Snug Top are headaches.. or is it just me?

I’ve had 3. 2 Leers and a Snugtop.

Leak, paint, and other quality issues appear to be hit and miss with these things.

The reason I got mine was because they had one available on the lot and I didn’t have to wait.

I had bad leaking issues with a Leer I had on a GMC sierra, the Leer I had on my 2013 Tacoma didn’t leak. This one a Rebel doesn’t either.

The weatherstripping did come off on the lift gate of my Rebel which I glued back myself, and I’m keeping an eye on the strut failures, struts are built in batches, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a bunch of them all failed at once.

Like others have said, I would never consider that area to be 100% waterproof, but I need covered storage.

 

My Snugtop Sport Hiliner has been on for almost 6 years and no problems.

 

I had no issues with my Snugtop Rebel. I bought it used. It had carpet interior and regular sliding windows. When I got it the struts were bad but I replaced them with Truck Outfitters brand from Amazon. They were still working great 3 years later when I sold the Snugtop for a GFC Topper.

$30 Truck Upfitters 2pcs 14" Gas Struts | 40lbs Lift Supports for Truck Topper | Compatible with are, Snugtop, ATC, Leer Camper Shells | Truck Cap Replacement Parts, Includes 4 Ball Mounts

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PPPTW3J

 

way back when I bought a new 2008 tacoma found a used snugtop for 4 or 5 hundred had to drive to
the gates of hell to pick it up ( people from AZ know it ) and a 5 minute drive from home to have it
color matched to the truck. In 2019 I bought a 2019 tacoma and found a snugtop rebel in prescott valley
dealer. It was a great place to buy from. Got there and the were putting on someone else's top so my
friend and I went across the street for a sandwich and drink. The top was on and they were washing it
and my truck. Noticed the third brake light only partly worked so the replaced. No problems with the struts
yet. It does have the recessed door which I don't like as well as the non-recessed door. A line of silicone
before and the bed needs the front corners fixed up so they don't leak. the dealer was aware of tacoma
leaks and pointed out that the front corners were the problems. IF I had known what tops cost when I
bought the 2019 I would have kept the 2008.

 

I have replaced the gas struts myself on all the toppers I‘ve had over the years. I consider them a maintenance item, heavy use construction vehicle. Back lift gate/door was opened and closed at least a dozen times a day. I would by two at a time, replace the bad one and always had a spare.

 

I bought my SnugTop about a year and a half ago. Lots of issues with the paint (paint runs, paint zits, scratches), windoor fitment/closing issues, leaks at the windoors, auto lock failed, my windoor frames looked like they were used and came off a 15 year old topper (they each had about 20 scratches/gouges on them), and almost all of the 30 or 40 screws that hold all the window frames to the shell were loose. I told the dealer I wanted a replacement shell that had none of these issues, or a hefty partial refund for getting a factory defect. I got several hundred $$s back and kept the shell (and I fixed the issues that could be fixed myself). But it took about 3 months and who knows how many phone calls to the manager of the dealer I bought it from. He told me they were about to drop Snugtop because once the company moved the factory from California to Mexico in 2021, the quality plummeted like a rock, and I wasn’t the only one with issues. In the end I’m happy only because of the price I paid after the partial refund. I hope Snugtop has settled in to the new factory and got their quality control under control in the last year or so.

 

That unfortunate, sorry man.

 

I wasn’t impressed with my 2018 SnugTop with windoors compared to my 2003 ARE for my 04 double cab. Regret selling the ARE all the time because it never leaked or gave me issues. Just didn’t like the gold on a silver truck.

I had to get rid of the SnugTop because no dealer would sell me parts for the windoors and rear hatch. Someone attempted to break-in which damaged the windoor frame on one side. I also had a mishap that damaged the rear window and hinges. Tolerances were just awful and it leaked bad before all the damage. That ultimately discouraged me from fixing it.

Think the new goal is a GFC regular topper. I enjoy having a somewhat weatherproof compartment separate from the cab.

 

My Snugtop has struts from Signature SE140P-40 and wondering can I install a 16-17” to hold the latch mechanism and rear window up higher? My melon is magnetically attracted to that damn mechanism.

 

Had several fiberglass shells on my last couple of trucks. They all leaked after time. Switched over to an RSI and couldn't be happier. I'll never go back to fiberglass again. RSI, GFC, Alucab for the win.