Leaky ARE truck caps?

I ordered that same shell a few weeks back and just now waiting on it to come it.

Been reading up on the leak issues so I know what to expect.

 

Mine leaks from the bedsides cracks. Sealed them up. Did anyone use eye foam on the bed rail? Got mine second hand and we basically just lifted the thing on and clamped it down? I've since used RTV in the leak areas.

 

Thank you for this. Very detailed and what I was looking for. I have a leer but same should apply. Thanks again.

 

Between Toyota's crappy bed design and all of the shell manufacturers trying to make a decades old design work with newer designs from multiple truck manufacturers, all while trying to maximize profits in an industry that probably doesn't have large margins to start with, I'm not sure that we the consumer are ever going to get a quality product. I'm glad to see some newer players on the market like Alumicab and the ARB shells, hopefully they'll push the older US manufacturers to up their game.

 

This might help with the bulk head leaks on 2nd gens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSKOG3up2J0

 

The sealant to use is a well placed thick bead of GE 100% silicone under the front bed rail and the gaps. Once the silicone cures its pretty imprevious and will hold up a long time.

$15 GE Window & Door Sealant Clear All Purpose, 10.1 oz, Cartridge

https://www.amazon.com/GE-Silicone-Purpose-Caulk-GE012A/dp/B0000CBIH9/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=ge+100%25+silicone+clear&qid=1553231315&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1

 

Does it block the side rail or cleats?

 

Found this thread while searching for potential solutions to my cap leaking issues. Just had a BRAND NEW ARE MX installed on Friday (Windoors, carpet and sliding front window). When I inspected the install I was impressed, they seemed to do a great job sealing the front spots where people get water. I left happy and excited!
That night and all day Saturday it rained crazy hard all day. Tons of water leaked in, carpet headliner soaked all around, water on every under rail inside and dripping off the mounting clamps. Sooo much water it’s really hard to see where it’s coming from.
Brought it to the dealer, they looked at it quick said the Windoor seals looked good, but I think it’s still leaking. Been dry for a day so I’m going to hit it with the hose and find out.
Plan is to bring it back to the dealer every day until it’s either dry or I have my money back in hand.

Bought this for camping.... needs to be dry

 

As my above post explains, brand new cap with lots of leaks. Already had it back to the dealer once, they “checked” the seals and said it’s good.
So I go do another wet test with paper inside the bed. Found a few issues.
1) water coming in from the roof rack track bolts in one spot.
2) water coming in from the Windoor hinge on top.
3) water coming in the front spots near the cab.
4) water coming in the back by the tailgate.
5) under the Windoors felt wet but couldn’t find the exact spot, but for sure the Windoors are leaking.

I went to the ARE dealer on my way home to stomp my feet and speak to the manager. Have an appointment for Friday for them to go over the cap again...

needless to say I am not happy, asked what the process for getting my money back was and he looked at me for a second and then said ARE doesn’t really do that. He said to speak to corporate, then I said well they say to speak to the dealer, he laughed and said oh yeah they usually say that... WTF

On my way out I said, well I’m going to keep coming back until it doesn’t leak.
(I understand some of the issues are not the caps fault, like the tailgate and maybe the front two spots, but the Windoors and roof, oh hell no.)

 

One would think that since the USA sent a man to the moon in 1969 and there is now a manned orbiting space station, a camper shell could be manufactured without leaking windows! I had a A.R.E. CX Classic installed on my 2020 Tacoma on Tuesday, Thursday night we received a heavy rain and the driver's side windows of the shell leaked like a sieve! The carpet liner was soaked and water had run down the sides of the truck bed and pooled on the floor. I emailed A.R.E directly as I see this as a manufacturing, not an installation issue. I purchased the shell from a long time, opened in 1968, mom and pop dealer but they are not exactly local.

 

I feel your pain. Here is what I was told from ARE when I called: “we did not take your money, therefore can not help in any quality control or warranty problems.” Also went on to tell
Me, “we make no claims that the caps are water tight, just water manageable.”.... I was like okkkkkk

Literally told me I have to deal with the dealer for everything.

So I told the dealer I would come back every day until my cap didn’t leak, or I had my money back. They ordered me new Windoors. Still waiting on them..

 

A.R.E. has manufacturing facilities in Ohio. If anyone else is having problems and can't get satisfaction locally, here is the link for the Ohio Attorney Generals office if necessary.

ohio office of attorney general - Bing

 

They may not have taken the money but they made the damn thing!

 

So far the dealer I got it from, is playing ball in terms of replacing the Windoors for free. Also I live local to the shop.
But here is yet another issue from ARE, I was suppose to get the new Windoors installed last Wednesday, waited two weeks for them to come in, the dealer checked the shipping manifest multiple times. The pallet arrives, no Windoors... they are on the invoice but not physically there. they have not heard back from ARE yet.
Soooo now I have to drive across the country, whilst sleeping in the bed of the truck with my lady the entire time, with leaky Windoors. Great...
yet another win

 

Over the years I have found quality control of both Leer and ARE are shit. At least on both brands the paint match has been spot on.

 

New member and I joined because of this thread! Mine's an '06 2x4 with extended cab and an ARE cap which has leaked at the cap/box joint from day 1. Dealer wasn't interested and so I've just put up with it. What I don't understand is why don't cap makers allow the shell to extend down below the joint on the outside? The reason mine is leaking is capillary attraction because the tape gasket has adhesive only on one side. So the slightest gap sucks the water like a straw and then it runs along the bed rails . I've tried sealing the inside but it appears the water is coming under the plastic bed rail cap so the hold down track prevents me getting sealer where it's really needed. Is it possible to remove those plastic railcaps and seall underneath them if I take the cap off? I'm about to embark on a truck/camper project and I don't want wet bedding! Are there any other caps out there or after market gaskets that will completely solve this problem for good?
Thanks for looking
Pete

 

Most of the posts here are about 2nd and 3rd gen, does anyone know if 1st gen beds have the same issues re water getting in even if the topper is sealed? Looking to make a 3+ season camper setup and would love to know beforehand if that's an issue on the old trucks too.

 

1st Gens had a real bed (metal), no plastic bedside caps unless you had a bedliner and it was the same height around it so you didn't need to mix gasket materials. When I had my 1st gen, I had the bed Rhinolined then used a weatherstripping with adhesive on one side to stick to the Rhinoliner then put the shell on. Use three clamps per side, not two like some places say; it helps distribute the force more evenly in my experience. Never had a problem until it got hit by a Subaru.

A fair number of the leaking issues seem to be the overall poor quality construction of most shells such as not engineering them for the Toyota bed design, window opening poorly cut and/or sealed, weatherstripping that doesn't fit quite right or dries out and then routine issues such as not keeping the window drains cleared which allows water to back up and run in through the channel.

 

Thanks! That's really helpful!

 

I called ARE on my lunch "hour" and they never answered the phone.