides. I did see a Jason topper that actually sat on top of the rails, and all they used for a seal was a thin strip of closed cell foam. That would have leaked.

 

i got one that sits on the bedrails and it doesn't leak at all. so ^^^^^that is false.

 

ARE with the side "windoors" and not a drop inside after 5 months!

 

Mine does not leak at the rails, but they put some extra mastic type material in the front corners when they installed it. Mine's a Leer and it does have a small leak at a seam in the aluminum frame for one of my side windoors. I am going to pick up some black silicone for that, no big deal.

 

My ARE Z series does leak like the salesman told you. Only a little and yes its coming under the bed skirts side rails. I could probably fix with some sealant but its a very little leak. Not ARE fault but Toyota's design.

 

I've had an are...v series, I think...since 9/08 with no leaks. And, I should update my post in another thread from a year or so ago... The are has proved to be a good shell. The dealer and are resolved my issue with no questions asked. I have rails installed on mine, and it is not hard to pull the bolts and shoot them full of caulk, if you are worried about leakage at those points. I did it. One warning, when standing on your shell, avoid putting a foot on the truck roof, I put a nice dent in my roof with hardly any weight (it popped out)... I stood on top of my '95 t100 plenty and never thought about it caving...I guess the gas savings are worth the thinner sheet or less support...whatever it is. Ok, enough.

 

I have a Leer 100XQ, and my dealer told me about the leak problems before I bought mine. They said the biggest problem is at the front of the bed on each side where the composite bed ends, and the sheet metal begins.

They laid down a bead of clear silicone caulk at that joint before installing the cap.

I do get a very little bit of water coming in, but I also have a bed mat, so it's no biggie to me. The little bit of water that gets in goes down under the mat and goes out the drain holes, so my stuff stays dry.

 

I had a bit of trouble in the front corners of my bed where my ARE CX met the composite bed, a bit of clear silicon, and it sealed right up. The only other place it occasionally lets water in is around the tailgate. But it's not too bad.

 

Same here, but I ignore it, only when I wash the truck not when is raining. How about the gap left on both sides of the closed tailgate?
No biggie, unless our friend intends to live in the back of his truck.
Take care
vbibi

 

My Jason hard Tonneau leaks near bed of the cab. Not bad enough to bother me, but I definitely don't keep anything in there that I can't afford to get wet.

 

no leaks with my leer

 

When I purchased my cap (This is my 4th A.R.E. cap and I've been very happy with each one) I reminded the installer that I regularly carry tools and exotic hardwood trims that simply cannot get wet, and that this was a deal breaker for me. After he dutifully advised me of the inherent Tacoma leak problem he applied 2 layers of gasket material to the front 1/2 of the cap at no extra charge and I have not had a single drop of water inside yet. Guess this was not his first rodeo with the Taco!

Now I WAS untill recently getting a major amount of road dirt and dust (no water however) from the really usefull storage compartments molded into the the bed of the Taco. Turns out it was comming from the drain holes in the bottom of the cubbies. I sealed them up with gaskets and plugs since I have a cap and don't have to worry about them draining anything out, just crap getting in... but that's another post...

 

My SnugTop SuperSport hasn't leaked except for the time the brake light on the back became loose...tightened it back up and hasn't leaked since. The only water and dust that's able to get in is through the sides of the tailgate. To cure that I just ran some weather stripping along the inside edge of the brake lights.. closes up the gap on both sides about 6" down from the top edge of the gate.

 

I've had a Leer on for about 2 months now...no leaks at all.