Show me your shell!

At this point, I'm less than impressed with LEER, and this will most likely be the last LEER topper for me (third one in less than 10 years). I was told that they couldn't tell from the pictures if I had caused the damage or if it was air bubbles in the mold.

I think it's from the rear window rubbing on the fiberglass... If anyone else with a 100R ends up with issues by the rear window, let me know.

Mike

 

I have sold Leer caps for 13 yrs, I deal with Leer east and not the midwest but if you can post pics I can give you my opinion. Usually when these type of issues go unresolved it is due to the dealers lack of customer service and they are blaming Leer.

I have never let an obvious manufacturing defect go unresolved and neither has Leer in my experience, again I deal with a whole different manufacturing plant but I'm sure their policies don't differ that greatly.

 

Thanks Rtrn2taco. I have to deal with a lot of warranty issues in my line of work, and I realize most people are looking for something for nothing. This has happened on both sides of the rear window, and the black marks on the side make me think the window is rubbing and causing the damage...

Just because I'm curious, have the 100R's you've sold for the 2nd gen Tacomas had a three pane or four pane slider? Mine has a four pane, so the slider does not match the truck.

Mike

 

I'm not trying to rub it in, but I must say I was extremely impressed by ARE's handleing of the issue.
I emailed ARE (with pictures) directly, and got a response within a day basically apologizing for the inconveneince and indicating that the best thing to do was to drop it off to my nearest dealer and have them send it back to the factory.
The dealer I dealt with met me on Saturday (of the July 4th weekend) and even though they were not supposed to be open he removed the cap and even let me take his truck to go out for breakfast while he was doing it. (I was traveling the next several weeks and that was the only time I could do it).
I got it back after a couple of weeks and can't tell where the original issue was.

It's a bit concerning that the issue happened in the first place (as Caps are quite epensive and in my mind should last as long as the truck their installed on), however I feel ARE handled it well and hopefully I have no more issues.

Like the above poster mentioned, maybe you are better to try dealing directly with LEER.

Good Luck
Shawn

 

I can't say that I've ever had a bad experience with my dealer (purchased all three caps from them). I was directed to send pictures to a regional rep, from what I can tell he handles warranty claims for LEER, Raider, and Century.

My dealer told me they would offer to repair the cap, or send me a check. I know a really good fiberglass guy here in town - I figured as long as the warranty was good, I'd have the local guy make the repair and save the trouble of shipping it back.

Mike

 

Due to the damage being on both sides, it looks to me like the rear door in fact broke the hunks of fiberglass out. Making assumptions here, the dealer should have never let it go without there being any clearance between the corner of the door and the fiberglass skirt. The cap and bed need room for the both of them to torque when going over uneven terrain. I think it is so obvious thats what happened, that that it is exactly what Leer is telling your dealer. Have it fixed and have whoever does it trim the fiberglass vertically so it does not happen again.

About the sliding window, the error of the four pane window was due to someone at LEER putting the window for a 1st gen (4 pane) in. I have seen this happen only a few times but I was able to catch it and have it replaced before ever mounting it on my customers truck. Only caps made for trucks with 4 pane windows should have a 4 pane slider installed (in perspective very few caps being built require a 4 pane window now a days). Any dealer good or bad should replace it.

 

The A.R.E. shell I finally received had to be sent back. I will report how my dealings with A.R.E. come out. Hopefully the outcome will be pics of my new cap with me grinning from ear to ear next to it.

 

Thanks again Rtrn2taco. I'll follow up again with the dealer, since I didn't really get anywhere with the rep. They have re-ordered the sliding window - it came in as a four pane again.

Mike

 

I have a bit of a conundrum. I would really like a shell for hunting and camping, and transporting stuff in the bed during winter, but I need to be able to carry mountain bikes over the tailgate during the summer (the only way to fit 5 bikes in the bed of my shortbed tacoma).

Does anyone have any input on what if any topper would work with bikes over the tailgate as pictured below? I imagine the loading/unloading process in particular would be difficult/impossible with a topper but I might need to see in person to tell for sure. Perhaps the removable rear window might make this feasible.

Obviously one option is remove the topper for the summer and put it on for the winter/as needed, but I don't particularly like that option. If it really is the best solution though, do most of these shells go on/come off fairly easily?





Thanks for the feedback,
Kyle

 

http://memrieconomicblog.org/images/uploaded/shell-logo-t.jpg

 

Well mines a faux shell, but a shell none the least!!!

 

This is my shell.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/NCI_Visuals_Food_Taco.jpg

 

There are high top shells available that would work. As far as i know, the rear doors are not easily removed (if at all). The caps are easy to take off and put back on, but you may need to replace weatherstripping.

GA

 

The windows were very poor quality and I have recommended to them to replace all the windows with new ones. Even though I've told them what they are going to do in a very polite way, they are still deciding what to do and I'm getting impatient. I think asking for good quality NEW windows is not to much to ask..............I don't expect it fixed overnight, but at least a follow up with a countermeasure.

 

Pics of mine

 

Leer 100R

 

this is the MX model cap from ARE . the side windows open out. ARE calls them 'windoors'. they are great for reaching into the bed. inside the bed i have attached cargo bags on each side for little stuff that would roll around in the bed. has worked out just fine so far.

 

Nice shell. This is more towards what I am looking for. Where did you get it from? Cost? Is it easy to remove and install?

 

wing, got it from an outfit here called 'toys for trucks'. you will probably have to google A.R.E. and use their 'find a dealer' thing to see where you can get one.
cost right around $1800. That included the side 'windoors' and a front window with a slider in it to match the cab, and it folds down into the bed so you can clean both windows without taking the cap off. have not removed it yet. but when i bought it i weighed the truck with a full tank of gas before cap was installed and again with a full tank of gas after it was installed. cap weighs 184 pounds. it is bolted to the same rail that holds the side tyedown cleats. looks like it would be easy to remove if you had 3 or 4 people to do it. also comes with a sprayed on fuzzy headliner inside the cap. and a 12volt lite in the rear. and in the front at the top where it is slanted back another window that is fixed in place. i shopped around a lot before i jumped in. this was the best cap for the price with the features i wanted. good luck.
Originally Posted by lsocoee
I am so envious of Dodge, Chevy, Ford, Nissan, GMC, and Suzuki owners. They get to check out my sweet Tacoma when they're driving, I'm just stuck looking at all their ugly trucks.