1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Waterproofing Shell Installation

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Aztex, Nov 19, 2016.

  1. Nov 19, 2016 at 7:53 AM
    #1
    Aztex

    Aztex [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2016
    Member:
    #201193
    Messages:
    117
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma TRD 4x4
    Howdy,

    Been looking to get a new shell. All the dealers are charging $100+ to install, which is preposterous!

    Each mention the "fact" the Tacoma bed needs to be weather sealed/waterproofed at the junction but I can't find any information on this so I can do it myself.

    I don't know if it's just weather stripping on top of the rail or something else.

    Any instructions/advice?

    Thanks,

    W
     
  2. Nov 19, 2016 at 8:39 AM
    #2
    JdevTac

    JdevTac Bawnjourno

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2012
    Member:
    #70234
    Messages:
    6,020
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Josh
    GA/WA
    Vehicle:
    2nd gen
    You can find weatherstrip for truck rails at any auto parts store. Just run that stuff on the underside of the cap/topper rails and you should be good to go. There are also weatherstrip kits for the tailgate too if you want to block any water out that way too.

    My Bestop came with some foam type weatherstrip that was sticky on one side only which made things real easy.
     
  3. Nov 19, 2016 at 8:49 AM
    #3
    Kyitty

    Kyitty Mr. Beard

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2015
    Member:
    #149179
    Messages:
    9,586
    Gender:
    Male
    Bozeman, MT
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma DCLB Better Than TRD
    See Build Page
    In my opinion, if the shell isn't already weatherproofed it's not installed properly.

    But I've never purchased a shell either.

    I just priced out a Snugtop here in Montana. The Rebel w/ dog screens, LED interior light strip, electronic lock, and something else was like $2,500. We discussed how the bed caps on the Tacoma are a problem for keeping water out because they simply clip onto the bed and aren't actually sealed to begin with. So the guy told me water can get into the bed through the factory bed caps.
     
  4. Nov 19, 2016 at 9:35 AM
    #4
    Harry

    Harry Science, Bitches

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Member:
    #138415
    Messages:
    1,048
    Gender:
    Male
    Santa Fe NM
    Vehicle:
    15 TRD Off Road DCSB
    You need to pull up the plastic bed rail at the front of the bed and lay weatherstripping underneath the rail and across the front of the bed. That's the spot where they will tend to leak.
     
    pdxtaco02 likes this.
  5. Nov 19, 2016 at 3:51 PM
    #5
    Marshall R

    Marshall R Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2015
    Member:
    #156224
    Messages:
    4,249
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Marshall
    Vehicle:
    07 White TRD double cab
    none
    Tacoma's have a very wide gap at the front of the bed to fill when installing a cap. This is more a truck design flaw than a cap problem. Yes, it is hard to prevent water from getting in there. You'll need weather stripping at least 1" thick up there.
     
  6. Nov 19, 2016 at 3:54 PM
    #6
    EatSleepTacos

    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2015
    Member:
    #151688
    Messages:
    59,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Randy
    West Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2017 4Runner
    KTM753, captainbuttfloss and ripkinc like this.
  7. Nov 19, 2016 at 8:11 PM
    #7
    Aztex

    Aztex [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2016
    Member:
    #201193
    Messages:
    117
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma TRD 4x4
    Thanks all!

    W
     
  8. Nov 20, 2016 at 3:56 AM
    #8
    Fastbilly5

    Fastbilly5 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    Member:
    #194510
    Messages:
    297
    Gender:
    Male
    Weatherstripping from the local hardware store
     
  9. Nov 20, 2016 at 4:03 AM
    #9
    DrFunker

    DrFunker Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2014
    Member:
    #122158
    Messages:
    42,967
    Front of the bed like Tater said, that is where a lot of the water will come in from. It is difficult to get it completely sealed but get what you can.
    That weather stripping that EatSleepTacos posted is good stuff. Very thick, very durable.
    My shell was installed when I bought it, but had some leaks in little spots. Used some RTV silicone where I could.
    Good luck.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top