Shell Installation Questions - Any Suggestions?

Hi guys! I’m getting a new-to-me Leer 100xl shell this weekend and I’m interested in any tips or suggestions you have for the installation.

I bought new ESI foam seals for the front and side rails which I’ll be putting on. That seems to be the most common suggestion here on TW threads, but I can’t find much else.

Do I need to remove the plastic bed rail caps?

Does anyone know how to program the Leer auto lock to my own fob?

Any other tips or suggestions you think I should know?

 

It’s cool, I’ll figure it out. Thanks

 

do you have it on yet? no, the bed caps don't need to be removed. pay special attention to the front bed rails. that's where most leaks develop. if need be, throw some silicon caulk in the cracks that the foam seals don't cover. I had troubles with the latches on my cap the entire time I had it. a good installer can tweak things if you cant get it perfect. I never had the autolock so I cant speak to that, but im sure leers customer service could. double, triple check the cap along the sides of the bed to make sure they re rubbing the paint. my brother in laws truck wasn't checked and both sides rubbed all the paint down to the metal. after driving for a while, re check torque on the bed rail clamps to be sure theyre still tight and the cap hasn't shifted. if you have any other questions, ask! im surprised this thread went unanswered so long. sorry!

also,

 

Nope. At least I didn't, but I also never have had any help or advice with that kind of stuff either. I put mine on foam seals on rail caps and it's been there for nigh five years now.

You gotta go to LeerWorld.com for that info.

Don't buy your shell from stoners in northern California, they'll make you sit around waiting and will do next to nothing to help you hoist it and get it all lined up. Seriously, I got in the bed, put the shell on my flat back and walked it up to the cab.

 

Also just noticed your post. Leave the plastic rails on all around.
Have an ARE on my 2009 and extra form tape on the front outer sections where you can see/feel a sight drop where the bed front and sides come together or water will come in.
Watch the rear alignment and make sure the shell rear window closes correctly over the tailgate before bolting down.
I have a separate window in the shell front and cab so no seal up there to deal with - on previous truck after years the paint may wear under the seal if you have such but no big deal its minor.
There is a slight gap on the rear window to bed/tailgate on at the side edges so if the rear window bottom seal is hanging out it will cover it (you will see at install).
Finally if you run down dusty roads the Tacoma tailgate will allow dust to get sucked in on the side gaps and a little on the bottom. Not normally a problem but after hundreds of miles of dirt roads in AK the entire cargo was coated so they make tailgate seal kit if you need it (or blur tape it inside for such occasions if required).

 

These are great tips and reminders, thank you! Installing it today and these tips will serve me well. Thankful, no NorCal stoners (sounds rough).

I didn’t think to post any pictures since I didn’t have the cap yet, but I will for sure post a before and after, will that work?

 

i need to pull mine off due to leaking. I plan to apply a mold release to the rails and a big bead of caulk on top of the existing seal (which will be left to serve as a vibration buffer)

 

Installation went really well, the tips really helped and spent extra time making sure new seals were positioned correctly. Hoping to get it painted soon. Matte black or super white?

 

matte black

 

I just picked up a canopy myself, its blue and I plan on painting it black as I personally like the look of black canopy on super white more than even a color matched topper. So I vote for black as well.

 

ehhhh im more of a color matched man myself. im voting white. I miss having a cap. they were super useful

 

Yeah, I’m super torn. I’d like to try painting the rack white too, but keep the rails and bolts black....

So far I love that the Leer has a bit of a lip at the bottom than fans out away from the bed. One of the concerns mentioned was rubbing from the shell on the bed, but it looks like the bed rail caps, along with that extra lip will prevent any rubbing on the paint completely.

 

Nice. My truck is pyrite mica and shell is black so that's my vote as will go with your stripe and wheels, plus gives you option of black hood and roof when your clearcoat goes!
But to paint you have to pull it off again! I added a rear light with push button switch too running wire down the drivers side rear corner of the shell into the hollow area of the bed (look up underneath and you will see it). You can tap into the trailer lead hot or I ran a new standalone wire always hot up to the battery and added a fuse (you could add in cab switch for it if you wanted big rear floods). Carry all my fishing gear and camping gear too. Had mine on the Tacoma for 7 years now and carry tools, chains, come along, cables, saw, axe, etc in a waterproof box strapped down in the front area (added more tie downs on the bed bolts). Have the Toyota bed mat so any leakage runs down under that in the grooved plastic bed so pretty dry back there. That bed mat does start to leave some surface black after cooking in the shell all these years in FL so scrub it down hard yearly. I have a tent that hooks over the shell end so sleep in the shell on air mattress and use tent as storage and dressing area. Always seems to rain or get morning dew every trip. Enjoy.

 

Mine with a Spruce Mica topper (kinda looks black in the pic) and then after color matched.

 

White

 

Thanks! The shell has an interior light and I def need to get that hooked up. Sounds like I should get a bed mat too. =]

Sweet, thank you for the visual comparison!

 

I have black on silver. Spent months refreshing CL ads waiting for a silver or black DCSB shell to pop up. It looks better now that I added the runners and got black wheels, I've thought about adding a black grill also. It's kinda fun browsing to see what kind of little cosmetic mods are out there to add to the black/silver look, but I can't say I'm very motivated to do anything in particular about it. My shell is on the older, junkier side and it's primarily there so the dogs can come along without sullying the cabin after hikes and stuff.

Since OP also has black wheels and runners, I think it'll look cool either way. But matching white might make for easier resale down the road if that matters to you.