Leer Topper 180xl with sliding side windows

[QuesoEnFuego]

My installer was up front that the topper would leak some because the unibody construction doesn't give the water anywhere to go. They mentioned it being like a Ridgeline specifically. They also mentioned that they had a putty method that minimized the leaking.

For my purposes the amount of water seeping in is fine.

Half the reason I got a topper was to be able to lock wet great in there anyway.

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[Roscop]

My installer was up front that the topper would leak some because the unibody construction doesn't give the water anywhere to go. They mentioned it being like a Ridgeline specifically. They also mentioned that they had a putty method that minimized the leaking.

For my purposes the amount of water seeping in is fine.

Half the reason I got a topper was to be able to lock wet great in there anyway.

Hopefully they can keep it to a minimum amount of leakage.

 

[Gossamer]

Please help me to understand this since I am seriously considering a hard topper for my Maverick, and I need it to be pretty much waterproof. Where is the water leaking in from? I'm guessing in the front edge. Since this is a hard topper that isn't really going to be removed often or at all, wouldn't a bead of clear silicone on the inside edge of the topper stop the leaks? Then if and when the topper came off, the silicone would just peel off of the edge of the bed and/or the edge of the topper leaving both clean. Or am I missing something? Thanks for any insight as I don't want to make a $3,000 mistake!

 

[Maverickman74]

Please help me to understand this since I am seriously considering a hard topper for my Maverick, and I need it to be pretty much waterproof. Where is the water leaking in from? I'm guessing in the front edge. Since this is a hard topper that isn't really going to be removed often or at all, wouldn't a bead of clear silicone on the inside edge of the topper stop the leaks? Then if and when the topper came off, the silicone would just peel off of the edge of the bed and/or the edge of the topper leaving both clean. Or am I missing something? Thanks for any insight as I don't want to make a $3,000 mistake!

Silicone never comes off clean, especially if it was preventing leaks. The water comes fron the cab window and down. There is a tiny bit of a "buttress" corner that is too much to let all the water around it, therefor it pools between the front lip of the topper and the cab eventually doing what water does. All it needs is a moving, vibrating, bouncing truck to find room to seep. Its the fact of having the bed attached to the body, there is no real escape. There is cab window boots, essentially thick weatherstriping that can be used to divert most of the water out, but even that is very tricky to install effectively. Honestly on option and its a expensive one is the GFC Camper topper. It extends pretty far over the cab, I beleive is slightly wider than the cab roof, and the design is that of a square ass box. At first thought that doesnt seem to help. But it leaves a rather large gap between the cab and the topper allowing a clear path for water to flow out an away should it accumulate due to parking angle or rain while driving. Also its rigid aluminum construction likely translates the clamping force all the way around the front better than fiberglass. Its an option but you pay $7000 for the camper part of it. One of their early buyers on here reported dryness after a severe rainstorm though.

You will definitely like the sliding rear windows. It can get awfully hot in back. It’s even worse now with the amount of heat created by the catalytic converters.

We actually got 1 slider and 1 lift up "windoor". But we did get the front slider and the cab slider. I plan on fixing the windoor so it would be popped open enough to let in plenty of air but not far enough for the dogs to get out.

 

[Roscop]

Silicone never comes off clean, especially if it was preventing leaks. The water comes fron the cab window and down. There is a tiny bit of a "buttress" corner that is too much to let all the water around it, therefor it pools between the front lip of the topper and the cab eventually doing what water does. All it needs is a moving, vibrating, bouncing truck to find room to seep. Its the fact of having the bed attached to the body, there is no real escape. There is cab window boots, essentially thick weatherstriping that can be used to divert most of the water out, but even that is very tricky to install effectively. Honestly on option and its a expensive one is the GFC Camper topper. It extends pretty far over the cab, I beleive is slightly wider than the cab roof, and the design is that of a square ass box. At first thought that doesnt seem to help. But it leaves a rather large gap between the cab and the topper allowing a clear path for water to flow out an away should it accumulate due to parking angle or rain while driving. Also its rigid aluminum construction likely translates the clamping force all the way around the front better than fiberglass. Its an option but you pay $7000 for the camper part of it. One of their early buyers on here reported dryness after a severe rainstorm though.


