1st Gen camper shell buying info

shifty` · Dec 6, 2023

455h0le_dachshund said: ↑

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$7k for both, not a bad deal with recently rebuilt trans and timing belt work. Wants as much for the truck as the camper.

455h0le_dachshund · Dec 6, 2023

shifty`[OP] said: ↑

$7k for both, not a bad deal with recently rebuilt trans and timing belt work. Wants as much for the truck as the camper.

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That's the only AC Tundra camper I can find nearby

FJ432 · Dec 6, 2023

455h0le_dachshund said: ↑

That's the only AC Tundra camper I can find nearby
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I would keep looking. Those types of toppers remind me of STEAKS FOR SALE.

455h0le_dachshund · Dec 6, 2023

FJ432 said: ↑

I would keep looking. Those types of toppers remind me of STEAKS FOR SALE.
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Yeah I'm going to keep looking. I'm in no rush. I can use my softopper til I find the right one

shifty` · Dec 8, 2023

Maybe an option in North GA for a DC owner, to see if the seller will let go of just the cap? That's how I got mine. Tossed out an offer on just the cap, said I'm willing to cough up $200-700 depending on what problems it has (cracks, paint, locks, lights, etc.) ...

shifty` · Dec 8, 2023

And potentially the same deal for a black DC, nicer cap, better style, windoors and all. Thinking about you @jpink, wonder if seller would let it go for $600-800? One way to keep that "new" bed from getting rusty. Jacksonville is an easy drive ...

455h0le_dachshund · Dec 8, 2023

Too rich for my blood @The Black Mamba

The Black Mamba · Dec 8, 2023

455h0le_dachshund said: ↑

Too rich for my blood @The Black Mamba
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$800 and I have to byob?

455h0le_dachshund · Dec 8, 2023

Long bed

455h0le_dachshund · Dec 8, 2023

I guess this is for a Tundra... Looks too big to be for a Tacoma

455h0le_dachshund · Dec 8, 2023

The Black Mamba said: ↑

$800 and I have to byob?
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Better?

The Black Mamba · Dec 8, 2023

455h0le_dachshund said: ↑

Better?
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That one has been on there for a while. I offered $400 and never heard back

shifty` · Dec 8, 2023

The Black Mamba said: ↑

$800 and I have to byob?
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I mean, I've got a spare box of 6 good clamps if you need. I bought for another project, I'm sure they'd be happy to get used.

SharkDog · Dec 8, 2023

Affordable truck. I bet the camper could be scooped for a reasonable amount.

shifty`[OP] said: ↑

And potentially the same deal for a black DC, nicer cap, better style, windoors and all. Thinking about you @jpink, wonder if seller would let it go for $600-800? One way to keep that "new" bed from getting rusty. Jacksonville is an easy drive ...

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digitalferg · Dec 8, 2023

Another double cab one. This one in Stanley, Idaho. Looks like cab height, but with the full rear hatch style door. Bit on the higher priced end for a used one at $1500 asking, but looks to be in pretty nice condition.

https://classifieds.ksl.com/listing/74028494

FirstGenVol · Dec 9, 2023

Nice ARE Double Cab topper with slider/windoor combo I think.

Near Chattanooga.

The Black Mamba · Dec 9, 2023

shifty`[OP] said: ↑

If you were close, I'd take it off your hands for the right price. I've been hunting.

That said, when I was a kid, my dad did just what you said - built a 4-post stand out of pressure treated 4x4, dropped the shell on top. It became a canopy for lawn equipment and bikes. The top of the shell was about 6" taller than the privacy fence.

EDIT:

I'm adding to this post at @The Black Mamba's indirect request, after two years of hunting and finally finding a suitable cap ... it has everything I can possibly think to share on measurements, advice, and what to look for in caps, and other tips, all on the 1st page of the camper shell thread. I'd ask OP to put it in the 1st reply, but they haven't signed on for 2+ years.

Anyway ... here, learn from my exhaustive search and success!

