Lifting a camper shell without a garage

Hi all, the time has come to replace the camper shell seal to my 1996 Taco. Where the truck is now, I have no access to a garage. I'm looking for the simplest, cheapest method to raise the shell long enough to scrape off the old seal and apply the new.

Any clever methods you can recommend? FYI there is no rack on this shell. Thanks.

 

Legs and back. Back it down the tailgate until you can tilt it to the ground. How I used to do it.

Or shimmy it back and forth until you can grab from the back end and tilt.

 

Do you have another truck you can borrow?
If so back the trucks together (tailgate to tailgate) and shimmy it back.

 

So these methods seem fine for removing the shell, but I'm really interested in a method that lifts the shell *up* so I can apply the seal, then re-seat the shell, not drag it across the bed walls.

I can always pay the local camper dealer to do this, but that is antithetical to my nature

 

Floor jack in bed with 4x4 post attached to some plywood then?

 

Yeah I was thinking something along those lines. The trick is that it's gotta balance the shell. Elsewhere, someone mentioned a dry wall lift.

 

Where are you going to rig something up if not a garage? Find a buddy with a garage, or a big honking tree

 

That is one way to do it, about $40/day rental at Home Depot. Make sure the lift's minimum height will be able to get under the camper shell.

 

Maybe balance it on some cheap milk crates from the Dollar Store?

 

So back when I was going to add the bed reinforcements, I was trying to figure out a way to lift the cap as well. I ended up not proceeding with the reinforcements but if you have a couple of racks, I was thinking of using 2x4s and using the wire racks as supports on either side of the bed. Granted I already own the racks and have a garage to do it. I figure at the very least, it would be enough to get it stable so supports could be added within the bed.



Another way to do it which is basically the same principal would be this -

https://youtu.be/tqPT0tw1OlE


You could also just slide some 2x4s under the cap and then get in there and prop up 1 side at a time to apply your seal. Might be a bit sketchy so watch the fingers but would be the simplest approach.

 

The absolute easiest way to do this would be to get a helper or two and lift the cap up off the bed, gently lower it to the ground and flip it onto it's roof. Obviously soft support between roof and ground. Apply your seal and then reinstall the cap. Done.

I placed the cap on a few industrial grade anti-fatigue mats.


Also since you didn't mention the seal you were planning on using, I'd like to recommend this -

$33 ESI Super Cap Seal 23 FT (1 1/2" Width x 1/2" Height x 23' Length) EPDM Rubber for Caps 200 lbs or Less

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7VU9BA

Stuff is awesome and so much better than the foam tape.

 

a stepladder is just enough to get it raised, I used a lift so i could drive mine out to re-seal it. I still missed some gaps so i used liquid tape near those spots.

 

I'll second the suggestion to get a buddy to help lift it off by hand and invert it on ground.

 

I was thinking this exactly. You can build a simply rig out of wood. Definitely a floor jack with some 4x4 as mentioned above.

 

I've removed mine by myself but more for long-term removal. 4 4x4 posts and 8 2x4's. Make a cube with the 4x4's and 4 2x4's on the top, back the truck in, jack up / slide 2 more 2x4s under the shell at front and back, pull truck forward, add remaining 2x4s for stability.
For what you're doing I like the idea of a jack with a 4x4 and some milk crates (or something similar) jack up front, rest on milk crates. Then the back. You could do this (sketchy) with just the factory jack if you don't have a floor jack.

 

My wife and I removed my shell by hand and flipped it over. No big deal.