I sealed my cab-canopy window

I've owned many trucks with canopies over the last 25 years. There's never been a good way to seal the rear cab window to the front canopy window. I like to keep the windows open to be able to hear my dogs in back and to hear anything going on in back. It's also nice to have pass-through for camping in the canopy. But inflatable boots, inter-tubes and rubber flanges all have their problems, like scuffing the paint surfaces, leaking, and getting dislodged.

Now I think I came up with a good solution. This has probably been done before but I haven't seen anyone post about it. Maybe this description would help someone else.

3M self-adhesive weatherstripping works great to seal the gap between the black metal canopy window frame and the black window frame of the truck. I experimented with a few different sizes and found that the 1-inch thick provided the best fit for my truck-cap (3rd gen access cab to Snugtop Rebel).

Having a fold down canopy window made the weatherstripping easier to install but it could also be done by removing the canopy:


5 foot length of 1 inch self-adhesive weatherstripping:


The adhesive is stuck to the rubberized metal on the truck window frame. I figured if there was going to be any chaffing/scuffing, I'd rather the cap window trim get chaffed than the truck window trim. So far it hasn't been a problem on either surface. The weatherstrip piece across the top of the window is longer than the window is wide to allow for water to run off the side, like the "eave" of a house.


This is the interface with the canopy folding window in the closed position. The 1-inch weatherstripping was a pretty damn good fit for my truck-canopy:

Looking down from the top you can see that the seal is good, and there is no contact with the paint on either the truck or the canopy. So I'm not worried about paint scuffing.


The seal has survived many rainstorms and car washes without a single drop leaking. Wind and road noise is almost unnoticeable. It's like the canopy is an extension of the interior. I'm not really sure if my dogs even care, but I like it .

 

damn thats pretty neat. good work

 

Nice! I gotta try this out

 

Been looking for something like this for a while

 

This is a great idea and I am going to do this. I am having a hard time finding the weather strip you used. Found dozens and dozens of of weather strips with different profiles on google. I am sure I am just not googling the right thing

Do you have a link or can you tell me where you bought it please?

 

You just reminded me to do this before the cap goes back on, thanks for the thread reply!

Quick search and I came up empty as well, only finding up to .50" .... where did you find this stuff @Mtn Mike ?

Edit:

$24 1" Auto RV Marine Self Adhesive Exterior RV Slide Out D Rubber Weather Seal (10 Foot)

this is similar, without the nice 3M adhesive.

 

This may go down as one of TW's worst project write-ups, but for the life of me I can't find the link and I can't remember where I got the weatherstripping!

Anyway I'd definitely recommend the kind with 3M self adhesive because it does a nice job of keeping the foam secure in place.

 

Well this is a great idea. I don't like the doughnuts at all.

I will find the strip or something that works, if someone doesn't beat me to it. When I do I will post back here. Thanks for the answer.

 

Just received this today:

$27 ESI Front Rail Seal XL 5 1/2' EPDM Rubber for Truck Caps—Fills a Height Gap from .488" to 1"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07147Y43J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pretty thick so I think putting it shell and cab side should work.

 

This product looks perfect for this purpose. Report back on how it ended up working.

 

Some quick tests are showing still a bit of a gap. My cap is as far forward as I can get it but theres still over 2 inches in some parts between the truck window and shell. I’ll try to find a way to make it work.

Side note - I think I found what OP used at McMaster Carr. Style J: https://www.mcmaster.com/epdm-rubbe...stant-hollow-foam-rubber-surface-mount-seals/

 

Here it is again if still looking for that seal.
https://www.campingworld.com/ribbed...TAAxGEBYJMW64UI2AasaAhIKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

@Mtn Mike - I just came across this post and was curious how the setup is holding up. I'm looking to do the same thing to help with temperature control for my dog in a Gunner Kennel in the bed of my Tacoma with a Snugtop canopy.

 

I had something similar on my 1994 Toyota pickup when I bought it. Yours is probably better. The one that came on mine touched the cab body. I didn't even think of it until I removed the canopy years later. It had worn away the paint where the rubber seal made contact with the body. If yours is just connecting at the seals, it probably wont ever be a problem. I'd just keep an eye on it though.