Camper shell/topper identification

[13z71]

Hey team, long time lurker first time poster.

I want to start by saying I am an absolute amateur. I have a 2013 Silverado 2500hd gasser, crew cab regular bed, z71 4x4. I've got tons of mods done to it. But I digress.

My son and I hunt on a friend's property and we need a cozy place to sleep. I picked up this aluminum camper shell topper (whatever you want to call it) on fb marketplace for $100. Got a new third brake light, new shocks and gave it a good bath. I'm going to tint the windows and redo the foam at the bottom...but overall the thing is awesome. The windows even open! I wanted aluminum because I need an fast easy on easy off. I ride atvs and other activities where I need an open truck bed.

The problem is that I don't know what brand it is. I don't know load capacity. I don't know how to safety (if at all), add my roof top awning or even a cargo carrier on top. I'm an analyst by trade...not an engineer haha.

It has no markings or brand logos except the place it was sold which is now out of business. I've never seen a topper like this one...so any advice or links would be very much appreciated.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Great truck!
That topper looks like every topper the older guys would have, back in the 70's and 80's before the fiberglass ones took hold. Lot of different makers. It looks pretty new, as far as maybe manufactured the last 10 years.

Good luck

 

[1stDeuce]

Nice "old man" topper!!

Looks like the side windows are already tinted... Lots of places made aluminum toppers like that, and I doubt the brand is that important. As long as you're mounting to the main supports, you should be OK. Load capacity is a stupid number that means mostly nothing in my experience. It does appear that your only structural load carrying members are at the very front and back with windows that large... An awing should be no problem but any rack that that topper would have offered would have been right at the ends, so anything weight carrying that you mount also needs to mount at the ends most likely... Or not carry much weight...

 

[s.e.charles]

Hey team, long time lurker first time poster.

I want to start by saying I am an absolute amateur. I have a 2013 Silverado 2500hd gasser, crew cab regular bed, z71 4x4. I've got tons of mods done to it. But I digress.

My son and I hunt on a friend's property and we need a cozy place to sleep. I picked up this aluminum camper shell topper (whatever you want to call it) on fb marketplace for $100. Got a new third brake light, new shocks and gave it a good bath. I'm going to tint the windows and redo the foam at the bottom...but overall the thing is awesome. The windows even open! I wanted aluminum because I need an fast easy on easy off. I ride atvs and other activities where I need an open truck bed.

The problem is that I don't know what brand it is. I don't know load capacity. I don't know how to safety (if at all), add my roof top awning or even a cargo carrier on top. I'm an analyst by trade...not an engineer haha.

It has no markings or brand logos except the place it was sold which is now out of business. I've never seen a topper like this one...so any advice or links would be very much appreciated.

don't load the roof. this cap style isn't made for it. yeah, you can get away with it for a while, but then you'll wonder why the truck has squeaks & leaks.

even the heavy hitters with mega trucks deny any good coming from loads up high.

the purpose of the cap is to cover whatever is in the bed.

 

[s.e.charles]

 

[ThundahBeagle]

don't load the roof. this cap style isn't made for it. yeah, you can get away with it for a while, but then you'll wonder why the truck has squeaks & leaks.

even the heavy hitters with mega trucks deny any good coming from loads up high.

the purpose of the cap is to cover whatever is in the bed.

I'll second that. I have a rack on my topper, yes. I put kayaks on it, yes. Or, if I ever get a Thule or Yakima roof torpedo, I might put it up there but not for heavyweight items and not very often.

Like S.E. said, the topper is to cover stuff

 

[FAW3]

For years I ran a Chevy K series truck with a similar aluminum topper. It had no roof ladder rack when I bought it used. The brand was Leonard...but I can't say your is the exact same...but likely if you need common parts that may be a source for you.

I wanted a ladder rack for some lightweight uses...a ladder or kayak. Nothing like a roof top tent or anything say over 80#. I bought something like this from Amazon or Ebay I can't recall. It was an easy install.

Here is an example: Roof Ladder Rack

It was an easy install and never gave me any problems over several years of use with a 70# canoe. You definitely want to have your rack supported directly by the interior aluminum tube framing .... not the roof sheet metal.

My only other real mod I did was to dark tint the windows and adding Reflectex mylar insulation to the inside roof (using a 3M spray adhesive) which really helped with both heat/cold and noise.

I built some wide sawhorses that allowed my son and I to easily mount/dismount and store the topper.

Happy trails!

 

[Ozarker]

Welcome, great deal on that topper! Take pics of the work.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

For years I ran a Chevy K series truck with a similar aluminum topper. It had no roof ladder rack when I bought it used. The brand was Leonard...but I can't say your is the exact same...but likely if you need common parts that may be a source for you.

I wanted a ladder rack for some lightweight uses...a ladder or kayak. Nothing like a roof top tent or anything say over 80#. I bought something like this from Amazon or Ebay I can't recall. It was an easy install.

Here is an example: Roof Ladder Rack

It was an easy install and never gave me any problems over several years of use with a 70# canoe. You definitely want to have your rack supported directly by the interior aluminum tube framing .... not the roof sheet metal.

My only other real mod I did was to dark tint the windows and adding Reflectex mylar insulation to the inside roof (using a 3M spray adhesive) which really helped with both heat/cold and noise.

I built some wide sawhorses that allowed my son and I to easily mount/dismount and store the topper.

Happy trails!

Let's see the sawhorses. I'd love to be able to take mine off alone