Camper shell brand comparison

[Montereyman]

Either Snugtop or Leer make a commercial use cap that is 6-8" higher at the back than the top of the truck cab. I had one on a Toyota Hii-Lux and it made the space inside a lot more accessible for general hauling and for camping. The commercial one will handle a 50% greater roof load though you can also increase the capacity by using gutterless rack feet that attach to the sides of the shell so the force is down the sides instead of pushing down and pulling up on the top.

I have seen quality caps selling new for under $500 but they had no front window and not interior light and no side windows and a very simple rear window. With my caps I always put in curtains and left them there as I felt that it was easy to break into the back and I wanted everything completely out of sight that was inside. A basic white shell is also going to be cheaper than one that is color matched to your truck.

 

[DaveM]

Here are the prices I got back on the ARE shells locally:

"The A.R.E. Vseries for your truck starts out at 1175.00. The options you want are 125 for headliner, 80 for fold down slider and 167each for solid lift up doors. 1714 + tax + labor(88) + shipping(50)= 1997.69. The Vseries is on of your more affordable shells for your truck. If you order with glass lift up doors the price is 98each. Some people will do 1 lift up door and 1 side slider to save money. The cheapest way to go is aluminum those shell start out around 799."

Not as bad as I thought, It's probably cheaper due to the size of my truck bed.

 

[njtacoma]

I agree on the windoors, didn't get them on our cap and wish I had.

If you were in Colorado I would make you a good deal on my cap, just to get windoors and the higher roof of the ARE MX series. On my DC it is a pretty small little box, and wish I had the higher roof to make using it easier.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I started with a cab-high (Leer) on my '04 Tacoma but after my first camping trip I realized it was too low with my carpet kit/sleeping platform in the back. It worked OK if I slept on the floor, but if I wanted to sit up while lying in it (to change clothes or just to read) the cab-high just didn't give me enough headroom. Went with a Raven that was about 6-8" above cab high and it worked much better with the platform.

I think if you're planning on sleeping two people a high-rise is a good idea as you will want to use the full width of the bed which means your platform will have to be at least as high as the top of the fenders.

OTOH, for solo trips, if you can sleep between the wheel wells, a cab high is probably just as good, has a lower profile and is probably cheaper.

 

[fourfa]

I have never wished I had windoors. I guess it has to do with how you organize your gear, and how you feel about more potential points of entry into the rear space

 

[njtacoma]

I want the taller cap not so much to sleep in as to make it easier to put stuff in the bed. I have to lower the seat on my bike to fit it in the back. My youngest child's bike barely fits, my older has to have the seat lowered as well.

my $.02

 

[DaveM]

I'll be sticking with the cab high model. I have an Oz Tent RV-4 so no need to use the shell for camping (and the 5' long bed is too short anyway). This is mostly so I can secure our camping gear with slightly less stringent packing (I can toss some items in that would other wise blow out of the open back). It will also allow me to add a bed mounted gear box to replace my portable camp panty/gear box and I can also add a mounted stove slide and fridge instead of a cooler.

So it's mostly gear capacity and security, not camping. I also need the lower roof height to load my canoe and the RV-4 on the roof bars.

And at 5'8" 150# I don't require all that much head room when crawling around the bed anyway : )

 

[EStrauch12]

I just bought a Leer 100R last month for my 04 Ranger. I got the slider side and front windows, headliner, and just the tracks to mount a roof rack for just under 1700 after tax. Just thought this could help you get an idea on price, since I got a relatively basic model and have a similarly sized truck.

 

[riveroceanandmountain]

I have had a Leer 100xl on my 05 Taco for 6 years..... great fit and finish.... love the rotary latches which are cable activated on the rear.... makes it latch with a slam like a vehicle door..... the lock mechanism is a little loose and sometimes rattles into locked position while driving... but other than that... you can get it hooked to your door lock button on your truck if you want really slick... I was too frugal for that.

I bought leer because all the cheaper canopies I have had on other trucks took forever to line up and clamp... the leer is very rigid around the base... no aluminum angle to clamp just throw it on and it aligns perfectly and you bolt it directly to the Taco bed rail system... very slick.... no complaints .... would buy another.

 

[ajohns19]

I bought a Snugtop Sport HiLiner for my SuperDuty late last year and have been very happy with it. Local dealer was great, price just a little higher than your $1,500 but not by much. Did not get the Windoors, but did get the drop front slider and carpet liner interior. Had trouble with delivery time as this was a new model and the mold wasn't even done when I ordered. Very high quality, great finish, and really love the single handle back window with slam latches.

 

[DaveM]

Stopped by Custom Truck in town here to look at shells. I got the prices for the ARE V series, seems pretty good.

While I was there I spotted an aluminum Leer shell, I think it's a "Challenger" shell, but I can't find any info on their website about it. It's not the commercial aluminum cap. I was surprised at how nice it looked, I was pretty much against getting an aluminum shell but at $899 may reconsider.

Does anybody here know the shell I'm talking about (looks similar to the one pictured below)? Any good reasons to avoid aluminum? Heat, dents, weight, roof load etc?

 

[socalctcamper]

My shell

Mine is a snugtop brand. Pick this one from my good buddy Craig. He had it on his list for $300. I couldn't beat it. Has the carpeted headliner , one interior light, front window folds down.