Leaking Bed with Topper, Where to Caulk?

Hello everyone.

I have read the leaking in the front corners is not the cap/topper but the design of the bed itself.

If true, where then should I apply the sealant to stop the water from coming in?

I know I could go spray it with a hose or sit in my bed as a big rain comes in to locate the problem area. Just wondering if any of you are familiar with this and can help me out.

It's a 2015 short bed.

Thanks

 

Could be the front corners.

Could be the windows in the shell.

Could be the back corners.

Could be damage to the seal at some point where the shell sits on the bed rails.

Best bet to fix it is to find out where the leak is and go from there.

 

Check the picture and the area with the red circle.

The front bed rail is slightly lower than the side bed rails most likely this is where the leak is occuring.

The front of my Leer cap is designed for that difference.


They also make a front rail seal if your cap is not designed for that difference.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Rail...r-Truck-Cap-Camper-Shell-Topper-/321360576249

The last time I put my cap back on I bought a good quality seal for the side rails and the front rail seal. While prepping the cap for the seals I noticed the front rail was lower than the side rails so I did not need or use the front rail seal. BTW, I put the new seal on as one piece on the cap and not the truck.

I've had caps on all my trucks since my 1976 Chevy LUV, so I know how frustrating a leaking cap can be.

 

Yes, the transition where the sheet metal meets the composite bed is a place that will leak. When my topper was put on, the dealer caulked that area with a bead of clear silicone, and then put a small amount of extra on top that would compress and fill the remaining gaps when the topper was installed. They also used two layers of foam tape across the entire front of the bed as well. Mine has never been water tight, but the water I do get from that area is minimal.

 

I agree with the red circle above... I had a 2006 with a Leer XL100 and now a 2014 with Leer XR100 canopy. I replaced both seals (Camper Tape) after a few years of installation.

No spray or caulk... I just put two layers across the front of the bed making certain I overlapped in that red circled area. I live in Oregon where it rains in the fall/winter/spring. I can attest to only seeing a drop or two on the interior over the years with my method.

 

When I had my Leer cap, my dealer used butyl putty in those corners. Never leaked.

 

Having had at least 8 trucks with camper shells, all made to not leak. My Tacoma is the only truck I can't get leak free. Having done everything mentioned here on TW my shell still leaks at the front, not bad, but any water is a leak. I refuse to set my shell in a bed of double beaded silicone caulk.

 

It is the front corners. I said that it was the way Toyota designed the bed, not the cap.

 

Thank you all for the responses it is very informative.

 

That closely mirrors my own experience. And it is the bed design, not a problem with the cap. Mine is pretty close. In a hard rain I get just a little leakage, but fortunately it has never been enough to cause a problem. With the corrugated floor in the bed any bit of water stays in the channels and any cargo sits in the top of the ridges and has never gotten wet.

 

On my old Mighty Max, I stuck a half a pool noodle against the back of the truck cab before I put the shell on. The noodle rested on the top edge of the window. Then after the camper shell was installed, that half a noodle would cut down the wind noise and reduce the amount of rain that passes between the cab and the shell.

Your mileage may vary. But that is what worked for me in the past.

 

Sorry if I was not clear. The silicone caulk went between the bed and the foam tape.

 

My front corners leaked so I filled the gaps with silicone seal. The shell window latch frame also leaked. The small screws had worked themselves loose. Pumped some silicone seal in and tightened the screws and the frame.