How to Install Accordion Boot - Camper Shell onto a Truck
Many truck owners like the look of a camper shell over the bed of their truck, and they appreciate the benefits provided by the shell. Some like it so much that they wish to make their camper shell a permanent part of the truck. This can be accomplished by using what is known as a truck boot to seal the gap between the cab and the shell and make the interior a unified space.
Tool and Supplies Needed
- Accordion Boot
- Measuring tape
- Utility knife
- Superglue
Installation Instructions
- Remove the truck's rear window and the front-facing window on the camper shell. See the owner's manuals for the truck and the camper shell for specific window removal instructions.
- Start at the bottom center of the window opening. Slide the spring clips on one side of the accordion boot over the truck's rear window flange.
- Slide the spring clips on the opposite side over the flange of the camper shell's front-facing window.
- Work your way around the window perimeter until you get back to where you started.
- Overlap an extra three inches of accordion flap on top of the driver's side accordion flap and glue it there with the superglue.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the howtoinstallaccordionboot.phprequire glue to install?
No glue is required. The howtoinstallaccordionboot.php has a spring clip embedded in the EPDM rubber that clamps onto a thin flange. You can optionally glue the seam using cyanoacrylate (SuperGlue), but avoid petroleum-based adhesives.
- What is the purpose of a howtoinstallaccordionboot.php?
A howtoinstallaccordionboot.phpprovides a sealed, flexible connection between the cab and camper shell, allowing access and preventing leaks, dust, and wind from entering.
- Is there a certain glue that can be used in conjunction with the accordion boot?
The rubber boot does not require glue for installation. This is because there is a spring clip embedded it the rubber. When the boot is placed over a flange the spring clip squeezes the rubber securely. The only place you may want to glue the boot is where it meets. This is however optional. To glue the seam where the two ends meet, you can use cyanoacrylate (i.e. SuperGlue). Do not use any petroleum based glues as it will react negatively to the rubber. (i.e. rubber cement). See Installing Accordion Boot for more details.