Leer XR preinstall sealing...advice

Leer xr just arrived for 2020 taco LBOR... plan to keep my Malinois and gear inside when temps permit. Dealer doesn’t seal up as says needs to drain but having never had a topper have heard the complaints of everything getting covered w dust etc. other than obviously around tailgate what other areas should and how need to be addressed. Thanks!!!

 

Any advice apriciated. Ordered tailgate lock actuator from R4T

 

Had a topper on my 12, don't have one on my18. But most dust comes in at tailgate. Get tailgate seal, foam tape on front bed panel. Does Leer come with seal already installed, for bedrooms? My ARE, did but I added another. Also seal rail caps @ bed front cap that's where water can get in. I also sealed bed cubby drains, dust comes in there also.

 

I went through this same thing, having installed a Leer 100XR a week after getting my 2021 Tacoma. I did the following things in preparation:

1. Installed Total Chaos bed stiffeners.
2. Got the wiring ready. I didn't want the cap installers tapping into my new truck wiring, so I got the Leer kit that uses the 7-pin trailer connector as a source. (It plugs in behind the rear bumper, with the 12-volt hot lead running directly to the battery.)
3. Waterproofing. I pulled off all 3 bed caps and put lots of silicone sealant underneath. Also installed the OEM rubber plugs for the front corners of the bed ($30 each, and this requires notching the bed caps). Also put plugs in the three 5/16" drain holes in the front of the bed, and the two in the storage cubby. The other holes in the storage cubby are still a problem, but I'm working on that.

 

Uses a bulb gasket (this may vary with the dealer). Most of the leakage comes from below, with water splashing up between the outer fender and the inner bed. That's why it's important to seal under the bed caps. But don't block the holes at the top of the fenders (because the bed caps clip into those holes, and water needs a way to drain out harmlessly). Seal inboard of the holes.

 

Thx! What plugs are you talking about? Any pics by chance?

 

I would also be interested in pictures. I’m in the process of purchasing a cap. It won’t get here for about 3 weeks

 

There have been threads here on this. The OEM part numbers are 6254104010 and 6254204010 (Moulding, Quarter). These come standard on trucks that have tonneau covers from the factory. Otherwise, you have to special-order them separately. To use the plugs on a non-tonneau truck, you have to notch the side bed caps. This is explained in the aforementioned threads.

A word on topper clamps. Leer actually does not use clamps, but uses 4 bolts directly though the topper skirt (at the corners) into a fitting in the accessory rail. IMO this is inadequate. I added 4 real clamps, 2 in the middle on each side and 2 on the front, using a front accessory rail that I added. This not only makes the mounting more secure, but helps with the sealing.

 

Sounds like the plugs didn’t work so well so I’ll try silicon or weatherstripping tape....are the bed stiffeners really needed?

 

Because of the way the Tacoma bed is made, the sides tend to spread apart, over time, if you have weight resting on the tops. This would apply to a camper shell, especially if you have a rack on top of it. (I notice that you are getting the Thule tracks.) What you are trying to do is prevent a long term problem.

The plugs work well if you use them in conjunction with silicone sealant in the corners. I don't regret getting mine. Without the plugs, you have to span huge gaps with sealant.

 

Sub'd

I should have bought the 4Runner

 

Did you clamp to the utility rail?

 

Bed Stiffeners are cheap insurance. I bought and installed the Total Chaos ones. Took me 15-20 minutes.

 

Wife has a 19 trd pro runner, I have the taco...

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-how-to-weatherproofing-the-bed-cubbies.452381/#post-13287032

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rubber-plugs-for-gaps-in-bed-rail-available-now.420884/

 

uptop overland racks going on truck and topper. I’ll habe one of our welders make me a set of L brackets ie stiffeners...Can’t see spending +$100 on those but understand the thought. My 2010 taco had the Thule bed racks never had issues in the 10 years and 300k miles but no real weight either....only sups etc no tent.

 

Thx!

 

ARE shell owner here, here's my advice

My dealer installed my shell with foam tape between the shell and the bed, it wore through and the shell ended up rubbing a small patch of paint off my bedside down to bare metal, so get the best rubber gasket stuff you can!

I also would recommend installing bed stiffeners as cheap insurance to mitigate the risk of your bedsides bowing outward. I went with total chaos and really appreciate the extra tie down points and overall design, they dont interfere with the bed mat and go up as high as possible on the bedsides unlike other stiffeners

Last would be to buy some ESI solutions tailgate seal. You can do this after the shell is installed though, it reaallllly helps keep dust out. I have not gotten dust through the drain holes though..

That's all I can think of and nice truck btw!

 

Something else to consider when you've got a cap are bed stiffeners.
The weight of the cap over time, especially if you off-road, can cause a noticeable gap when your tailgate is up.
Just something to consider. When I had a cap on my truck i installed to total chaos ones.
Still got them on after selling that cap & ive found the tie down points very useful.
I havn't read this whole thread, so this may have been mentioned already.

 

Regarding sealing the bed cubbies, I want to give a shout-out to Mike Williams for making 3D printed covers for the cubby holes. $20 for a set, postpaid. But, these are tricky to put on. You have to put the lower ones on after the cubby is in place. Fortunately you can do that from below, because that area is open to the pavement. Use 3M plastic and emblem adhesive.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1...6pqKoxS3CElP7FTvsqCifpSdBEeQ/viewform?c=0&w=1