Remove shell by myself?

Anyone know a good way to remove, at least partially, a shell on your own?

to install mine, bought used, seller helped me take off his truck and put into mine
Was a PITA

I crawled under like a turtle, stood up with it on me, etc

to get it home.
Skipped some steps. Now I want to go back in, lift it off, to start sealing against water.
Doesn’t have to move aside to the floor.

I’m just trying to figure out if there’s a way to raise it from the bed, at home, like a foot high. To gain room to the bed top panels so I can start waterproofing them

Something practical that can still be kept and stored without taking insane room.
I’m thinking maybe a foldable sawhorse. Or mini ladder. With either extensions on the legs or top to make it just right to hold the shell 1’ high off the truckbed without falling

 

Damn, too bad you weren't closer to the Central US; I've got a Jeep top removal jack that probably would do the trick.

 

Saw horses not a bad idea. If you need it off for more that a day, simple hoist. Two long ratchet straps to eyebolts on garage rafters, 2 2x4s under the cap rails cross ways, eyebolys at the ends of those, too. Make sense?

 

Use rope, 2x4s, moving blankets, etc. and a come-along under a tree with a good, strong limb?

 

You'll need a helper, but you can lift it the same way you put it on and have a helper slide some 2X4 blocks between the cap and bed rails raising the cap a few inches. About once a year I take the clamps off, get inside and lift it a few inches and slide it back 8-10" away from the cab. Then I clean the back window of the truck and the front of the cap before putting it back.

Before I had fiberglass and used aluminum caps I'd put those on/off quite often by myself. Aluminum is a lot lighter. And I was a lot younger too.

 

thanks for the suggestion
I see people have used an engine hoist instead
pros: cheaper
cons: still big, bulky, heavy, hard to store

I'll see if I can think of anything from the outside too
like two tall sawhorses or something. One per side, left and right of the truck
holding it up somehow

possible for some, but looking for a method that can be done anywhere, to include regular apartment parking
don't quite own a home with a tree in the yard
nor a garage

maybe this is one of those things where people invent a product and start a company, to solve a problem not yet solved
the 'Shell Remover'

2x4 between the cap and rails would block the surfaces and prevent access to the rails to remove them for waterproofing, and block the cap under surface to prevent adhering seals
could easily do that myself squatting inside the bed or laying on my back with feet pushing up, I deadlift 500 and the cap is 200
which, still, would block any necessary access, be pointless to do, and not really achieve anything

back window can be cleaned by spraying in a wash, sticking something in there, or folding it down from the inside

maybe it's just worth to pay the shop $200 for R&R shell to put water sealing
at least they offer to guarantee their work, have a brick and mortar storefront facility, tools, parts, experience
because if I try to DIY my ideas (weather strip, foam, sealant, etc.) and it *still* ends up leaking, will have to take it to them anyway
That and for some reason, putting this thing on is a pain. The bed may have gradually shifted off the frame.
Right tailgate smacks the shell about 1mm. Last time I messed with it, placed a pole jack in the bed to try and push shell rightward while I tightened the bolts. Temporarily helped, but still does it.

with the high price of wood nowadays, making a tool from DIY would probably cost as much as having a shop do it

 

Mine has a rack with cross bars.
I pulled into my garage and used motorcycle tie down straps from the cross bars to the rafters in my garage.
Just synched a little at each corner until it was up enough then pulled the truck out.

 

that is smart
it's a SnugTop
roof inside protrudes down in a rectangle shape, not sure if that indicates reinforced or not
I heard it doesn't, that every shell is like that to accommodate thick honeycomb section to prevent paint flex/cracking

I'm gonna take a pic of the ID plate and email SnugTop to ask what model if this thing is reinforced or not, to see if I can even put tracks/rail/rack on it
or if not, I guess sell

then maybe temporarily run a softopper if anything, keeping an eye out for different model camper, so the truck physically is able and ready to install one upon finding it

 

I've also done the tall sawhorses and it was easy to lift and worked quite well

 

Excessively expensive but it meets the stated requirements.

https://www.topperezlift.com/index.php/product/topperlift-lifting-kit-only/

 

From my experience with a snugtop I had water intrusion from the in the follow areas. The front folding window seal. Front plastic cap seal. Last place was the Tailgate Maybe this would work for you XINQIAO Third Hand Tool 3rd Hand Support System, Premium Steel Support Rod with 154 LB Capacity for Cabinet Jack, Drywall Jack& Cargo Bars, 23.6 in- 45.3 in Long, 4 PC, Green

$130 XINQIAO Third Hand Tool 3rd Hand Support System, Premium Steel Support Rod with 154 LB Capacity for Cabinet Jack, Drywall Jack& Cargo Bars, 23.6 in- 45.3 in Long, 4 PC, Green

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C52XP2T


Scrap 2x4 or 4x4 in each corner for safety.

 

now THATS what Im talkin about
looks perfect
cheap too

I'll double check vertical measuring tape in my shell/bed space to confirm those would work

re: water, known areas I've heard about to deal with are:

1. Left/Right side, under/between:


2. front square long bar, huge gaps in the sides. Put foam or RTV/silicone the hell out of it (ugly/messy)



3. side tailgate seal (L/R)



4. Tailgate seal



Or, good old Expanding Spray Foam

 

I slung them with two slings and hung them from the ceiling !

 

per Google to the roof is ~36-38"



so that 4 pack of rods would probably work
assuming they stay put and not tilt left = shell fall off, or I can secure them

even cheaper, HFT has Cargo Bar, $18 x 4 = $72
that might be stationary (non swivel) to avoid falling
too long yes, but appears they can be cut to being shorter to necessary length



same for their $24 Ratcheting Cargo bar



just doesn't say what weight they can handle
they do look the best for storage though. Keep stored at home, or in the truck (as cargo dividers), in use or not, they're poles and out of the way

edit: seen Support Rods at Home Depot advertising to hold 132lb vertically, each, which is plenty

 

I used this on the front rail. ESI Front Rail Seal 6ft EPDM Rubber

$16 ESI Front Rail Seal 6ft EPDM Rubber

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C0WVV72

I used something like this on the front rail and filled in seams with rtv silicone.

ESI Front Rail Seal 6ft EPDM Rubber

$16 ESI Front Rail Seal 6ft EPDM Rubber

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C0WVV72

and something like this on the bottom side of the shell
24.6Ft Rubber Weather Seal for Pickups Cap, Car Weather Stripping Double-Bulb Tailgate Seal for Truck Cap and Tonneau Cover https://a.co/d/hIKEPJi



best of luck

 

The down side one little bump will knock them over .

lifting 4 corners alone will be a challenge .

These are a pain in horizontal I can see in vertical a accident about to happen.

 

yes. I’m hoping some pole models are a fixed point base. Instead of a wobbly swivel.
I think if fixed it would hold. If they all lift gradually. Assuming each pole is rated higher/above the 50lb each they’ll support

and that the weight/downward pressure will keep them pushed down into the truckbed to avoid slipping

edit: forgot I have a raised sleeping bed platform so it will allow smaller ones to work instead of needing big ones

Or I can possibly get a sturdy box of some kind. To act as a platform. Shove it in the bed. Place my Badlands jack on top. Slap a flat piece of wood on the jack head. And lift up slowly.

 

It is yours if you have a mishap not like your buying a new Cap for someone else.

Good luck!

 

If you have a garage or barn use the rafters with 4 motorcycle tie-downs on each corner, worked great for me when i want to leave my snugtop off for tall truck usage.