Opinons wanted on truck shell or cover?

Safari Tim · 07-12-2003, 09:45 PM

I have a long bed chevy and want the bed to be more useful, expecially when camping.

I am considering a cab height shell or one of those fiberglass lids.

The shell being able to hold taller items, but loose the truck look. Also I understand it makes it more difficult to use the rear window when backing.

The fiberglass cover keeps the truck look but only will hold shorter items. It is also easier to remove when I want to hall a load of yard clippings.

The shell will cost about $1300-$1500 dollars. And I would keep my rusty run down duraliner.

The lid is $899 and I would get a new line-x spray in liner for $500 or so.

So, what are your experiences and ideas?

Porky Pig · 07-12-2003, 10:04 PM

I will be ordering a new 2004 Ford F-350 in the very near future.

I really like the fiberglass lids .. either SnugTop or ARE .. haven't pinned it down yet.

The father of a good friend tows an older AS with his Chevy and he loves it. He showed it too me and it looked like he had plenty of room for all of his gear. He also mentioned he really liked the visibility of a lid over a shell. Not to mention the added security ... everything being out of site. A shell looks easier to bust into.

For me, the lid is the way to go ... Also, I had a shell on an Isuzu truck back in the 80s ... I really hated the thing ... it was made by Leer and seemed really shoddy. Perhaps they have improved since then?

I've been quoted about $800 for the SnugLid and $400 for the Line-X.

Pahaska · 07-12-2003, 10:39 PM

I have a Roll-N-Lock on my truck and I am sold on Roll-N-Locks. I had them on my last 2 trucks, also. The current version is much improved over the older versions. The way the lid locks into the tailgate makes it very secure.

I am constantly getting inquiries from other folks about th lid.

Safari Tim · 07-12-2003, 10:59 PM

Pahaska,

Does it leak in the rain or washing?

Do you find you have enough room for your stuff? Expecially when camping?

overlander64 · 07-13-2003, 12:09 AM

Greetings Tim!

The only positive experience that I had with my '95 K1500 Chevrolet Z71 club cab short-bed pickup was with the the cab-height Leer cap that was color matched to the pickup and included a bed liner as part of the deal. The cap was water tight, gave the truck the appearance of an SUV - - at least let me forget the true lineage of the vehicle when viewed from a considerable distance (at least it resembled the sport utility that I had be waiting on for over 18 months). I didn't find that the cap posed any problems while towing, but the one thing that I would have added (had I known better) were the side access doors on both sides of the cap as it was something of a nuisance to always be crawling into the bed to get something that was needed.

Kevin

j54mark · 07-13-2003, 06:33 AM

My experience probably comes from 25 years of driving vans, but I had to have a fiberglass shell for my shortbed Chevy. I carry too many bulky objects to make a bed cover work for me, and here in the midwest we have so many sudden, unexpected rainstorms that protection from the weather is essential.

There is a tremendous variation in quality among different brands of caps and lids. Take a look at Snugtop, ARE, probably others that fail to come to mind.

Mark

Pahaska · 07-13-2003, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Safari Tim
Pahaska,

Does it leak in the rain or washing?

Do you find you have enough room for your stuff? Expecially when camping?

I do get a little water in on a heavy rain or after a car wash, but very little. The cover is aluminum slats under a vinyl topping so the cover itself doesn't leak. The cover drains into the roll-up box and into the side rails which drain into the roll-up box. A real downpour of car wash can overflow the rails. There are some minor gaps on both ends of the tailgate that let in a small amount of water. I often carry my banjo back there (not in hot weather, tho) because it is out of sight and securely locked. I simply set the case on something so it is not on the floor.

As to capacity, I have never run out of space in the bed. I don't think I have ever used more than half the available space back there even with extra folding chairs and coolers.