Generally speaking, Facebook Marketplace ("FBM") has the best selection of caps I could find anywhere; OfeerUp, Nextdoor, and Craigslist were fruitless for me and most others I talked to. Searching for tundra camper shell topper cap on FBM with a 100-mile radius set was very fruitful for me, though I did get a a mix of all kinds of crap but only 1 per day was typically for a 1st Gen within 100 miles of a major city like Atlanta, YMMV. After a few days, I used the 'last 24 hours' filter for my own sanity, and just refreshed that browser tab a couple times per day to see new listings.

I personally found my cap in less conventional way, by searching for tundra access cab, and I started asking anyone selling their truck for a fairly price with a cap on it, "I've been searching for a while for a shell that fits my 2006 Tundra but not having luck. If you're open to selling only the cap, I'm willing to give $200-700 for yours, depending on the condition, like if you have keys, if there's any cracks, leaks, carpet,whatever". I ended up scoring a really nice Leer 100R, in the wrong color but with working keys/locks, slider windows, and a few nice upgrades for $400.

If you've hunted for a cap at all, you probably already know, too many f'n people list caps w/o telling you what make/model truck it was on. Or they don't list a year. Or they don't show it on the vehicle. Or only give measurements. Or say stupid shit, like, "Probably fits multiple trucks", but can't say which.

Knowing the cab type is super important because, for example, a double cab cap is ~1-2" too short to fit an access cab without leaking. Access cab and regular caps will fit long on a double cab, regular cab caps will fit comically long on any other cab.

Generally speaking, if the seller say it's off a 2000-2003, if accurate, it's either for access or regular cab (double cab started in '04). It should be glaringly obvious if it's for regular cab, they're 1.5' longer eh? If they say it's from an '04-'06 ... there's no "easy" way to tell if it's double or access cab, unless they happen to post a photo of the serial number plate (which is pretty unusual, IME) and that plate happens to list the truck model (which is typically limited to A.R.E. brands, IME).

Nothing from an '07+ Tundra fits our 1st gen trucks properly.

Nothing known from T100 will fit our trucks properly, there's more chatter about that later in this thread.

Nothing known from other makes/models/brands fits our 1st gen trucks properly.

Someone posted a chart on here last year showing bed measurements, and we confirmed we have a weird footprint, there really aren't any good crossover options.

If all you get is measurements inside the advert, you're looking for 67"-68" width in general. Some caps like my Leer have a flare at the bottom and are more like 68½" wide. For bed lengths, dimension measures that could indicate it's for your Tundra are you probably want to see on caps ....

Double cab hunting for 75-76" length (i.e. 67x75 or 68x76)

Access cabs hunting for 77-78" length (i.e.67x78 or 68x78)

Regular cab hunting for 100-101" (i.e.67x100 or 68x101)

Outside of that, some warnings to keep in mind, things to check, and other considerations when shopping:

Check for window damage: Replacement glass is EXPENSIVE, to the tune of $300+ for a single side window, and that's only if the manufacturer still makes it

Check carefully for signs of fiberglass/paint cracks especially structural cracks at the corners, window openings, and clamp-down spots

Check for general fiberglass holes/damage/evidence of repairs, excessive chips at the edges ... fiberglass repairs aren't "easy", and often DIY jobs are garbage

Paint-wise, clearcoat failure is common and requires sand/re-clear or full repaint. Look for cracks in the paint or waves in the paint which could reveal repairs or underlying damage, even something small non-structural crack like THIS is not ideal ... and also know, a GOOD professional re-paint is going to set you back $350-550, mid-grade supplies alone for a DIY are $150-200 (~8-12 rattle cans of paint minimum)

Check for / ask for evidence of water leaks, "... is it water-tight?"

