Pics of 1st Gen shell on 2nd Gen DC Short Bed

For those that have been asking for more pics... The 1st photo is the "general look" and just cruising down the road, the shell looks like it fits pretty well. As I mentioned in other posts, my funds were limited and I hadn't found what I needed so I figured I'd give this one a shot. My plans are to paint the shell black. Prob get that done in the next 2 weeks and will post final pics then as well.
The rest of the photos show up close how the shell doesn't exactly match the truck but i intend to slap on weather stripping to fill the gap in the front. Anyone have ideas on how to seal off the rear corners? Also, I used the generic "C" clamps to hold it in place. Had to purchase longer bolts from Home Depot and from the looks of it, the C clamps themselves are just barely big enough to hold it. I can assure you that they are tight and even knocking them from the side with the heel of my hand didn't cause them to slip. Overall I am pretty pleased. The shell was in near-new condition and I really liked the sleek "windowless" look...Feel free to make suggestions...

 

I'm amazed that almost fits but i would buy the 2nd gen clamps to be safe

 

Wow that looks way better than I assumed it would.

 

You know off hand where to purchase the 2nd gen c-clamps?

 

Thanks for posting the pics. I asked a few weeks ago if anyone had tried to fit an older canopy, was told it wouldn't work. Good to know it can

 

Well I guess that depends on what you would consider, "working". For me, that would not work. I got a shell to keep the contents of the bed dry! There is a good 1" or more gap at teh front of the bed. Also, with the 2nd gen shells, the shell overhangs the bed rails to keep water out. I tried two different 1st gen campers on my 2nd gen, a LEER and a Centurion (sp?) and neither would have keep the water out.

There is a guy here that has a 1st gen double cap shell on a 2nd gen long bed, so I guess it "works" for him cause it's been that way for a couple years.

 

It does work but "what works" is definitely relative...it fits okay and looks good but I have not installed weather stripping yet and we aren't scheduled to have rain for a while so I won't be able to check and see where the leaks are...guess I could hit it with a water hose but I'll opt to let ya know about leaks after a good rain. I'm pretty confident that I can keep it water-tight...will update after I make the mods to my mod...

 

Any local cap place should have them in stock.I think they are really cheap. If not try ebay

 

I test fit an older canopy last fall in the dark but did notice the gap. That void can be filled & secured to the lower lip of the canopy. I passed on it because I was more concerned with finding proper clamps to secure it. IIRC there is enough overlap for weatherstripping to seal the sides.

I've had quite a few canopies, all sealed along the front & sides. On every one the tailgate lets water in. Not alot but it has always been the weak spot.

You are right though, this might not work for everyone. For me, it would work for secure storage and price.

 

Every one said it wouldn't work.

Don't know why you'd want to. But whatever you need. You could have my cap. I don't use it any more, just sitting there suspended from the ceiling. Tacomas are a dime a dozen, can always get a cap for a couple hundred bucks off craigs list.

 

You handing out a free cap??

 

shipping from hawai might be a little high for most of us

I wish canopies were a dime a dozen here. There are no used canopies here for 2nd gen. Searching online craigs list & kijiji since oct have found 2 availible in alberta. Both within $200 of retail. $2K for a canopy is insane.

To the OP. I think black would look good, but without vented windows a black canopy turns into a oven in the summer. If you're painting it you could color match and should stay cooler. Good luck with the project.

 

Yeah, I saw that he was in HI, was asking cause I got a buddy stationed in Oahu...if he's anything like me, he'd be all over a free tacoma cap. I searched (craig's-list, TW) in the South-Eastern US for a few good months for a 2nd gen cap and came up short. They aren't as common as one would hope...and when you do find one, it's gone in no time! I will be moving to the NorthWest this summer so the heat may not be too much of an issue...good point though. Got paint scheduled for 1st week of March, post pics then.

 

Dont the second gen caps have the same gap? I thought they used a rubber gasket like they sell with tonnues. There is a first gen one listed near me in my color (or close enough) with a rack and everything that I might go checkout.

 

No gap on leer, it's molded for the truck, they do use a gasket though. The ARE dealer told me they use a 'tube' gasket to fill the gap, but I haven't seen theirs.

 

I bought an ARE MX for my AC, but it had no gasket across bottom of the door and that hard plastic would have easily rubbed through the paint. Glad I sold it. I won't be going back to ARE or to that store again. Just my luck, poor quality from both.

I've been checking out a few of Leer's 100 series shells and like everything but the price. I guess you get what you pay for?

 

Hi, new guy, old thread... Does anyone know if a second gen double cab short bed cap will work on a first gen? I just found one for sale and would like to jump on it if it'll work. Thanks and hello!

 

By the looks of what's going on here I would say maybe if you like goofy looking.

For some reason the photo's on this one remind me of those retarded fords with the small beds?

With what you want to do the shell would be big and poke out all over. Plus I think on the front bottom it pokes down for the 2nd gen.

 

Guess that's kinda obvious now that I think about it - if the cap I need is the same dimesions as the one in the pictures above, it's a bit smaller in all directions. A cap designed for the newer bed would be bigger in all of those dimensions. Duh. Thanks.