DIY Leer/ARE Topper Pet Screens CHEAP

So two days ago my dog decided to jail break out of the truck's topper by ripping through the window screen while I was getting a sandwich. After searching fruitlessly for some Leer or aftermarket pet screens I searched here on TW and found a cool thread that I followed and made my own!

Even with the prices of everything soaring lately I was able to do this project for under $40. The expanded metal is definitely the most expensive part so I went to a metal warehouse and got those pieces sold to me as scrap from a much larger sheet and only paid for the steel by weight.

Thank you @Trent_G for the idea
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-screen-protectors.398350/

Since that thread is pretty old and lacked a couple details I thought I'd refresh it with my experience and hopefully help out anyone else who has wild ass dogs.

What you need:

2 pieces of expanded sheet metal 25"x12" that will be trimmed to fit with a cutoff wheel

22 3/8" one hole conduit straps

1 can flat black spray paint


Start by removing the window screens (if your dogs haven't ripped them out for you yet) since the expanded metal sits on the aluminum frame and the screen covers that.

Once removed place the 25"x12" expanded metal sheet into the window cavity and mark with a sharpie where you need to cut to fit and do the trimming with a cutoff wheel.

Once you have both cut to fit switch out the cutoff wheel for a grinding wheel and smooth out all the edges. Then clean the metal with a wire brush before painting.

After the painting is all done it's time to install! Just take a 1/4" socket and a small extension to remove the screws that hold in the aluminum window frame one at a time and secure the new screen in the window frame. The glass should still be able to open and close as freely as before.


The end result is surprisingly strong. It's also pretty amazing how perfectly the 3/8" conduit straps fit this application, almost like it was made to fit!

Good luck busting out of this one buddy. I think the glass will go before the screen does.

 

Can you still have the bugscreen and metal mesh? Planning on doing something like this in the future to prevent theft.

 

No as I noted above the screens have to come out since the expanded metal needs to sit directly on the aluminum window frame.

I would've also preferred to keep my remaining window screen in to keep bugs out in summer but no such luck

 

Wow nice work! Practically looks like it came from the manufacturer like that.

 

I'd keep an eye on how your dog reacts to the mesh and if he's not pawing at it, i.e. sticking his claws through it, I'd pull them off, spray adhesive to the back side of the expanded metal (or whichever side you prefer) and stick some black screen on it.

 

Just did this project, took about as long as it did the paint to dry on the expanded metal. Painted them black to match the ARE Overland topper. Used the same hardware pictured on the original post. I was able to retain the bug screen with whatever style windows I had, so win/win there. Total cost was about $40 with the conduit straps. Pictures attached.

 

This was a great idea. I put these on my Leer two seasons ago and they are great. I have a slide window on one side and a tilt up on the other. For the tilting side, I hinged the expanded metal in the inside, so it tilts up, with a retainer in the top, and a padlock hasp at the bottom.

Now I'm trading in my Taco (wife wants a big TT) so I'll have to make a new set for the F-250.

 

Great info Thanks for posting