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2019 Truck cap/topper/camper shell thread

Rockcrawlindude said:
You have to lower the spare tire to see them. You can’t miss them. You can see the spare tire crank thing in this pic I got from my post back on page 3 or 4 of this thread

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is the purple and white wire hot all the time or bcm needs to be modified? I wired everything up and third brake light for the cap doesn’t work. The camper shell is from a 2020 so I wouldn’t suspect it’s dead already. I’ll play around with it more Thursday.
 
BadKarma said:
is the purple and white wire hot all the time or bcm needs to be modified? I wired everything up and third brake light for the cap doesn’t work. The camper shell is from a 2020 so I wouldn’t suspect it’s dead already. I’ll play around with it more Thursday.
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I didn’t modify anything in the settings of the truck, just hooked up wires
 
My lip overlappy thing is cracking in the same spot on both sides. It’s riveted to the window frame so I’m not looking to replace it yet. I’d like to prolong its life by possibly gluing it to prevent further cracking

Does anybody have a Black super glue product that they recommend? I know most super glue dries white. I don’t need it to be pretty but I’d like to keep it together. There is black CA super glue that’s rubber strengthened so it’s still flexible on Amazon and it has good reviews. Thoughts ?

IMG_7723.jpegIMG_7724.jpegIMG_7725.jpeg
 
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No Experience with the Black CA Glues, but is there room to add a reinforcing bar or something on the back to support the crack from behind? My experiences with glue and cracks is that they don't hold that well under stress unless you reinforce it with something. A rod or mesh or something to help with the stresses. CA is usually good under tension but lousy under shear. Just my $.02
 
My ARE top is doing the same thing... cracks on both ends same as yours. I tried to put some closed cell foam under but did not do anything....maybe contact your manufacturer to see if they will replace it ? mine is ARE 2021 so might just be under warranty still . Gotta check...you might do the same..
YOu might try the glue or some JB weld and some flat ABS plastic to support and give it strength , glue it clamp it be done with ?
Should not be too hard to replace if you get a new one ...drill out the rivets carefully then use new ones and rivet it back into place. The gap under mine is about 1 inch to the tailgate so no issue with clearance You can also see there are drain holes on that on both sides ..dont block those or you might get water into the bed.
 
WRCLVR said:
My ARE top is doing the same thing... cracks on both ends same as yours. I tried to put some closed cell foam under but did not do anything....maybe contact your manufacturer to see if they will replace it ? mine is ARE 2021 so might just be under warranty still . Gotta check...you might do the same..
YOu might try the glue or some JB weld and some flat ABS plastic to support and give it strength , glue it clamp it be done with ?
Should not be too hard to replace if you get a new one ...drill out the rivets carefully then use new ones and rivet it back into place. The gap under mine is about 1 inch to the tailgate so no issue with clearance You can also see there are drain holes on that on both sides ..dont block those or you might get water into the bed.
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My topper was made in 21 as well. I didn’t even think of warranty, honestly. I will check my paper work
 
Rockcrawlindude said:
My lip overlappy thing is cracking in the same spot on both sides. It’s riveted to the window frame so I’m not looking to replace it yet. I’d like to prolong its life by possibly gluing it to prevent further cracking

Does anybody have a Black super glue product that they recommend? I know most super glue dries white. I don’t need it to be pretty but I’d like to keep it together. There is black CA super glue that’s rubber strengthened so it’s still flexible on Amazon and it has good reviews. Thoughts ?
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Pretty sure it is ABS.. if you have any black ABS laying around you can just mix some up with acetone and make your own glue.
 
Gondul said:
Pretty sure it is ABS.. if you have any black ABS laying around you can just mix some up with acetone and make your own glue.
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Hmm make my own glue that sounds interesting. I don’t have abs but I have some abs glue that I had to buy for a UV system I installed on someone’s pool so maybe I can try that stuff but I think it needs to be snug fitting to work like pvc glue. Also, I think it was a khaki color but I do love spray paint so I can fix that if needed
 
Rockcrawlindude said:
Hmm make my own glue that sounds interesting. I don’t have abs but I have some abs glue that I had to buy for a UV system I installed on someone’s pool so maybe I can try that stuff but I think it needs to be snug fitting to work like pvc glue. Also, I think it was a khaki color but I do love spray paint so I can fix that if needed
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Plastaid works on abs…you might be familiar from pool stuff, It’s white/clearish but can be mixed with enamel to color if I’m not mistaken.
If you were to put it on the back where you cant see it anyway, would probably the strongest part of that lip thing.
 
Poolmonkey said:
Plastaid works on abs…you might be familiar from pool stuff, It’s white/clearish but can be mixed with enamel to color if I’m not mistaken.
If you were to put it on the back where you cant see it anyway, would probably the strongest part of that lip thing.
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Hmm that’s probably the answer right there
 
Rockcrawlindude said:
Hmm that’s probably the answer right there
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If that lip is ABS, maybe.
If it reacts, softens and acts like it would melt eventually, with your ABS glue it could be.
Like he said above ABS will melt in acetone to a liquid in time, faster the smaller the pieces of ABS.
Plastaid is a super fine PVC dust, you mix it with it’s strong solvent in like a Nyquil cup ..it becomes liquid PVC immediately.
 
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I tackled the repair on the topper today

Rockcrawlindude

Thread 'Topper repair'

Good afternoon

I was experiencing some cracking in the tailgate drip lip thing on my topper. Some forum members here were helpful in identifying the plastic as ABS and we bounced around some ideas. @Gondul and @Poolmonkey and other members were all helpful. Thanks. This is my repair I will share with y’all and hopefully it helps someone.

This is what the cracking looked like. Toward the end of the lip where the material gets thinner. It was nearly symmetrical on either side.

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The goal with the repair was more to keep it from getting worse...
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I'm planning to order a topper next month . . . unless I find a nice used one first.
2024 Crew Cab 2500 with an 8' bed - I would like to hear you opinions on cab-height vs. mid-height. While I'm sure I would occasionally appreciate the extra clearance inside, I managed ok with the cab-height topper on my '04. At 5'8", I am probably going to struggle closing the rear window on either one.

Thanks!
Jeff
 
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