How to Fasten a Camper Shell on a Truck

Known by several different names, including cap, topper and canopy, a camper shell is a weather-proof cover designed to mount over the bed rails of a pickup truck. Lightweight and presenting a low and aerodynamic profile, a properly installed camper shell protects tools and supplies, as well as campers. With the application of specially engineered clamps, a camper shell is easily fastened to, or removed from, a truck in matter of minutes.

Things You'll Need

  • Drop cloth
  • Self-adhesive weather stripping
  • 6 truck cap mounting clamps
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spread out a drop cloth to protect the finish of the shell. With the hatch of the camper shell closed and latched, flip the topper upside-down on the tarp.

    • 2

      Apply self-adhering weather stripping along the bottom of the front and side rails of the topper. Press the weather stripping firmly onto the rails, ensuring there are no air pockets between the rail surface and weather stripping.

    • 3

      Open the truck’s tailgate. Set the camper shell on the rails of the pickup and line up the edges of the shell evenly with the edges of the truck bed. Open the hatch on the shell. Close the tailgate of the truck and then the hatch of the topper to test for clearance.

    • 4

      Open the truck gate and topper hatch. Climb into the bed of the truck and attach six truck cap mounting clamps, three per side, along the edges of the camper shell. Open the clamps as needed, with a wrench or screwdriver. Place the clamps over the top of the cap’s rail with the bottom of the clamps hanging under the bottom of the pickup’s bed rail. Space the clamps evenly, setting one clamp in each corner of the shell and the two remaining clamps halfway between each corner clamp.

    • 5

      Tighten the clamps securely in place with the wrench or screwdriver. Recheck the alignment of the outside edges of the topper and truck bed rails and then recheck clearance of the truck gate and topper hatch. Loosen the clamps to make adjustments if needed.