Getting ready to remove my canopy to do some prep for a vinyl wrap job on my 86 4Runner. I've never had the canopy off and have always been nervous about leaks for when I go to put it back on.

My questions are as follows:
-Should my original gaskets turn out to be in bad shape and not reusable, what do others us as a replacement since all the gaskets are now obsolete from the dealer?
-I just got a Softopper (still in the box). Do the gaskets from the soft top frame work on the factory hard top?

Thanks!

 

Hi Stanz,
If the cap had never been taken off nor abused, most likely the gasket will still be in good shape. It's a robust piece of rubber. Just be careful when taking it off so you don't tear it up. Before I put mine back on, I cleaned and rejuvenated it with 100% silicone dielectric grease (Permatex).
Straightforward to remove and replace the cap. Just don't forget to label the cover-off switch and its location here.

 

From RadRunners link so I can save it to my computer. Photobucket would not let me:

 

I've heard that the top has a re-install sequence in the manual that, if you follow it correctly, will NOT result in the top leaking afterward. Basically the jist is that people aren't following the sequence, it isn't seated properly, and then it leaks.

I've had the Softopper for a while. I don't even remove it in the winter. I'm just careful not to flex the windows under 40 degree weather.