shell / cap window conversion (slider to pop-out)

[alfio]

hello all

i've got a fiberglass shell for my '92 toyota extra cab that is in good shape but i would like to convert to the side windows (which currently slide) to the type that open. basically, to go from something that looks like this:

to something like this:

there's not too much available in terms of new caps for this vehicle (the extra cab slopes in such a way that most shells won't work on it) and the few that do fit cost about three arms and at least four legs.

i've contacted a couple of shell / cap dealers in the area but they are all re-sellers and don't have the materials to make new window frames. any ideas?

i may be gravely mistaken but it seems that this isn't all that difficult if i could source the parts for it (especially the aluminum pieces required to make the window frames). alternatively, maybe i could mail in a mold/pattern of the window opening and have them ship me the frames?

anyhow, like i said, that might be way off base. just trying to get ideas on how to get this done. thanks

 

[alfio]

making some progress on this - found two companies that apparently supply lots of cap manufacturers. i will get them dimensions and angles and hopefully will have a quote on this (assuming window types match and i can in fact take my windows off and install new 'windoors')

oddly enough it actually helps to be in indiana for this because there are lots of truck cap / shell manufacturers in the area.

stay tuned (there may be a build thread on this if the planets line up)

 

[Herbie]

Can't help you with specifics, but I agree that it should not be difficult. As far as I know those windows are basically a "sandwich" of an interior and exterior frame that fastens around an appropriately-sized hole in the fiberglass.

Worst-case scenario you'd have to get a window that is at least "bigger" than your current sliders and just re-cut all or part of the hole...

 

[Scott B.]

Did you contact the manufacturer of the shell? They should be able to provide parts (assuming you model shell had windoors as an option.) Worst case, you have to purchase the new parts through your local dealer.

If you could find the window supplier, I'm sure the cost would be significantly less. Also, if you do find the supplier, please list their info here (I'm thinking about doing the same thing to my shell.)

 

[alfio]

this has turned out to be a major pain.

since it was practically impossible to get windoors to fit into the opening of the sliders, i sold the cap that already had sliders in it and picked up a Leer cap that has solid paneled sides, like this one:

this would certainly make things easier, right? wrong.

the cap i bought (with the solid side panels) also came with a busted rear door. it was originally made by Leer so i called them to get the info. wow, the worst customer service ever. you'd think i was calling to get the nuclear launch codes. more secrets than a cold war espionage plot. after a million calls i finally got a hold of someone who could be bothered to tell me the angles and dimensions for my cap. since they won't sell to the public i had to go through the local dealer (more on this later).

i also did some digging on suppliers. apparently, there's not too many companies making frames/windows for caps. there's starquest and statewide and not much else i could find. they (as expected) will not sell direct to the public and have dealers that will. all of this stuff is pretty expensive for what it is (a piece of class with aluminum trim) and it is a major pain to try to track down the angle and size that fits your cap... figure about $150 + shipping on each windoor (if you can find one that matches) and close to $300 on the rear door.

moral of the story: if you are able to, you are much better off finding a used cap with the specs you are looking for than retrofitting. it may be easy to do the work but it is not easy to find the right parts for a retrofit.

oh, btw, the local leer dealer quoted me $799 + tax on parts alone.

 

[robert]

$150/windoor would be cheap- ARE quoted me like $500 for the windoors to replace the sliders on my shell. I even looked into selling my shell and upgrading to a taller version but man they've gone up in the last couple of years.

 

[Fresno]

$150/windoor would be cheap- ARE quoted me like $500 for the windoors to replace the sliders on my shell. I even looked into selling my shell and upgrading to a taller version but man they've gone up in the last couple of years.

Can you give me the contact ARE info? $500 is steep but better than a new cap.

 

[4x4x4doors]

I had a cap on my truck that I had picked up used. One night, the local vandals came through my and several other neighborhoods with a pellet gun shooting windows on vehicles. (Our block had 4 damaged vehicles.) Local news link on capture

I went through my insurance company to have the shell side slider window replaced. They had me measure and take pictures and couldn't find anything that would work so they sent their guy out to take a look. He couldn't get something made. They sent me to the LEER dealer 50 miles away. They took measurements and ordered the window. The wrong window came in which I discovered after driving over to have it installed. They called a week later and said they could custom make one if I would drive back and let them ship the cap to SBKW (Supreme Being Knows Where). At this point, I'd had enough. Apparently the cost (to be paid by Insurance) was close to $850. I knew what I'd paid for it. I knew what a new one cost. I brought it home, stripped it and sold the aluminum to the scrap dealer and started watching CL again.

Moral of the story: It may be difficult but possible to get a different window (windoor) put in but if you can't find what you want used, it's probably more cost effective to buy a new one exactly like you want color-matched with the configuration you want.

PS: Anybody looking for an aluminum-framed rear hatch/window for a midsize? How about an odd side slider for a 5 ft bed? If so, PM me.

 

[robert]

Can you give me the contact ARE info? $500 is steep but better than a new cap.

I called my local ARE dealer and they'll called and got a quote on the Windoors for me. The guys I use deal mostly with the commercial line but they'll order anything you want.

 

[austintaco]

I called my local ARE dealer and they'll called and got a quote on the Windoors for me. The guys I use deal mostly with the commercial line but they'll order anything you want.

When I looked into this option for my topper on my Tacoma, I found this site:
http://parkin-acc.com/page28.html
When I contacted them, the price, in my size, would have been around $350 per window.
However, I have since bought a used flippac and having AT Trailers add a windoor to it. Martyn knows the process very well, and might be able to help somebody out in finding a windoor, but there is a 3 week wait for his supplier to get them out. Additionally, for my flippac, we are using the smaller size windoor because the larger would not leave enough material for structural rigidity. Be careful if you plan on cutting a bigger hole.

 

[alfio]

finally got some time to put my new windows in. had to buy new from the manufacturer so it hurt the wallet but it is what i wanted so i can't complain much. cheaper than a new shell (if i could find one) and it works like i was hoping:

 

[Expedition_Matt]

Hey where did you buy these? My shell company has no idea how to help me on getting a front slider to replace my fixed front window.

 

[alfio]

Hey where did you buy these? My shell company has no idea how to help me on getting a front slider to replace my fixed front window.

yeah, customer service at these shell places can be a nightmare. not a lot of profit margin in selling parts apparently and there's so much variety in sizes and what not, they just don't really care much.

i picked mine up directly from a manufacturer (www.statewidealum.com) and it was fairly easy to work with them. unlike the other companies, the salesperson sent me a pdf with the exact dimensions of the windows with which i could check against the shell.