Camper Clamps?

This is a dumb question for sure, but I found a camper top a couple hours away that is missing the clamps. Are these things universal? I can't find anything in stock near me and dont want to drive 2 hours with the wrong clamps to bring the thing home. The shell is for a first gen access cab and is even the right color.

$27 moveland Camper Shell Clamps - Heavy Duty Truck Cap Clamps - No Drilling Required Truck Topper Clamps for Chevy Silverado Sierra/Dodge Dakota Ram 1500 2500 3500, F150 F250, Titan, Tundra (6 Pack)

https://www.amazon.com/moveland-Cam...8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

 

These are shifty` approved
Mounting Clamps Truck Caps Camper...

$18 Mounting Clamps Truck Caps Camper Shell Replacement for Chevy Silverado Sierra 1500 2500 3500, Dakota Ram 1500 2500 3500, F150 F250, Titan 4 PCS (Black)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785RMF1K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

Also, check out this thread for tons of useful info on 1st gen caps and toppers
https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-camper-shell-buying-info.94096/

 

Amazing, thank you! Do I only need 4?

 

I def sifted through enough of this one to figure out what kinds there are and that the first gen ones are a bit hard to find. I didn't notice any info on clamps though and was kind of in a hurry to order in case this guy sells it out from under me haha. This is the first one with windows I've seen pop up near me.

 

Only need 4, 6 is overkill unless you have a regular cab/long bed.

 

Or unless you’re like me and put on four but still have the 6 J clamps that came with the snug top. I’m ready to go tornado wrangling

 

Cool, thank you!

 

If you’re worried about fitment you could also take 4 of the 5” or 6” C-clamps along. Those will do in a pinch.

 

Do you have a link to the camper you are buying ?

 

Oh good to know... I think I have some in the garage, wasnt sure if those would fit or not. I did just order the shifty approved set that should be here wed. But I think I'll bring some c clamps too just in case.

 

Picked it up! Can’t wait to take the dog camping.

 

I was looking at this shell on marketplace in LA but it was the wrong color. Wingdoor is fire

 

Ha! I drove all the way from yucca for it! Color is pretty close to mine. Really wanted that wing door haha. I gotta get new locks for it. They’re pretty stiff and feel like they’re gonna break plus no key. Not that it would be hard to break in if someone wanted to.
Next up, get my ball joints in and new tires!

 

You can order a key on eBay. There is a code on the lock cylinder

 

Oh nice! Didn’t know that

 

All that info is in the 1st Gen Camper Shell Info thread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-camper-shell-buying-info.94096/

A dusting with a tube of

$6 Hillman 703185 Graphite Tube 3G, White Key Lock Lubricant

Hillman 703185 into each lock (move the trapdoor aside, insert tip, puff tube) and turning will lube up the lock.

It looks like the cap as-installed may be off-center, favoring the passenger side, as it gets toward the rear of the truck. You'll want to ensure the sides run equally down each bedrail to allow water to leak away from the cap, since there's no overhang on that older cap. And if you plan to run with no plastic bedrail caps, you'll want to make sure you have fresh double-bubble seals installed down the long sides of the cap, with the adhesive facing up into the cap, double-bubble facing down. Trim Lok makes a great double-bubble, but there are plenty of knockoffs on scAmazon if you're comfortable with gambling.

 

And in case it's not clear what I'm saying, it looks optically like the gap toward the front of the truck is normal, but it widens at the rear, as if the rear is pulling inward. But it may just be lens distortion, phones tend to do that.

​

 

I have eight on my RCLB, but I travel some real bumpy roads. A friend of mine once saw his topper in the rear view mirror of his Tacoma flying away on the highway. He didn't even bother to stop.

 

thank you!! I had been reading that thread when I was searching for one but hadn’t remembered seeing the locks. I did kinda skim though bc it’s so long. Was also wondering about some kind of seal for the rails so I’m glad you mentioned that. We don’t get much rain here but prolly would help keep the dust out. I think the offset you are seeing in the pic is camera distortion. I checked it out today and it didn’t look off. I do need to take it off or at least lift it up to seal it though so I’ll double check it’s straight when I do. also it might be in that camper thread, but have you seen anyone carpet the inside? Be nice to have a headliner.

Found a really sweet mechanic that changed my timing belt and water pump yesterday. Ball joints and lower control arms getting done next week and then I can put the new tires on and get an alignment and I think I got myself a solid little adventure rig for under $10k all in. So far. I have quite a long list of places my rav couldn’t get to, so get ready for lots of pics haha.

I really want a pop up camper but it’s just not in the budget right now. I think this with my mattress, a couple plastic bins, and a cooler will be just perfect.

 

Damn that’s crazy! Also hi to a Montanan! I grew up there but desert rat now.

 

Have I directly seen it? No.

But if you found an identity badge/serial plate on the inside, and therefore know the brand (it looks almost like an older A.R.E. shell from a distance), carpeting may be a service the local dealer/distributor, or actually any local dealer that refurbishes shells may offer.

Carpeting isn't necessarily difficult to do, with a shell it would probably be easier to do with the shell upside down, and potentially removing the windows would also help (could be a good time to re-do seals). Thinking practically, I wouldn't recommend headliner material (foam + [dust or moisture] + time = nastiness or rot). I've carpeted a fiberglass bass boat and a metal jonboat before and the bass boat had similar interior texture.

The principles of carpeting a cap should be identical to a headliner in a car:

• Thoroughly clean the interior surface
• Use a good spray adhesive like 3M Super 77
• Spray the back side of your carpet, and spray the surface of the shell you plan to stick it to
• Wait for the recommended flash time on the can (it'll be roughly 5-10 minutes, I forget)
• Bond your pieces together and quickly work from the center out to flatten it into place

Biggest mistakes you can make are over- or under-spraying the adhesive, not allowing it to flash, potentially working with too large of pieces.

But really, just understand something: You're gonna be in this for quality carpet and adhesive for upwards of $100-150. So if the cap place is saying $300, and it's going to be OEM-level quality because "that's what they do", you may just want to splurge and have them do it, because sometimes undoing your tragic fuck up costs more in the long run.

 

Its an older LEER. And actually now that I see the ID tag on the inside, theres carpet under it so maybe someone ripped it off. It's clean inside though so they did a good job if they did. I'll do some googling and see if I can get a price point. I did see some people in random internet posts do a carpet tile and glue job and it looked like a$$ so I'm def hesitant to DIY. I already put $800 into buying so it was kind of on the max side of what I wanted to spend already but that side window that pops up is awesome.

 

I would honestly hit a LEER dealer and see if it's something they do.

If it's over $350 to carpet, I'd probably pass. I can tell you, that style of LEER has probably been disco'd, so they probably won't have parts for it. But they may have some stuff?

 

Just sent a message to a dealer who's kinda close. I have a feeling it's gonna be expensive. And yeah its for sure different looking than anything on their website. I mostly just got it for a season or two of camping to keep the wind off until I can get something nicer. Figure I could always resell it for close enough to what I paid for it to be worth it. The rails on top are nice if I can get a rack up there, too. Throw some recovery gear up top to keep it out of the way.

 

They said no haha.