Just put on a camper shell

I just bought a used camper shell for my truck. i need to clean it up a little and stuff, but looks good i think. i'm new to camper shells and have a couple questions:

1. what is the best way to secure the shell to my bed rails? should i bolt it or clamp it? im leaning towards just clamping it. but should i try and find those special canopy clamps made especially for shells or just get some regular old c-clamps and use them?

2. how do i wire the third brake light on the shell to my brakes?

3. do i need to put new weatherstripping under the whole thing? (the old stuff is pretty much falling apart)

4. the window that opens above the tailgate has a lock (that locks on the sides of the shell), but it seems to me like it would be fairly easy to just pry the window in the middle until you got it open. is that just the way these work, or is there something i can do to make it harder to break into?

any suggestions/tips/heads-up are appreciated.

 

My camper is secured with clamps and I've never had a problem with it. If the weather stripping is all buss up then change it because it will leak water. Splice the 3'rd brakelight to the tail light.

 

I have 6 clamps (3 to a side) and have never had an issue.

I would put new weatherstripping on - but don't be surprised when the topper still leaks in the corners, especially at the bottom corners of the hatch

As for the hatch... that's how mine is. And truly if someone wants to break into your topper, they can easily via several methods. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

how exactly should i splice into the tail light? i took out a tail light to check out how to connect the 3rd brake light. im not sure which wires in the taillight are for the running light and which are for the brake.

 

You need someone to step on the brake as you check each prong with the meter. One will also be the ground.