Canopies (shells) and bed leaks...

I'm going to be getting a 3rd Gen soon (SB or LB, TBD). I've read here and there about water leaks entering the bed even though fitted with a shell or tonneau. This is an outrage!

Seriously though, I've owned a ton of Toyota trucks since 1986 and while I've experienced some seeping water from the tailgate area, it seems as though this is an issue with the 3rd generation Tacomas.

Is this isolated to certain configurations or bed cover types? I'd have to have stuff in the shell waterlogged after a rain (which is does here in the PNW occasionally).

Thanks!

 

I’ve had three 3rd gens. They all leak terribly unless you spend the time to find the spots they leak from seal them properly. Butyl tape is my recommendation

 

I have an ARE CX shell on my 3rd gen SR5. I have experienced some water dripping in at the front corners of the bed. It is irritating, but the spots prone to causing the leaks can be addressed before the shell is installed. I recommend finding a shell distributor who has experience with 3rd Gen Tacomas. They have dealt with the leak problems and may do a better installation job. It's easier to seal the bed before the shell is installed.

It is a challenge to prevent water from leaking into the bed. There are gaps between the sides of the beds and the front of the bed that must be filled before the shell is installed. There is a potential for water to leak in under the plastic rails covering the top of the front and sides of the bed. Have you reviewed the Tonneau and Shell forum? There are posts on how to seal the spots with photos and instructions.

 

You have to seal the two gaps in the front of the bed. Toyota put a weird little jog in the bed structure on the outer DS and PS that needs to be filled to prevent leaking. Some foam siliconed in place does the trick and keep the bed bone-dry. Any reputable installer knows this already and will do it without asking. Cone-head installers might not.

If you lay a 2x4 along the front of the bed rail it will become painfully obvious where these gaps are that need to be dealt with for a waterproof seal.

It’s only a hassle if you wait until after the canopy is installed to seal these gaps.

 

I can't say about 3rd gens, but the bed rail design at the front of the bed is about an inch lower than the sides. That makes for a pretty big gap to fill when installing a cap. Mine has always leaked a little. For what I do it isn't a problem.

If I really wanted to, I could completely seal it. But what little water makes its way in stays in the channels of the bed and anything in the bed sits on the top, so no water ever touches anything inside.

 

When I had a vagabond camper, they installed a little flap/gasket on the front of their topper (where the front edge of the camper meets the front of the bed) that acted as a barrier of sorts for any moisture coming from straight on or above. Minor addition I felt made a major difference.

 

I have roll up soft cover and have leaks in the two front top corners. If you search the forum, some people came up with great ways to stop the water intrusion but they may or may not be permanent. I have a bed mat so water runs under the mat and thru the drain holes in the bed. If you did not know, there are 2 drain holes in the front of the bed. Also, the storage compartments in the bed are not water tight either.

 

check my build has all the info on what I did. Haven't had any water come in from the shell other than the tailgate.

edit I used aqua seal tape for under the bed rails

 

In before the usual suspects say all caps leak.

Snugtop GB sport. Never had a leak. It has serious overhang on the sides and a big rubber flappy thing covering the front. No chance for water to say Hi. No windows to leak. Even take it through automated drive through car washes. Love mine, worth every expensive penny.

 

Aside from the location at the front of the bed that people have already mentioned, the bulk of water intrusion comes from the gaps around the tailgate. If you close the tailgate, you can see right through the gaps when looking down in the bed. You'll need to address these gaps... completely doable.

They changed this in the 3rd gen. The front bulkhead is now level with the bed sides.

 

i have an ARE CX. the dealer did absolutely nothing to seal the bed and was kind enough to tell me afterwards.

I removed it along with the bed rail caps and applied a large bead of an exterior grade caulk. i also replaced the foam tape on the underside of the canopy. for the caulk, I used a product called Big Stretch that is available from ACE hardware, Lowes or home depot. i was very generous when i applied it. some squeezed out of the corners which is what i wanted. it cleaned up easily with a damp paper towel. i used clear, it goes on white but dries clear.

i also applied a tail gate sealant tape along the tailgate and corners of the bed.

mine does not leak, now.

 

I've had numerous different types of canopies on several toyota trucks, 2 of them long bed 2nd gens. I drive up into the mountains in rain and snow all winter long. Asking the bed to stay completely dry is a tall order, but not impossible

The number one best thing you can do is buy a fiberglass shell with the gutter/overhang around the front and sides. I started with a used Leer XQ on my old 2011 Access Cab, every time I tried a different brand or style it leaked, so after wasting tons of money and time I went back to Leer with my current 2015. Not a drop anywhere at the front of the bed

 

Snugtop owner here. The overhang on the sides looked goofy to me at first but it was solved by removing the TRD offroad decal. I think maybe the overhang helps reduce water issues? It just doesn't leak. On real rainy days you can kick water up from underneath and into the drain holes in the bed. I plugged those and put a bedmat in. Still get dust intrusion around the tailgate and side boxes but otherwise the canopy is weatherproof.

I guess I lucked out and got a good installer but I also feel like snugtop has a good PNW design.

 

Thanks!

 

New 3rd gen owner and first-time cap owner after 3 Tacos. I've found the biggest problem is the tailgate corners (about an inch gap on both sides) in combo with no mud flaps. The moisture in the bed is worse on drivers side & full of dirt and salt, so I'm confident it's coming from the road. I'll order mudflaps from Husky and see if this makes a noticeable difference. I'm not sure what kind of foam or product I can use to take up that gap without interfering w tailgate op. Anyone else having this particular issue?
My cargo is high and dry on a mat, but this creates a ton of condensation inside the cap which freezes and creates zero visibility in the winter.