Camper Shell -How many seal the top rails with silicone to prevent leaks?-

I'm about to order a Ranch brand "Fusion" model camper shell. ($3400) including remote entry and one "windoor".
I've watched a few videos of guys taking the top front rail off and sealing all the leaking points of the bed with lots of silicone.

How many people have done this? Is this a normal practice? I don't want a truck full of water if I'm storing stuff in the truck. I was thinking of putting a carpet covered thin plywood bed down, but not any more. I don't want black mold in there. I will probably put down a rubber bed matt. What are your thoughts and what have you had success with?

<dumb question section> How do you reply to comments? I can't figure it out.

Thank you for your replies.

 

His quote if you want to include it like this. If not just reply at the bottom.

 

Truck Cap Seal – extrudedsolutions

 

I've heard of people filling gaps with silicone but I don't think it's very common or required. As long as you have a good cap seal in between the truck and the topper and your windows aren't leaking you shouldn't have any problems with water getting in.

 

I had my ARE cap on my truck for almost 3 years now and have had zero water issues in the bed. The cap was dealer installed. Maybe I was lucky considering the topic of leaks pop up regularly. My guess is that a reputable dealer should be able to install the cap properly, therefore preventing any water from getting in.

 

I've camped out in mine and never had any water leaks even with a steady rain. But I also had my shell installed from where it was purchased. Other than whatever weatherstripping they put on the bottom, I don't think they took anything off and silicone it.
I'm not exactly sure I know what part your speaking of. The factory accessory behind the cab?
As far as bed mat I bought one off Amazon was like a open box for a pretty good discount. The bottom of the mat is contoured to fit the truck bed and comes with velcro to keep it put but easily removed.
It saves the knees big time when you need to crawl up in there. It's carpeted style.

 

Ram-Nek

 

Same here

 

I bought the rubber seal and never ended up needing it. My LEER100XQ has skirted sides which seem to keep out water pretty well.

 

I tried to search past orders but couldn't find it. Looks like it was called BedRug brand at Amazon

 

Mine was dealer installed with silicone. It doesn't leak. I have a utility trailer for when I need to haul bigger things.

I probably would have liked to not have it siliconed, but it's there. Not a big deal.

 

The side rail caps are what you need to seal. Water (and dust) can come up from under the truck and get through the many holes that are in the sheet metal under the caps.

 

2006 DCSB with Leer shell from day one... two layers of tape up front, one on the sides - no leaks
2014 DCSB with Leer shell from week one... two layers of tape up front, one on the sides - no leaks

 

Not disagreeing with you here but even though I've never seen any water intrusion to speak of, the dust is another story. Not horrible bad but the worst place of dust entry is through the driver side storage box.

 

I got my camper shell a week after I got the truck. In that week, I made the preparations for the shell, including the wiring and sealing all potential leakage points. I pulled all 3 top rails, sealed under them, and also installed the OEM rubber plugs for the front corners. No problems after more than a year.

 

I had water on the sides which I assumed was coming in through the side windows or where the cap meets the bed on the sides. Turns out it was leaking in at the bottom corners of the rear glass, wicking along the bottom edge of the carpet headlining and eventually dripping into the bed.

I did some trimming of the carpet in those corners and made a dam along the trimmed edges with silicone sealant which causes the water to drip between the tailgate and the bed. Tailgate weatherstrip keeps it out of the bed.

 

Getting close to 4 year anniversary installation of my Snugtop. The dealer didn't use any silicone. I regularly take my truck through automated car washes with the high blast dryers. No leaks at all. Maybe because there is a huge ugly ass rubber flap over the front bed rail and considerable shell overhang over everything else. Happy with mine.

 

Not sure if it's different, but I've had a softopper for years, installed myself. 0 leaks or moisture at all on the inside and I live around Seattle so we get plenty of rain.

 

The spray from the car wash comes from the top and sides. The problem with leakage, on a Tacoma with camper shell, comes from underneath the truck as you are driving, with water splashing up between the outer fender and the bed. Then it comes through the multiple holes at the top of the metal fenders, which are covered by the plastic caps. The only way to seal that is by removing the caps and sealing underneath. (Another source of leaks is through the drainage holes in the storage cubbies.)

 

Cool. Already have those storage cubbies blocked off. Anyhoo, no water in bed.