Let's see those Alu-cab setups

You should have brought an impact driver and some bits and installed it right there. I can only imagine the MPG drop with that sitting upright like that.

 

Haha thanks! I work in construction, and no offense to any truckers out there, but most freight companies I deal with don’t care about those stickers from my experience. It just hurts more when you pay with your own money and wait months for it to arrive. Lol
Oh well, stay tuned for more upgrades! The credit will be going toward some CBI products.

 

I intend to do the exact same thing with my gen 3 tent. Just waiting until I get more done on the accessories before I toss a tent on there.

 

Just to follow up with my seal issue, Alu-Cab said they do not stock the seals but as soon as they get the next batch in they will send me one. Which I should mention they state to contact the retailer that sold you your product and not them directly. They do send warranty parts directly through OK4wd the main distributor and then pass them on to you. Big shout out to OK4wd for staying on top of this and getting parts out to us as it can be difficult with a SA sold product.

 

I have contacted OK4wd exclusively for my orders and warranty stuff and they have some, if not the, best customer service I have come across.

 

That's who I ordered through, so that's great to hear

 

I agree! Ok4WD customer service has been top notch for me.

They sent me a whole package of hardware, because i was missing two button head bolts for the brackets. and the shipper chipped my paint, so they sent me some touchup paint too. it arrived in 2 days. bravo.

 

Second that. Good outfit to deal with.

 

Just put my deposit down with Mule Expedition Outfitters in Portland for a Contour Canopy. I ordered the sides without windows to mitigate temptation of car prowls. It might be here in April is the word. Maybe sooner.

Does anyone have any tips as far as prepping for install day? Mule said that you can get plugs for the stock tonneau cover that fill the gaps in the front of the bed at the top corners, so I might try that. That seems easy enough. They also said that if you pull the plastic that on the top of the side bed rails, that there are a bunch of little holes, (maybe 20 or so) that could be sealed. Have any of you done that? I mean, that doesn't sound hard to prep.

I also gather from a few of you that dust/water is not that big a deal, but I live in the rain land of the PNW so I figured I'd ask.

 

I installed my explorer canopy in the parking lot at Mule in Issaquah. My truck had a factory tonneau cover so it already had the seals in the corners. I added some butyl rope after the fact to seal the small gaps that were left in the corners. I didn’t seal or dust proof anything else and unless I am pressure washing the underside of the truck I have yet to see water enter the bed. I live just north of Seattle and have the same lovely weather you do. If I sell my factory tonneau cover I’ll pull the canopy so I can swap the bed caps and I would seal them up before reassembly.

 

The answer to this really depends on how water/dust proof you want this to be.

If a bit doesn't bother you, then hit up the underside of the bed rails and get those tonneau cover caps and you'll be alright.

If a bit does bother you, then it gets more complex and I can speak more on it if you like. Especially since you still retain your tailgate, which is really hard to seal.

 

I'd be interested . I have a contour on order.

 

I think my approach might be to go middle of the road with not being bothered with a "little" dust. I might try to address the items that would be a PITA to deal with once the canopy is installed. So, maybe I'll hit up the the bed rail area and the gaps at the front. Then, if I for some reason can't live with it, I will look at reducing exposure via the cubby hole and tailgate area. I understand that the very design of a tailgate lends itself to water/dust coming and going into the bed.

 

Sounds like a plan to me. A tailgate seal from Amazon (I don't have a link, but you can find it) is a must have from the start IMO.

 

Yep, I used the ESI Ultimate Tailgate seal and it works well.

-chris

 

How much clearance above the fin?

Thanks

 

I had no instructions when installing mine and where do the shims go? Hmmmm WTF?

 

Thanks for the advice gents. I have a bit of time before it gets here to get busy tweaking things in advance of install day.

 

awesome, yeah I had some time before the canopy arrived so I pulled all the bed rail caps and dropped a line of butyl tape between the holes that go into the fender well and the inside of the bed. I also did not use the factory plugs and instead just wadded butyl tape in those areas. I had a leak in the first rain after install at the hole areas in the forward corners but a little more butyl tape shoved in the holes to cover an area I missed has worked for me.

I did nothing for the cubby... figured I'll tear into that if the dust or water intrusion ever becomes bothersome.

 

They go between the bracket on the canopy and the bracket on the side rail.