No Free Lunch- My Topper Story

I thought I might share my topper story given that I have learned so much from this forum and hopefully this may help someone in their journey.

It took awhile to find my ideal 1st generation because I knew that I wanted a RCLB. In 2019 an estate sale popped up with a 2003 SR5 4WD 8 Cyl in white that checked all my boxes with 89k for $7,000. Thanks to this forum I have made some changes and my search for a topper began. Being that the Used Topper Factory closed down years ago my dream wasn’t realized until this year when one showed up on CL for free. I jumped on it.

The topper was a Leer in a medium blue. The driver’s side sliding window was broken and the sliding piece of glass that sits behind the cab was a flimsy piece of plexiglass. I figured that I could have two pieces of glass cut and install it myself and for a couple of hundred dollars, I’m done. Wrong.

Having never owned a topper in my life, researching found that these window units are sealed and must be ordered from Leer. A quick call to the topper retailer here in town (with the topper serial #) and I found that for $620.00 I can have 2 new sealed windows just as they came on the topper in 2002. Reluctantly, I ordered the new glass. I mean I got the topper for free, right?

The glass comes in 2 weeks later and they are an exact fit and tinted just like when the topper was manufactured in 2002. I’m impressed with the recordkeeping of Leer. My final comment as I was leaving the topper retailer was “Hey who do you use to paint match your toppers?”. I was given a business card of a body shop just down the street.

Another lifetime ago I used to be an auto damage adjuster for the lizard and I have had experience with body shops. Recent hailstorms have made all of the shops here in town super busy and you can almost guarantee that any body shop manager you meet is grumpy even when slow. I am told:

1. We’re super busy but we might be able to fit you in this year but it’s going to cost $1,200.

2. You will need to have it media blasted first because the old paint would be difficult if not impossible to remove entirely. This will result in improper paint adhesion, and I can’t guarantee it will last.

Well, I know point #2 isn’t true. He just didn’t want to tie up his labor in sanding off the old paint. He commits to doing the job for $1,200 if I have it blasted. So, I take it down the road to have it media blasted. The blasting company in town did a great job and had it for two days. A total of $510.00. I got the topper for free…. right?

Back to the body shop and luckily his paint booth wasn’t busy after Thanksgiving so he had it for a week. Pictures are before, after media blasting and after paint. For those keeping score:

Windows $620.00, Media blasting $510.00, Paint $1,243.00 = $2,373.00.

I demo’ d the windows and reinstalled them myself and I have to say I’m pleased with the results. I am a person with some means and was willing to take this to the very end. It became like many projects where I had to keep throwing money at it. For some this is a cautionary tale of what a project like this can cost. I hope my story can educate others in possibly the do’s/don’ts of older toppers. Thanks for reading.

 

Couple of things. For starters, nice score on the truck! She’s a beaut and those Ironman wheels are the best. Now about this topper. When looking for a used topper, as you have found out, make sure the windows are all intact. This is crucial as they are very expensive to replace. Secondly, never pay anyone $510 to sandblast any single item like this. Highway robbery. Thirdly, as long as the topper comes out looking like exactly what you wanted, eh, is what it is. Sometimes you gotta pay to play. I’m too cheap for all that nonsense. I waited almost 10 years for a colormatched topper to come along. Paid $400 for it. Have another $35 in it for wiring, new struts and locking handle. Expecting to pay another $100 or so for new window seals all around. $535 all in ain’t too bad. $2300 would be a hard pass for me.

Got any finished pictures?

 

I'd add: Given there's no overhang on that version of topper, you may want to install new double-bubble seal around the perimeter to avoid leaks if not already done.

And 2nd a request for a finished pic, with no shadows on it.

Also, here's all the stuff I learned in the process, were I to do it all over again: https://www.tundras.com/threads/camper-shells.94096/#post-2379108

 

Looks good so far. Let's see some shots of the finished product.

 

Finished pictures are coming and I will add them later. I was clearly a dumbass with respects to the windows. I had no idea. As to waiting, I would just point out that a topper for a regular cab is much harder to find than a AC. And it's funny how many mismatched color toppers I now see once your awareness is raised. All of your points are valid.

 

I did add the seal. I have learned a lot from your comments, you're a wealth of knowledge on our trucks.

 

Yeah the Long beds are harder to come by, but usually white when they pop up as most were on work trucks. I’ve seen maybe 3 in the past few months for sale in varying condition. I’m always a wait and plan and wait and plan and wait and sometimes I’m just waiting and not doing. “Analysis paralysis” I think it’s called. Sometimes you just gotta do. I wouldn’t say you made any mistakes, just choices you may not have made if you knew going in.

 

Thats the same shape as my cap, albeit in an AC. Me & my dog really like it. The extra height really comes in handy when i see someone throwing away a washing machine or lawn mower.

 

The height is growing on me. I really like the looks of toppers that are at the same height as the cab. It looks more streamlined. My FIL is already thinking of using it to sleep in because of the height.

 

Pretty comfy, if nobody steals your bed.

 

As promised:

 

Windows look good from the sharp angles

As long as you’re happy with it

 

They not gonna clear that? Appears to be a flat finish? That's gonna be a sweet setup.

 

How were the bed rail seals? I used the cheap seals from ammo xahn and havent had any regrets.

 

I'm no photographer!

 

Whoa Guy We need garage pics

oh, top looks good too

 

That is a lot of White!. Good find, congrats.

 

Ahh, I see. It’s got some good texture to it. Garage looks awesome.

 

I know you can appreciate this, the body shop that demanded the media blasting commented afterwards that in spots they went to far and so now we need to apply a light texture.

You mentioned earlier that there was lessons to be learned and what would I do differently. Well in my rush to get the topper painted I should have searched harder for a better body shop. So, I got a 6/7 out of 10 job. I really meant it when I posted this thread... please use me as lessons learned.

 

Appreciate the sharing and the candidness. Many won’t report the warts or the fails, just the wins. I’m sure that topper will serve you just fine.

 

My Garage:

 

Daaaaaaaaang, you must be a huge fan of Hondas!

 

You got that right, Arizona!

 

It’s Araska dammit!

 

For real though, I’m saving this thread in my subscribed/watched threads for the next time the ‘better 3/4’ starts to give me grief about how much Toyo swag I’ve got.

 

So, whata saying?

 

Did you notice the red ‘84 Pickup? How's that for swag?