truck cap window lifts

[beetgrower]

I don't know where else to go with this; I have a 20 year old A.R.E. pickup topper with non-functioning window lifts. Are these off-the-shelf items I can get at an auto supply store? Are they hard to install?

 

[Woodtroll]

There should be a series of numbers printed on the shocks, often a hyphenated sequence like ABC-12345. Take those numbers, or a photo of the numbers, or one of the shocks, to a parts place, and they should have a match in stock unless it's an odball. If you use those same numbers, you can usually find them on online retailers for half or less of what a parts place charges.

Most of them now have ball studs with a c-clip-type keeper; you use a pick or small screwdriver to pull the clip back from the ball head, then just pull the head off the stud. But you may have one with a through-bolt or some other arrangement, you'll just have to look. None of them are hard, just be sure to prop the lid up securely before you remove them.

Good luck!

 

[beetgrower]

Thanks, I appreciate guidance.

 

[Woodtroll]

You're certainly welcome!

 

[Brown David]

Struts were bad on the last truck cap I had.

I raised the hatch and propped it well, drilled a 1/8" hole through each rod near the cylinder to insert cotter pins. Drilled 1/8" holes in side of stake pocket on both sides of truck to store pins when hatch was down.

Cheap hillbilly fix that worked well for several years.