Any advice on truck caps? (aka camper shells)

[ARMYOFME]

Hello Airstreamers! We're total newbies with our 2005 International CCD. We're towing it with a 2008 Tundra SR5 which has been AMAZING so far. We're ready to put a cap on it so we have additional storage area. We're planning to put bike/kayak racks on the top of the cap. Additionally, we'll probably end up getting a generator and might want to store it inside the shell so might need to look into ventilation options.

There are some nice ones out there and we have an idea of the features we know we want but I wondered if anybody had any words of wisdom for us? Like DEFINITELY get one that has a such and such or DO NOT get one that is bladeebla. Or any favorite brands?

We're thinking of the LEER 180: LEER Truck Caps, Toppers and Camper Shells

As always your wisdom and advice is welcome and appreciated!

See you on the road!

Gina

[Roy B]

I put a leer top with a rack on my truck and while at it put a cargo carpet in instead of a bed liner. Now its a grea place to store but also my 3 dogs can ride back there and be comfortable too. The cover storage is great on a streaming trip for sure.

Have fun
Roy B

[Kevin245]

I have an ARE tonneau on my SuperCrew, and I love it. It is lockable and looks good (IMO). The drawback is that it does limit the carry capapcity of the truck, and removing this model is a pain in the butt.

Luckily we have an older F150 that we use to haul things if the tonneau interferes with things.

I installed a Yakima Tower Rack on the roof last fall so we can haul ladder, kayaks, and such.

Just my $0.02.

Regards,

Kevin

[Kintscher]

We have a Leer tonneau on a 2005 Tundra. It's been great. Waterproof, secure, etc.

[Al - K4GLU]

ARE all the way. They offer many accessories including racks and do a great job of color matching.

[truckasaurus]

I was going to post a shot of my DiamondBack tonneau but the attach files icon has disappeared :-(

I've not had great luck with the fiberglass products so I switched to an aluminum model. It's a gullwing so it's in three lightweight sections, I find this very handy and even though I didn't buy the heavy duty version I can walk on it and use it as a work platform or carry up to to 400 lbs of stuff up there.

It seals well against rain and snow and is very durable- secure.

If the attach files button appears I'll post up a picture.

[SteveH]

I've got a Leer fiberglass topper and I'm totally satified with it.

[2dabeach]

ARMYOFME.... I had an ARE Z Series cap installed on our 2006 GMC 2500HD and have been very happy with it. They color match the cap to the color of your truck and the paint job is great. ARE can install Yakima brand rails on the roof of the cap at their factory so you can install Yakima towers and the Yakima line of bike and kayak racks on the cap. I would go for the few bucks more and get the opening window at the front of the cap so you can get access to clean the truck's rear window. The two back end side windows open so you can get ventilation in the cap.

If your going for one of the molded truck bed liners be sure that you get the pad that goes under the molded liner to stop the paint from getting worn off by the plastic liner moving across the pained truck bed. We also found that things like to slide around on the molded bed liner so I purchased a heavy duty rubber pad that goes on top of the molded liner and prevents things from sliding around the bed of the truck. It also helps your knee caps if your in the truck bed. Good luck.

[Melody Ranch]

Going a step further in your choice...do you have a sliding window in the rear of the truck? If so you may want a matching slider for the shell. Its handy at times. A light in the roof of the shell...really nice. I had one, once, that had the raised aft section with a huge back hatch which gave me more and easier access...really nice if you camp with a lot of gear...or sleep back there on a camp out. On that note....I always had used 2 x 6 support boards from side to side in the bed of the truck....newer trucks even have the indentations built in....then a couple pieces of plywood slid in on top. It really gives you twice the storage and organization capability. If you have pets...they can ride there off the other cargo. And, I have thrown in a sleeping bag for that place to sleep if boondocking away from the Airstream.
Don't waste your time and money on a cheap flimsey shell either.

[TinShack]

I have a Leer 180 on my F-250 and have had it for 3 years. I am satisfied with it and it is constructed well. It does have some good points and bad points so I will try and describe them.

Good
- The extra head room is nice. I am tall and I can walk inside while stooped over. I can't do this with a cab high.
- Bicycles fit inside standing up.
-Can fit more stuff.

Bad
-Doesn't look as nice as a cab high.
-Less streamlined so it affects fuel mileage.
-I have racks on mine but I need a stepladder to load my kayaks.

Here's a couple pics..

[AirHeadsRus]

I have had both Leer and ARE. Both are very good but I prefer the ARE. I just purchased this ARE last July. You can get a lower priced top but the Leer and ARE's are worth the money if you are keeping the truck for a while.
Good luck with your search.
Joe

[Mikethefixit]

We have a Leer with only a front slider window(which we never use) and a rear glass on the hatch. NO SIDE GLASSES. It takes a little getting use too. With no side windows you eliminate prying eyes,the back glass is tinted so one cannot see in. We have not lost anything yet. The hatch is lockable. We like it. You can have the dealer install bike racks for you and you just carry a small aluminum step ladder like I do and putting bikes up there will not be a problem.
Good Luck

[jdthor]

We have an ARE color matched to the F250. Our second F series and second ARE. Very happy with it. I also installed a bed-slide so we can get to all the stuff we lug around when we travel.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by CA Streamer

-Less streamlined so it affects fuel mileage.

Does a shell have any appreciable affect on mpgs when towing? I have even heard it reduces mileage compared to an open bed.

[stufarmer]

Glasstite, Snugtop, A.R.E. are all excellent toppers. If you look at a few older Pickups with Leer toppers there paint/clearcoat seem to have a peeling/fading problems...just my observation. I purchased a Jason Topper because they offered to build the Topper with additional roof support. I carry as much as I can in our Yakima Pods so the extra strength makes me feel a little better.

.

[16595]

We have a Unicover Safari Series. We have sliding windows and also the main side windows open up so it is possible to reach things over much of the bed without crawling inside. But when I do, we have a "Bedrug" liner which is much easier on the knees.

It is a couple inches higher than the cab so has good head room and may be used for camping (sleeping in it) in Alaska next summer if we go into the back country and leave the trailer behind.

Dwight

[Steve97365]

I have a Leer 180 on my 2009 Tundra and I love it. Perfect color match, and I looked at ARE and Snugtop, but didn't want to spend that much more.

[Harry W]

To each his own, but I looked at A.R.E., Leer, etc when I was ready to pu a cap on my F-250 Super Duty. I ended up buying a cap from Century because it had a double thickness roof, tinted side glass, swing out windows on the rear sides, rods for hanging clothes, carpeted ceiling, painted to match the truck from the factory, and a curved back window. It also matched the shape of the cab. It was on the truck for 10 years and had no issues with paint fade, stuctural cracking, or hardware failures. In short a cap with a lot of features and trouble free for 10 years. Highly recommended.

[TinShack]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

Does a shell have any appreciable affect on mpgs when towing? I have even heard it reduces mileage compared to an open bed.

My mileage dropped a couple MPG after adding the shell. I don't know if it because of the added weight or because the 180 leer is higher than the cab. i suspect the latter would have the most impact, but is probably a combo of both.

[wingfoot321]

Number one for me is opening, lockable side windows so you don't have to get in the bed for many things.

Number two would be a little extra height when you do get in the bed.

Number three is a slide out bed unit.