ARE Tacoma Cap T-Handle Lock Problem

I just got a 2004 Tacoma 4x4 (3.4l) with an ARE cap on it. It came with T handles and a key, but not the inner locking cam that attaches to the T-Handle shaft.

I bought a replacement online and am having an issue. I can't fully turn the T handle to lock the shell for two reasons.

1. The locking cam seems to be designed for rear glass that is almost vertical / in the same plane as the tailgate. Since the ARE shell glass comes down at a significant angle, the locking cam is not even close to parallel with the tailgate. So only the tip of the locking cam touches it.

2. The locking cam is too long.

My first thought is to simply bend the cam to match the angle of the tailgate, that would deal with the length problem as well. Or, I could cut it down a bit. But it would still meet at an angle. It doesn't look like the best metal, so I wanted to see if others have a better solution for this issue.

 

I’d probably cut it see how it fits.

Besides that maybe a wrecker if the OEM ARE handle is tough to get ahold of

 

Guessing it won’t lock unless the cam is vertical?

 

Those are not meant to go downwards to the tailgate. They are meant to go to the sides of the topper. Notice the black plastic strike plate on the right side of your picture? You need to reverse the "cam" so that the bumped part contacts the black plastic strike when closed.