Confirm latches and window sliders work

Confirm keys and locks work. If no keys are available, you should know there's typically a letter/number stamped into the face of the lock barrel you can usually use that number to find a suitable key online searching for "<cap-brand> <letter/number on cylinder> <key>", example: "Leer DT001 key", and they're usually only $10-15 shipped

Confirm the rear door pistons hold the door up by themselves, if not you're looking at another $50-75 for a matched pair of decent quality pistons (the size of the piston is usually stamped on the piston body, FYI, and it's pretty simple to replace)

Confirm screens are present for slider windows and free of holes

Confirm the brake lights work ---> Carry a 9v battery with you! Red wire goes to the small battery terminal, black wire to the big terminal, brake light should light up. If not, decent replacements are $30-70 usually

If carpeted inside, check for splotchy stains that could be signs of mildew, look for tears, rips, separation from the shell wall/roof

If it's raw fiberglass inside (no carpet), look for dark stippling which is typically mildew, and look for loose fibers/fiber separation, like the resin fell out, especially around window edges, it's a sign of structural failure

If the cap is drilled anywhere, whether that's for roof rails, lights, fishing rod holders, whatever ... look carefully at it, and be ready to remove and re-seal those spots.

Sticking with major name brands like Leer and A.R.E. will likely unlock access to additional accessories, window upgrades (i.e. swapping sliders for windoors, changing a non-slider cabside window for a removable slider, etc.) and the ability to replace broken glass.

Price-point wise, chances are if something is less than $200, it may be garbage. $250-800 seems to be pretty normal for a quality shell, with $400-600 being the most common price point I typically see online. My thoughts?

$50 - 200 for something that has all the windows intact but needs work, like paint, door pistons, new window seals to deal with leaks

$300 - 500 for something for something functionally sound, no major leaks, all windows intact, with working lights and locks, but maybe has small issues like missing keys, a non-structural cracks, but may not have all the bells and whistles I'd like.

$600 - 800 for something that's not perfect but pretty damn close, carpeted, with working lighting, but may be lacking bonus features I want like ... "windoors" (fold-open side windows), removable sliding front window, roof rack, and it's already painted the correct color

$900 - 1,500 ... I'm not gonna lie, if I would've found a premium, paint-matched cap where the paint was flawless, carpet is installed and pristine, it was the style of top I liked

$1,600 - 2,300 => This is what I was seeing at cap/shell stores that were selling used (at the low end) and refurbished (at the high end) shells

$2,400 - 3,200 => This is what I was seeing cap/shell stores selling new caps, depending on what features, barebones and lacking carpet (at the low-end), and fully loaded with carpet, windoors, rails, lights and power (at the high end)

After you get the cap home ...

Wash it thoroughly, clean the windows slots and expect some water to get inside when you do, it's normal

Vacuum carpet if so equipped; this is a good time to inspect more deeply

If no carpet, If it's raw fiberglass on the inside, I'd spray a homemade bleach solution on it, I use 2 TBSP of bleach inside a full bottle of tap water, shaken, is ample; give ample time to dry, wear eye protection, don't wear clothes you care about

Check the bulb seals where the cap meets the bed, especially at the cabside. You may need to replace the seals ... if so, use a standard "double-bulb seal" which is readily available on scAmazon.

There's a rubber bubble seal on the rear window frame that cushions the door when closing that flattens/tears over time, or may be gone, but can be replaced, this can usually be found searching for "t-channel rear window seal for truck shell" or "t-slot rear window seal truck", and the "T" part of it is 3/16" which will sometimes be listed.

Look for any evidence of metal-on-metal contact with the rear door, and any other hinged/folding windows or doors.

Check the outer window seals for evidence of cracks or damage, and make sure the slit on the rubber seal is at the bottom edge of the window, not the top edge.

There should be a rubber seal at the bottom of the rear window, check the condition; if it needs replacement, this is often referred to as a "topper door seal" or "leaf with offset T" (either "single leaf" or "double leaf"), and the "T" part of it is 3/16" which will sometimes be listed.

Get the brakes wired up, and on that point ....

