$100 Topper - How to revive or replace exterior window frame

Hello,

I picked this up this 1st Gen Tacoma Double Cab topper for $100 at an auto recycler. For $100 I couldn't pass it up since I have been looking for a double cab topper for more than a year - and it was the correct color. It looks much better than what it is - and you can see the scratches in the side of it.

Has anyone refurbished or replaced the outside window frame on a topper? Source for parts? Though it can't be seen very well the outside frame has deteriorated on the passenger side and you can see holes forming in the seal of the outside frame.

On the drivers side it is much worse. The entire corner of the frame is deteriorated from a porcupine gnawing on it or salt /water/freezing and the plastic frame is cracked and broken.

It is a Ranch brand and they have no dealers in Wisconsin. Looks like you just remove a set of screws on the inside and the entire frame comes apart. Any tips or suggestions or threads to anyone replacing window frames or a source for parts. Thanks - Bob

Passenger Side


Drivers Side

 

Is the corroded part rubber or aluminum? I think your best best with those shot sides is to replace both windows. I think you will only find complete window assemblies, rather than individual parts.

Edit: Oh, I re-read your post and see it is plastic. Yeah, that's toast.

 

A small number of vendors make all the pickup truck caps/toppers/shell componenents. If you contact Ranch, they could either sell you the parts, or irect you to a dealer or even the vendor manufacturer


Ranch Fiberglass
Customer Support
customerservice@ranchfiberglass.com

 

Yeah I recently backed my truck up into my friends garage door frame while my back topper window was up and it bent tf out of the frame. Window was good but Leer will only sell a complete window/frame kit for $350. Pretty bogus they won't sell just the aluminum frame but I understand they're in it to make money.

 

If you remove all the little screws on the inside, you can pull the window out. The inside trim clamps the outher window to the body of the topper. Just have someone hold on to it so it doesn't fall out while you're on the inside unscrewing things.

If the glass isn't broken, you're far better off pulling the windows out and using a wire wheel to remove any crud and then repainting the frame. Replacement windows are ridiculously expensive and have to be ordered through topper dealers.

I've managed to break 3 windows over the years of owning trucks and it is easily $400-500 each time. All the topper companies get windows from the same place. They don't make them. A Leer window fits an ARE and so on. I even tried to order from the factory (Star something?) and they wouldnt let me. The same window company makes windows for a lot of the RV companies too.

Anyway, pull em out and refurbish them with a scrubbing and some black paint. Replace the screws too. And put some foam tape around the fiberglass opening before reinstalling the windows or they will leak.

 

These guys have a pretty good selection, but getting an exact fit for the radius corners could be tricky. Worth some measurements and phone calls. See if there is a dta plate on your shell to get model information.

https://www.custompickup.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=2943

 

Thanks for the info.

One more question. Anyone resize the window hole to fit a replacement window? Did you use a template and a jig saw?

Asking since Ranch doesn't deal directly with customers and only sells through dealers. No dealers in Wisconsin.

Was thinking of finding a slightly larger frame, cut a new hole and be done.

 

No reason you can't. It's just fiberglass. I'd personally use a high speed cutting wheel vs. A jigsaw. Those saw teeth catch in the fibers and you could have issues real quick. And don't forget to wear a good filter mask and eye protection. You don't want that in your lungs or eyes.

Your $100 topper is quickly becoming a $700 topper. (2 windows at 250 each plus shipping and misc. tools and parts). Now you know why the previous owner got rid of it so cheap.

How about finding another cheap topper on Craigslist and harvesting the windows out of that? I'd go that route before buying new ones.

 

Exactly the plan...goal would be to rebuild using other parts. I priced out new toppers in my area really would love an ARE MX.

Anyone found a source for interior carpeting?