ewans

Hi all,
I have a 2004 DC PreRunner for which I recently ordered and received an A.R.E. cap. Unfortunately, the fit of the cap on the bed isn't good... the bottom rails of the cap are not in a single flat plane, so it won't sit evenly on the top of the bed (the front corners are raised over 1/4"). I'm working with my A.R.E. dealer to resolve the situation, and am confident it will all work out.

In the meantime, I'm hoping to confirm that the top of the Toyota truck bed is, in fact, flat and doesn't dip down along the front. I bought the truck with an over-the-rails bedliner already installed, so I don't know for sure what the top of the bed actually looks like.

Any chance somebody could confirm and possibly post a photo? I'm hoping it won't be necessary, but I'd like to be able to demonstrate that the bottom of the cap should be flat.

Many thanks.

Ewan

mleaky

I have an ARE shell on my '03 DBL Cab Prerunner. No fitting issues at all. As far as I know the bed rails are all on the same plane.

Do you have a bed line you are installing the topper on?

ewans

Hi mleaky,
Thanks for the rely.
I do have a bedliner (the style that wraps over the bed rails), and the top of the bedliner is a single flat plane.

It has been suggested by my A.R.E. dealer that the front baserail of the cap might be intentionally proud of the side baserails to account for a dip in the front bed rail. I'm pretty sure this isn't the case and rather, there was an issue during the manufacturing of the cap.

I've attached a couple of photos... does your installed cap look anything like this one?

Thanks again.

Ewan

mokai

That Cap looks defective to me..I have an 03 extra cab with a cap and the baserails are totally flat just like the bedrails..Dont let them tell you otherwise..

Andrew

ewans

Thanks Andrew.
I was almost certain the baserails should be flat, but it's good to hear it from others as well.

Ewan

Squiddy

That's a bad cap...base should be flat flat flat!

fondigley

Something aint right there for sure. You got a square plain tell them what is up.

Malcolm3.4

My 02 dbl cabs front is depressed. I have rhino lined bed and rail tops. There is a small difference between the sides and front, maybe only 1/4". Had some leaking issues with my soft top that was flat. Put an extra peice of mounting tape under it to make up difference. Wish the rhino guys would have made it flat for me.

AustinTaco

I don't have an ARE on my 03 Double cab, but I did put a topper on last year and it sits flat. However, it came with a Bedrug, so I took out the over the rail liner.

I doubt the liner is the problem, but I would have them take off the cap, take out the liner and cut it with a dremel so that the cap doesn't ride on top of it. When I took out my bedliner to put in the bed rug and cap, I was amazed at the scratches it left on the rails and tailgate.

ewans

Thanks everyone for the replies... appreciated.

The cap is on its way back to A.R.E. so they can have a look at it. As far as I'm concerned, the bottom of the baserails should make a flat plane... because in this case they don't, I believe the cap is defective. I'm optimistic that A.R.E. will come to the same conclusion and make good with a new cap.

Ewan