**john hd** · 07-13-2003, 08:06 AM

i don't have a shell or a cover.

i try to take my motorcycle with me on trips. so, a open bed is the only way to go for me.

i use the truck regularly for hauling "stuff" anyway, a topper or a lid would just get in the way.

but, that is just how i use my truck. john's roll away lid does sound pretty nice!

john

47WeeWind · 07-13-2003, 10:23 AM

As Kevin mentions above, if you have a liftgate on your shell and a tailgate on your box, you will forever be crawling inside the box on your hands and knees to retrieve and return small items, very inconvenient and soon tiring. Rectangular lockable doors along each side of the topper with window inserts increase accessability and visibility.

Look at your local teleco or cableco trucks for ideas. Around here, they use cab height shells with windowed side lockable doors and 1' deep racks just inside (along each side of the bed) for storage. The center of the bed remains available for longer items. Two rear doors allow easier access to the bed than a liftgate, so consider removing your tailgate and getting a shell with 2 rear doors. Measure beforehand to make sure the doors clear your tanks and can be fully swung opened with your trailer hitched up.

I mounted a used teleco utility box on my old Dodge 3/4 ton truck. It has 3 very handy lockable walk-up-to side compartments on each side. A sliding top cover locks over the mini-tailgate and provides a 2' high x 4' x 8' secure enclosed bed space. The utility bed top cover can be slid forward (over the fixed forward 4' of the top cover) to access a 4' x 4' floor area at the rear for tall items that can not be laid down inside the 8' long bed.

The lockable bed utility box has slightly less visibility than a pickup bed cover because the box cover sits 6" higher. Nevertheless, when towing, I can see clear through the rear window of my Airstream, a great comfort.

Wally and his Caravanners used quite a few of these lockable utility boxes on the Capetown to Cairo Caravan in 1959-60. They can be seen in Bryan Burkhart's Airstream book.

**Pick** · 07-13-2003, 10:26 AM

I agree with John_HD. Having a bed cover would be a real pain in the arse for me. Nice to reach in a get things out, without having to unsnap or unfasten things. Anything we take with us, that can't get wet, like firewood, goes in Rubbermaid tubs.

Pahaska · 07-13-2003, 10:42 AM

I find that the rolling cover is no pain at all. I have had it on 3 successive trucks.

Rolled open (just takes turn of the lock and a shove) I have all but about 11" of length the box at the top and the full length under the roll-up box. To close, it is just a matter of pulling the strap and turning the lock. It locks partially open at 3 places as well and it only takes a drill and a file to make it lock at additional places. The cover is sturdy enough that the ad shows a young woman standing in the center of one.

The big thing is that my belongings are locked as securely as a car trunk (probably more so) and are out of sight. The cover locks to the rails and to the tailgate. I can stop anywhere and leave the truck without fear of theft. Things I carry include an $800 generator which I strap in the rear roadside corner and which I can run by partially opening the cover. Another thing I carry back there is my $3000 banjo (in cooler weather only).

Instead of a topper, I would choose a SUV.

garry · 07-13-2003, 04:14 PM

I started out with a roll up bed cover and soon grew tired of the constant hassle plus the limited space with the top closed. The top was showing wear after a year and a half.

I bought a used camper shell and had it painted to match the truck. $500 for the top and $100 to paint. A new one cost over $1100. I like the shell much better. No problem with visibility.
There are so many options of the shell covers even in the used market that finding one that meets your requirements should not be too big a deal, if that's the way you decide to go.

Garry

Dave-O · 07-14-2003, 07:56 AM

Which roll top did you go with and from where? I have been eyeing the Pace Edwards brand and really like the concept.
I, too, have been internally debating the option of camper shell (used) or new roll top.
By the way what do they cost? Guessing $500-600 (for the roll top).
Thanks for your help.
-david

Pahaska · 07-14-2003, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave-O
Which roll top did you go with and from where? I have been eyeing the Pace Edwards brand and really like the concept.
I, too, have been internally debating the option of camper shell (used) or new roll top.
By the way what do they cost? Guessing $500-600 (for the roll top).
Thanks for your help.
-david

I have Roll-N-Lock, it is my 3rd from that company. It is more expensive then most (close to $800), but I consider it head and shoulders over anything else I have seen on the market.

I shopped for the best price on the internet and installed it myself. Took about an hour to install.