Some tips on wiring your cap brakes in ... There's easy access into the driver brake light housing via the threaded holes for your bed tie-down (remove the bed tie down), if you need a temporary solution. Since you'll need to tap into the brake wire behind the brake light housing, be smart and use a low-damage tape like Posi-taps to avoid butchering your wires, and potentially killing your OEM brake lights (they're kinda important eh?). DO NOT use scotch-loks, t-taps, or similar hackish wiring bullshit products on your factory wires, it's just that: Bullshit, hackjob, riggery. Anything that requires you to smash a wire into a metal notch will damage your factory wiring, either by cutting strands, or by via oxidation.

Also, if you intend to provide 12v to the rear, remember to use a fuse within 12"-18" of your battery on that wiring run. Ideally, run the wire inside loom, and electrical tape the loom to protect from the elements just like OEM.

The above is a lot to take in, but ... if you're hunting for a shell, this should give you all the info you need to make a good purchase.
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@shifty` Thank you so much for your time and input in this. You’re a gem to this place!

inv3ctiv3 · Dec 9, 2023

Just picked up my snug top hiliner today!

The Black Mamba · Dec 10, 2023

inv3ctiv3 said: ↑

Just picked up my snug top hiliner today!

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Congratulations!

Mr.bee · Dec 11, 2023

Discuss.

The Black Mamba · Dec 11, 2023

Mr.bee said: ↑

Discuss.

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455h0le_dachshund · Dec 11, 2023

Mr.bee said: ↑

Discuss.

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Might be cool on a lowered single cab. Or LT trophy truck. That f150 isn't pulling it off, that's for sure.

KNABORES · Dec 11, 2023

Mr.bee said: ↑

Discuss.

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Not sure why that's in the camper shells thread. That is obviously a Cybertruck in F150 disguise.

455h0le_dachshund · Dec 11, 2023

KNABORES · Dec 11, 2023

455h0le_dachshund said: ↑

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also Cybertruck in Tacoma and Frontier disguise. They can't fool me!!

The Black Mamba · Dec 11, 2023

455h0le_dachshund said: ↑

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455h0le_dachshund · Dec 11, 2023

I don't know if y'all are familiar with this hyper mile T100. But I first read about it like a decade ago. IIRC it's a university experiment. I've actually passed it on the highway OMW to Amarillo earlier this year. I regret not taking a pic. I was so excited when I spotted it haha

KNABORES · Dec 11, 2023

455h0le_dachshund said: ↑

I don't know if y'all are familiar with thos hyper ile T100. But I first read about it like a decade ago. Iirc it's a university experiment. I've actually passed it on the highway OMW to Amarillo earlier this year. I regret not taking a pic. I was so excited when. I spotted it haha

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Honda insight. Still not fooled.

Mr.bee · Dec 11, 2023

455h0le_dachshund said: ↑

I don't know if y'all are familiar with this hyper mile T100. But I first read about it like a decade ago. IIRC it's a university experiment. I've actually passed it on the highway OMW to Amarillo earlier this year. I regret not taking a pic. I was so excited when I spotted it haha

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when i had my '91 toyota pickup i built one when i moved back to pasadena from bahalia, trying to get 30mpg, but 28 was the best the slushbox 22re could muster. Even had a coroplast bellypan across the front half.

shifty` · Dec 11, 2023

@455h0le_dachshund aren't you looking for dis hurr?

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1st Gen camper shell buying info

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shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

#428
The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

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The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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1st Gen camper shell buying info

#421 shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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#425 shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

#426 shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

#427 455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

#428 The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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#433 shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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#441 The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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#445 KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

#446 The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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#448 KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

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#450 shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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#421
shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

#422
455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

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shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

#427
455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

#428
The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

#429
455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

#430
455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

#431
455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

#432
The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

#433
shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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FirstGenVol Check the name tag. You're in my world now.

#437
The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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#439
The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

#440
Mr.bee King Turdra

#441
The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

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455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

#443
KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

#444
455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

#445
KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

#446
The Black Mamba He must increase, but I must decrease - John 3:30

#447
455h0le_dachshund Tesler Thought Experiment

#448
KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

#449
Mr.bee King Turdra

#450
shifty` [OP] Just like witches at black masses

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