We actually got 1 slider and 1 lift up "windoor". But we did get the front slider and the cab slider. I plan on fixing the windoor so it would be popped open enough to let in plenty of air but not far enough for the dogs to get out.

Would you mind posting some pics?

 

[Maverickman74]

Would you mind posting some pics?

The pics are all over this forum, sorry we do not have our truck yet. But we will have it this time next week. Topper installed. I plan on posting a lil video next monday night or possibly tuesday depending on how tired we are. We fly through the night to Granger then visit family in 4 different locations over the course of 5 days. Then off to the golden west.

 

[Maverickman74]

You see those little triangle corners at the front of the bed rails. Thats what impedes water shedding flow. There is also a lil gap where plastic pieces meets that is an issue aswell. In the last pic you can see the GFC largely covers the gap enough to prevent most water front ever entering the topper gap, thus lessesning the chance of leaks and making it easier to seal against them.

 

[TomD]

Silicone never comes off clean, especially if it was preventing leaks. The water comes fron the cab window and down. There is a tiny bit of a "buttress" corner that is too much to let all the water around it, therefor it pools between the front lip of the topper and the cab eventually doing what water does. All it needs is a moving, vibrating, bouncing truck to find room to seep. Its the fact of having the bed attached to the body, there is no real escape. There is cab window boots, essentially thick weatherstriping that can be used to divert most of the water out, but even that is very tricky to install effectively. Honestly on option and its a expensive one is the GFC Camper topper. It extends pretty far over the cab, I beleive is slightly wider than the cab roof, and the design is that of a square ass box. At first thought that doesnt seem to help. But it leaves a rather large gap between the cab and the topper allowing a clear path for water to flow out an away should it accumulate due to parking angle or rain while driving. Also its rigid aluminum construction likely translates the clamping force all the way around the front better than fiberglass. Its an option but you pay $7000 for the camper part of it. One of their early buyers on here reported dryness after a severe rainstorm though.


We actually got 1 slider and 1 lift up "windoor". But we did get the front slider and the cab slider. I plan on fixing the windoor so it would be popped open enough to let in plenty of air but not far enough for the dogs to get out.

The ARE aluminum commercial tops have the flip ups. I was wondering if you could take it to a glass shop and have them make a screen that could be there when you open the flip door? That way when you are hunting or fishing no one can see in the back and everything is locked. when you sleep in the truck you can have the ventilation of the screened window. Of course that means losing the storage behind the solid flip door. it all comes down to what you want.. I like those commercial tops because you can order them with the double pedestrian doors.

 

[Roscop]

The pics are all over this forum, sorry we do not have our truck yet. But we will have it this time next week. Topper installed. I plan on posting a lil video next monday night or possibly tuesday depending on how tired we are. We fly through the night to Granger then visit family in 4 different locations over the course of 5 days. Then off to the golden west.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Maverickman74]

The ARE aluminum commercial tops have the flip ups. I was wondering if you could take it to a glass shop and have them make a screen that could be there when you open the flip door? That way when you are hunting or fishing no one can see in the back and everything is locked. when you sleep in the truck you can have the ventilation of the screened window. Of course that means losing the storage behind the solid flip door. it all comes down to what you want.. I like those commercial tops because you can order them with the double pedestrian doors.

I originally planned on the DCU type but the Tremor looked so good we wanted a nice slick color matching top. Screen is actually pretty easy to make the sell everything you need at the various home diy stores. We are very open people and dont really have need for privacy or hardcore locked up stuff. I build things and know that there isnt much other than thick steel that cant be gotten into in a moment. If some one wants to rob me, its gonna happen. Always having my dogs in the back helps with that lol. They will demand treats and belly rubs from thieves until I come back to catch em lol.

The double door is nice on a big bed but Im not so sure on the Maverick. I plan on building a flat plate 3 piece bed extender that essentially boxes out the tailgate. Then I can have stuff like my water gallons or propane on it while my dogs have plenty of room in the 4.5ft bed. Im basically making a 6ft bed. The tall rear window of the MX topper will also keep the tailgate shade should the dogs choose to lay out on the balcony.

