Tradesman Truck Tops commercial style topper/shell

$900?!!!!

 

Sorry to here that but I sold mine too. Got several thousand more than what I paid for it two years ago. My camper shell is for sale as well.
Zim

 

After lots of memories made, I have decided to go a different direction with adventure rigs and am buying an e450 school bus. just thought I’d post here if anybody is getting ready to pull the trigger on a Tradesman canopy, and wants it now and slightly discounted.
26” Canopy for a 2019 Double-cab Tacoma (6’ bed)
Cavalry Blue paint match
Extra Reinforcing (for driving off road)
Rear half door lift up
Rear tinted radius window
2 60” side lift-up doors
4 pet sliding windows (2 per side)
Front drop down sliding window
Security mesh
Interior skins
Insulation
Carpet
LED Interior lights with switch
LED third brake light
Upgrade d-gasket seal
Fin gasket
Standard roof vent placed 6” from front(cab)
4 folding T-handles

It is in the Portland, OR area.
also link to the craigslist ad for my truck if interested!


https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/d/hillsboro-2019-tacoma-trd-sport-4x4/7405693461.html

 

Has anyone here had problems with the seal material Tradesman uses between the shell and bedrails? On my last trip I noticed mine has started to migrate towards the inside of the bed/shell. I bought a triple bulb seal and also another flat type of seal to redo mine. Just curious if anyone else has noticed this happening.

 

Definitely seeing the same thing on our ARE after our last road trip. Also noticed some of the clamps had loosened a bit. No sign of the top itself having moved, but the seal has definitely migrated inwards on both sides near the tailgate.

 

Ah ok thank you. Yes I do have to tighten various clamp bolts from time to time.

 

Do you have a link to the seals you’re going to use?

 

Sure thing...
I've already received this but after getting it I decided to order the other layer for the bed rail.

$36 ESI Super Cap Seal XL 20 FT (2 1/8" Width x 1/2" Height x 20' Length) EPDM Rubber for Caps Over 200 lbs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NCCNUJQ?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

$33 ESI Premium Cap Seal XL 23 FT (2" Width x .200" Height x 23' Length) EPDM Rubber for Caps 200 lbs or Less

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IPQR63A?ie=UTF8

I think after I install these I'll add locktite to the bolts.

 

Had to replace mine too. Also was having an issue with the aft driver side sliding out. Somewhere along the way my bed rail caps cracked - probably from some desert shenanigans - and that seems to make the shell want to slide out. I ended up adding a clamp through the cabinet and making a little bracket and bolting the rear side panel to my bed side. Don't have any pics at the moment, but it seems to be keeping it in place. The seal still migrates inward some though which is getting annoying.

 

I'm hoping my rail caps haven't cracked or failed in some way. I've not taken off the cap yet. My cabinet does have a clamp/bolt already in place but maybe because mine is a 6' version.

 

Please share thoughts about which should go on the rails and which should go under the shell.
Originally I thought the triple bulb should go under the shell but now I'm thinking it would be better on top of the rails.

 

My shell is an ARE MX so not a direct comparison. The original flat weatherstripping under my topper is also shifting out. In my case it’s moving to the outside of the bed. I plan on replacing it with the triple bulb seal. Everything I’ve read on it says to apply it to the bottom of the topper, which is my plan. I’m not sure if you would get any benefit of using the flat seal also and it may increase the slippage chance.

 

Really? Mine is 6’ also but the half cabinet not the full length. The cracks on my bed rail caps are at the very back end, but doesn’t seem to extend further up the bed. KBvoodoo makes metal caps for 2nd gens but nothing for 3rd gens from what I’ve seen.

 

I've considered getting the rail caps from KB but I was told the caps mainly fail from heavier loads up top than what I have, i.e. RTT/fiberglass shell combos. I'll find out when I finally raise the shell up.

 

Started the bulb seal replacement. Tradesman uses two 1.5" strips under the shell. Somewhat disappointing but glad I'm replacing it. And bottle jack for the win!

 

I thought I finished the installation today. I used both seals I bought but in hindsight I'd recommend only one. The shell was a bit higher than before so there was a gap on the cabside. I filled the gap with extra triple bulb seal I had. Then got it centered laterally and clamped it down.

Well I didn't check the rear door seal prior and I have a gap now. So I'll have to unclamp it and move it cab forward a bit.

Oh and I figured out how to make it a one man job too.



p.s.
I ended up taking off the single layer from the bed rails. So for future replacement only one layer is needed.

 

Let us know how the bulb seal works out. Might need to swap mine to that if it keeps ejecting.

For reference, here is a pic of my cracked rail caps and my bracket and cabinet bolt to keep the driver side from splaying out. I riv-nutted two nuts into the inner skin and bolted it to that. It’s not robust, but it doesn’t seem to need much to hold it in. I’ve done some pretty good off roading since installing that, fully loaded and it seems to be staying put. Annoyingly, the seal is still coming out part way.

 

Was tightening the rack all you had to do to take care of this? I'm pretty sure we have the same set up (Wilco hitchswing + 1Up rack) and I am having the same problem of my bike's handle bars slamming into my rear hatch every time I go over a speed bump. I've tightened everything up but it still hits. Any advice?

 

I have the Wilco slid out as far as possible, and I think the 1Up is also slid out as far as possible. With that setup it seems fine w/my 800mm bars. Be sure to lift up on the swing out side of the Wilco to unload it as you are tightening it up, if you aren't already.

When I'm running just the 1UP, it will definitely contact the shell. I put a tennis ball with a hole cut in it over the end of my handle bar. Like grandma's walker.

 

From a recent camping trip...