Just an FYI use bed stiffeners with your topper

Ragofabrication.com also makes good bed stiffeners. I use them and zero issues.

 

I wouldn't have know it was really needed either. I looked at a few that were for sale here that had Bed Stiffeners installed, and that got me searching around. Glad I stumbled on your post, and hopefully others can read it and avoid having to deal with it too! So, I guess thanks for your mess up LOL!!!

Good luck with your build. I checked the GoFast tents and they look great!! Hope to see some pictures posted when you get it out!

 

All canopies/caps will shift around and rub if not periodically torqued down. There should be a gap maintained at all times. Stiffeners or not, if your cap is touching the paint, it is going to rub through, always.

 

What am I missing that bed stiffeners would of prevent paint rub? I’m assuming the cap in question had a lip over the rail? If so then I’m also assuming the dealer installed? If so then they used the provided foam tape… which is also junk. It is flat right off the bat then over time compresses further (gets closer to paint) then any side to side movements and this.

I know that’s a lot of assuming but I did my install with my own foam tape that is not flat. My cap has a lip but the thicker foam actually keeps it raised off the rails giving me more buffer between the paint. Just a thought. Now if you show a picture of a cracked bed then that’s something regarding the stiffeners

 

I didn’t refresh the page before my post but my thoughts exactly

 

The stiffeners may make a more solid platform so the cap doesn’t shift as readily, or as often. But to answer you question, nothing at all. When the cap shifts, which it will if you don’t check it often enough, it will rub off the paint.

I have stiffeners and a cap and still need to keep an eye on things.

 

Welcome to the club I had a leer camper shell and it did the same thing... ahhhh it is an eye sore, i got a paint pen and did my best.

 

Hard to see but the cap and lip dont hang over/low like it would if using the supplied flat foam tape.

 

I bought a set from a seller on TW from @Tttacodan. Super easy install and good quality!

 

Haha not a club I like being welcomed too

 

Have a Leer (similar to the current 180) cap on my '06 TRD OR. The thin rubber weatherstripping along the bottom of the rear windows rested on the top of the tailgate. It alone managed to rub thru the finish coat to the primer over 14 years. There's a balance between no paint damage and no water intrusion - chances are you'll have a bit of both.

 

Enjoy this site and always learning. I was reading another thread earlier and one of the members mentioned having bed stiffeners if you have a truck cap. I ordered the total chaos stiffeners today. I have a cap installed. Do I need to remove the cap before I install the stiffeners? Thanks in advance.

 

I can't see why, unless you've added a lot of weight on top of the cap. If it's just the bare cap I don't think it'll matter.

 

Exactly. A proper installation should use a bulb gasket (like what you illustrate) rather than a simple foam tape. The foam will become useless in a hurry.

Another problem is that the typical installation only uses 4 clamps. (Leer, in fact, does not use "clamps" but rather bolts through the lip of the topper.) IMO this is not enough clamping to keep the gasket compressed and the topper from sliding around. On mine, I added 4 more (actual) clamps, 2 in the middle on the sides and 2 on the front rail.

 

Instructions unclear

 

Gracias. Yes, its just the cap.

 

I opted for the Lil B's bed stiffeners. The price is pretty par with the rest of the market except these come with bottle openers, huge selling point for me!

 

Yes. Not saying bed stiffeners don’t have there place but more so for different reasons and preventative measures. I didn’t even let the dealer uncrate the cap- we just loaded it up on a flat bed and I was on my way. Spent a good amount of time cleaning the paint (clay/polish/seal) and putting my own gasket material. I’ll take pictures of the product bag so others can find it. I went 3 bulb on the side just for the fact the side rails are so wide and 2 bulb on the header because it was narrow. This material is rated for heavier weight which is why my cap has always been suspended on top of the bed rails rather than hug with the lip below. Some might not like it because it may not look as seamless but I d take that over paint rub any day. I have the foam tape supplied still bagged when I sell this cap and replace with the alucab

I have the 4 clamps they provided (wouldn’t mind 2 extra for in the middle) but it hasn’t moved once in 2 yrs but I don’t OffRoad either. I also probably tighten them a bit more than they recommend (which always seems loose but maybe because of the thicker gasket).

 

I forgot to mention that as the gaskets settle over time, it's important to check the clamps periodically and tighten as necessary. This is not something that you can do once and forget, especially in the first months of ownership.