1st Gen camper shell buying info

See @shifty's "Not Quite OP" post. Although I would like a Mod to allow him OP access to this one day.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-camper-shells.94096/#post-2379108

 

Thanks, that's what I've been basing my search off of. But the bed rails on these are so wide. 66", from the same location on the opposite side of the bed. That's why I'm wondering if anyone has experience with slightly narrower shells. Seems like it'd fit, and that there's far more room for error side to side than front to back, as far as avoiding leaks.

 

You could be the first and report your findings... FOR SCIENCE!

 

I won't deny, I've seen trucks out there with narrow toppers, and I don't like the looks. I'm sure this one would fit, and all the glass is there, but I shouldn't be impatient...This one is affordable and has features I really want, but definitely didn't expect to get on the used market, so it's tempting.

 

I'm still looking for a white one in good condition in Texas

 

I’m looking for you too. You’ll be 1st Gen to know

 

RCLB utility shell at a pretty compelling price here, just northeast of Knoxville TN. These things cost 3x-4x more new.

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That's a steal in my opinion. Those have to be extremely rare at this point.

 

Man, I like that a lot. Wish I were closer.

 

As I search for toppers, one issue has come up, mostly due to my own lack of foresight. There's a topper I was about to drive 2 hrs to see, but I found out they don't have clamps. Neither do I. In the event that I might miss out on a good deal, is there a safe method you can think of, with hardware store materials, to safely secure a topper for a ~140 mile drive, just to get it home?

I've got clamps ordered now, since I've realized my mistake. Just curious if anyone has thoughts. Clamps will be here mid-next week, so it's not a big deal, really, but there's always a chance I'll need to scramble to get something before someone else does...

 

Standard C clamps?

 

I have two different clamps designs and I like one a lot better. This one:

GCI STRONGER BY DESIGN G-1 Clamp. Made in USA with 6000 Series Structural Aluminum to Ensure Quality and Strength. For Mounting Caps, Camper Shells, Toppers to Pickups (2)

$18 GCI STRONGER BY DESIGN G-1 Clamp. Made in USA with 6000 Series Structural Aluminum to Ensure Quality and Strength. For Mounting Caps, Camper Shells, Toppers to Pickups (2)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VH3ZV9P

 

I’m always looking for something in a better paint condition than mine.

has anyone ever removed the side windows. I was looking and it’s about 8-10 screws. But there are no good YouTube videos. Mine are frameless, the ones online have rails and frames.

I want to try and do my window gasket seal and tint the window 5%. Looks easy if the window is off. Tint shop wanted 150$ per window

 

This. But I would use a metal plate between the clamp and fiberglass on the top of the rail, to spread out the force/load, so you don’t have the round part of the clamp punching thru the fiberglass. Doesn’t matter for the under-rail side as much, steel on steel.

Those are what my cap came with. I have a similar design in black’s got off the scAmazon, in a 6 pack. I’ve been meaning to swap out clamps just because they’re black, but the hardware on the clamps installed now is one size larger, which I prefer….

 

That was the one thought that came to my mind. Great, thanks.

And yes, that's funny, but those are the exact clamps I just ordered. Sorted by average customer review, they were up at the top, with "made in the USA" in the title, and one of the photos was a simple chart showing which model is compatible with what trucks. Good deal.

 

These are the ones @shifty` recommended to me. They are nice. Best advise, buy the clamps and keep them in your truck so that way you have them when the time comes.

 

Oops, I replied just a hair after you. Anyway, at least the info is here for future searches.

 

Yep! Would have helped me, since I've been referencing this thread regularly when I look at toppers. But it worked out anyway.

It's amazing how many of these have busted out rear windows. Like almost all of the ones I'm seeing.

Because my truck is white, and realistically I can't afford to have the topper painted, but I'm really pretty particular about how things look, I'm only considering white, gray or black. There's a perfectly nice green one with busted out back window for $50 that was really tempting. But I know I wouldn't be happy with green on white.

Yeah I'll definitely keep the clamps with me. I regularly travel to a larger town (my town is ~5,000 people) just a couple hours north, and there's a decent chance something might come up there.

 

$20 in masking tape, free carboard or newspaper flyers for large masking, $20 in sandpaper, $40 in Rust oleum Professional gloss white paint