New snugtop on Friday. Prep questions

I am getting my new snugtop rebel put on this Friday. Any tips or suggestions I should do prior to getting it installed for sealing purposes? The installer does fill the front gaps with the butyl tape stuff.

 

I work for a Snugtop dealer in Alaska- I don't think you need to do any prep besides take anything out of your bed we don't love moving full toolboxes etc... Snugtop has factory bulb seals on the bottom edge (that sits on bed rails) of the canopy instead of tape on foam. The Rebel has a good drip edge all the way around on Tacomas

 

Post a picture when you are done- I would love to know your thoughts

 

If you want it as water tight as possible.. Maybe pull the bed rail caps and run a bead of silicone along the edge and reinstall rail cap.

 

I respectfully don't think that is necessary.This is a Rebel on a Ford- the edge of the canopy overlaps your bed rail so that you don't even see it. Even if you pressure wash your truck you will get water through the window drains and the vertical lines of your tailgate before you get water through bed rail area.

 

Maybe... the typical cap sits on top of the rails with no over lap, which is why I mentioned it. That looks good, but I would still be have concern with water running down that semi hidden seam. Even so not a deal breaker as the cap can be removed and problem areas can be addressed if needed.

 

Full disclosure- I sell Snugtops Not trying to be an a$$, I just like showing off what I have learned in the last year since starting a new company/being a female in a male dominated field. Here is the bottom of our Snugtop sample. This is the seal that Snugtop uses, it is glued to shell from the factory and along your bed rails you have a double line of it.

 

Full disclosure... I am not trying to piss on your parade... and I believe you. Just relaying what others have experienced with their shells. They may not have been snug tops.
It is more of a general warning to anyone putting a shell or tonneau cover on.

 

Definitely seal under the plastic bedrail caps before the installation. It's a common leak point even though the Snugtop Rebel itself should be generally leak proof. I used Geocel Proflex RV sealant but silicon would probably be good enough. There's a good thread with instructions on how to do it around here somewhere.

Other than that you can fine tune it after the install. I also sealed the cubby storage holes and the gaps near the tailgate. I still need to get a tailgate gasket but I haven't yet because not a lot of water actually comes in there despite there being a pretty big air gap. Mine is pretty water tight. I'll get a few drops in the bed after a high pressure wash or driving through heavy rain. I'm not even sure if the water is coming through the window seals or what. But it's not enough to worry about.