If you own a truck camper, then you’re most definitely a lover of nature. People who enjoy the outdoors are aware of how turbulent the weather could be. That’s why campers, like you and I, should always be prepared for the worst.
A great place to start is by buying a truck camper shell. They’re also known as truck caps or canopies. Their main function is to seal off your truck camper from haphazard weather conditions and keep its insides protected.
That said, are truck camper shells waterproof? That’s what this article is going to answer for you. As an added plus, we’ll tell you about other methods you can use to securely fasten your truck cap.
Is Your Truck Camper Shell Waterproof?
Many manufacturers market their truck camper shells as completely waterproof, but we’re here to tell you that nothing is 100%.
Even the most expensive shells won’t fully protect your camper when it rains. In short, it’s not the material or the price that makes a truck cap waterproof; it’s how tightly sealed it is.
Most truck camper shells are labeled water-resistant, which is more accurate than waterproof. Water-resistant means that truck caps can withstand the damage caused by strong rains. Their durability can last for a couple of years before the material will eventually start to wear out, causing water to leak in.
Weatherproof truck canopies are more or less the same too. They’d protect your camper from harsh weather conditions, such as dust and strong winds, but they won’t keep everything out. You’ll still need to take extra precautions to not get harmed. These truck camper shells are also destined to break over time.
There are ways around this, of course. You can use your DIY skills plus some tools to help you secure the truck camper shell. If you feel like it’ll be too big of a project, you can have a professional do it for you instead.
How to Make Your Truck Camper Waterproof
To make your truck camper waterproof, you’ll need to follow the bolting method. It’s a complicated process that involves a lot of tools and much drilling, but with the right technical experience, you’ll be able to safely carry it out alone.
Keeping that in mind, here are the tools you need on hand first:
What You’ll Need
- A manually or electrically operated screwdriver
- A multipurpose electric drill
- A thick blanket to absorb shock and damage done
- Multiple 1.5″ bolts and screws
- Truck bed insulation tape
- Two G-clamp hardware made from aluminum
- 3/8″ locknuts
- Washers that fit your bolts and screws
10 Steps to Make Your Truck Camper Waterproof
- Lay your truck camper shell on the thick blanket and not on the ground. You’re about to do some heavy work on it so the cap’s placement is important to avoid it getting damaged.
- Turn the camper shell inside out so that it’s facing upside down.
- Start looking for gaps and potential entry points of rain, dust, or sand.
- Cover any openings you find with the insulation tape.
- Make sure to avoid the rear hatch of your truck camper shell since that’s where the tailgate goes.
- Once you’re sure all exits have been covered, return the cap to its original position.
- Install the camper shell back onto your truck bed and check that it’s securely mounted.
- Use the aluminum, G-clamp hardware to add a rail to the truck bed. This is what you’ll fasten your camper shell to so that it’s properly sealed.
- Drill a hole at every corner of your truck’s canopy.
- Screw your 1.5″ bolts into their respective locknuts and use the washers to hold them in place.
How to Properly Seal Your Truck Camper
On the other hand, there’s a way to properly seal your truck camper too. If you find it’s a bit excessive to make it waterproof, or perhaps too complicated, then this sealing method is for you. This process achieves the same results just with fewer tools and more work.
What You’ll Need
- Weather insulation tape made from rubber
- Weatherstrip adhesive
- An air blower
- Industrial grade degreasers, such as brake cleaners
- RTV silicone sealing agent or caulk
11 Steps to Sealing a Truck Camper Shell
- Use Simple Green or brake cleaner to both clean and degrease the rails of your truck bed. This helps prepare the area for a secure installation.
- Remove residue of debris, dirt, dust, and other grainy particles from the rails using the air blower.
- Repeat the above two steps for the outside of your truck camper shell to achieve optimal safety and security.
- Paint the surfaces of your truck bed and camper shell if they’re rusty or have leftover weather stripping glue. This step is optional but we still recommend doing it.
- Flip the camper shell inside out and check for gaps or openings where water or sand can enter from.
- Apply thick beads of weather-stripping glue to the identified entry points.
- Carefully stick the rubber insulation tape on.
- Note that weather stripping glue dries off quickly and is quite sticky, meaning, you only have one chance of putting the tape on and won’t be able to adjust it later.
- If your truck camper shell comes with windows or doors, these also count as openings and must be sealed off too.
- As an added measure, apply a second, thin layer of RTV silicone to nicely close the gaps up.
- To ensure that your sealing method will work properly, hose your camper down with water then check the inside for leaks.
Conclusion
Are truck camper shells waterproof? Not really. A straightforward answer will be that they’re water-resistant but not fully waterproof. They’ll do a good job of keeping as much water as possible from getting into your camper. However, rain might still enter through the truck’s tailgate or other open entries and holes.
Not all hope is lost, though. If you have the DIY skills for it, you can choose one of the methods mentioned above to further secure your truck camper shell. This way you can enjoy rainy days in the relative comfort of your camper without worrying about accidental leaks.