Hope you have a great trip!

Its gonna be awesome 11 states, 1 left turn, 5 right turns, 3 lefts, and 1 more right then whoa down on the brakes when we hit the Pacific. 2 interesting runs include a "Gamblers escape" run down the Mississippi from St Louis then down the Texas coast to the border of Old Mexico. The other run will be a night run the length of the TexMex border straight into alien country in Roswell NM. Offroading in Moab, pretend were not the ones causing the smell in some natural hotsprings in Colorado, and we are spending our 8yr/4yr(met/married) anniversary in the Gateway Arch and on a riverboat on the Mighty Miss.

This was our last trip like that.

 

[Roscop]

Sounds like a great road trip, hope you have a great time!

 

[Gossamer]

Silicone never comes off clean, especially if it was preventing leaks. The water comes fron the cab window and down. There is a tiny bit of a "buttress" corner that is too much to let all the water around it, therefor it pools between the front lip of the topper and the cab eventually doing what water does. All it needs is a moving, vibrating, bouncing truck to find room to seep. Its the fact of having the bed attached to the body, there is no real escape. There is cab window boots, essentially thick weatherstriping that can be used to divert most of the water out, but even that is very tricky to install effectively. Honestly on option and its a expensive one is the GFC Camper topper. It extends pretty far over the cab, I beleive is slightly wider than the cab roof, and the design is that of a square ass box. At first thought that doesnt seem to help. But it leaves a rather large gap between the cab and the topper allowing a clear path for water to flow out an away should it accumulate due to parking angle or rain while driving. Also its rigid aluminum construction likely translates the clamping force all the way around the front better than fiberglass. Its an option but you pay $7000 for the camper part of it. One of their early buyers on here reported dryness after a severe rainstorm though.

If I purchase one, I will need to silicone it or something to make it watertight (I carry electrical/electronic parts and supplies). I'm not real worried about taking the silicone off as the topper will be on the truck as long as I have it. Besides I would think being the bed rails are plastic, running a rubber wheel across would probably remove any residue.
Right now I am thinking about a Softopper and making some sort of pallet system to keep the stuff off the floor.
As far as the camper option, there is no way my old, fat a$$ could get in it!
Thanks for helping me understand it better, though

 

[lajlmt]

Just wanted to post a different option for Leer, I'm trying to decide between this and the ARE topper. I need the sliding windows for my dog's. The price is about $3000 for either the Leer or the ARE.

not mine, but my friends bought/ordered in Gresham Oregon a day after me (they got a Lariat, I ordered Area51 XLT Lux) we both had to reorder I’m still waiting 650 days now

 

[Roscop]

That looks great! I love the color.

 

[Maverickman74]

If I purchase one, I will need to silicone it or something to make it watertight (I carry electrical/electronic parts and supplies). I'm not real worried about taking the silicone off as the topper will be on the truck as long as I have it. Besides I would think being the bed rails are plastic, running a rubber wheel across would probably remove any residue.
Right now I am thinking about a Softopper and making some sort of pallet system to keep the stuff off the floor.
As far as the camper option, there is no way my old, fat a$$ could get in it!
Thanks for helping me understand it better, though

The soft topper is a viable option for waterproofing. It uses a solid aluminum frame that mounts down and you can fine tune its seal much easier. Then the top itself attaches to that. As far as a raised floor thats a smart choice. I would even think about a homemade drawer system or slider platform. There is a interesting one someone just made on the cheap that would isolate your floor from the bed protecting your gear. Its low profile too!

not mine, but my friends bought/ordered in Gresham Oregon a day after me (they got a Lariat, I ordered Area51 XLT Lux) we both had to reorder I’m still waiting 650 days now

Looks nice, I do kinda wish my wife would have let me get a Cyber Orange topper for our Hot Pepper Red XLTremor would have looked soooo cool. Oh well Im gonna try and get some Cyber Orange stripes on it one day.

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