ARE V-series ... bad design or bad install?

As a bit of background to all this, I drove a 2006 Tacoma TRD OR with a Leer cap for ten years and 240,000 miles and was quite pleased with the setup. Last month, while on vacation in Colorado, I totaled that truck. To replace it, I purchased a 2013 Tacoma DCSB 4x4 with 41,000 miles and am working to get it set up much like its predecessor.

A couple of weeks ago I ordered an ARE V-series cap from a local dealer for the 2013 Tacoma. It arrived on Monday and was installed on Tuesday. I was quite happy with how it looked on the truck. On Wednesday we had scattered T-storms throughout much of the day which afforded me an opportunity to check out how weather-tight the new cap was. As it turned out, not so much.

There were two small but pretty steady leaks coming under the seals in the front corners of the bed. I called the dealer and was asked to bring the truck in. After taking the ARE off the truck and looking at it for a couple of minutes, he informed me that the leaks were due to the design of the bed of the truck and the there was little he could do to solve the issue. When I told him that I had driven a 2006 with a Leer for ten years without this issue, he essentially called me a liar and tried to bet me $100 that he could “get it to leak”.

I am uncertain why he felt it was appropriate to treat a customer this way but in the end we agreed that he could keep the ARE cap and that I could get my money back.

So here is my question, how weather-tight should I expect these things to be? The ARE V-series sits on top of the rails of the bed and lips over the inside of the bed via three “L” shaped pieces that are bonded to the cap (one on each side and one along the front). This leaves the corners without an inside lip. Add to that the fact that the bed rails have a plastic cap that snap to the top but which are not otherwise weather-proof and I can easily see how water can come under the seals in the corners. If, however, the cap were to lip over the outside of the bed and wrap around the corners (I think this is how my Leer was designed), then this should not be an issue. Is this then a design issue with the V-series?

 

The ONLY leak I've experienced with my LEER 100R I got used off of Craigslist, and slapped on in the guy's driveway, is through the tailgate gaps when I'm at the carwash. Never had a leak from the rain. Sounds like ARE is not so good??

 

My Leer 180 was built/shaped to account for the design of the front edge of the bed. My dealer also installed some black putty type sealant on the front corners. I've not had a leak in that area since it was installed over 5 yrs ago.

 

I can't offer any advice on the quality of the cap or the installation, but that dealer sounds terrible. What the heck kind of customer services is that? Not trying to fix the issue AND badmouthing the competition? Yikes.

 

I call BULLSHIT on the topper dealer.....

The remedy i used to solve the issue of the bed to metal gap at the transition is an extra thick bulb rubber type seal that has worked well. The only time I get any water in the bed is if I go through a tunnel type car wash.

 

I've got an ARE cap on my 2012 DCSB. To date it sounds like my experiences with the topper have been much different than the OP's. To the best of my knowledge I do not believe I've had a significant leak into my truck bed during a storm. If I were compelled to make a "bet", I'm thinking that the cause of this issue was that the dealer did a sub-par job installing the topper on the OP's truck.

 

I had a new Leer cap that the dealer couldn't get sealed. Took it back and bought a ARE CX which has been great. All the dealers I talked to said that Tacoma's are hard to seal. Five things that shouldn't leak. Your roof, your truck, your tent, your condom and your TRUCK CAP.

 

As an update to this, I stopped by the local Leer dealer yesterday and explained my recent experience. He showed me the difference in design and build between ARE, specifically the V-series, and Leer and I can easily see how Leer toppers should be more weather-tight in comparison. I put a down payment on a 100xr and am now looking forward to getting it installed on the truck.

 

Nice! Love my Leer 100R. It's old and used and doesn't leak, so I'm sure you'll have better luck this round. Cheers!