Camper Shell Mods.

Okay so i've been lurking these forums for over 13 months and after getting my tacoma 10 months ago, I'm now about ready to order my Camper shell. If anyone would like to share insight to things they wish they would of done, or things they got but don't really use or care for (IE Fold down front slider window whistles, leaks, etc and the rear window isn't even that dirty to justify the cons of having a removable window instead of fixed) and things like that id love to hear about it. Just looking at what worked/hasn't worked for others to try and learn from it before I pull the trigger on this one, trying to do it right the first time.

As of now what I will 100% be getting is tracks installed, front slider. 2 Labs will likely be in the back and thats the whole reason for getting the topper, so if windoors are really as great as ive read, ill have to do vented windoors.

I could potentally as my son gets older or just weekend kayak fishing trips with myself be modding to put a sleeping Kot like platform etc like ive seen many times over. But for the most part the bed of my truck will be hauling military bags, ski/snowboards, fishing rods, hiking backpacks, two labs, firewood etc. Also maybe the occasional costco trip or two when I dont feel like driving wifes 4runner.

Im an extreme over planner so things I'm looking at in advance are son playing sports down the line, two kayaks on top of the shell (2 Hobie outbacks, slightly heavier than your average kayak @~85 lbs) , self sleeping so things like windoors kinda scare me because thats just more seals to maintain/potential leaks and those handles I could picture myself slamming on when i military press this kayak to throw it up top lol.

Also things to do before mounting camper shell as I will have 3-6 weeks to prep things like silicone etc into holes or gaps and would love if you have links to videos that helped you seal/learn from in the passed. Look forward to all the information you guys have and hope you share some with me.

If anyone has attached D-Rings or something of that nature for overhead ties/etc id be interested in learning how you did it and the pros and cons, Im pretty savvy with knots so looking at doing some type of 550 cord overhead storage that i can slide fishing rods in and out of like I did on my garage door mount

Thanks for reading my novel and I really look forward to having one thread I can go to instead of finding myself with the day over and on page 35 of this forum lol
Pic for attention first family camping weekend with the new truck .

 

Things I wish I'd done differently (assuming I were buying another shell and not one of the pop-top campers which is what I would buy now instead)- mid-rise shell instead of cab high (even though my touring boat is 17'), sliding windoors, drop down sliding front window. Get what you want when you order it as adding things later is expensive, i.e. ARE wants like $400/each for the sliding windoors. If you think you may ever sleep in the back get the carpet lining.

I'm not sold on the track mounting systems that the manufacturers are using; there seem to be more complaints about leaks with it as opposed to using clamps. The camper dealer that installed my shell in 2006 used six clamps stating he'd had too many issues with the T-nut style mounting. I just started having issues with water last year as the weather stripping is worn out- I'd say twelve years was a good run. Periodically check that the bolts securing your shell are snug.

Speaking of water, climb in the back of your truck and look for light while someone is underneath it with a bright light. Seal any areas where you see light; there are several threads were this is talked about. Install a tailgate seal; they kinda suck and the adhesive will get dusty over time necessitating that it be replaced periodically.

Make sure your installer uses some sort of plug system to connect the shell, not just tapping into your brake wire. You want to be able to remove the shell without cutting wires. Yeah, you'd think that would be a no-brainer but some folks cheap out.

I added Yakima tracks myself, it's easy, just a bit nerve racking drilling into a new shell (multiple thread on this as well). It's easy to add D rings to the bolts holding the tracks in place so that you can add gear hammocks, etc. I used some heavy duty picture frame hangers from one of of the big box stores; there are several threads with various ways of doing this. I like long bars as they give you more real estate for carrying crap, hanging stuff in camp, etc. I need to replace my worn out round bars (the plastic is cracked) and I'd like to do it with the newer aero style- mainly because then the kayak racks wouldn't rotate on the bars when loading boats. Unfortunately I'm cheap and don't want to buy new mounts and accessories too.

I wish I'd put a strip of that clear 3M tape on the back trailing edge of my shell. No matter how careful you think you will be, you will inevitably, at some point, bang the bow of your kayak on the paint.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-me-your-shell.13598/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-me-whats-in-your-camper-shell.325674/

 

Yeah trackin have read through those multiple times


@Bajatacoma -- yes about the clear tape, my wifes 4runner has the marks to show for it, but finally found a use for the snuggie that never gets used lol, always lay it down before loading kayak, my slight worry for the mx/180 type shells which isn't really that major is, being in the military I think I at times enjoy just not eating etc, but ill find myself fishing for 5-9 hours and consume no water and a cliff bar, although its only 3-4 inch difference I think id be more frustrated over the 200+ loading/unloading of kayaks instead of the 1-3 times a year having more head space. Def a big one to think about. And about the drilling my wife about speared me off my new kayak when I was installing a square hatch on day 2, "who the hell cuts into a 2 day old boat, its suppose to float you jackass" was the jist of what was said lol. So not sure I want to get froggy with drilling in the camper maybe ill talk to the installer about it, if they do it, im more interested so they can be "liable" for the uh oh. Appreciate your insight and response !

 

I bought 3 step step ladder to load the kayaks. Fit in the back nice. Loaded 35 lb kayaks no issue. Definitely get windoors. With pet screens. You won’t regret it. Good luck. Extra headroom is worth it.