How tight are the clamp bolts on the camper shell suppose to be

For those that aren't familiar with this mounting style here's what we're talking about.

Yes it requires a bit more finesse than the old school shell clamps, you can't just wrench it down hard and call it a day, but for those who use the back of their shell as a living space like I do during the summer it's almost mandatory and far superior. You can't be having those huge C-clamps to hit your arms/head/feet on when you're trying to give your girl the goods in the woods

 

" the goods in the woods "

That made me laugh!

 

I cant get my factory tie downs to go in the track and tighten all the way without the turn knob getting into the shell by about 1/8"

 

Is it like that on both sides? Mine are snug but I don't have any issue tightening them (Leer 100xr shell)

 

Yes both sides are the same the round tightening knob is about 1/8th to big to clear the shell

 

Got my nylock nuts put on the bolt at the bottom of the clamps, dont think them puppies will come loose any time soon, $1.20 is cheap insurance

 

Yeah, I certainly have the clamp style. Quick word of warning, Mine loosened, and the camper shell "flexed" out. The I got small cracks on either side of the shell near the top of the back glass extending into the side window area. Not fun now an easy repair.

 

Man I have the four holes in my leer with the oem bed rail mounts and the cap kept shifting on me no matter what I tried. So I bought additional clothes clamp style clamps that also go in the bed rail channels. I still find that the bed shifts a bit so this spring/summer I'm replacing the bed side Rails with L-trak and I'll hard mount the shell to the bedside somehow.

Came home from off roading once and the cap shifted almost 1/2 backwards.

 

Who sells clamps for our trucks?
I would like to buy a set in case I ever find a cap that fits.
Tacoma caps are nearly impossible to find on craigslist.

 

Trucks and trailers or most places that sell the camper shells, a set of 4 with all the hardware is around 50 bucks

 

Im looking at the toyota mini tie downs and they want 50 bucks for 2 of them and they look alot smaller than the standard knob tie downs, ive got to come up with something.

 

Made a 200 mile trip today in stormy weather with high winds averaging about 70 mph, got back and checked the camper shell bolts since i installed the nylock nuts on bottom of the bolts and every bolt was still tight, well woth it to add these i think

 

I guess the factory tie downs will work with a leer shell, its close but doesnt hit the shell by a hair when its tightened down

 

I put blue loctite on my bolts when I had a topper. They never came loose over the 13 years I had that truck/topper combo.

 

Thats a good idea, i went with nylocks on bottom, if that dont work ill try the loctite